Chapter Nine

Dominic’s Pov

The heavy iron gates of the Kane family estate swung open, and our black car rolled up the long, winding driveway. Beside me, Sienna sat stiffly in her seat, her fingers tightly gripping her small purse. She didn’t know what she was walking into, and for the first time in my life, a tight knot of worry formed in my stomach.

I knew my family. I knew how cruel their polished smiles could be. They viewed everyone like pieces on a chessboard, and they were going to tear Sienna apart the second she walked through those doors if I didn't keep my guard up.

"Stay close to me," I muttered under my breath as the car came to a complete stop.

Sienna turned her head, her chin lifting with that stubborn fire I was quickly learning to expect. "I don't need a bodyguard, Dominic. I can handle a bunch of rich snobs."

She stepped out of the car before I could even open the door for her. When I joined her on the stone steps, she looked breathtaking, standing tall in her ivory dress with her head held high.

Inside the grand dining room, my relatives were already gathered around the massive mahogany table. The air was thick with expensive perfume and fake laughter. When we walked in, every single head turned toward us like wolves spotting a deer.

My aunt Caroline was the first to speak, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness as her eyes scanned Sienna up and down.

"Well, Dominic," Caroline purred, taking a sip of her wine. "You certainly kept this quiet. One day you're single, and the next you're marrying a woman from... what was it called, dear? A little local party planning company?"

My jaw tightened. Before I could step forward and put Caroline in her place, Sienna smiled sweetly.

"It's called Brooks Events, actually," Sienna replied, her voice calm and steady. "And we specialize in making sure events actually run smoothly—without any catering disasters."

A sharp silence dropped over the table. Several relatives choked on their drinks. I had to bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from smiling. She went right for the sore spot, reminding everyone of the gala disaster I had so unfairly blamed her for.

As dinner went on, the insults kept coming. My uncle Victor leaned back in his chair, eyeing Sienna like she was a bug on his shoe.

"Let's be honest," Victor said, his voice loud enough for the whole room to hear. "A girl from a struggling family doesn't marry a billionaire by accident. You must be thrilled to secure such a comfortable financial safety net, my dear."

My blood boiled. I slammed my fork down onto the table, the sharp clink echoing through the room. "Victor, watch your—"

"I didn't marry for security, Mr. Kane," Sienna interrupted, her voice cutting right through mine. She looked straight at Victor without a single trace of fear. "Yes, Dominic offered a contract that solved my family's financial problems. But let's get one thing straight: I never begged him to choose me. He came to me because he needed a wife to save his inheritance. If anyone should be thanking anyone here, it's him."

The room went dead silent. You could hear a pin drop on the marble floor.

I stared at Sienna, completely stunned. Nobody talked back to Victor. Nobody ever dared to talk back to anyone in this family. A fierce wave of pride rushed through my chest, burning so hot it caught me off guard. She didn't cower. She stood her ground and owned every single inch of the room.

Across the table, my grandmother's old friend, Lady Harrington, suddenly let out a loud, delighted laugh. "Good for you, child!" Lady Harrington smiled warmly at Sienna. "Spoken like a true woman with a backbone. This family has needed someone like you here for decades."

Even my grandmother nodded slowly, looking at Sienna with a new level of respect.

Just then, the heavy double doors at the end of the hall swung open, and footsteps echoed across the floor.

"Sorry I'm late, everyone! Traffic was an absolute nightmare," a cheerful voice called out.

Adrian. My younger half-brother walked into the room, looking effortlessly charming in his unbuttoned dress shirt. He flashed a brilliant smile as he pulled out an empty chair right next to Sienna.

His eyes landed on Sienna, and his expression softened instantly. "Ah. So this is the famous bride everyone is whispering about. It is a absolute pleasure to meet you, Sienna. I'm Adrian."

"Nice to meet you too," Sienna smiled back, looking genuinely relaxed for the first time all night.

Adrian chuckled, resting his chin on his hand as he looked over at me. "I have to hand it to you, big brother. For years, everybody thought you were impossible to tie down. But you managed to find the one woman in the city who looks ready to punch you in the nose."

Sienna laughed out loud—a bright, easy sound that made something twist painfully in my stomach.

"Oh, believe me, the thought has crossed my mind," Sienna teased, turning to Adrian.

"If you ever need help planning your escape, or rebuilding your event business without corporate interference, just let me know," Adrian said smoothly, winking at her. "I'm always looking for smart partners."

A hot spike of pure, ugly jealousy ripped through my veins. My grip on my water glass tightened so hard I thought the crystal would snap in my hands. Why was Adrian leaning in so close? Why was Sienna laughing at his jokes? She was my wife—even if it was on paper, she was sitting beside me.

I cleared my throat loudly, my voice dropping into a dangerous, icy tone. "Adrian. Focus on your own plate."

Sienna glanced sideways at me, her eyes catching the stiff way I was sitting. A tiny, knowing smirk touched the corner of her lips, though she didn't say a word out loud. She clearly noticed my jealousy, and she was enjoying every single second of it.

Dinner dragged on through endless courses of boring small talk until my grandmother finally tapped her glass with a silver spoon.

"Before we finish dessert," my grandmother announced, smiling down the table at us, "we want to make sure everyone knows how thrilled we are. The board expects a proper public celebration. So, Dominic and Sienna will be attending the annual charity gala this weekend as our guests of honor."

My stomach dropped. Another gala. Another room full of cameras and prying eyes.

When the dinner finally ended, we walked out together into the cool night air toward the waiting car. Marcus stood by the door, holding it open for us.

Before I could climb inside, Adrian jogged down the stone steps behind us, flashing a wide, mischievous grin. He leaned in close to Sienna, loud enough for me to hear every single word.

As they leave the estate, Adrian grins at Sienna and says, “You really have no idea how jealous my brother gets, do you?”