CHAPTER 2: Non-Answer

FLYNN'S POV

I left the office later than usual. The city lights blurred past my car window as I drove home. My mind stayed on Sienna. She had called earlier, her voice shaky. The baby kicked hard tonight and she felt scared and alone in that small apartment. I told her I would check on her tomorrow. I always said that and I always meant it.

I gripped the steering wheel so tight my knuckles turned white. I was protecting Aria from my father’s sins. That was the truth I repeated to myself everyday. Richard Thornfield denied Sienna her whole life. He left her mother broke and broken after years of lies and empty promises. When Sienna showed up pregnant and desperate seven months ago, I could not turn her away. I was not going to be like him. I refused to let another woman suffer because of my father’s choices. But helping her came with a cost I never fully counted until now.

The memory hit me hard as I turned onto our street. Sienna had arrived at my office one rainy afternoon with bruises on her arms. Her ex, the baby’s father, had beaten her when she refused to terminate the pregnancy. He had ties to bad people. Fraud. Threats. Violence. My lawyer had made one thing very clear when Sienna first told me everything: the moment my name became publicly connected to Sienna's, they would use it. Flynn Thornfield, wealthy, connected, sending money to a pregnant woman carrying a Hale family secret. They would build a story around that and they had the money and the lawyers to make it stick. Conspiracy to extort. Coordinated scheme. Whatever language hurt most.

And it wouldn't stop at Sienna. They made that clear with her friend who tried to help her before me now has her mother hospitalized due to a brutal mysterious accident. 

If they came after me it would be a scandal and they'd pull Aria in too if she knew anything about it. Her name. Her gallery job. Everything she'd worked for dragged into a legal fight she had nothing to do with. 

It's not like I can't handle the legal battle but Sienna and my lawyer thought this was best, wait till the baby is born. That was the only way to legally get Marcus off her back and leave her and her baby alone without anyone getting hurt again.

So I'd told no one. Not Harrison. Not Aria.  I didn’t want Aria to hurt or hospitalised because of my father's mess or my decision to help my sister. 

I pulled into the driveway. The house looked normal from the outside. Warm lights. Our life. I sat in the car for a moment and took a deep breath. Another day of keeping stuff from my wife.

“Few more days,” I whispered. 

I walked inside 

“Aria,” I said. “Sorry I'm late babe. The conference call ran over."

She didn't answer so I went upstairs and found her at the home office standing with a pale face. I stood and held from behind "Hey, I was thinking we could order from that Thai place you—" 

Then I saw the contents of the paper that was spread on the table. 

“What are you doing?"  My voice came out steady. I learned long ago how to sound calm when everything inside me screamed.

She picked up the top statement and held it up. "Seven months. You've been sending money to someone for eight months. Who is that?"

"Aria-"

"Who is Sienna Thornfield?And why send her this outrageous amount of money? "

"I can explain," he said.

"Then explain. Right now." Her eyes held mine looking for answers I couldn't give her.

 “Who is Sienna Thornfield?”

I felt the blood leave my face. I loosened my tie. My hand went to my father’s watch without thinking. 

“Flynn.” Her voice cracked. “Tell me what this is.”

“It’s… complicated.” I ran a hand through my hair. The words felt useless even as I said them.

“Complicated.” She laughed, but the sound broke. “Fine then. Why don't you try me? I’m your wife. Or did you forget that part?”

I stepped closer. I wanted to pull her into my arms and tell her everything. Instead I said, “I can explain. Just not all of it right now.”

Her face changed. Pain flashed across it. “Are you having an affair?”

“No.” The word came out fast. Too fast. “No, It’s not that”

“Then what is it Dammit!?” She slammed her hand on the desk. The papers jumped. “Explain why my husband has been giving money to another woman for seven months. Look me in the eyes and say it.”

I looked at her. It was the first time in four years she ever raised her voice at me and her eyes now held only betrayal. 

“I can’t,” I said. The words burned in my throat.

“Can’t or won’t?”

“Both.” My jaw tightened. “You have to trust me.”

She laughed again. It sounded broken. “Trust you? You just admitted you’ve been lying to me. For months. While I sat here thinking we were building something real.”

The room felt too small. I could see the hurt in every line of her body. I loved her. I loved her so much it made my chest ache. That was why I could not tell her. Knowing would put her in danger. I had spent months paying for security, moving Sienna quietly, keeping everything hidden. One truth could destroy all of it.

““But we are my love. This is real. I just… I am trying to protect you,” My voice stayed low. “From things you don’t need to know. From my father’s mess.”

“Protect me? Protection without truth is just control, Flynn. I didn’t ask for a guard. I asked for a partner.”

I reached for her. She jerked back like my touch burned her.

“Don’t.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Don’t touch me right now.”

She walked past me and went upstairs and I followed. Trying my best to help her understand that telling her meant risking her and I could not do that.

“I need time,” she said finally. “I need space. Don’t come near me tonight.”

“Ari”

 

“Don't”

I stood there for a long moment. Then I nodded. “Okay. I’ll sleep in the guest room.”

I turned and left. My footsteps sounded loud in the empty hall. I went downstairs and sat at the kitchen table. I stared at the wall and tried to breathe.

Later I called Sienna. She answered on the second ring. Her voice sounded small and tired. She was crying.

“Flynn, is everything okay?” she asked.

I swallowed hard. “Aria found out about the money. She knows your name.”

Sienna went quiet. Then she said, “Did you tell her?”

“I couldn’t.” The words hurt. “Not yet. It’s not safe.”

She cried harder and apologised. I listened and felt useless. I had promised to keep her safe. I had promised to keep Aria safe. Now both promises were breaking.

I hung up and walked through the quiet house. Every room reminded me of her. I ended up in the living room. Her wedding photo still sat on the mantel. I picked it up. She looked so happy that day. Her green eyes shone. Her auburn hair caught the light. I ran my thumb over her face.

“I’m sorry my love,” I whispered to the empty room.

I had promised Sienna I would keep her secret. I had promised Aria forever. I could not keep both. I chose wrong. And I still could not make myself tell the truth.