Chapter 4

The smug smile on Willa's face froze.

She stared at Sienna in disbelief.

Again?

Back in the car, she'd deliberately reminisced about her past with Tristan, only for Sienna to spend the entire ride playing a puzzle game.

And now, even after Willa had openly challenged her, Sienna hadn't gotten angry or tried to argue.

She'd actually agreed with her?

It was like throwing a punch at a pillow.

Willa felt both frustrated and furious.

Did this woman genuinely not care anymore, or was she playing some clever game of her own, pretending to back off so she could get what she wanted?

Willa was about to say something else when a terrified shout rang out from the distance.

“Watch out! GET OUT OF THE WAY!”

A freestyle skier appeared to have lost control and was hurtling toward them at terrifying speed.

“Sienna! Willa! Look out!”

Tristan's frantic shout came from nearby.

Both women froze as the skier raced closer.

In a split second, Tristan charged out of the lodge like an enraged cheetah.

He knew exactly where he was going.

He sprinted straight toward Willa, grabbed her arm, and yanked her toward safety with all his strength.

Then he positioned himself in front of her, shielding her with his body.

Sienna stood less than six feet away.

She was close enough to see the desperation in Tristan's eyes as he rushed toward them.

His gaze had been fixed solely on Willa.

Protecting her was all that mattered to him.

Then an enormous force slammed into Sienna.

The world spun.

She was thrown violently through the air, tumbling several times across the snow.

Her skis came loose, and her goggles flew off.

Freezing snow filled her nose and mouth, while a deafening ringing filled her ears.

Pain shot through every part of her body.

Finally, the back of her head struck something hard, half-buried beneath the snow.

Everything went black.

When Sienna regained consciousness, she was in a hospital.

The sharp smell of disinfectant filled her nose.

A dull, throbbing pain radiated from the back of her head and throughout her body.

She opened her eyes and stared at the white ceiling, disoriented for several seconds.

Then she heard an argument outside the door.

The voices were deliberately hushed, but she could still make out every word.

It was Tristan and Willa.

“So that's the guy you're considering dating?” Tristan demanded. “When you were in danger, he was standing right there! He saw what was happening and didn't even try to protect you! Cut him off!”

“He just didn't see it!” Willa shot back. “Nathan's a great guy in every other way! My love life is none of your business! It has nothing to do with you!

“Your girlfriend's lying in a hospital bed right now! Why don't you go take care of her?”

“Willa Bennett!”

Tristan sounded furious enough to shout her full name.

“You're doing this to make me jealous, aren't you? You know damn well the only reason I started dating Sienna was because...”

“Because what? Go on! Say it!” Willa interrupted sharply.

Tristan stopped mid-sentence, as though something had lodged in his throat.

Several seconds of dead silence followed.

Then he spoke through clenched teeth, abruptly changing his answer.

“Nothing.”

Willa let out a cold laugh.

“I'm done arguing with you! I'm going to have dinner with Nathan. Go look after your girlfriend!”

“Don't you dare!”

“Watch me! Bye!”

The rapid clicking of her heels faded down the hallway.

Then came the sound of Tristan's heavy, furious breathing.

A dull thud followed as he punched the wall.

Moments later, the hospital room door opened quietly.

A nurse stepped inside.

“Oh, you're awake! How are you feeling? Still dizzy?”

The commotion outside immediately stopped.

Tristan entered.

He looked exhausted, his face drawn and dark circles beneath his eyes.

He approached the bed and looked at Sienna, his voice softening.

“You're awake. How do you feel? Does anything hurt?

“The doctor said you have a mild concussion and bruises in several places. They want to keep you under observation for a few days.”

The nurse examined Sienna, recorded her vital signs, gave her a few instructions, and left.

Only Tristan and Sienna remained.

He sat beside her bed.

After several seconds of silence, he finally spoke, his voice awkward and strained.

“Sienna, about what happened earlier. Everything happened so fast, and I...”

“I know.”

Sienna interrupted him.

Her voice was faint from exhaustion, but remarkably calm.

“You must've mistaken Willa for me. You were trying to save me, but you accidentally saved someone else instead.”

She gave him a look of understanding.

“It's okay. I get it. You don't have to explain.”

Every explanation and comforting word Tristan had prepared died in his throat.

She'd actually anticipated the exact excuse he'd been planning to use?