LOGINSienna's POVI had woken up to find the space beside me empty. But before I could even bother with the thought of where Eric might be, my bladder basically screamed at me to empty it.The hallway was quiet, but I could faintly smell pancakes and strawberries. Mom was up for sure.I pushed open the bathroom door, only to see Jessica on the floor.“Jess?” I said in panic.She was crouched against the bathtub, her back pressed to the porcelain, knees pulled in awkwardly. Her hands clawed at her chest, her face pale, lips tinged faintly blue.Her eyes met mine, wide and terrified.Oh God.“Oh my God. Jess!” I dropped to my knees beside her instantly. “Hey, hey, I’ve got you. Breathe, look at me.”She tried so hard to breathe but all that came out was a thin, wheezing gasp, like air squeezing through something too small. Her chest hitched violently, shoulders trembling with every failed inhale.My heart slammed into my ribs.“Where’s your inhaler?” I asked, already reaching for the pocket
Eric's POVThe first thing I felt when I woke up was warmth pressed against my side. The second was the faint scent of lavender.I opened my eyes fully to see Sienna curled beside me. One arm draped across my chest, and her head tucked just beneath my chin. Her hair was now loose, dark strands spilling across my shoulder and brushing my jaw with every gentle breath she took. Her face was relaxed, long lashes resting against her cheek bones, and lips slightly parted. She looked so peaceful.I stayed perfectly still, afraid that if I shifted even an inch, she would wake up. Then, she shifted slightly, her fingers tightening around the fabric of my T-shirt as she snuggled even closer. Her knee slid between mine, her forehead pressing lightly against my chest as if she was seeking warmth instinctively.A quiet laugh escaped me before I could stop it. I lifted my hand slowly, hesitating for half a second before letting my fingers brush her hair back from her face. The strands were soft and
Sienna's POV I sat at the dining table watching my mother laugh softly at something Eric said, her hand resting near her plate.Eric sat across from me as he listened to my Mom talk about her garden, the recipes she’d tweaked over the years, and how long we've lived in the neighborhood. He didn’t dominate the conversation or steer it toward himself like Jason would have done. He didn’t even mention London until Dad asked.My father, for his part, softened considerably once the talk turned to business.“So you oversee international investments?” Dad asked, leaning back in his chair, interest flickering behind his eyes.“Yes,” Eric replied. “Mostly long-term portfolios. Infrastructure, tech, sustainable energy. It’s demanding, but rewarding.”Dad nodded slowly. “That’s impressive for someone your age.”“Thank you, sir.”Jessica barely ate. She was too busy grinning, interrupting, and occasionally whispering to me.“Do you know how insane this is?” she hissed at one point. “My sister ma
Sienna’s POVConnor’s car stopped in front of my family's brick townhouse. The evening sun cast a warm glow over the neighborhood, the kind that made Brooklyn look almost serene but down the block, I could hear kids shouting and someone somewhere was cooking salmon. My stomach rumbled at the smell, reminding me of how hungry I am.Connor parked neatly by the curb and turned slightly in his seat. “Right then,” he said with a gentlemanly nod. “Brooklyn delivered as promised.”I gave him a small smile. “Thank you so much, Connor.”“My pleasure,” he replied, then glanced at Eric. “Sir, I’ll let you two get settled. I’ve got another appointment to run to.” He reached for the gear but paused. “I’ll keep in touch, yeah?”“Connor.” Eric’s voice was low and firm. “Not a word about seeing me to my parents.”Connor held his gaze in the mirror for a beat, then nodded once. “Understood, sir. My lips are sealed.” His British accent gave the sentence this charming seriousness that would’ve made me l
Eric’s POVThe moment the car doors slammed shut, the noise outside became muted. My chest was still tight, adrenaline buzzed under my skin.How the hell did the paparazzi know we'll be landing in New York today?Sienna looked a bit pale and was breathing in and out too quickly.I leaned towards her. “Are you alright?”She blinked, swallowed, then nodded. “Yeah.” She said, trying to catch her breath.For a moment, I wanted to pull her into my arms and just hold her until the tremor left her shoulders.Connor merged into traffic like the road belonged to him, one hand on the wheel, the other adjusting his earpiece. “Well, that was bloody mad,” he muttered, shaking his head.I narrowed my eyes. “Connor, what the hell are you doing in New York?”He gave me a short, clipped shrug in the rearview mirror. “Work, obviously. Your father sent me to handle a meeting with the Paterson Group. I was at the arrivals hall waiting for their rep to come in, but then the bloke messaged that his flight
Sienna’s POVEric rolled his suitcase effortlessly beside me, while I tried to pretend like my life wasn’t falling apart in slow-motion.He had suggested—very casually, like it was nothing—that we hire a private jet.“A private jet, Eric,” I’d repeated. “Do I look like someone who can afford a private jet?”He’d looked at me with those maddeningly calm eyes.“I'll foot the bill. Besides, we need some privacy, especially with that video on the internet.”“No.” I refused.Taking a private jet is not the solution to our problem right now.So now, after a long conversation—and me promising for the tenth time that I would pay him back—we were standing in the First Class boarding area.“I’ll transfer the money as soon as we get to New York,” I mumbled for maybe the sixth time.He gave me a sideways look, one eyebrow raised slightly. “Sienna, it’s fine.”“It’s not. I don’t want to owe you anything. Not even a fancy seat on a fancy plane.”His lips twitched. “You think First Class is fancy?”







