Chapter 2

SIENNA'S POV

I woke up with a jolt.

The sunlight stabbed through the curtains like it was punishing me. The bed sheets were knotted around my legs, my body still ached me in places I didn’t want to think about right now, and the room smelled like sex and his cologne.

My phone lay dead on the nightstand. Shit!

I scrambled up, and my heart was pounding like crazy.

What time was it? How long had I been out? The clock on the wall said 7:42 and class started at 9. I had to get home, shower, change, and pretend last night didn’t happen.

I grabbed my dress from the floor and yanked it on without bothering about the bra, I threw it in my bag instead. The thong was somewhere under the bed, but I had no time to look for it.

Shoes, clutch, phone. I didn’t even look back at the bed where we’d wrecked each other. I just bolted for the door.

The elevator ride down felt endless. Every ding made me flinch and I kept replaying flashes of last night—his mouth on me, his cock stretching me, his mouth on my nipples, the way he groaned my name even though we never exchanged them.

I was stupid, so fucking stupid.

There was an Uber waiting outside for me already, I gave the driver my address and stared out the window the whole way, trying not to cry or throw up or do both.

Dad’s car was in the driveway when I got home. Of course it was. He never left early anymore—always waiting to lecture me about something.

I slipped through the side door, hoping to sneak upstairs without being caught, but I was out of luck.

“Sienna?” His voice came from the kitchen and he sounded annoyed. When is he ever not annoyed. “Where the hell have you been?”

I froze in the hallway, took a deep breath and turned.

He stood there in his brown robe, with a cup of dark coffee in his hand, his face was already set in that disappointed scowl he saved just for me.

“Out,” I said.

“Out.” He laughed, but I knew it wasn’t funny. “All night? No call, no text. You think you’re grown now?”

“I’m twenty-one, Dad. I don’t need to report every move.”

His eyes narrowed. “You do when you’re living under my roof. When you’re about to be married in weeks. Where were you?”

“It’s none of your business.”

He stepped closer. “It is my business when you’re acting like a child. Running around to God knows where, coming home looking like—”

He gestured at me, at the wrinkled dress, the messy hair. “Like you’ve been up to no good. Can’t you be responsible for once in your life?”

Responsible.

That word hit me like a brick.

Did responsible mean smiling while he sold me off to Elias Thorne. Did responsible mean shutting up and saying yes to a man I didn’t even know.

“I was responsible,” I snapped back. “I was out trying to breathe before you lock me in a marriage I don’t want.”

His face hardened. “That marriage is saving this family. Elias Thorne is—”

“I don’t even know him!” I raised my voice louder than I wanted to. “You want me to marry a stranger and you won’t even tell me why him, why now, why me!”

“Because he’s the best option we have,” he said coldly. “He’s powerful and connected. He agreed to the terms and you will marry Elias Thorne, Sienna! No matter how stubborn you get. End of discussion.”

I stared at him. The resentment in his eyes was so thick I could taste it. He never looked at Elena like this when she was alive.

It was only me. Always me.

I turned and walked away. I didn’t slam anything, I just went up the stairs, shut my door quietly, and leaned against it until my heartbeat slowed down.

I couldn’t break down. Not now. I had class, a major course at that. This was a new lecturer and I could not be late on the first day.

Shower. I needed to shower.

I got in and scrubbed my body hard like I could wash last night off my skin. I quickly dried off, threw on a pair of jeans, a simple top, and sneakers.

I wrapped my hair in a messy bun, grabbed my bag, keys, and ran.

I drove in a rush and ended up making a crooked parking. Ran halfway across campus and made it to the lecture hall at 8:58.

I quickly slid into a seat next to Eden. My best friend.

She turned at me wide eyed. “Girl, where have you been? You’re never late for a major.”

“Family drama,” I muttered. “My Dad being my Dad.”

She frowned. “Again? What happened this time?”

“Same old, the engagement bullshit. He basically told me to shut up and marry the guy or else.”

Mara opened her mouth to reply, but the door opened and everyone quieted down.

The professor walked in, but his back was facing, so I didn't see his face at first.

He had lean broad shoulders that filled out the white button-down sleeves rolled to his elbows.

He had dark hair and a strong posture. A few girls whispered and giggled.

Mara leaned over. “Damn, the new prof is fine.”

I laughed under my breath. “You’re ridiculous.”

Then he turned to face the class and my laugh died in my throat.

Grey-blue eyes. The same angelic jaw. The same mouth that had been on me last night.

Professor Elias Thorne.

The man I fucked senseless in a hotel room.

The man I was supposed to marry.

He scanned the room and his eyes landed on me. I could see the same recognition I had on my face, flash through his. But it was gone in a second as he cleared his throat and stepped onto the podium.

“Good morning,” he said calmly. “I’m Professor Thorne. Welcome to Advanced Literary Theory.”

For a moment I just remained transfixed. Mara nudged me. “You okay? You look like you saw a ghost.”

This was way worse than seeing a ghost. I just saw my future and my mistake.

And they were the same person.