Chapter 10

Sienna watched Grant’s uncle storm away and raised an eyebrow.

After putting up with him for three years, she’d finally gotten some satisfaction.

She was already getting divorced. Why would she care about offending the Sullivans now?

Grant slipped an arm around her waist, amusement dancing in his eyes.

“I didn’t realize you were so protective of me in front of other people.”

Sienna immediately pushed him away and looked him up and down.

Her lips twitched.

“I was putting on a show. Don’t get carried away, Mr. Sullivan.”

“A show?”

Grant clicked his tongue.

The guests soon gathered in the main reception room.

Thanks to the polished social skills Sienna had spent years developing, she quickly found her way into the circle of wealthy society wives.

Within half an hour, she’d secured five preliminary orders. One woman even wanted Sienna to design a custom wedding gown for her daughter.

That gave Sienna another idea.

Once the studio was firmly established, Yvette could expand into bridal gowns and reception dresses.

Grant sat on a nearby couch with one ankle resting over his knee, his gaze following Sienna around the room.

Now he understood why she’d agreed to come.

She was here to find clients.

A member of the household staff entered and announced that Ms. Bennett had arrived.

Grant nodded and was about to go greet her when Claire walked in with a bright smile.

She immediately spotted Richard and went over to him.

“Uncle Richard, it’s been so long.”

Richard invited her to sit and asked about her father’s condition.

Only after hearing that the surgery had gone well did he relax.

“It was all thanks to Grant,” Claire said. “Nothing would’ve gone this smoothly without him taking care of everything.”

Richard’s expression grew somber as he shook his head.

“Don’t call it a favor. It was the least he could do. The truth is, the Sullivan family owes yours a great deal.”

“Please don’t say that, Uncle Richard. Grant has already done more than enough, especially considering what happened back then.”

The conversation had grown heavy, so Claire quickly changed the subject and presented Richard with the gift she’d brought.

The mood soon became cheerful again.

Across the reception room, Sienna watched the exchange as pressure built in her chest.

Her expression dimmed.

She set down the tangerine in her hand and left the room.

Claire always reminded her of why her father had died.

The warmth the Sullivans showed Claire was a constant reminder that Sienna had never truly belonged among them.

No one but Sienna cared that her father was gone.

Sometimes she wondered what would’ve happened if she’d never married Grant.

A bitter smile touched her lips.

Perhaps her father would’ve died much sooner.

There was no room for genuine affection in families like the Sullivans.

Not between fathers and sons.

Certainly not between husbands and wives.

With nothing else to do, Sienna wandered over to the ornamental pond and idly watched the koi.

A voice came from behind her.

“Ms. Reed?”

Sienna recognized the woman’s reflection in the water.

She rose and turned toward Claire without speaking.

Claire smiled gently.

“I’ve always heard that Grant’s wife was beautiful. Now that I’ve finally met you, I can see the rumors didn’t do you justice.”

The reception room was nowhere near the pond.

Sienna didn’t believe for a second that they had happened to run into each other.

She got straight to the point.

“Did you come all the way out here just to tell me I’m beautiful, Ms. Bennett?”

Her bluntness clearly caught Claire off guard.

Claire faltered.

“Uncle Richard mentioned that you design couture eveningwear. I saw the jacket you made for him. It suits him perfectly.”

Sienna raised an eyebrow and accepted the compliment.

“Thank you, Ms. Bennett.”

Claire tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. A charming dimple appeared beside her smile.

“You can call me Clara. That’s what Grant always calls me.”

Clara.

Yes, Sienna knew.

She’d heard Grant say it countless times.

Over the phone.

Right in front of her.

Even while he was doing that thing inside the bathroom.

The nickname buzzed around her like a fly she could never swat away.

Sienna cut off Claire’s forced attempt at familiarity.

“No, thank you. I don’t think we’re close enough for that, and I doubt we ever will be.”

Her face remained expressionless.

She had no interest in getting involved with Grant’s other woman.

This wasn’t a job handover. She didn’t need to train her replacement.

Claire’s smile froze.

For a moment, she seemed unsure how to respond.

Sienna studied her with mild interest.

Claire wore a white dress, and her long hair fell loosely down her back. Her eyes were large and bright.

With Sienna in heels, Claire stood several inches shorter.

She was petite and slender, with such a delicate appearance that even Sienna almost felt protective of her.

Now, Claire’s brows were drawn together and her lips were lightly pressed, as if she were trying to figure out how to respond to Sienna’s bluntness.

Her fragile appearance left Sienna at a loss.

She would’ve preferred it if Claire had simply confronted her and demanded to know why Sienna had taken the place that rightfully belonged to her.

Anything would’ve been better than this hesitant, drawn-out exchange.

After a long silence, Claire finally asked, “Are you and Grant all right? Is something going on between you?”

She was testing her.

Did Claire already know about the divorce, or was she fishing for information?

Sienna never answered probing questions.

She simply turned them back on the person asking.

“What do you think, Ms. Bennett?”

Claire replied awkwardly, “You just don’t seem like a married couple.”

“What is a married couple supposed to look like?”

Claire lowered her head without answering.

Sienna lost patience and started to leave, but Claire stepped in front of her.

“Actually, I came to apologize.”

Sienna raised an eyebrow.

“It’s about Grant sending Dr. Hayes to Germany,” Claire continued. “We took the specialist your father was supposed to have, and I’m truly sorry.”

Sienna’s gaze remained calm, but her hands slowly tightened at her sides.

“I know what happened affected your marriage,” Claire said. “But Grant was so worried that he acted without thinking. I want to apologize on his behalf.”

“On his behalf?”

Sienna nearly laughed.

“What gives you the right to apologize for him?”

Claire looked at her innocently.

Sienna scoffed.

“What happens between Grant and me is none of your concern, Ms. Bennett. You should worry about yourself.”

“No, that isn’t what I meant.”

Sienna might have respected Claire if she’d confronted her directly.

Instead, Claire hid every challenge behind a mask of innocence.

It was nauseating.

Sienna narrowed her eyes and glanced toward Grant, who was talking on the phone beneath a nearby tree.

Then she smiled faintly.

“Your father’s surgery went well, didn’t it?”

Claire blinked in confusion before nodding.

“Then I hope he makes a speedy recovery.”

Without waiting for a response, Sienna walked away.

Claire watched her leave, feeling as though every jab she’d thrown had landed on air.

She hadn’t learned a single thing.

Sienna was nothing like the woman Claire had heard about.

Neither charm nor pressure worked on her.

Grant ended his call and saw Sienna approaching.

He was about to speak, but she walked straight past him without expression, not even sparing him a glance.

He looked toward Claire and went over to her.

“What happened?”

Claire frowned and asked cautiously, “Grant, are you two getting divorced?”

Grant’s expression tightened, and his voice dropped.

“Did she tell you?”

Claire shook her head.

“No. I was only guessing. When I mentioned you to Ms. Reed, she seemed irritated.”

Grant fell silent.

No emotion showed in his eyes.

“I understand.”

Claire looked up and watched him walk away, doubt creeping into her mind.

Did he truly have no feelings for Sienna?