Healing

Sienna

"So, did you have fun last night?" Mom asked, casually flipping through a book as if she weren't prying into my soul.

Dad had already gone to the office by the time I returned home, and surprisingly, neither of them had said a word about me being gone all night. Not even a complaint. Maybe they assumed I'd stayed at Kelly's like I usually did sometimes.

"Yeah," I answered, though the bitterness in my voice betrayed me.

Technically, I had fun—if you ignored the first part where I caught my boyfriend cheating on me. After Alex... well, everything after that was a blur of.....dangerous pleasure?

"Where did you stay last night? At Kelly's or Ryatt's?" Mom pressed, her tone light. "Let me guess—at Ryatt's. Since it was your birthday!" She sang the last part, grinning.

If only.

She couldn't have been more wrong. But I didn't blame her. Even I didn't understand my choices anymore. The man I loved had betrayed me with the woman I trusted more than anyone. Years of memories, promises, and love had shattered in seconds. My heart was broken, my trust annihilated—and somehow, in the wreckage, I'd found myself in Alexander Grayson's arms. The last man on earth I should have been with. And somehow...even if it was for a few moments, he brought me peace.

"No, I didn't stay at theirs," I said, my throat dry.

Shock flickered across Mom's face. She lowered the book. "Then where the hell were you all night, Sienna?"

I rubbed my palms together, stalling. I had never hidden anything from her. But this? This felt impossible to confess.

"Sienna?" Her voice sharpened. "What's going on?"

"Well..." I faltered. "Not much. Just..."

"Just what?"

I swallowed hard. "I found out last night that Ryatt's been cheating on me. With Kelly."

Mom's eyes went wide. Her hand flew to her mouth. "What?!"

"Yeah." My laugh was bitter, broken. "I caught them in the bathroom—together. And apparently, it's been going on for longer than I thought. Since my first exhibit in Switzerland. They were together the whole week." Tears burned behind my eyes, but I blinked them away.

"Oh, baby..." Mom slid closer, wrapping me in her arms, her hand rubbing soothing circles on my back. "I'm so sorry you had to go through this. That bastard. That bitch. I swear, I will kill them both."

"There's no point." My voice cracked,"They've already broke my trust. I don't want to see their faces again. They can rot in hell."

Mom's grip tightened. Her voice softened, "There are good men and bad men in this world, Sienna. You just wasted time on a bad one. But don't you dare let what he did make you question yourself. You are worth more than anything that fool could ever offer. You are beautiful. Talented. Passionate. The best thing Ryatt ever had, and he threw it away. He didn't deserve you."

"Or maybe I wasn't enough..." I whispered.

"Fucking no, Sienna." Mom's voice rose, fierce now. "He's an asshole. A selfish, pathetic douchebag. That doesn't mean you lacked anything. You are everything. You shine in ways those two could never understand. They waste their parents' money, pretend they're somebody, but they're lifeless. And you know I've always said it—even when you were with him."

Yeah. She did. She always did.

She had always warned me about Ryatt and Kelly, but I was too blind in love to see it.

I wiped away a tear sliding down my cheek and nodded.

"Then you should understand—they didn't deserve you." Mom took my hands in hers, her grip firm and grounding. "You are our world, okay? Don't ever let anyone shatter it. Protect yourself, because you are worth more than anything else in this world."

I nodded again, the weight of her words pressing against the ache in my chest. Silence stretched between us for a few minutes, heavy but strangely comforting, until she finally spoke.

"So... where did you spend last night?"

My breath caught. I hesitated before forcing the words out. "With someone."

A soft sigh slipped past her lips, as if she'd been expecting that answer. "Jumping from one asshole to another won't fix anything, Sienna. I know you're hurt, but don't make choices you'll regret. A distraction might numb the pain for a moment, and that's not wrong—but you have to be careful. Don't let another man use your hurt against you. Don't let desperation decide for you."

"It's nothing serious, Mom," I said quickly. "I was drunk. I was hurt. It just... happened. It won't happen again. I'm fine."

She studied me for a long moment, her silence louder than any words. Then she finally reached up, cupping my cheek with a gentleness that made my throat tighten. "Okay then. Go freshen up."

I stood, ready to escape the. But as I turned, her voice stopped me.

"You sure you're fine, Sienna?"

I forced a small smile, even though it didn't reach my eyes. "Yes, Mom. Totally okay. I'll shower and take a nap. Bye."

***

After crying in the shower and lying in bed for the past two hours, staring at the ceiling, my so-called nap still hadn't come. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't even close my eyes.

Why? I couldn't pinpoint one reason, but it definitely had everything to do with them. With him. With me.

I tossed and turned, groaning, huffing, sometimes crying—but no matter what, sleep refused me.

God, I hated this.

I buried my face into the pillow just as my phone buzzed.

The moment I saw the name flash on the screen, a scowl twisted my face.

Ryatt.

"Baby, can we please talk?"

That bastard still had the nerve to text me?

Before I could throw my phone across the room, another message appeared.

"I can explain everything, Sia. Just give me one chance and I'll make it up to you. I love you. No one can love you more than me. I know you can't live without me. Please... let's move past it. I beg you."

This delusional asshole.

I opened the chat, furiously typing: Go to hell, you piece of shit. But before I hit send, my phone rang.

My chest tightened the instant I saw the number.

I knew this one. And the man behind it.

Because last night, I'd gotten familiar with him—in ways I never imagined.

I bit my lip, nervous heat crawling up my skin as I answered. "Hello."

"Hello, Flower," his voice purred, amused and smug. "What are you doing? Thinking about that asshole? Or replying to his pitiful texts?"

"That's none of your business," I snapped.

"You should've thought of that before letting me eat that sweet pussy," he chuckled, the sound low and dangerous. My cheeks flamed hot. "No point pretending now."

How brazen this man could be?

"Listen, you piece of—"

"No. You listen, little one." His voice sharpened, "Drop the attitude. Be ready at five. I'll pick you up."

"And what makes you think I'd go anywhere with you?"

"Because I'll make you."

"Funny. Next joke, please."

"I wasn't joking. Five o'clock. Be ready."

"I won't go with you," I spat. "Dream on."

"You will." He laughed, maddeningly confident. "Bye, Flower. See you soon."

"I won't—" But the line went dead before I could finish.

Groaning in frustration, I hurled my phone onto the bed and slammed my fists into the pillow.

"Grayson, you piece of shit! I hate you!"