Chapter Two Secrets in the Shadows

Sienna stepped out of the Cavendish Hotel’s headquarters, her pulse still unsteady. The cool New York air hit her face, but it did little to ease the heat crawling up her spine. Damian knew. Not about Julian—not yet—but he knew she had left without a reason. And if there was one thing she remembered about Damian Cavendish, it was that he never let go of unanswered questions.

She hailed a cab, sliding into the backseat as she exhaled sharply.

"Where to?" the driver asked.

"West Village," she murmured.

As the city blurred past her window, her mind raced. She had to be careful. Damian was ruthless in business, in power plays, in control. If he ever discovered the truth, he wouldn’t hesitate to claim Julian. And she couldn’t let that happen.

The thought of her son—his warm hazel eyes, his messy black curls—tightened something deep in her chest. He was her world. Everything she had built, she had built for him.

By the time the cab pulled up in front of her brownstone apartment, she had forced herself into a state of calm. She thanked the driver, climbed out, and made her way inside, where the comforting scent of vanilla and cinnamon greeted her.

"Mommy!"

A small body hurled itself into her arms.

Sienna laughed softly, scooping Julian up and pressing a kiss to his forehead. "Hey, my little man. Were you good for Auntie Liv?"

Julian grinned, his dimples flashing—dimples that were so painfully similar to Damian’s. "I was super good! We made cookies!"

From the kitchen, Olivia—her best friend and the only person who knew the full truth—poked her head out with a knowing look. "And by 'made cookies,' he means he ate most of the chocolate chips before they even hit the dough."

Sienna set Julian down with a chuckle. "Sounds about right."

But the moment Olivia really looked at her, her smile faded. "You saw him, didn’t you?"

Sienna’s shoulders tensed. She sighed, slipping off her heels. "I did."

Olivia folded her arms. "And?"

Sienna hesitated, glancing toward Julian, who had already darted back to the kitchen for another cookie. She gestured for Olivia to follow her to the living room.

"He didn’t know I was the one assigned to the project," she admitted in a hushed voice. "But the second he saw me, he knew something wasn’t right. He asked why I left."

Olivia’s brows shot up. "And what did you say?"

"I deflected," Sienna muttered, rubbing her temples. "But Liv… I don’t know how long I can keep this secret. Damian is relentless. If he starts digging…"

Olivia sat beside her on the couch, her expression serious. "Do you think he suspects?"

Sienna shook her head. "Not yet. But he’s going to."

Olivia exhaled, running a hand through her dark curls. "Sienna, you need to have a plan. If Damian finds out about Julian, he won’t just let it go. He has the money, the resources, the legal team—"

"I know." Sienna’s voice was barely above a whisper. "I know what he’s capable of, Liv."

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Olivia sighed. "So what now? Are you going to quit the project?"

Sienna wanted to. She wanted to pack up, take Julian, and disappear again. But she had worked too hard to build this life, this career.

"No," she said firmly. "I can’t run forever. I’ll finish the project, keep things professional, and once it’s over, I’ll be done with Damian for good."

Olivia gave her a skeptical look. "You really think you can keep him at a distance?"

Sienna forced a small smile. "I have to."

---

### **Damian Cavendish rarely let things slip past him.**

And yet, as he sat in his office that night, staring out at the glittering city skyline, his mind was still locked on one thing.

Sienna Blake.

He hadn’t seen her in five years. Five years of silence, of unanswered questions. Five years of forcing himself to forget the way her laughter had once filled his penthouse.

And yet, the moment she had walked into his office today, it was as if no time had passed at all.

He leaned back in his chair, swirling the whiskey in his glass.

Why had she left?

Why now, after all this time, was she back in his world?

Something wasn’t adding up. Sienna had always been ambitious, talented. She wouldn’t have just disappeared from the design world unless she had a damn good reason.

A sharp knock on his office door interrupted his thoughts.

"Come in," he called.

The door swung open, and Ava Sinclair sauntered in, her designer heels clicking against the marble floor.

"I heard you had an interesting visitor today," she said smoothly, her green eyes flashing.

Damian sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Ava, if you’re here to dig for gossip, I’m not in the mood."

She perched on the edge of his desk, crossing her legs. "Oh, come on, darling. Sienna Blake? That’s quite the blast from the past."

Damian’s jaw tightened. "It’s business. Nothing more."

Ava’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. "You might believe that. But do you really think she just happened to walk back into your life?"

Damian’s grip on his glass tightened. He didn’t like being manipulated—by anyone.

"You seem very interested in this," he said coolly.

Ava tilted her head. "I just think you should be careful, Damian. Women like her always have an agenda."

His gaze darkened. "And what exactly are you implying?"

Ava leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Find out why she left. You owe yourself that much."

With that, she stood, smoothing down her dress before sauntering toward the door.

"And Damian?" she added over her shoulder. "Don’t let a pretty face distract you from what’s important."

The door clicked shut behind her, leaving Damian alone in the silence.

Ava was right about one thing.

He would find out the truth.

Even if it meant turning Sienna’s entire world upside down.

---

Back in the West Village, Sienna tucked Julian into bed, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. He yawned, curling into his blankets.

"Mommy?" he mumbled sleepily.

"Yes, sweetheart?"

His tiny fingers clutched at her hand. "Do I have a daddy?"

Her heart stopped.

Sienna swallowed hard, smoothing his dark curls. "You have me. And Auntie Liv. And so many people who love you."

Julian frowned slightly, his hazel eyes blinking up at her. "But at school, everyone talks about their daddies."

A lump formed in her throat.

What could she say? That his father was one of the most powerful men in New York? That if he ever found out about Julian, he might take him away?

She forced a smile. "You’re special, baby. And you have all the love you need."

Julian seemed to accept that, his tiny body relaxing as his breathing evened out.

But as Sienna sat there, watching him sleep, a terrible feeling crept up her spine.

Because deep down, she knew the truth.

Damian wasn’t going to let her slip away so easily this time.

And if he ever found out about Julian…

Her entire world would come crashing down.