Chapter 3

Dominic stared at my phone, his face ashen.

Marcus coughed awkwardly. "Sienna, how much did you hear?"

"Enough," I said, stopping the recording. "Thanks for the material."

Dominic finally found his voice, a raw whisper. "Sienna, you don't understand—"

"Oh, I understand," I cut him off. "I understand exactly how fucking arrogant you are."

I turned and walked away.

I heard his footsteps chasing after me, but I didn't look back.

The Lamborghini screamed through the Chicago night.

My mind flashed through the last two years.

The full scholarship to the Paris College of Art. I gave it up. He said three years was too long to be without me.

The recommendation letter from Anselm Kiefer's lead assistant. It expired.

I changed how I dressed. Traded my bohemian, free-spirited style for the elegant look he preferred.

I learned to make his favorite Old Fashioned, just the way he liked it.

I gave up my weekends in the studio to attend his boring family functions. I even learned to quiet my laugh because he said it was "unladylike."

I erased myself, piece by piece, to become his perfect fiancée.

And for what? It was never enough. I was never his only choice.

The light turned red. The tears finally came.

Not for him.

For the Sienna I had lost.

At midnight, I found myself parked outside "The Night Library," a 24-hour indie bookstore.

My old sanctuary. Before Dominic.

The store was quiet, just the rustle of pages and the low hum of the coffee machine.

I found a corner in the art section and opened a book on Van Gogh.

The swirling cosmos in The Starry Night felt like a scream.

The burning yellows of his Sunflowers were like a soul on fire.

This was who I used to be. Passionate. Real. Uncompromising.

Now I was a painting that had been painted over so many times, it was unrecognizable.

Two hours later, I felt calmer. At least I wasn't crying anymore.

As I left the bookstore, I heard a familiar voice from the bar across the street.

"Sienna! Sienna, where are you?"

My body went rigid.

Dominic.

He was leaning against the wall, completely drunk, his white shirt a mess.

"I love you, Sienna! I fucking love you!" he yelled at the empty street. "Come back! Please, come back!"

A few people stopped to watch, whispering.

I looked at this man, once a king, now a pathetic stray dog.

I felt nothing. No pity.

Just disgust.

I walked faster toward the parking lot, desperate to escape this circus.

Just as I reached the corner, a Maserati pulled up to the curb.

The window rolled down. Vivienne's flawless face.

She looked radiant, her lips painted blood-red.

"Sienna," she cooed. "All alone so late at night?"

In the passenger seat, Dominic was passed out, his head lolling against the seat, mumbling my name.

"Wandering the streets alone. You look so pathetic," Vivienne said, faking concern. "Need a ride? I'm taking Dom home anyway. It's on the way."

She stressed the nickname "Dom." The smugness practically poured out of the window.

"No, thanks." I didn't even glance at Dominic. "I'm afraid your cheap perfume might rub off on me."

Vivienne's smile froze. "What?"

"That jasmine perfume. It's so cheap you can smell it from a block away," I said, my voice dripping with disdain. "That kind of stench clings to everything."

Her face turned ugly. "You—"

I was already walking to my car.

Inside, my phone rang. Harper.

"Sienna! Are you okay?" she said, her voice full of worry. "I got mobbed at the party and by the time I got free, you were gone."

"I'm fine."

"Marcus said Dominic got wasted and was looking for you. Vivienne picked him up." Harper's voice dropped. "Whatever you do, don't run into them. It's better not to see it."

I gave a bitter laugh. "Already did."

"What? What'd they say?"

"Nothing. Just confirmed something for me."

"What?"

"They deserve each other," I said, watching the Maserati disappear in my rearview mirror. "A self-important bastard and a fake-ass bitch. A match made in hell."

Harper was silent for a second. "Sienna, are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm great," I said. "Never been clearer."

After I hung up, my phone buzzed.

A text from Dominic's mother.

"Dearest Sienna, it's Elena. I've missed you. Are you free tomorrow afternoon? I'd love for you to come over. I have something to talk to you about. There will always be a place for you here. Mama's promise."