Chapter 2

Three days later, I had blocked his number and wiped our photos from existence.

His texts, his calls, the messages from friends begging me to take him back—I ignored them all.

I called my old professor in Paris. He'd been disappointed when I turned down the offer.

When he heard I'd changed my mind, he immediately found me a position as an Art Director at a prestigious gallery.

Work was the only drug that worked.

Until my best friend Harper called.

"Babe, Marcus is having a party on his yacht tonight. You have to be there."

"I don't want to see anyone from that circle."

"If you hide, you lose. That's exactly what Vivienne wants," Harper said, her tone serious. "You're going. You're gonna wear your hottest dress, your killer makeup, and you're going to show everyone that you're thriving without Dominic Carvalho."

She was right. I wasn't going to let them see me as a joke.

But the moment I stepped onto the yacht's deck and saw him, my heart still seized up.

Dominic.

He was leaning against the railing in a white linen shirt, holding a glass of whiskey, staring out at the black water.

He looked wrecked. Stubble shadowed his jaw.

Those blue eyes, usually so full of confidence, were just tired and anxious.

He saw me and stood up straight, a flicker of hope in his eyes.

It died the second he saw the ice on my face.

I turned to leave, but Harper grabbed my arm. "Chin up, chest out, Sienna. You're a queen walking into her kingdom. Act like it."

I took a deep breath and forced myself to stay.

The host, Marcus, walked over, looking awkward. "Sienna, so glad you could make it." Soon, a crowd formed.

"Sienna! You look amazing! See? A little lover's quarrel is good for the soul."

"Dominic's been going nuts without you. Stop torturing the guy."

"Yeah, we're all family here. Just kiss and make up!"

It was a fucking chorus. Like I was some misbehaving child, and they were all waiting for me to follow the script, accept Dominic's apology, and take his arm again.

I walked to a quiet corner, grabbed a glass of champagne, and stared out at the sea, deliberately ignoring the eyes I could feel burning into my back.

Finally, Dominic walked over, a drink in his hand.

"Sienna." His voice was raw. Pleading. "Can we talk?"

The whole party held its breath, ready for the show.

I took his champagne, stood up, and looked around the deck. Then I smiled at the crowd. "Since you're all so concerned, I'd like to take this opportunity to make a formal announcement."

I raised my glass, my voice carrying across the deck.

"My engagement to Mr. Dominic Carvalho is officially terminated."

The air went still. The color drained from Dominic's face.

"And as of today, my family's business with the Carvalhos is over. That includes all art authentication and secure logistics my father provides. We're done."

I looked at Dominic's stone-white face and Marcus's shocked expression next to him. "In plain English: we're done. Personally and professionally."

I downed the champagne and slammed the empty glass on the table.

"Thanks for all your 'concern'."

I walked towards the gangway in total silence.

Harper ran up and hugged me tight. "You killed it."

As I walked down to the parking lot, I heard Marcus's voice, low but clear.

"I tried, man. She's not fucking around this time. What the hell happened with you and Vivienne? Was it worth all this?"

I stopped, hiding behind a thick concrete pillar.

Then I heard Dominic's voice, cold and full of agony.

"Worth it? I just lost everything. She won't listen. She doesn't get that I did it to protect her. The bastards after Vivienne… if they knew Sienna was my real weakness, they'd use her to get to me. I had to create a smokescreen, make everyone think Vivienne was still the one."

Marcus sounded incredulous. "Protecting your fiancée by sleeping with your ex? What kind of fucked-up logic is that, Dom?"

"It was a misunderstanding!" Dominic's voice was filled with regret. "But she'll come back. She has to. She loves me. Once this is all over, I can explain everything."

The sea breeze felt like ice against my skin.

Protection? A smokescreen?

What an arrogant, pathetic excuse.

He still thought he was in control. He thought my love was so cheap he could trample all over it and then win me back with a few words.

I didn't storm out. I calmly took out my phone.

Then I stepped out from behind the pillar, the click of my heels echoing in the silent lot.

"Dominic!"

He whipped around. When he saw me, his face went ghost-white.

I held up my phone. The screen glowed. Recording.

I smiled, walking toward him, one slow step at a time. My voice was quiet, but every word was a knife.

"You were saying? Why don't you say it again. Into my phone."

"Tell me again how you protected me by fucking your ex. Say it. Right into the camera."