Max’s POV
I hadn’t wanted to fire Harry. He was one of the best men I had on staff, someone I trusted to do the job right. But when Sienna got herself into trouble, his failure to keep her safe had left me no choice. Or so I thought. Bringing him back wasn’t a decision I made lightly. The truth was, I didn’t need Sienna’s nagging to know Harry wasn’t the problem—Sienna was. She couldn’t seem to stay put or follow simple instructions. Firing Harry had been more about making a statement than addressing any real incompetence. When Sienna gave me that ultimatum— “Bring Harry back or forget about my security”—I’d almost laughed in her face. But the deal was the deal, and keeping her safe was part of it. So, Harry came back, and the look on her face told me she thought she’d won. If only she knew how little any of this mattered to me. Firing Harry was simply my show of power; to remind her that the time she decided to misbehave, even slightly, she could have others crumbling for her sins. On one such good days, I was stretched out in my king-sized bed, the room dark except for the faint glow of my phone on the nightstand. Notifications had been buzzing nonstop for the past hour, but I ignored them. I rolled over, trying to block out the noise. But curiosity got the better of me, and I grabbed my phone, scrolling through the alerts. Sienna’s name was everywhere. "Actress-Turned-Gold-Digger: Sienna Brooks’ Scandalous New Role?" "Maxwell Hollandale’s Fiancée Exposed: Is She in It for the Money?" I sighed, tossing the phone onto the bed. I should’ve known this would happen eventually. Sienna had a knack for attracting chaos, and being attached to her was bound to come with collateral damage. It wasn’t my problem, though. Not really. The deal was clear—twelve months, a grandchild, and then we’d go our separate ways. Let her deal with the fallout from her past. I would just play my part. But as I passed by her room on the way to my study, I heard something that made me stop in my tracks. She was crying. I didn’t need to look inside to know she was sitting on the bed, curled up in that way she did when she wanted to disappear. For a moment, I stood there, debating whether to walk away or say something. What did I care if she was upset? But then I remembered the agreement. I’d promised to help her rebuild her reputation, and this mess wasn’t exactly helping either of us. I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contacts until I found the name I needed. “Ben,” I said when the call connected. “Maxwell! Long time, no hear. What can I do for you?” “I need a favor,” I said bluntly. “I want to schedule an interview. Tonight.” There was a pause. “You? Doing an interview? That’s a first.” “It’s important,” I said, ignoring his sarcasm. “I want it on the biggest platform you can get me.” “Alright, let me see what I can do. What’s this about?” “Sienna,” I said simply. “Ah.” He didn’t ask for more details. “I’ll call you back in twenty.” Two hours later, I was at the studio, sitting in a makeup chair as a stylist fussed over my hair. “You don’t do this often, do you?” she asked with a grin. “No,” I said flatly. “Relax,” she said, patting my shoulder. “You’ll do fine. Just smile and be charming.” “Charming,” I muttered. “Right.” *** The interview was being broadcast live, and the studio lights were blinding. The host, a polished woman in her early forties, greeted me with a warm smile as I took my seat opposite her. “Maxwell Hollandale,” she began, turning to the camera. “Billionaire businessman, philanthropist, and now, fiancé to one of Hollywood’s most controversial figures, Sienna Brooks. Thank you for joining us tonight.” “Thank you for having me,” I said, keeping my tone polite but detached. “Let’s get right to it,” she said, leaning forward slightly. “There’s been a lot of speculation about your relationship with Sienna. The headlines haven’t been kind. What do you have to say about all this?” I smiled faintly, as if the question amused me. “Speculation is inevitable, especially when you’re in the public eye. But the truth is much simpler than people think. Sienna and I are in love. Everything else is just noise.” “And when did this love story begin?” she asked, her tone curious. I leaned back slightly, pretending to consider the question. “We met years ago, actually. Back when she was still in acting school.” “Really?” “Yes,” I said, nodding. “I was at a charity event she was volunteering at. She was so passionate and driven, even then. I was immediately drawn to her.” “That’s quite the story,” she said, smiling. “But if you’ve known her for so long, why keep the relationship private until now?” “We wanted to build something real before letting the world in,” I said smoothly. “Sienna’s been through a lot, and I didn’t want to add to that pressure.” The host nodded, her expression softening. “Some have accused Sienna of using you for your wealth and influence. How do you respond to those claims?” I kept my expression calm, though the question annoyed me. “Sienna doesn’t need to use anyone. She’s one of the strongest, most independent women I’ve ever met. If anything, I’m the lucky one in this relationship.” The host chuckled. “That’s quite the endorsement.” “It’s the truth,” I said firmly. By the time the interview ended, I’d said everything I needed to say. I’d painted a picture of a love story the public would eat up, and if the host’s reaction was any indication, it had worked. As I left the studio, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Sienna didn’t know it yet, but I’d just saved her reputation—and by extension, my own. For now, at least.Sienna’s POVThe doors of the church opened, and a hush fell over the crowd.This was it.I inhaled sharply, my fingers tightening around Harry’s arm as he led me down the aisle. The soft hum of whispers filled the air, a mixture of awe, shock, and, undoubtedly, judgment. Harry walking me instead of my father was already enough to set off a scandal. From the corner of my eye, I spotted my father, Victor, sitting stiffly in the front row, his hands clenched into fists. His face was a deep shade of red, his jaw locked so tight I thought it might snap. Beside him, my mother kept her expression carefully neutral, but I could see the slight twitch in her lips. She was furious.I knew what this wedding meant for them. The media will be swooping all over my father and mother in no time, wondering how it is that a stranger—a mere bodyguard—walked me to the aisle. And then, of course, they will tell another lie to make me appear as the devil.Why did they hate me so much? I lifted my chin. Let
Max’s POV"Alright, let’s get this over with."I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my tie while Ben clapped me on the back. "You sound so thrilled," he teased, grinning."You do realize you're about to marry one of the most talked-about women in the country, right?" another groomsman, Kyle, added. "Biggest event of the year. And you're standing there like you're getting sentenced to life in prison."I smirked. "You act like I haven't been living in prison since this engagement started."The room burst into laughter."Come on, man," Ben said, sitting on the armrest of a couch. "You’re Maxwell Hollandale. We expected at least some excitement from you. I mean, there was more enthusiasm when you bought that god-awful sports car that lasted a month before you crashed it.""That was a great car," I muttered."It was orange," Kyle said flatly."It was bold," I corrected."It was hideous," Ben shot back.I rolled my eyes, but I had to admit, their banter made things easier.For a momen
Sienna’s POVThe hospital room had been cold. Sterile. Unforgiving.The fluorescent lights buzzed above me as I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Every part of me ached, from my burned skin to the exhaustion that clung to my bones. But I didn’t have time to wallow.I had made a decision.I was getting married today.No matter what Hester had done, no matter what had happened to Max, no matter how much the universe seemed determined to stop this wedding—I wasn’t letting anyone take this from me.Harry had looked at me like I was insane when I told him.“You just got out of the hospital,” he had said, exasperated.“And?” I’d countered. “I’m still breathing, aren’t I?”He sighed, rubbing his temples. “You’re impossible.”I had smiled, despite everything. “So I’ve been told.”And with that, he had helped me get dressed, helped me walk out of that hospital, and helped me step back into the disaster of my life—ready to face whatever came next.When I got home, the first thing I saw was Ma
Max’s POVI crouched low, listening, my head pounding. Had I lost them?When was the last time I had to squeeze through for survival? A memory flashed through my head. Me… pressed in a car, pushed to my limit, my head bleeding and around me…Then, a voice from the distance and I flashed back to the present. “FIND HIM.”My breath came out shaky.This wasn’t over. Not even close. I needed to get out of here. And fast. Because whoever was behind this? They weren’t going to stop until I was dead.Slowly, I crept out of my hiding place and dove forward, running as fast as my legs could carry me. Then I kicked against something on the way and stumbled again, coughing and groaning as the pangs of pain spread around me.They had heard me. Pain. Exhaustion. Pure rage.I wasn’t sure which one was driving me forward anymore.The men chasing me had caught up fast, their silhouettes barely visible against the dim light of dawn creeping over the hills. My breath was ragged, my body sore from t
Max’s POVSabotage.That was the only explanation for everything that had happened in the past twenty-four hours. My missing passport. My stolen phone. The conveniently sabotaged bus. Someone was pulling strings to make sure I didn’t make it home today.Which meant I had to be smarter than whoever was playing this game.The driver had told everyone to stay inside for the night. “Best to just sit tight,” he had said. “No sense in wandering around in the middle of nowhere. We’ll get a mechanic out first thing in the morning.”And so, one by one, the passengers had settled in though many complaints emerged at first. The lights were dimmed, and people curled into their seats, using jackets and bags as makeshift pillows. The hum of low whispers faded into soft snores.I wasn’t planning on sleeping.Instead, I leaned back, watching the darkness outside. Every instinct in me screamed that staying here was a bad idea, but I didn’t have a better alternative—at least not yet.“Excuse me,” a vo
Sienna’s POVPain.That was the first thing I registered. A sharp, burning sensation shooting up my arm, a dull ache pounding in my skull. My eyelids fluttered, but the light was too bright, too harsh. Voices murmured around me, but they were distant, like they were coming from another world.“Sienna.”A familiar voice. Steady. Strong.I tried to open my mouth, but my throat was dry, my body heavy.“Sienna, stay with me.”I forced my eyes open, blinking against the blinding fluorescent lights. The first thing I saw was Harry, his face taut with concern as he hovered over me.“Harry,” I croaked.Relief flickered in his expression. “You’re awake.”I swallowed, my throat feeling like sandpaper. “What... happened?”Harry exhaled through his nose. “You don’t remember?”I tried to think, piecing together fragments of memory—the bath, the stinging pain, Hester’s smirk. My stomach twisted.“Hester,” I whispered.Harry’s jaw tightened. “Yeah. You walked right into her trap.”I closed my eyes