Chapter 3

"Sienna, I know you’re dying and you’re bitter about it, but that is your fate!"

"Your body was born defective. Even God can't save you! It’s your own destiny to die young, it is not my fault, and it certainly isn’t Lauren's!"

"How many times do I have to tell you? Why do you keep targeting Lauren? I kept you away from the entertainment news because I didn't want you overthinking! I never expected you to start throwing dirt on her, let alone abuse your power to blacklist her!"

His usually arrogant, detached voice was shaking with rage.

I simply asked, "Did you really fly to Paris for work? Was that wedding dress photo really just a stunt forced by the brand?"

"Or did you rush to Paris just to accompany her to Fashion Week?"

On the other end of the line, his breath hitched.

Silence stretched for two seconds.

"What nonsense are you talking about? That never happened... You’re getting more paranoid by the day..."

Then, Lauren’s voice piped up.

"Miles, the show is about to start. You came out here to relax, and I don't want you to be unhappy because of me. When we go back, I’ll personally apologize to Sienna. I’ll even get down on my knees if that’s what it takes."

The call was abruptly cut off.

They probably didn't want to miss the show.

I held my new passport, and my tears finally fell uncontrollably.

"Mom, I won't let them get away with this," I whispered to the empty room. It was a promise to my late mother.

I didn't know how long I cried. My chest felt so tight I could barely breathe.

The next morning, I woke up with swollen eyes.

I put on sunglasses and walked downstairs, only to see a busy figure in the kitchen.

Miles walked out, freezing for a second when he saw me, but he quickly put on his usual nonchalant face.

"You’re awake? I made breakfast. Come eat."

"I knew you'd overthink things yesterday, so I flew back overnight without even resting."

I opened my mouth to tell him to get lost, but then a slender figure wearing my silk bathrobe walked out of the bathroom.

She rushed straight into Miles’s arms, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness.

"Miles, you’re so sweet. I love a man who knows how to take care of people."

Miles quickly peeled her off him, a trace of panic in his voice. "How old are you, acting like a child?"

He turned to explain to me.

"When we landed, there was a sudden downpour. We got soaked. I told Lauren to come over and change first. She insisted on coming to apologize to you, so I let her borrow your clothes."

Lauren stuck her tongue out and looked at me. "Sienna, I’m here to apologize. Yesterday was really just a joke! If you don't believe me, I’ll join the social season this weekend and marry myself off. I promise I won't get in your way."

"Lauren! Stop messing around!" Miles snapped. Sensing the mock on my lips, he quickly tried to smooth things over.

"I mean, Sienna has always been generous and kind. She’s already forgiven you. There’s no need for you to go marry some old man."

"Right, Sienna? Let’s just forget about yesterday, okay?"

I was practically on my "deathbed," yet he was playing house with his mistress at Paris Fashion Week.

And now he wanted me to just let it go? Of course.

I let out a cold smile. "Sure. I don't mind."

After all, you two will be broke soon anyway.

What your relationship is, where you slept last night, and what you did—I couldn't care less.

Hearing this, Miles looked relieved. He adjusted his glasses.

"I’m glad you understand. I’ve put my current projects on hold to spend time with you. Once you’re feeling better, we’ll finalize the divorce, and I’ll go back to work."

I nodded calmly.

He was my husband. He was supposed to accompany me through my "final days."

But a flash of malice crossed Lauren’s eyes. She spun around, took the cup Miles was holding, and walked toward me.

"Sienna, you have to try this cappuccino Miles made. Last time we went out, I said the coffee there was amazing, and Miles promised he’d learn how to make it for me. I just tasted it, and it tastes exactly the same."

Miles looked at me nervously.

He used to say his hands were meant for signing multi-million dollar contracts, not for cooking.

When I first handed him my "cancer" diagnosis, he had stared at it in shock, then grabbed my hand with red eyes.

"Don't be afraid, Sienna. I’m here."

Since then, he would dive into the kitchen after work, researching recipes.

I thought he had finally found his conscience. I thought he remembered our past warmth.

It turned out he wasn't practicing for me.

He was practicing for another woman.

Lauren held the coffee out to me, her smile dripping with triumph.

"Try it, Sienna. It’s Miles’s hard work."

I looked at her and smiled.

The next second, I swung my hand hard.

"Smash!"

The beautifully crafted cup shattered on the floor, hot coffee splashing all over Lauren.

"Ah!" she screamed, jumping back in pain.

Miles’s face fell. He lunged forward and shoved me away.

"Sienna! Are you insane!"

I stumbled, my waist slamming hard against the sofa armrest. A sharp pain shot through my back.

He didn't even look at me. He was too busy checking Lauren’s arm.

"Are you hurt? Is it bad? Let me see!"

Lauren sobbed, burying herself in his chest. "Miles, it hurts... Does Sienna hate me that much?"

Miles held her close, glaring at me like I was a madwoman.

"She’s just spoiled! She’s lost her mind from the sickness!"

I held my aching waist and looked coldly at the two of them.

"Get out."

My voice wasn't loud, but it was freezing.

"Get the hell out of my house."

Miles frowned. "Sienna, stop being unreasonable. Lauren was only trying to be nice..."

"Nice?" I cut him off, pointing at the door. "Wearing my bathrobe, standing in my house, bragging about the coffee you made for her—that's her being nice?"

"I said, get out!"

I grabbed another glass from the table and shattered it at their feet.

Lauren shrieked, flinching.

Miles finally snapped, pulling Lauren behind him.

"Enough, Sienna! Look at yourself! You look like a psycho!"

"I stayed to accompany you, not to let you step all over me! I signed the divorce papers, and I even let you have the majority of the assets! What more do you want!"

He thought he was making a sacrifice.

He didn't know that the assets under his name were already hollowed out.

Every single equity transfer sheet he had signed was a trap.

"I don't want anything," I said calmly. "I just want some peace before I die. The two of you are hurting my eyes."

Miles’s chest heaved with anger. Ultimately, he dragged Lauren away.

Before leaving, he cast a complicated look at me.

"Sienna, watch yourself."

The front door slammed shut.

Finally, the world was quiet.

I bent down and picked up the shattered porcelain piece by piece.

The sharp edges sliced into my finger, and a bead of blood welled up.

I didn't care.

This little pain was nothing.