Chapter 3

Sienna POV

When I woke up the next morning, looking at my tear-stained pillow and the text on my phone that read, "I'll pick you up in a month," I knew it wasn't a nightmare.

I clenched my fists, my chest heaving. I needed to know what role Sebastian played in that setup three years ago.

Was the evidence still out there?

I refused to let them play me for a fool any longer.

Right now, I had nothing. I had to play the long game. I had thirty days to gather whatever evidence I could find.

After washing up, I walked down to the living room.

From a distance, I saw Serena clinging to the arm of a woman in a stunning red silk dress, her long, wavy brown hair cascading down her shoulders.

As I walked closer and saw her face, my feet glued to the floor.

It was Melanie Montgomery.

The woman who stole three years of my life.

Back in college, she had targeted me multiple times simply because Sebastian smiled at me.

I bit my lip so hard I could taste copper.

Melanie caught me out of the corner of her eye. She stood up gracefully, her high heels clicking on the marble floor as she approached me.

"Well, well. Isn't this our Ivy League golden girl?" Melanie mocked, her voice dripping with venom. "I heard you couldn't even get a decent job after graduation? Oh, my bad. I forgot you have a record."

Her features were undeniably gorgeous, but the malice in her eyes ruined it.

"So you decided to leech onto Sebastian? Did you honestly think you could secure a ring by playing a maid?"

My entire body went rigid.

Seeing my silence, Melanie laughed.

"How's that trash-collecting grandma of yours? Why hasn't she visited you?" She feigned shock, putting a hand over her mouth. "Oh, silly me. I forgot. You literally shocked her into a heart attack. She's dead because of you."

I began to shake uncontrollably. Suddenly, a massive golden retriever rushed into the room, placing himself right in front of me, barking furiously at Melanie.

"Ah!" Melanie shrieked, jumping back onto the sofa.

Serena stomped her foot. "Sienna! Get this stupid dog out of here right now!"

"Buddy, come here," I whispered, my voice trembling.

Buddy wagged his tail and nuzzled my hand.

Melanie's face turned pale with rage. She snatched a crystal vase from the side table and hurled it at Buddy. The glass shattered, and Buddy whimpered, blood instantly soaking the fur on his hind leg.

I dropped to my knees, checking Buddy's wound in a panic.

"You bitch! How dare you set a filthy beast on me!" Melanie rushed over and slapped me hard across the face.

The force spun my head to the side. My cheek burned like fire. Melanie raised her hand to strike again, but someone caught her wrist mid-air.

"What is going on here?"

Sebastian's voice was calm, yet commanding. He looked at my swollen cheek, then at Melanie.

Melanie instantly wrapped her arms around his neck, her voice turning sweet and helpless. "Sebastian... I just got back, and this horrible dog tried to attack me..."

Serena chimed in, "Yeah, Seb! I told you we shouldn't keep a stray. Anyway, forget about this. I booked a table at that French restaurant Melanie loves. Let's go celebrate her return."

I tried to explain. "It wasn't like that! Buddy was just..."

"Sienna, be good. Wait for me to come back," Sebastian cut me off, gently patting my head before walking out the door with Melanie.

The heavy front door clicked shut.

I stood in the silent foyer, my face throbbing.

I wanted to laugh. His first love was back, so he couldn't even bother to pretend anymore, huh?

I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, ignored the pain, and took Buddy to the vet. As the vet bandaged his leg, I knelt beside the kennel and whispered, "You have to get better, Buddy."

Because Buddy was the only thing in this godforsaken house that didn't lie to me.

It was pitch black when I got home. I lay in bed, drifting off, when I felt a cold hand gently touching my bruised cheek.

I opened my eyes. It was Sebastian.

His eyes were deep, his jawline sharp, his lips pressed into a tight line.

I used to feel my heart flutter whenever I saw his face. Now, it only made me feel sick.

"Sienna, I brought you your favorite strawberry cake." He applied a soothing ointment to my cheek. "Melanie... she just has a bit of a temper. Once you get to know her, you'll see she means no harm. You two can be great friends."

Friends?

At that moment, my body went entirely numb, as if I had been plunged into freezing water.

Because he loved Melanie, he could easily overlook the fact that she stole three years of my life? And now, he wanted me to play best friends with my abuser?