LOGINSIENNA’S POV Kieran’s grip was firm, but his steps were hurried, as if he couldn't wait to get us behind a closed door. I just kept staring at him, watching the sharp line of his jaw and the way he completely ignored the world around us.As we reached the corner of the hallway to head toward the stairs, a young housemaid came rushing out from one of the side rooms. She was carrying a stack of fresh linens and didn't see us coming."Oh!" she gasped, her shoulder accidentally brushing against Kieran’s arm as she tried to stop.Kieran’s reaction was violent. He jerked his arm back so hard that he slammed into a large, gold-framed picture on the wall. The glass shattered instantly, hitting the floor with a deafening crash that echoed through the hall.The jolt was so sudden that his fingers snapped open. His grip on my hand loosened and fell away.He stayed pinned against the wall, his chest heaving with heavy, ragged breaths. His expression shifted instantly—it wasn't just shock; it was
SIENNA’S POVChloe was just staring at a crack in the floor tiles, her hand still locked onto mine like a vise."Okay, Chloe," Elena said, coming back in with a tray of vials. "We’re going to start the collection now. Sienna, you stay right there."Chloe’s hand tightened around mine so hard her nails dug into my skin. I didn't move. I just watched her stare at a random spot on the wall, her face going totally blank like she was trying to be somewhere else.Then my phone buzzed again.I didn't even have to look at the screen to know it was Kieran. I felt a wave of guilt so sharp it actually made me dizzy. He was back at the house, probably hovering by the window, worried about me having "cramps" while I was sitting here witnessing the worst moment of his niece’s life."I have to step out for just a second," I whispered to Chloe. "I’m not leaving the building. I’m just going to the hall to make sure your uncle doesn't come looking for us. Okay?"She looked at me, her eyes wide with pan
SIENNA’S POV Kieran’s eyes went wide. He froze, looking at me like he couldn't quite process the words. "I... I didn't hear what you said. Say it again?"I chuckled, leaning in closer. "I said, I love how intentional you are.""Then..." he trailed off, his voice breathless."What?" I teased."The last part," he urged, his grip on my waist tightening slightly. "What did you say after that?""I said... babe."Kieran actually let out a breathy giggle, his hand flying to his chest as if he were trying to keep his heart from leaping out. "You called me babe. Say that again."He leaned down, burying his face in the crook of my neck for a second, acting like a giddy teenager. "I never want to leave your arms, my queen.""Queen? Is that what you're calling me now?" I asked and rolled my eyes to hide the heat rising in my cheeks, but secretly, the title made me stand a little taller. It made me feel special.He pulled back, his fingers caressing my hair, tucking a stray strand behind my
SIENNA'S POVIt was Chloe. "Hello." She offered a smile, but it remained fixed and hollow, never reaching her eyes."Hi." I smiled back awkwardly, craning my neck, checking the shadows of the empty hallway. "What are you doing here, Chloe?""Look, I know my parents don’t like you. Or my Uncle. And trust me, they didn't send me. I came on my own."I leaned against the doorframe, watching her. "And...?""Can we talk inside? Please." She was trembling, her eyes darting back toward the stairs. "I don't want my mom to see me here."I stepped back, pulling the door open just enough for her to slip through. She hurried inside, and I clicked the lock behind her. She looked tiny in the center of the room, her fingers twisting the hem of her oversized sweater until the wool was stretched thin."Chloe? What’s going on?""I’ve always liked you, Sienna," she said, the words coming out in a breathless rush. "Since the first day you walked in. I love... I love how you don't let my parents pu
SIENNA’S POV If only she knew he handled me so well in that area. Every time he touched me, it was like a fuse being lit. I thought about the way he moved, the heat of his body, and the way he seemed to know exactly what I needed before I even knew it myself.Just thinking about it made a familiar, heavy ache settle deep in my core. He wasn't just active; he was a force of nature. Every bit of him was pure satisfaction."You don't need to worry about that, Grandma," I said, finally forcing myself to meet her eyes, though I knew my face was still bright red. "My husband is... very well. Medically speaking, he has absolutely no issues.""So, he’s been active?" She saw me struggling to keep a straight face and waved a hand dismissively. "No, I don't need the details! I just need to know if he has actually slept with you."I gave a small, jerky nod, my heart racing. "He has. He’s definitely not what you think, Grandma. He’s very active. You have nothing to worry about."She patted m
SIENNA’S POV That smile from Victor was devilish. It was technically a smile, but it carried a kind of darkness that made my skin crawl. It felt like a warning, like he was already two steps ahead of a game we didn't even know we were playing.Beside me, Kieran didn’t seem to notice—or maybe he just didn't care. His focus was entirely on me.Under the table, his fingers moved higher up my thigh. I could feel every single path his touch took, the heat of his skin seeping through my bare skin. He was just casually caressing me, acting like we were just having a normal breakfast, but it was doing so much more to me than he realized.My heart was thudding against my ribs, and it was getting harder to keep my breathing steady. Every time his thumb brushed a little higher, a spark shot through me, making it impossible to focus on anything else.Vanessa cleared her throat as she shoved her gift box closer to Grandma. "Grandma, why don't you open my gift? I hope you like this. It’s a cus
KIERAN’S POV "Gross," I whispered, scrolling past it as fast as I could.The next one said: How to make any woman happy in bed. I paused. Okay, let's check that.The woman in the video started by saying, "The first thing to do is approach things with a different mindset."Nice, I thought. A mi
KIERAN’S POV Don't break, I told myself. Not here. Not now.I felt the vein on my neck begin to pop out, pulsing hard with the surge of panic. My heart wasn't just beating, it was slamming against my ribs, trying to escape. I struggled to remain composed in front of the cameras. But my body wa
KIERAN’S POV"Guests?" She let out a short, disbelieving laugh, her fingers tracing the glossy finish of the box. "Kieran, you don’t even let anyone close to you. Who are these mysterious Ludo-playing guests?"I didn’t answer. I resumed my pace, but I could hear her footsteps following close behi
KIERAN’S POV"Drink that," Silas said, pointing to the green juice. "Unless you want to have hangovers that make your heads ache until evening. It's an old family recipe. It will clear the fog."I took a sip. It was tart and cold, immediately cutting through the fuzz in my brain. Sienna gulped he







