Chapter 42

Riley gently kissed the top of Sienna's head as she lay on top of her, arms wrapped tightly around her. Sienna had come straight to Riley's unit after leaving her parents' house—Riley had become her safe haven.

"Aren't you hungry?" Riley asked softly, rubbing her back as she paused her game. Sienna shrugged, burying her face deeper into Riley's chest, clinging tighter.

"Love, you've been so quiet, and you haven't eaten anything all day." Riley sighed, recalling the story Sienna had shared earlier. Her heart ached seeing Sienna's swollen cheek. She had given her a temporary remedy, but it was likely to bruise.

"I'm not hungry," Sienna mumbled, her voice barely audible as she sniffed.

Riley gently shifted her. "Come on, move up a little," she urged, pulling Sienna so they were face to face. Sienna avoided her gaze, her eyes heavy with exhaustion and pain. Riley carefully tucked a strand of Sienna's hair behind her ear. "Does it still hurt?" she asked, her fingers lightly tracing the bruise on Sienna's cheek.

Sienna nodded slightly, then scoffed bitterly. "Adopt me for a while," she joked, sniffling as she buried her face in the crook of Riley's neck.

"You know you can stay here," Riley replied, stroking her hand through Sienna's hair, her voice full of warmth. "No one's stopping you."

Sienna shrugged again. "I have my brand. It's earning a decent amount, and I've got other investments... but will that be enough to cover everything?" she wondered, her voice laced with uncertainty.

Riley thought for a moment before offering, "How about this—I'll take care of groceries and whatever else you need, and you can handle the bills, like electricity, water, condo dues. What do you think?"

Sienna smiled faintly. "That sounds nice, but... no thanks. We're not even married yet," she teased, rubbing her hand absentmindedly on Riley's shoulder. "I'll figure it out. I need to find another source of income."

"Well, graduation is around the corner. We'll both have stable jobs soon enough," Riley reassured her. "But for now, let me help until you find something more permanent."

Sienna chuckled lightly, poking Riley's waist. "What's this, are you feeling sorry for me?"

Riley laughed softly. "No, not pity—I'm offering what I can because that's what relationships are for, right? We support each other through the good times and the tough ones. So let me help you, okay? Even if you don't agree, I'll still help. I'm always here, ready to back you up, no matter what."

Riley pulled Sienna closer, holding her tightly. "You'll never have to go through this alone."

Sienna yawned and stretched, arching her back as she tucked a few stray strands of hair behind her ear. Her coffee table was scattered with sketches, sample designs for her upcoming clothing release. She picked up her pencil, staring at her latest sketch, debating whether to add another design element. Pulling an all-nighter in her unit had become her routine as she prepared for the big launch.

Riley walked in from the kitchen, holding two cups. "Here," she said, handing one to Sienna before sitting beside her.

"Thanks," Sienna murmured, raising her legs onto the sofa and leaning against Riley's shoulder. Riley wrapped an arm around her, a comforting presence. "Ah, hot tea," Sienna sighed, taking another sip.

Riley absentmindedly rubbed Sienna's stomach. "You know there's no baby in there, right?" Sienna teased with a smirk.

Riley chuckled. "Well, do you want one? I can help with that," she joked, earning a soft laugh from Sienna as she checked out the sketches scattered on the table.

"What do you think about this design?" Sienna asked, holding up one of the sketches. "I feel like something's missing."

Riley placed her cup on the side of the sofa, the coffee table already crowded with Sienna's work, and examined the sketch more closely. Tilting her head thoughtfully, she gave Sienna some honest, detailed feedback.

Sienna stared at her, surprised. "That's it!" she exclaimed, snapping her fingers. She quickly handed her cup to Riley and grabbed her pen, making adjustments to the design based on Riley's suggestions.

Riley smiled, watching Sienna work with such enthusiasm and determination. She admired how much passion Sienna poured into her brand. Suddenly, the doorbell rang, startling them both.

"Are you expecting someone?" Riley asked, glancing at Sienna.

Sienna shook her head. "Nope."

"I'll check," Riley said, getting up and walking towards the front door. She glanced at the camera monitor and was surprised to see Sienna's mother, Vivian, standing outside. Riley hesitated for a moment before opening the door.

Vivian's eyes widened slightly when she saw Riley. "Mrs. Reed," Riley greeted her with a nod, stepping aside to let her in. She quietly closed the door behind her.

"Who is it, love?" Sienna called from the living room. When she didn't hear a response, she got up and walked to the hallway. Her steps faltered when she saw her mother standing with Riley. "Ma?"

"How have you been, sweetheart?" Vivian asked, walking over and embracing Sienna.

Riley, feeling like an intruder, rubbed the back of her neck. "I... I should excuse myself," she said, about to step away.

"No, stay." Sienna's voice was firm as she glanced at Riley, then back to her mother. "You don't need to go."

Riley hesitated, looking between them. "Are you sure?"

Sienna nodded. "You heard me, Riley. Stay," she repeated, her tone leaving no room for argument. She stepped aside and guided her mother to the nearest available seat.

Vivian sat down across from her daughter, her gaze lingering on Sienna. Sienna, without a word, tapped the spot beside her, silently inviting Riley to sit. Riley quietly took her place next to Sienna, trying to remain as invisible as possible. Sienna scoffed lightly, the tension in the room evident.

Turning to face her mother, Sienna asked, "Why are you here, Ma?"

Vivian sighed, glancing between Riley and Sienna. "I just wanted to see how you're doing. I brought some food," she said, lifting the paper bag in her hands as a peace offering.

Sienna gave a curt nod. "I'm doing fine. Riley's been helping me," she said, her eyes briefly meeting Riley's, offering silent reassurance.

Vivian nodded slowly. "I see." She hesitated for a moment, her expression softening. "You know, your father can be... a little aggressive sometimes. He—"

"Ma, if you're here to convince me to reconcile with Papa, don't bother," Sienna interrupted, her tone firm. "I won't let him control my life anymore. I'm doing alright. I'm surviving. Graduation is just a month away. I'll apply to companies or focus on selling my designs. I'll manage." She picked up her sketch pad and pencil, as if to dismiss the subject.

Vivian cleared her throat, her eyes flickering between Riley and Sienna. "You know how your father operates, Sienna," she said gently. "Sooner or later, he'll come after you. You know he won't let this go."

Sienna paused, her pencil hovering above the paper. "Ma, we already made an agreement—"

"Do you really think he'll honor that?" Vivian's voice grew sharper, concern etched on her face. "Sienna, your father doesn't just let things pass. He's stubborn, and he won't rest until he has control again." Her gaze shifted pointedly to Riley.

Sienna's brows furrowed in confusion. "What are you trying to say, Ma?" she demanded, her voice rising slightly as she noticed her mother's pointed look at Riley.

Vivian sighed deeply. "He's been busy these past few months. Ever since you left, he's been pulling strings—contacting your connections, influencing the people you might rely on. He'll make it hard for you to land a stable job or even sell your designs," Vivian explained, her worry evident. "I'm telling you this because you need to be prepared. He's going to use every tactic he can to get you back under his thumb."

Sienna's eyes widened in realization. "You mean—he's targeting Riley, too?" she asked, her voice trembling with anger.

Vivian nodded solemnly. "I'm afraid so. He's not going to let anyone stand in his way—not even her." She stood up, placing the paper bag on the sofa where she had been sitting. "I just wanted to warn you both. You need to be ready for what's coming. And for what it's worth... I've come to terms with your relationship. Even if it's not the approval you'd want, it's something," Vivian added, her tone softening as she prepared to leave.