All Chapters of LIES BEFORE VOWS: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The folded scoreboard in Jordan’s pocket looked like it had survived a war — creased, smudged, and slightly damp from when he’d jumped into the pool earlier to “cool down.” Sienna had tried to peek at it twice, but Damon had blocked her with the same infuriating smirk he’d been wearing all day.“Ah-ah,” he said, wagging a finger. “No peeking. Suspense is half the fun.”She snorted. “Suspense for you, maybe. I just want proof you’re not cheating.”Damon feigned offense. “Cheating? I’m a man of honor.”Jordan groaned. “And yet somehow your definition of ‘honor’ involves bending every rule in your favor.”The three of them had been in motion since breakfast — tennis, darts, beach challenges, even a “fastest to finish a milkshake without brain freeze” contest that left Jordan dramatically clutching his head for a full minute. Now, as the sun dipped lower, Damon announced their final stop before the day ended: the shaded ping-pong area by the pool.“Final tiebreaker,” he said, spinning a p

The house had grown quieter after Emily’s conversation with their mother. Margaret was still dabbing her eyes with a tissue, Vincent’s hand resting gently over hers in silent comfort. Damon had been seated at the far end of the living room, silent and tense, his gaze fixed on his sister as though afraid that if he blinked, she’d walk out again.When Emily passed by him, Damon finally spoke, his voice softer than anyone had heard in years.“Emily,” he called, using her name carefully, like it was fragile in his mouth.She froze but didn’t turn.“I want to talk to you,” Damon added, his throat tight.Her reply was sharp and quick, “No. Not now. Not ever.” She didn’t even glance at him, her steps determined as she started toward the hallway.The words stung. Damon’s shoulders slumped, but before silence could crush him, Sienna stepped forward.“Wait,” she said, her tone steady yet warm. Emily stopped, her back still to them. Something in Sienna’s voice held her there.Sienna took a breat

Saturday mornings always felt lighter in Sienna’s home. The golden sun filtered through the curtains, spilling across the breakfast table where Jordan was already lounging with a mischievous grin, sipping orange juice as though he owned the day.“You’re too slow, princess,” he teased, watching Sienna emerge from her room in leggings and a loose hoodie, tying her hair into a messy ponytail.“I’m not slow. You just wake up unnaturally early,” she shot back, grabbing her sneakers.Jordan leaned back in his chair, smirking. “Or maybe you just like keeping me waiting. I swear you love the attention.”“Keep dreaming.” She rolled her eyes, though a reluctant smile tugged at her lips.As they packed for their hiking trip—water bottles, granola bars, a small first-aid kit Sienna insisted on, and Jordan’s Bluetooth speaker that he refused to leave behind—Jordan nudged her shoulder. “You know what would make this even better? Invite Damon.”The name hung between them for a beat, and Sienna frown

The morning sunlight stretched lazily through Damon’s curtains, pulling him out of sleep. For a moment, he lay still, staring at the ceiling, and the thought that filled his mind wasn’t work, wasn’t business—it was her. Sienna. The way she had laughed on the phone last night, the way her voice softened when she said “goodnight.” It had stayed with him, lingering in his chest even as he drifted off.Shaking himself out of the haze, he got out of bed. He padded into his bathroom, turning on the shower, letting the warm water cascade over him. He ran his fingers through his wet hair, taking his time as though the day ahead wasn’t already calling him. Today, he wanted to see her—no, needed to.Back in his room, he dressed more carefully than usual, settling on a crisp white shirt and dark trousers, casual but not careless. He stood in front of the mirror longer than he intended, adjusting his collar twice, brushing at a nonexistent crease. “Get a grip,” he muttered to himself, but even as

The evening was unusually quiet, the kind of quiet that seemed to settle not just on the world outside but inside Sienna’s heart too. Fred had already left for his house after spending the past few days trying to hover around her life, leaving behind a trail of questions she still didn’t want to face. She had gone back to work, filling her days with assignments and long hours, convincing herself that focus and routine would keep her from overthinking. Jordan, meanwhile, was back in school, busier than ever, juggling classes and trying to carve out his own path.But Damon—Damon was still here.Sienna sat on the couch in her living room with her laptop balanced on her knees. The glow from the screen reflected off her face as she scrolled through a report she had to finish before the next morning. She was exhausted, her eyes heavy, but she refused to close the computer. Work was her shield, her way of proving to herself she had control over something, anything, in a world where everythin