Chapter 4

SIENNA THORNE 

My head was pounding and my mouth tasted like sandpaper. 

Those were the first things I noted when I opened my eyes the next day. 

The sound of a door closing reached my ears and I jerked up, glancing around. 

A man I had never seen before walked towards me carrying a tray of food perhaps - the aroma said a lot. 

“I see you're awake.” He said as he placed the tray in front of me. “I thought you should eat first before we talk.” 

I kept staring at him, wondering if I knew him from somewhere and then my memories from last night rushed into my mind altogether. 

He was the stranger who had taken me home. Looking around my surroundings, I frowned. 

“This isn't my home.” I commented and eyed him wearily. Had I been kidnapped. “Who are you?” 

“My name is Anthony Miller. My friends call me Tony.” 

“Why did you bring me here? Where is this place?” I asked, ignoring his attempt at pleasantries. “Did Xander send you?” I added a follow-up question, my mind spinning with the many possibilities. 

He snorted. “No, he most definitely didn't. I'm here to help you but you have to trust me.” 

“How can I trust you? I don't even know you. I whispered and he chuckled. 

“That's fair.” He nodded in agreement and I sighed in relief. 

So far he didn't look like a threat but these things weren't that simple. 

“Why am I here?” 

“Because I want to help.” He replied and I narrowed my eyes. 

“How could you possibly help me? You don't even know me.” I shot back, suspicion rising inside me at his words. 

Was he a stalker perhaps?

“Sienna Thorne-Smith, married to the heir of the Smith empire. Unfortunately that collapsed to the ground and was bought by a powerful business man who he now works for,” he summarized and I gasped. 

“Who are you? Have you been stalking me?” 

He shook his head. “I have been watching you, yes, for a while, especially after I found out about your husband's affair.” 

“My husband's…You spread that video online, didn't you?” I asked, my tone accusatory. “How could you do that? You had no right!” 

I was angry now. 

He frowned. “I didn't upload anything, wouldn't stoop so low just to expose your husband. Besides, it wasn't my place anyway.” 

“So what do you want with me?” I asked and he smiled. 

“I want to help you get revenge on your ex-husband and stepmother. Your father too if you'd like.” 

I scoffed and sat up. “What makes you think I want revenge?” 

“You should after everything they've done to you,” he replied and then picked up the spoon and scooped some rice into it then brought it to my mouth. “Eat,” 

I sighed and reached for the tray. I didn't want to get revenge on them, especially not my dad. 

“I'll give you my card and you can call me when you've had time to think things through.” 

I nodded and started eating. It was my first meal since the incident and I was starving. 

He chuckled. “There's no need to rush it. I'm not going to take it away from you,” 

Pink coated my cheeks as I glared at him. “I need to go home. In case you forgot, I'm a married woman.” 

“Not for long,” he whispered but I heard it. “Anyway, “I'll drop you off when you're done.” 

I rolled my eyes but kept eating, fuming because he might be right. 

Could I still stay with Xander after what he had done?

****

“Oh Sienna darling, you're finally home,” I whipped my head around and searched for the source of the voice, Diane. 

My eyes locked on her at the dining table but she wasn't alone. My dad and Xander were there with her. 

“Where have you been?” Xander asked as I got closer to them. 

I shrugged, unwilling to give him an answer. “It's none of your business.” 

“Answer your husband Sienna, where have you been?” Dad growled, sounding upset. 

“He's not my husband,” I shot back and Xander narrowed his eyes at me. “My whereabouts ceased to be of any concern to him since he slept with my stepmother.”  

Xander scoffed. “You can't still be mad about last night. I told you already that wasn't me. Someone doctored it to create a rift between us.” 

A laugh burst out of me before I could stop it. “Doctored it? Xander there was no way whoever did it could have known about the tattoo on your hip bone.” I pointed out as the video flashed in my head. “Unless of course it was one of your many lovers,” 

He started to speak but I held up my hand, cutting him off. 

Taking a deep breath, I continued. “I’m not here to fight with you Xander, I just came to get my things and leave.” 

“We're married Sienna, where do you think you're going?” Xander yelled and I narrowed my eyes. 

“Whatever we have ends today. It was never real anyway and you'll be hearing from my lawyer soon so please make sure you sign the papers as soon as you get them.” 

Xander just stared at me like I was sputtering nonsense. "You're bluffing Sienna, you can't leave me,” he pronounced and I almost laughed at his audacity. “Besides, once people see you've forgiven me, it will all blow over quickly. We have to put up a united front,” 

“And what makes you think I want to do anything like that?” I scoffed. He was even more delusional than I thought. “Unfortunately for you, I'm done with this sham. It was never a marriage built to last anyway so now you're free to ride off into the sunset with Diane,” I spat her name like it left a bitter taste in my mouth. “Or any of your other lovers,” 

“Sienna, please let's talk about this.” Xander begged and rushed after me as I made my way towards our bedroom on the first floor. 

I took in the familiar environment and tears filled my eyes. 

It would be my last chance to admire the place I always called home and I wanted to take it all in as much as I could. 

“Cece baby, please don't do this.” He kept pleading but I wasn't listening. 

How could I have missed it? Surely there had to have been some signs along the way that I ignored? The ones that could have saved me from this embarrassment if only I had paid attention back then. 

“Sienna, I'm sure we can work this out. Please don't leave me.” 

Once again I ignored him as I threw one of my bags on the bed and started tossing clothes into it. 

“Sienna, I'm talking to you!” he yelled as he grabbed my wrists. 

I screamed and st

ruggled to break free but his grip was too tight. “Xander, what are you doing? Let me go,” 

“You're not leaving me!”