Chapter 3

I thought Ian had time to watch me perform and excitedly told him that I had reserved a seat for him in the front row. I also told him how much it would mean to me to have him there.

However, it was silent for a long time on the other end of the call before Ian finally spoke.

"I'm sorry, Sienna... Can you come to Purple Inn? Eva is having trouble closing the deal with Mr. Walter."

"But today's my first performance on stage."

The stage lights were just ahead, shimmering with bright colors. It was supposed to be my moment.

However, Ian's voice turned soft, almost pleading. "Sienna, just this once. Help me one more time. Please?"

So, I rushed toward Purple Inn in my performance dress and downed two bottles of wine to get the deal signed. It was just for Ian.

However, once an exception was made, there would always be another and another after that. Before I knew it, I had gone from being a manager to somehow becoming Eva's subordinate.

A bitter smile emerged on my face as I lowered my head. Everything had been foreshadowed for a while, yet I was the one who had refused to see it.

When I pushed open the office door, they were all there—Ian, Sebastian, and Eva.

I didn't look at any of them. I walked straight to the desk, put down my resignation letter, and said calmly, "I'm resigning."

"Ms. Xenos, are you upset with Ian because of me?" Eva looked at me, her eyes wide with concern like a frightened little rabbit on the verge of tears. She turned to Ian, her voice trembling. "Ian, I don't want to join the piano competition anymore. Let Ms. Xenos join it instead…"

Ian frowned, his gaze darkening as he turned to me. "Sienna Xenos, how long are you going to drag this on? Eva was chosen for the competition. It's the company's decision, not—"

"Who joins the competition has nothing to do with me. I'll finish the handover within a week," I cut him off coldly.

I paused, then added coldly, "And one more thing—I'm breaking up with you."

I didn't want to argue or explain. I just wanted to get out of that place. However, just as I turned to leave, Eva lunged forward and grabbed my arm. "Ms. Xenos! Please don't go! There's nothing between Ian and me. He's just looking after me… We grew up together. If it bothers you, I-I'll resign instead."

"Let go." I tried to shake her off, and my voice was sharp with frustration. But before I could pull out my arm, Eva suddenly cried out and collapsed to the floor.

"Eva!" Ian rushed to her side to help her up.

Tears were already streaming down Eva's face as she gasped. "Ian, I fell down on my own. Don't blame Ms. Xenos. It wasn't her fault…"

"Sienna Xenos, how dare you lay your hand on Eva?!"

Sebastian struck me hard across the face out of nowhere. He stood over me, his eyes blazing.

Stumbling back, I crashed to the floor as pain exploded on my cheek. My arm hit the corner of the desk, and another bolt of pain shot through me. My vision went dark for a moment.

"It's okay. It's my fault. Please don't blame Ms. Xenos."

I kept hearing Eva's tearful voice.

When my sight returned, I saw them—Ian and Sebastian—standing protectively around her as they both looked concerned. No one noticed that my arm was bleeding even though I was just a short distance away from them. The cold irony hit me harder than the slap.

I bit my lip hard and pushed myself against the desk, trying to stand.

Ian finally looked over when he noticed the movement. He stretched out his arm to me. But instead of helping me, he yanked me up by the arm that was injured.

I cried out, my sleeve immediately turning red with blood. But Ian didn't even see it. He just said coldly, "Apologize to Eva."

I remained silent, refusing to open my mouth.

He let go, shoving me back toward the ground like I was trash. "You've disappointed me, Sienna Xenos."

Just then, Eva whimpered softly.

"Don't worry. I'll take you to the hospital right away." Sebastian scooped her up in his arms, and Ian followed behind them.

I stood there in silence with a bitter smile on my face. My clothes were soaked with blood, yet no one cared. The two brothers were throwing themselves at Eva even when she didn't have a scratch on her.

There was no clearer line between love and indifference.

But it had not always been like this.

Six years ago, I was the beloved daughter of the Xenos family and had dreams of becoming a pianist. But my parents insisted music was just a hobby. I had to study finance and prepare to take over the family business.

Right when I was drowning in frustration, Ian appeared. He was just a driver working for my family at the time. One day, he heard me playing piano in the study when he was bringing over documents for my father.

"That's the most beautiful thing I've ever heard. Miss, you're meant for the world's biggest stage."

That one sentence chased away all my sorrows.

Later, when I told my parents I wanted to marry him, Dad flew into a rage and locked me in my room.

But Ian climbed through the window that night and held out his hand to me. "Sienna, come with me. I'll make sure the whole world hears your music."

Even Sebastian, who was still in college at the time, would smile and call me Sienna sweetly, promising that he and his brother would protect me and help me chase my dreams.

Those words still echoed in my mind, but time had changed everything.

Ian no longer paid me any attention.

…

The next morning, I woke up to find my pillow soaked in tears.

I had already made the decision to let go, so why did it still hurt so much?

But I told myself that it was okay and that the pain would soon pass.

Maybe it was to numb the pain or to prove to myself that I was moving on, but I took the ten-carat diamond ring my arranged fiancé had given me, slipped it onto my finger, snapped a photo, and posted it on my social media feed.

"Pleased to meet you. May our union brighten our life."

Less than a minute later, my phone rang. I picked it up and heard Ian's voice on the other end of the line.