~ 🌹❤️‍🩹 PROLOGUE ❤️‍🩹🌹 ~

~ DEDICATION ~

For the girls who had to become someone else just to survive❤️‍🩹.

~ TRIGGER WARNINGS ~

This story contains themes that may be distressing to some readers, including:

- Violence and physical assault

- Emotional and psychological abuse

- Toxic relationships

- Pregnancy-related themes

- Power imbalance and manipulation

- Strong sexual words.

- Erotic sex scenes. Traumatic events. Usage of weapons.

Reader discretion is advised.

~ 🌹❤️‍🩹 PROLOGUE ❤️‍🩹🌹 ~

“Ty,” my lips quivered, “I need to tell you something important.”

The hesitation in his eyes made my stomach churn. He stared at me, and it was nothing like the softness that always glimmered in them.

“I don’t have the time now, Sienna.”

Tears brimmed at the corners of my eyes. My breath hitched, and I took a step closer to him when he tried to walk away.

“It won’t take long,” I whispered. “What I have to tell you is urgent and—‘’

“—I know,” he cut in sharply, eyes lowering at me deliberately in a manner that made my chest tighten. “You should’ve been more careful.” He added.

The words didn’t just sting; they settled deep, breaking something inside me.

“Ty… I…” My hands twitched at my side, but I forced them still. “We really need to talk about this.”

“And we will,” he said flatly, clicking his tongue. “But right now, I have a meeting with the council, so we’ll talk about this later.”

I wasn’t sure “later” was the right time. The word didn’t sit right with me. I glanced at him again, this time, pleading with my eyes and voice.

“Can we… talk about this now? I… I swear, it won’t take…”

I trailed off after he grasped my shoulders firmly. His fingers felt cold against my skin, and I struggled to keep my eyes open.

“Sienna,” his voice was rough. “We’ll talk about this when I’m done, okay?”

“When?”

“I’ll call you,” he breathed out. “We’ll meet at Cafe County."

Without another word, Ty patted my shoulders and walked away. That unsettled me because he never left without pressing a kiss against my cheek or forehead.

My fingers tightened around my apron as I turned around, watching his figure until he was completely out of sight.

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I held them and reached for the broom instead, continuing my work in his room.

It was raining heavily outside, and the sound of the lightning cracks drowned the noise of my sobs.

Ten minutes passed, and I was done. I headed downstairs, attempting to clean the living room, but someone halted me before I could reach for the first staircase.

My eyes widened, and the air suddenly felt choking. I dropped the broom in my hand and bowed my head, already shivering.

Heels clicked against the marble floor, approaching me steadily and calculating. When she got to me, her finger lifted my chin to face her.

And I felt my body vibrating with that deliberate touch against my skin. My stomach twisted and I shook my head vehemently, my lips parting but without any word slipping out.

“Sienna Manor,” she snorted, staring daggers at me. “Of all people.”

My throat went dry.

“I didn’t—‘’

“—Don’t,” her thumb brushed over my lower lip, silencing me instantly. “You’ve said enough already.”

I didn’t move. I couldn’t even breathe properly anymore. She lowered her gaze slowly, her eyes dragging over my body.

“How bold,” she said softly.

My body trembled. “I swear, I wasn’t trying to—‘’

"—Shhh." Her voice was harsher now, threatening and intimidating all at once. “I’m still talking.”

A single tear streamed down my cheek, and it didn’t seem to make her relent. Lady Belinda continued talking, her fingers gently stroking my hair.

“A little birdie told me something,” she murmured. “And I refused to believe that it was sheer coincidence for you to stumble into my family.”

I nodded again, muffling a scream before she had my lips sealed with her fingers.

Lady Belinda tilted her head forward, anger and mischief glistening in her eyes.

“Ty told me everything,” she clarified. “Do you know what happens to people like you?”

Something inside me cracked. Ty… I thought… I thought we were… I’d been so foolish.

“They get what they deserve." She pulled her other hand from her back, which I hadn’t noticed until now. “And right now, you’ll get what you truly deserve.”

The metal glistened as she lifted it to my face. Cold sweat broke out on my forehead at the sight of the sharpened knife. I gulped down a swallow, pleading for my life as she pulled her fingers away.

“Please…” I sobbed, clasping my hands together. “D-don’t… Don't hurt me, please.”

For a second, neither of us moved, and then she sighed.

“You should have known better,” she murmured, stepping forward. “But you were too careless.”

She stepped forward, I stepped back, and the edge of the step caught my heel. The knife caught the light as I tried to get away.

I took another step and felt nothing beneath me. My body tipped, the world tilted with it and…

After that night, nothing of Sienna Manor remained.