Chapter 1

Bailey Burke looked down at her hands. Her fair skin reddened, then swelled with clusters of blisters.

The hall went quiet for a moment. Then a scream shattered the silence.

"Aaaah! My hands!"

Bailey dropped the kettle and rolled on the floor in agony.

Hayden Gardner went pale. He took off his suit jacket, wrapped it around Bailey, and rushed her out in his arms.

As he ran past me, he shot me an angry question. "Sienna, what the hell did you do to her?"

I still had my arm stretched out, and only a small patch of skin looked red. I couldn't smell burning skin or feel the heat.

So I answered him honestly, "The server had just boiled the water. Bailey was the one who picked it up."

"Don't play innocent!" Hayden glared at me. "If Bailey is left with scars, I'll make you pay her back tenfold!"

My mom, Irene Steele, chased after him for a couple of steps before stopping herself.

When she turned and saw my arm, her voice began to shake. "Sienna, put your arm down."

"What's wrong?"

"Please, listen to me."

As soon as I lowered my arm, a layer of skin peeled away from my elbow. Raw, red flesh was exposed.

The guests all stepped back at once.

All the color drained from Mom's face.

I glanced at my arm, then at the doorway Hayden had rushed through.

"I guess my injuries are serious too."

The moment the words left my mouth, my vision went dark.

-

When I woke up, I was in the hospital.

My left arm was tightly wrapped in layers of white bandages.

The doctor, Ian Tanner, stood beside my bed. When he saw me open my eyes, he tapped the bed rail with his pen.

"Ms. Warner, do you know how long you've been unconscious?"

"I have no idea."

"You were out for eight whole hours!" Ian struggled to keep his temper in check. "You waited more than 20 minutes after being burned by boiling water. Any longer, and we might not have been able to save your arm."

Mom sat by the window without saying a word. She had always had a fiery temper, and after she married Dad, no one dared cross her.

At that moment, her eyes were fixed on the door.

Hayden's hushed voice came from outside.

"Bailey was in so much pain that she went into shock. How could I have taken care of Sienna first? Sienna's arm looked perfectly fine. How was I supposed to know it was that bad?"

Mom pulled open the door and snapped, "Get lost!"

Two senior members of the Gardner family were standing behind Hayden. He probably hadn't expected Mom to throw him out in front of everyone, and he looked embarrassed.

"Mrs. Warner, I was only worried about Bailey," Hayden said.

"I don't care who you're worried about," Mom said. "It has nothing to do with Sienna. The engagement is already official."

Hayden frowned. "Our families are already moving ahead with the business partnership. Surely you won't ruin everything over an accident."

"Was it really an accident?" Mom asked. She turned to me. "Sienna, was there malicious intent when Bailey poured the water?"

"There was," I replied.

"What makes you so sure?" Hayden sneered. "Look at the state of Bailey's hands. Sienna, are you still trying to pin the blame on her?"

Mom drew in a long breath. "Hayden, listen carefully. Our family can end the business partnership at any time. The same goes for this marriage."

Hayden's face fell.

They stood in a tense silence for a long while until one of the older men behind Hayden tugged at his sleeve.

Then he finally approached my bedside.

"I'm sorry," he said.

The words came out soft but stiff.

I looked at him. "Who are you apologizing on behalf of?"

"Bailey lost her temper in the heat of the moment."

"Is she awake?"

"She is."

"Then she can come and apologize to me herself."

Hayden closed his eyes for a moment. "All ten of her fingers are severely burned. She can't even hold a cup. Sienna, you're lying here just fine. Why make things harder for her?"

I suddenly remembered what Conrad Hunt told me.

The more malicious the intent, the harsher the backlash.

Bailey must have intended to do far more damage than just strip a layer of skin from my arm.