Chapter 3

I explained, “I’m not Jenna. I’m her sister, Summer Sinclair.”

The butler took a moment to process that. Then he nodded in understanding and turned back to Silas.

“Sir, the police called. They said something happened to Mrs. Pembroke. They tried calling you for three straight days, but you never answered.

“With no other option, they contacted other family members and eventually found Mrs. Pembroke’s sister. She was the one who later claimed the body.

“But they still needed to notify you as her husband, so the call came through to me.”

“What did you just say…?”

Silas stared at him blankly. His lips parted, but no more words came out.

“Enough!”

Sienna suddenly dropped the weak, fragile act and stepped in front of Silas.

“So now the two of you are working together to lie to him? Mr. Lane, you’d better remember your place.

“Jenna may have married Silas, but there’s only ever been one real master of this house, and that’s him.”

The butler’s expression darkened. “Miss Vale, this call came from the police. If you don’t believe me, you’re welcome to call back and confirm it yourself.”

Sienna gave a cold snort. “If Jenna set this whole performance up, then obviously she would’ve arranged everything in advance.

“What’s the point of calling now?”

Then she grabbed Silas’s hand and gave it a gentle shake. “Silas, don’t let Jenna fool you again…

“I’m honestly upset today. She’s already your wife. She’s already the lady of this house. What else could she possibly want? Why does she always have to make a scene?

“She has no idea how much I envy her…”

She tilted her face up toward him, eyes shimmering with tears.

Silas raised a hand and gently wiped one from her cheek, his voice thick with tenderness.

“Sienna, you’ve been wronged.

“But don’t worry. This is the last time.”

Then he looked at me, his gaze locking onto my face.

“Jenna, this is the last time.

“I can let everything before this go. But if there’s a next time, I will divorce you.”

I caught the flash of resentment in Sienna’s eyes.

“And you,” Silas said, turning to the butler with a warning in his voice, “don’t forget who signs your paycheck.”

The butler looked at him with a complicated expression. When he spoke again, even his voice sounded strained.

“Sir… why is it that you refuse to believe your wife?

“She’s dead. Dead. You’re still letting Miss Vale poison your mind, calling it an act?”

“Mr. Lane, who is poisoning his mind?” Sienna snapped. “Don’t think I don’t know what this is about. Jenna helped your son with school a couple of times, and now you’re this loyal to her?”

Her eyes widened as if a new thought had just struck her.

“Wait… are you saying you and Jenna had something going on too?”

The butler laughed in disbelief.

Then he ripped the staff badge from his chest and threw it to the floor.

“I quit.

“This house has been turned toxic, and staying here brings nothing but bad luck.”

He paused, then looked back at Silas. His tone softened at last.

“Sir… Master Silas. I’ve watched you grow up, so let me say one last thing before I leave.

“Mrs. Pembroke was a truly good person. But most people in this world just follow whatever they’re shown. They don’t see clearly, and they don’t think thoroughly.

“The way you treated her decided how everyone else treated her too. She suffered in this house.

“But now she’s gone. Don’t you at least want to see her one last time?”

Silas’s face looked terrible.

He frowned and lowered his head slightly, as if something inside him had finally begun to shift.

The butler turned to leave.

I reached out and caught his arm.