All Chapters of I Can’t Love You In The Dark: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

SIENNA’S POVWhen Evan and I first got married, I thought it would last forever. He was charming, of course, that's how they get you. He promised a perfect life. I was young and wanted to build something good. I put his job first, his needs, his wants. My own dreams, my art, slowly disappeared. The twins came almost immediately, so being a wife and a mom became my primary goals. I told myself his little put-downs were just stress, I missed the small changes, how he stopped giving compliments, how his touch became boring, sex life got boring. I said it was normal for a long marriage.Then came the bigger house, more work trips, and more distance. He stopped asking about my day. He barely looked at my paintings, he'd say I was too clingy. The hints became clear: a different perfume, a hotel receipt, vague answers about work dinners. I chose to believe his lies, to hold onto our perfect family, even as it fell apart. I thought I was doing it for the kids, so they'd have a stable home.

DANIEL’S POVThe city outside my house was making soft noises. Sunlight came in through my big windows, shining on the expensive art I owned. I just laid there, breathing, feeling Sienna next to me. Her head was on my shoulder, her leg was over mine, skin felt warm. A deep, quiet peace filled me, this was different from how I felt after a good business deal. This was a calm feeling in my chest. It felt both gentle and strong.I thought about last night, Sienna just showed up. I alighted from the car, and she was pacing outside. Her coat was wet from the rain. Her eyes looked very sad, like she was carrying a heavy load. Before I could speak, she rushed into my arms, she was shaking. She whispered, "I just felt so lonely." Those words hit me hard. I held her close, letting her hold on to me.Later, in my bedroom, we weren't in a hurry. It was slow and gentle. I kissed her softly all over. I took my time, listening to her quiet sounds. I wanted to show her that I cared for her, that I

Sienna's POVI stared at my phone, the screen dark in my hand. Daniel's texts. His voicemail. I’d seen them all. And I’d ignored them. Each buzz of my phone was a fresh stab of guilt. A reminder of the amazing night we’d shared, and the heavy weight of my real life.It wasn't that I didn't want to talk to him. God, I did. I wanted to tell him everything. About Evan's crazy proposal. About Zoe's hurtful words. About how my own daughter made me feel like a shameful, desperate woman. But the words stuck in my throat. He was too good. Too young. Too simple. His world, a shiny glass house and easy charm, felt far away from my messy, complicated life. How could I drag him into this? He deserved someone who wasn't carrying decades of problems. Someone who wasn't still putting herself back together after a broken marriage and a broken family.I walked to my painting. The brush was still in my hand, but I painted without much force. The bright red I’d used earlier seemed too bold, too stron

Zoe’s POVMy dad looked at me. His eyes were soft. "Sienna," he said, his voice quiet, "your mom just needs to remember what's real. What truly matters. She's been through a lot. She's vulnerable right now." He took my hand. "That Daniel guy. He's just a distraction. A young, rich thrill. Not something serious for her."I nodded. My stomach twisted. I believed him. Dad was hurting too. I saw it. He loved us. He wanted our family back together. "But she said no to you, Dad," I whispered. My throat felt tight."Because she's confused, sweetheart," he insisted. He squeezed my hand gently. "This Daniel has her head spinning. He’s putting ideas in her head. Ideas that aren’t good for her. Or for us. He’s taking her away from our family. From you and your brother." He looked at me, really looked at me. "She needs someone to show her the truth. Someone to remind her what she’s throwing away. Our family, Zoe. Our life together.""What can I do?" I asked. My voice was small. I wanted to help.

Lila’s PovMy blood was boiling. I had just left Daniel’s office, my head spinning with everything he told me. Evan proposed? Zoe went to his apartment, screaming at him? And Sienna, my best friend, told me nothing? Not a damn word. I felt like I’d been punched. Betrayed. How could she keep something so huge from me? After everything we’d been through? After I warned her about Evan a hundred times?I grabbed my phone, fingers shaking as I typed her number. Call after call went straight to voicemail. "Pick up, Sienna," I muttered, my voice tight. "Pick up the damn phone." I left angry messages, one after another. "Sienna, it's Lila. Call me back right now. What the hell is going on? Evan proposed? And you didn't tell me? Are you insane?" My voice rose with each message. "And Zoe went to Daniel's? What is this circus? Call me!"But silence. Just her calm voicemail message, which made me even angrier. My calm had snapped. I knew where she lived. I was going there. Now. She couldn't hide