LOGINWilona's POV
I sighed. "Because I'll give her the reason to think that Liam is lying to her."Joshua became even tenser. "Don't make the situation worse than it has to be."I chuckled. "The worst situation is exactly what I need in order to make my plan work."I went back to the bed but didn't approach Liam. I just stood some steps away from him, looking at the sleeping face.For a moment, I imagined how Sienna would react seeing the situation I created for her.DisapSienna's POV I told her again what had happened to Liam, starting from his confession about Wilona, the money he had given her, to the incident in Hawaii. I also told her about my meeting with Joshua and his confession that he was Wilona's younger brother and the person who took Liam from the bar to the hotel on the night of the incident.Liliana listened carefully without cutting me off. Every now and then she asked a short question, then wrote something down in the small notebook she had brought.After I finished, she leaned back in her chair."Okay. Now we need to separate what we already know from what is still just an assumption."I nodded."I understand.""First, I need to know the name of the hotel where it happened. Do you know the full name?""Diamond Hotel," I answered. "It happened on May 23rd."Liliana immediately wrote down the name and date.
Sienna's POV What hurt the most wasn't even the hotel. It was the idea that Wilona had studied us. She had studied my marriage. She knew that Liam would do anything to protect our family, and she turned that love into a weapon. She didn't need to threaten him with violence. She just needed to threaten him with losing me.When I got home, the house was quiet. Too quiet. Liam wasn't there yet. I stood in the living room for a while, just listening to the clock. I wanted to cry, but the tears wouldn't come. Instead there was this heavy, dull ache in my chest, like I was carrying something I couldn't put down.I went to Noah's room. His bed was still neatly made. His photo was still on the desk. I touched the frame with my fingertips and whispered, "Your mom is trying, sweetheart. I'm trying to do the right thing."I didn't know if I was doing it right. Part of me wanted to confront Liam again, to demand every detail right now. Another part
Sienna's POV I stared at Joshua, who had just told me everything honestly."Does Wilona know that you don't want to help her anymore?"Joshua nodded."She knows. We even argued about it.""What did she say?""She threatened to drag me down with her if she ever got caught. She said I could also lose the life I'm building right now."I let out a slow breath."And how did you answer her?""I told her I'm tired of living with lies." Joshua looked at me with a steadier gaze. "I don't want to keep being someone who takes advantage of other people's kindness. I don't want to let Wilona hurt other people just because I'm afraid to face the consequences of my own mistakes."There was sincerity in his voice.I didn't know if he would be able to prove that change through his actions, but at least for the first time, he wasn't trying to run away from
Sienna's POV Joshua didn't answer right away. He swallowed hard."I didn't know her whole plan from the start, ma'am. I really didn't. But after everything happened, after I saw what she did next, I started to realize that she deliberately made Mr. Liam be in a difficult situation. She wanted him to be in that exact situation.""How? How did she do it?""Wilona wanted to have something. Something she could use to pressure Mr. Liam with. Leverage. She knew Mr. Liam was married and that he loves his family very much. He's very protective of you, ma'am. Everyone knows that. She thought Mr. Liam would do anything so that the problem wouldn't reach you. So it wouldn't reach his wife. She thought if she could scare him with that, he'd pay."I felt my hands start to tremble. For real this time. I had to put them in my lap so he wouldn't see.It wasn't because I just found out Wilona wanted money. I'd already suspect
Sienna's POV Joshua's face changed right away. Like, instantly.He just went quiet. And then he squeezed his hands together on top of the table so hard his knuckles turned white."I knew part of her plan. Before you and I even met."My heart started beating so fast I could hear it in my ears."Part of it?" I said. My voice sounded smaller than I wanted it to.Joshua nodded slowly, not looking at me."I knew Wilona wanted to get money from Mr. Liam. I knew that. And I also knew she had a plan about that night. The night Mr. Liam was at the bar. But I swear, ma'am, I didn't know all the details from the start. She never tells me everything. She never did."I tried so hard to hold back my shock. To not react."Then what actually happened that night, Joshua? Tell me."He looked at me then, and his face was just full of regret. Like he was already sorry for what he was about to say."I will tell you, ma'am. Everything. I promise. But I want you to know one thing first before I do.""What?
Sienna's POV I took a slow breath, trying to keep my emotions steady. My fingers were wrapped so tight around the cup I thought it would break."Then start from the beginning. Tell me about your life with Wilona."Joshua was silent for a very long time before he finally started talking."Wilona is my biological sister. We grew up together, but after our parents died, everything changed. We didn't have much money. At first, we really were struggling just to survive."I listened without cutting him off."But over time, Wilona started doing all kinds of ways to get money. She often used sad stories so people would feel sorry for us. I joined her. I did it too. With her."My fingers tightened around the cup."So those stories you told me? About your hard life?""Some of it's true, ma'am. We really did live hard. But I didn't always tell the whole truth. I made it sound worse. So people would help more. So they'd give us more money."I just stared at him. I didn't even know what I was fe
Sienna's POV I smooch at the shiny oven door, staring into the mirror. I used to look heavier, but now my face looks softer than it did before. I had not seen such a small smile in ages.Liam suddenly slipped my mind. His eyes remained vividly in the memory of his farewell. Something tha
Sienna's POV “For helping. I hesitated, but I had to push forward and be here." He looked at him with a soft voice. “You don’t have to thank me, Sienna.” I inhaled a small breath. I had a longing to say something that was deep inside me, but the words were st
Sienna’s POV Noah's words made me burst into sheer happiness. With ease, Noah could fill the air between us and make our home feel like a new place in heaven.For a moment, Mrs. Wilson looked at me like I was saying something.I could see her gratitude through her gentle smile. The f
Sienna's POV A couple of young adults shared a slice of cake and laughed at each other on the same table. They seemed so uncomplicated and effortless, as if the world held no importance. I smiled watching them. I thought maybe I had forgotten what it was like just to sit with someone and hav







