Sienna’s POV
That would be my new foundation—not just in writing, but in life. I could no longer keep pretending I was okay. No longer hide pain behind polite smiles or sweet phrases. Because apparently, when I was honest, my writing came alive. And maybe… my heart could begin to heal too. I straightened my back, looking ahead. Cars passed, pedestrians stared at their phones, a child laughed as their balloon almost floated away. The world kept moving, and I… was still here. But not to hide. I was sitting on these steps not because I had lost my way, but because I had finally stopped running. I thought of Noah. His smile. His voice when he said “Mommy.” His face when he cried. It hurt, yes. But I also knew, I didn’t want to return as the woman I used to be. I wanted him to see the best version of me—the version no longer afraid of the truth. I walked to the nearby park, sat on an empty bench, and took out my laptop. My fingers hovered uncertaiLiam’s POV The world stopped spinning for a few seconds. Mr. Chen’s voice faded, like an echo in an empty hall. I stared at her, trying to make sure it wasn’t just my scattered mind playing tricks on me.But no—it was really her.Sienna sat with her shoulders slightly hunched, fingers flying across the keyboard. Every now and then she reached for a snack, then returned to her screen, her brow furrowed as if in a silent debate with herself. Sunlight filtered softly onto the glass tabletop in front of her, casting a faint shimmer—making her seem as if she belonged to a world I could no longer reach.“Mr. Liam? Do you agree with the proposed equity split?” Mr. Chen’s voice pulled me back into the room.I blinked, then quickly turned to him. “Ah, yes. Sorry, I got distracted. I agree with that ratio, as long as we also revisit the long-term planning.”Mr. Chen nodded, pleased, and continued his presentation.But my thoughts remained tethered t
Liam’s POV I looked at her blankly before finally nodding. “Yes… yes, I know. Thank you, Mia.”She gave me a small, knowing smile before quietly closing the door.Once she left, I exhaled deeply. I pulled my blazer from the back of the chair, straightened my slightly crooked tie, and stood up.My steps toward the meeting room felt heavy—each stride pressing down like an invisible weight on my shoulders. When I entered, everyone was already there. The finance team sat with laptops and thick files in front of them, all prepared for an intense discussion.I took the head seat and opened the notes in front of me.The meeting began with a presentation from the team leader. He spoke about cash flow, about certain expenses that needed to be reduced, and new investment opportunities in the next quarter.I tried to keep up. I really did. But their voices began to blur, turning into indistinct humming in my ears.“We noted a 7% drop in net prof
Liam’s POV Today, for some reason, time seemed to move slowly. Or maybe it moved too fast, and I just couldn’t keep up. I sat in my office, staring at the computer screen displaying a financial report. The numbers danced meaninglessly. My hands hovered above the keyboard, but I hadn’t typed a single word in the past fifteen minutes. My head felt full. Dense. But not with ideas or strategies—rather with an inner noise that refused to quiet down. Sienna’s voice, Noah’s cries, even my mother’s sharp words from this morning still echoed like sound bouncing off the bare walls of my mind.I rubbed my temples, trying to force myself to focus. But all I could see was Sienna’s weary face—the one I had looked at so many times without truly seeing. Five years. Five years she lived in silence, while I was too busy trying to save myself.I glanced at the desk. There was a small photo of Noah in a wooden frame. His smile was wide, his baby teeth still uneven. I re
Liam’s POV My mother’s face flushed with anger. Her breathing quickened. And then, suddenly—smack—her hand struck my cheek. Hot. Burning.Noah, who had been sitting on the couch, went completely still, eyes wide in shock.I didn’t move. I simply stared at my mother, whose hands were trembling from emotion.“If you’re suffering, it’s because of your own choices, Liam!” she shouted. “You chose to live in the past! You refused to open your heart again after Emily left! You let Sienna love you without ever giving her hope!”I clenched my jaw. “I know.”Her eyes were glassy now, but her voice remained hard. “And if you want to know who made your life this way… look in the mirror. Don’t point at me. Don’t point at Emily. This is all you.”I stood silent. Her words struck harder than her hand ever could.“And one more thing,” she added, her voice lower now, but piercing. “If you hadn’t drowned in your own pain, maybe Sienna wouldn’t have entered your life.
Liam’s POV I shut my eyes for a moment. My mind spun. I hadn’t showered. Emily was still knocked out from drinking. The food was ruined. My son was inconsolable. Time was ticking.And me—Liam—the so-called grown man who was supposed to handle everything calmly… could only stand in the middle of the mess, unsure where to begin.Finally, I got up, opened the pantry, and grabbed a pack of chocolate biscuits that was still unopened. “Here, just for now, okay? I promise we’ll get a real breakfast on the way.”Noah looked at the biscuits, still crying but calming a little. He took one hesitantly and nibbled at it. I sat across from him, trying to smile even though I felt like I was falling apart.7:17 a.m.If I took a five-minute shower, maybe I could still make it. But what about Noah? Who would take him if Emily didn’t get up?I looked at my son, then down at my phone. I had no other option.“Noah, put this on for now. I’ll find your other uniform l
Liam’s POVThe sun had only just peeked through the curtains, and the air still held a chill when my feet touched the floor. I sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, trying to steady my breath before I stood and made my way to the dining room. I hoped for the scent of coffee or toasted bread to greet me.But all I found was an empty, silent table.There was no smell of anything.I glanced toward the kitchen. Also empty. No breakfast preparations, no bread out of its packaging, no clinking of pans heating on the stove.I closed the fridge and stood motionless in the center of the kitchen. My eyes scanned the room that once felt so alive—now just a shell with no meaning. I opened the cupboard, pulled out a single mug, and made a simple instant coffee. Sienna’s favorite coffee wasn’t there anymore, just remnants of my own habits that never really changed.Hot water flowed from the dispenser, releasing a faint steam into the air. The scent of coffee slowly fill