Chapter 10: Going Back to Work

Sienna leaned back against the sofa, looking at Naomi with calm confidence in her eyes.

"We never needed someone who uses their help as a way to control us, Naomi," Sienna said firmly, yet reassuringly.

Naomi froze. "What do you mean?"

"I've already set aside enough personal savings from my mother's inheritance to cover the foundation's operating expenses for the next two months," Sienna explained calmly. "And starting next week, I'm going back to work. I've already submitted applications for several job openings."

Naomi's eyes widened. "You're going back to work? You haven't worked outside the house for an entire year. Can you really do it?"

"Yes, I can," Sienna answered confidently, her smile filled with determination. "I have a degree in Business Management that has been left unused for far too long. Now it's time to use it for myself and for our foundation. We can stand on our own, Naomi. Without the Blackwell family's support, and without relying on anyone else."

Naomi stared at Sienna without blinking.

The woman sitting before her no longer carried the uncertainty and quiet obedience she had shown just a few months ago while living under Damian Blackwell's shadow.

Instead, a new strength radiated from her—a woman who had finally escaped her cage and was ready to spread her own wings.

Naomi broke into a wide smile.

Her eyes became misty again as she tightly held Sienna's hand.

"All right," Naomi said firmly. "Then I'll do my best to keep the foundation running. I'll also try to find new donors if necessary. Does that sound like a plan?"

Sienna let out a light, cheerful laugh, one that had not appeared on her face for a very long time.

"Yes, that sounds perfect."

She nodded confidently.

**

Several days passed.

Late in the morning, the grand shopping mall in the city center gradually became crowded with visitors.

Sienna applied a touch of nude lipstick, straightened her cream-colored blazer and black pencil skirt, and adjusted the employee ID card hanging neatly around her neck.

It read: Beauty Advisor.

She had only been hired yesterday, and today was her very first day at work.

Sienna was grateful that she had finally found a job to support her small foundation.

She stood gracefully behind the beauty products booth with a warm and friendly smile, greeting shoppers as they passed by.

"Good afternoon, ma'am. May I introduce our newest anti-aging serum?" Sienna asked politely as she greeted a middle-aged woman walking past the booth.

"No, thank you," the woman replied briefly without looking at her.

"All right. Thank you, and have a wonderful day!" Sienna answered with the same warm smile, showing no sign of disappointment.

She glanced around.

Some shoppers merely looked at her before continuing on their way.

Sienna remained cheerful as she neatly arranged the sample bottles on the glass display counter.

"Sienna, could you watch the front booth for a moment? I need to get more stock from the storage room," called one of her coworkers from behind the curtain.

"Of course, Maya! I'll cover the front," Sienna replied with a bright smile.

She walked toward the front section of the booth facing the mall's main atrium.

However, her steps suddenly stopped when her eyes caught sight of a group of well-dressed men stepping out of the VIP elevator.

Sienna swallowed hard.

She instinctively looked away, as though trying to hide herself.

Wait.

Why should she hide?

She frowned deeply before looking back at the group.

She had done nothing wrong.

There was no reason for her to run, and certainly no reason to be afraid.

Standing confidently among them was Damian Blackwell, surrounded by several distinguished businessmen.

The thirty-five-year-old man looked as commanding as ever in a perfectly tailored black suit.

Beside him, several executives and mall managers walked respectfully while presenting reports on their retail expansion project.

Sienna held her breath for a moment.

Her heart beat slightly faster despite her efforts to remain calm.

She quickly regained her composure, exhaled slowly, and returned to arranging the brochures on the counter.

She decided to remain professional and focus on her work.

However, the executive group happened to walk directly past the corridor where her booth was located.

"The renovation of the ground-floor commercial area must be completed before the third quarter," Damian said, his deep, cold voice cutting through the mall operations director's explanation.

Then his footsteps suddenly stopped.

His sharp eyes locked onto the woman in a sales uniform standing gracefully behind the beauty products display.