Chapter 7 - A Chance Encounter

In the luxurious Hamilton penthouse, Sienna packed her bags, preparing to depart for Los Angeles. She felt a mixture of excitement and apprehension, knowing that she was about to face David after all these years and execute her carefully planned revenge.

As she zipped her suitcase, her twins, Xander and Bella, entered the room, their faces a mix of curiosity and sadness. The two little geniuses, who shared their mother's passion for technology, were always coming up with new ideas and inventions.

"Mommy, why do you have to go?" asked Bella, her voice trembling.

Sienna knelt down and embraced her children, trying to reassure them. "It's only for a few days, my loves. I have some important business to take care of in Los Angeles. Once everything is settled, we'll have a beautiful mansion there, and we'll all be together again."

Xander held up his phone with a proud grin. "Mommy, Bella and I made an app for you! We know you work really hard, and sometimes you forget to eat or drink. So, we installed it on your phone to remind you to take breaks, eat, drink, and call us!"

Sienna's eyes filled with pride as she looked at her brilliant children. "You two never cease to amaze me. Thank you so much! I promise I'll use it and take good care of myself."

Xander, always the more perceptive of the two, looked at Sienna with his big, curious eyes. "Mommy, will we get to see our daddy when we go to Los Angeles?"

The question caught Sienna off guard, and she struggled to find the right words. She had never told her children the truth about their father, and as they grew older, she knew that it was getting harder to keep the secret.

"Not this time, Xander," Sienna said gently, masking her discomfort. "But I promise that someday, when the time is right, you'll get to meet him."

Bella chimed in, her voice full of hope, "Will our daddy like us and our inventions, Mommy?"

Sienna smiled warmly at her children, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. "Of course, he will. How could he not? You two are the most amazing, wonderful children in the world."

As Sienna hugged her twins tightly, she felt a renewed determination to see her plan through. She knew that her children deserved to know their father, but first, she had to settle the score with David.

With a final kiss and a promise to call every day, Sienna said her goodbyes, leaving her precious twins in the care of her loving parents.

Arriving at the airport, her designer luggage in tow, she was prepared to board her flight to Los Angeles. The moment she stepped foot in the terminal, the staff immediately recognized her as a member of the prestigious Hamilton family.

They rushed to her side, treating her like royalty and ensuring that her every need was met.

"Ms. Hamilton, welcome to the airport. How may we assist you today?" one of the staff members asked, eager to attend to her needs.

"Thank you," Sienna replied graciously. "I just need to check in for my flight to Los Angeles."

"Of course, Ms. Hamilton. Please allow me to take your bags and escort you to the check-in counter," the staff member offered, taking her luggage with care.

The buzz of activity surrounding Sienna caught the attention of the other travelers, who couldn't help but whisper and steal glances at the elegant woman.

“Who is that woman? She is so beautiful; she must be a movie star!”

“She is certainly a model! I think I saw her on TV! Or is she a TV Host?”

“I wish my wife looked so elegant and glamorous like her!”

Among them was Lyra, Sienna's former best friend and the person who had betrayed her all those years ago. Despite the changes in Sienna's appearance, Lyra felt an inexplicable pull towards the mysterious woman and found herself drawn to her.

Intrigued, her former friend approached her, trying to strike up a conversation. "Excuse me," she said with a smile, "I couldn't help but notice the special treatment you're receiving. You must be someone important."

As Sienna looked at Lyra, a surge of anger and betrayal welled up inside her. The woman standing before her had once been her closest friend, but she had ruthlessly destroyed Sienna's life without a second thought.

Despite the years that had passed and the emotional armor she had built around herself, Sienna couldn't help but feel the sting of that betrayal anew. However, she was determined not to let Lyra see any hint of vulnerability or recognition.

"Yes, well, I'm just here to catch a flight, like everyone else," Sienna replied, her tone dismissive, her eyes remaining cold.

Not one to be deterred easily, Lyra pressed on. "I'm Lyra Whitmore. It's a pleasure to meet you. May I ask your name?"

Sienna hesitated for a moment, contemplating whether to give her name or not. Finally, she decided to begin the game earlier than expected.

"Sienna Hamilton," she replied curtly.

Lyra's eyes widened at the mention of the Hamilton name. Although she came from a wealthy family herself, the Hamiltons were in a league of their own.

Sensing an opportunity, she tried to ingratiate herself with Sienna. "What a coincidence! I've always admired the Hamilton family. They've done so much for our country."

Sienna could hardly suppress her disdain for Lyra's blatant attempt to befriend her. "Thank you," she said, her voice dripping with condescension, "but I can't say I've ever heard of the Whitmores. Now if you excuse me, I have a flight to catch."

With that, Sienna turned on her heel and walked away, leaving a stunned and humiliated Lyra behind.

As she watched Sienna disappear into the crowd, Lyra felt a mix of anger and humiliation. There was also a nagging feeling that she had encountered Sienna before, but she couldn't quite place her.

The encounter left her puzzled and determined to learn more about the mysterious Sienna Hamilton.