005 Protecting Lila

(Ava) 

Zach and Kai are still waiting at the ice cream truck when I notice Sienna drifting my way.

Everything about her is perfect, her sundress catching in the light breeze, her hair loose and shining.

She’s a picture out of a magazine, sugar and polish with that smile she uses to fool everyone.

Everyone but me now I know what they did to me and to Lila in my past life.

She stops just a few feet from our blanket and waves at Lila. “That line’s ridiculous. They’ll be forever.”

I don’t answer. Lila pulls at my necklace with sticky fingers, and I gently redirect her little hands to my shirt.

She rests her cheek against me, and my chest tightens. 

Her instinct to cling, her refusal of Sienna earlier… surely none of it is coincidence. She knows.

Somehow my baby has some recall.

I hope it’s not everything. I hope she never has to ever remember all of what they did to her.

“I’ll sit with you guys.”

Sienna lowers herself onto the blanket without waiting for permission, smoothing her skirt over her legs.

“Sure,” I say, keeping my tone neutral. “We can wait together.”

Her eyes fix on Lila. “Hello, sweet girl. Want Auntie Si Si to hold you for a while?” She opens her arms, expectant, confident.

Lila buries her face deeper into my chest.

My lips twitch with a grim kind of satisfaction. “I knew she’d be clingy today,” I say softly.

Sienna falters, just for a second. “It seems unusual.”

“She’s teething again. But I felt one broken through, so hopefully she’ll sleep better tonight.”

“Lovely,” she says too brightly. “I do hope you’ll be joining us for the family cabin trip next weekend.”

Well, I won’t be available, sorry. I think to myself. 

But for now I pretend we’re a happy little blended family while she schemes mine and Lila’s downfall.

But this time the downfall will be hers. And I can’t wait. 

2 more days and I’ll be the satisfied one as I make them both eat their cruel lies about me.

“I think we can still enjoy the lake,” I reply evenly. “Even with teething.”

She smiles like she’s won, like she still has me fooled.

But I’m not the wide-eyed girl who looked up to her anymore. I’ve been through fire… literally. And I’ve come back with every memory of how she destroyed me.

Those memories are now my weapon.

Her words from the hospital ring in my ears.

Be thankful I let you wake up in time to say goodbye.

That venom is carved into my bones.

I’ll untangle every thread. And when I do, I’ll strangle her with every single one of them.

Sienna studies me with her deep green eyes narrowing. “Are you feeling okay? You seem a little… different today.”

I stroke Lila’s curls, my face calm. “I don’t think I’ve ever been better really. I’ve made a lot of decisions about my future and it feels good to finally have a solid plan.”

She leans in, voice soft. “I could tell. Something’s changed about you, Ava. I’m so glad you’re ready to unleash your design talent on the world. You deserve every success.”

“I think so too. Of course, I couldn’t do it without you.”

Without you taking everything I loved from me. Showing me your true colors.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Happy to help. You can always trust me, you know that.”

I trusted her with everything before and it killed me.

Her smile sharpens. “Well, I know how much Zach values his time with you. That’s why I usually take them out, to give you both space.”

“You’ve always been so considerate,” I say. “And he has been spending a lot of time late at work.”

I know now he’s been with her and Kai. Not at work.

Her eyes glint, picking up the edge in my voice.

She doesn’t comment on it, just leans back on her palms like she’s relaxed. “I hope whatever was going on between you and Zach this morning clears up quickly. You seemed a little distant.”

My gaze lifts to hers. “You noticed that?”

“I notice everything,” she says, her voice silk over steel.

I force a small shrug. “We all have moods.”

She sighs theatrically. “He isn’t always easy to live with. That much I know.”

I keep my eyes on Lila. “Me being tired doesn’t help. Makes me a little too needy. We’ll make up for it tonight.”

“Good. I’d hate to see your love bubble pop.”

My muscles tense and I breath out to relax. “What Zach and I have isn’t a bubble. It’s real.”

At least it was until you got inside his head. 

But then, if it was real, no one else could get inside his head.

“Is it? Or is that just what he wants you to believe?”

Heat surges in my chest, but I swallow it down. Not here. Not yet. 

I keep my voice cool. “We’ll always be fine. He loves me and he loves Lila. Nothing will ever change that.”

I know she will hate hearing that even if I don’t believe it myself.

“Of course,” she says with a shrug.

Lila squirms, whining. I bounce her gently. “As long as Lila is happy, I’m happy.”

Sienna laughs softly, crossing her legs. “Yes, kids are always our weakness, aren’t they? And I know how much you love Kai. You treat him like your own. I’m lucky. Not every stepmother, or step-aunt, would do that.”

The words aren’t lost on me. Step-aunt. She drops it, watching to see if I’ll react.

My mother married Robert Lorne after she and my dad split. 

Robert is Zach's much older brother. But he has health issues, so Zach takes on the majority of the business dealings.

Mom finally has all she ever wanted, money, mansion, prestige.

So technically I married my step-uncle who was eight years older than me. What a scandal!

But I don’t react to her jibe.

Sienna’s voice dips low. “Zach relies on me. I’m his best friend. You know that’s all it is, don’t you?”

She twirls a blade of grass between her fingers. “You and I both want Zach to be happy. We both want Kai and Lila safe. We both want what’s best for our family.”

I stare at her. This woman thinks she’s untouchable.

That she can manipulate Zach forever. That she can destroy me and my daughter and walk away without consequence.

Not happening.

I can’t wait to see her face when it all unravels. I can’t wait to prove Zach wrong. To make him look me in the eye and admit he loves me in front of her.

And then I’ll shove the signed divorce papers at him and give him exactly what he asked for.

He’ll pay for that. He’ll pay for letting Lila die while he celebrated Kai’s birthday. He’ll pay for never questioning what Sienna told him.

And Sienna? This is only the beginning. I will strip away her world away until she has nothing left.

Sienna stretches back enjoying the bright sun.

But all I see is the shadow she casts.

How sweet it will be to watch her fall.