Chapter 7

Sienna POV

Three days later, Sebastian returned.

I had just finished searching the second-floor rooms when I saw Melanie sitting comfortably on the living room sofa. My heart sank.

How was she out so fast?

Melanie looked up, a smug smile playing on her lips.

"Surprised? Thanks to Sebastian, the police ruled it as a 'prank gone too far.' Just a slap on the wrist."

My hands shook. I had forgotten. He was the city's most brilliant defense attorney.

"Sienna," Sebastian walked in from the foyer, his voice soft. "Melanie knows she made a mistake. I brought her here to apologize to you."

Melanie put on a fake pout. "I even cooked dinner to make it up to you."

Before I could refuse, Sebastian took my hand. "Come on, let's eat."

The dining table was filled with expensive dishes. I had zero appetite. I just wanted this farce to end.

As I cut my steak, I noticed Melanie staring at me, a sickening grin on her face.

My heart stopped. "Where is Buddy?"

Melanie tilted her head innocently. "Who's Buddy?"

I threw my chair back and ran downstairs. The dog bed was empty. I ran through every room, screaming his name.

Nothing. Silence.

I stumbled back into the dining room, my knees giving out as I collapsed onto the floor.

"What did you do to Buddy?"

Melanie smiled like a sweet child. "Isn't he right there in your stomach?"

Something snapped inside my brain.

A violent wave of nausea hit me, and I dry-heaved repeatedly onto the hardwood floor.

"Ahhh!"

I screamed, my hands slamming against the floor over and over again.

My palms turned red and bruised, but I couldn't feel the pain.

I remembered the day I got out of prison. Buddy had run to my feet, wagging his tail. I begged Sebastian to let me keep him. Sebastian had smiled, helped me build a doghouse, bought him birthday toys... it was all a lie.

"Sienna."

Sebastian knelt down, trying to pull me into his arms. "I didn't know she would do this. I'll buy you another dog..."

I pushed him away with all my strength, standing up by clutching the edge of the table.

"Buy me another one?" I laughed, tears streaming down my face. "Sebastian, you are a heartless monster."

After that day, I fell severely ill and couldn't leave my bed.

Whenever Sebastian came to check on me, I treated him like air.

Until I saw the news on my phone: Melanie Montgomery had won the prestigious Golden Daffodil Award using my design portfolio.

I dragged my weak body to Sebastian's study.

"Are you feeling better?" Sebastian looked up, completely unfazed, as if he knew I would come.

I forced my voice to remain steady. "My portfolio. You gave it to Melanie, didn't you?"

Sebastian walked over and stroked my hair. "Sienna, be reasonable. A portfolio in the hands of a felon is worthless. Giving it to Melanie ensures it actually gets put to good use."

Good use?

My mind flashed back to the hidden compartment I had found in his closet.

"Sienna." Sebastian buried his face in my neck, his voice dripping with dark obsession. "Don't ignore me. I hate it when you treat me like a stranger."

Suppressing the urge to vomit, I wrapped my arms around his waist. "Okay."

From that day on, I went back to being his obedient, quiet girl.

While Sebastian was away at court, I slipped into his master bedroom and opened his closet.

I tried his birthday, Melanie's birthday, my birthday. None of them worked.

Finally, I entered the date of my arrest three years ago.

Click.

The compartment popped open. Inside lay a digital voice recorder. With trembling fingers, I pressed play. Melanie's panicked, crying voice filled the room.

"Sebastian, I hit someone. There's so much blood. You have to help me."

Before the recording could finish, familiar footsteps echoed outside the door.

"Sienna, what are you doing in here?"