Chapter 51

Sienna stood in the lavish hotel room, the morning light filtering through the curtains, but she barely noticed it. Her entire body was frozen in place, her heart pounding as the news played out on the TV screen.

"Breaking news! The youngest heiress of BioSynthix, Riley Pierce, is back in the country after being away for years. Riley Pierce was spotted at the airport yesterday. While we attempted to get a quick interview, the BioSynthix heiress declined to comment..."

Sienna's breath caught in her throat as the video footage flashed across the screen—Riley, walking through the airport, a sea of reporters clamoring for her attention. But just like always, Riley walked through them with purpose, not giving anyone a glance, her aura more commanding than ever.

Sienna's eyes stayed glued to the screen, her mind racing as she tried to process the whirlwind of emotions flooding her. Riley hadn't changed much—her confident stride, her sharp gaze—but there was something in her demeanor, a sense of maturity that hadn't been there before.

"She's... back. Riley's back," Sienna whispered to herself, barely able to believe it. A smile formed on her lips, shaky at first, and then the tears began to fall. She sniffled, wiping her eyes, the overwhelming relief mixing with confusion.

Part of her had always held onto the hope that Riley would return. But now that she had, it was as if the delicate balance Sienna had been trying to maintain—the engagement, the life she had tried to move forward with—was suddenly on the verge of unraveling.

She thought back to her plan, the little breadcrumbs she had left behind, hoping that Riley would notice, hoping that Riley would come back. But now, as she stood there, she wondered—was it her plan that had worked, or had Riley returned for a reason of her own?

"So, did the plan work?" Ethan's voice interrupted Sienna's thoughts from the entrance of the hotel room. Their wedding had taken place the day before, and now they were in the hotel for their so-called "honeymoon." Neither of them had any intention of consummating the marriage, knowing they had no real interest in each other. It was a formality, nothing more.

Sienna glanced at Ethan, then back at the television screen. "I'm not sure if this was all part of our plan, but she's back, Ethan. Riley's back," she said, her voice wavering between happiness and sorrow. Her emotions were a tangled mess—she didn't know whether to smile or cry now that Riley had returned. Deep down, she knew Riley must have heard about her "marriage" by now.

"Let me guess," Ethan said as he walked into the room, "you're wondering how Riley's going to react when she finds out you got married."

Sienna turned her gaze from the television to Ethan, standing in the doorway of the hotel suite. He was right, as usual, and his straightforwardness always cut through her thoughts.

"I guess I am," she admitted, her voice soft, as if speaking the words would somehow make everything more real. She was supposed to feel relieved or even triumphant—after all, they had executed the plan perfectly. But now that Riley was back, the weight of what they'd done was crashing down on her.

"Riley's back, but... I'm married," Sienna added, her voice faltering. "She's going to find out, and I don't even know how to face that." She felt like her entire world was closing in around her.

Ethan stepped closer, casually dropping into one of the armchairs. "You're overthinking, as usual. Riley didn't show up during the wedding, did she? She hasn't contacted you for years. Maybe she's already moved on, Sienna." His tone was casual, almost indifferent, but she could tell there was a flicker of something deeper.

Sienna shook her head, biting her lip. "I don't know about that. You didn't see the way she looked at me back then. She loved me, Ethan." Her voice cracked. "And I loved her."

Riley sat cross-legged on the couch, hugging a throw pillow tightly against her chest, pretending to focus on the movie playing in front of her. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake off the news she'd heard earlier. A pillow suddenly hit her square in the face.

"Bullseye!" Zoey's playful voice rang out, breaking Riley's train of thought.

Riley clicked her tongue in annoyance and glanced at Zoey with a bored expression. "Why the hell are you even at my house, Riley?" Zoey asked, trying to sound unimpressed.

Riley sighed, looking entirely at home in Zoey's space. "Well, I realized that going back to my place isn't an option. Sienna's staying across from me, and I don't feel like dealing with that right now." Riley shrugged, flipping through the movie selection for what felt like the hundredth time.

"Gracious! You have your family house, why not go there?" Zoey groaned, slapping her forehead in exasperation. Riley was being as stubborn as ever.

"No can do. I heard she's visiting there too." Riley's grip tightened on the pillow, her discomfort evident.

Zoey flopped down on the sofa beside her, letting out a long breath. "Why do I feel like I'm babysitting a grown child? You're such a handful, you know that?" Despite her frustration, Zoey couldn't help but smile. Riley's family had always treated her as one of their own, and in moments like these, Zoey felt like she had to be the big sister.

"Sorry about that," Riley chuckled, though her voice was tinged with sadness. "I have no one else to turn to. And let's face it, Nyx and Harriet would never hide me from Sienna. They love her too much."

"Madame called me earlier, asking if you were coming home," Zoey mentioned, rubbing her temple as if just remembering.

Riley straightened up. "What did you tell her?"

"I said you had some things to take care of first," Zoey replied simply, but her tone grew more serious. "But, Riley, running away from your problems won't help you sort things out. Aren't you tired of hiding? You've been doing this for three long years. It's time to face the music."

Riley sighed, her fingers nervously playing with the edge of the pillow. "I know, I know... Just let me stay here a little longer. I'll go back to my unit when I'm ready."

Zoey didn't press further, but Riley could feel her gaze, the silent push to stop avoiding the consequences of her actions.

"What are you so afraid of, Riley?" Zoey asked, folding her arms and turning to face her. "Sienna's married now. There's no point in clinging to the past. You need to confront the truth and set yourself free."

Riley's faint smile was filled with pain. "You don't know Sienna like I do. She doesn't bow to anyone, not even her own father. But this marriage... I don't know, Zoey. What if it's not real? What if—"

"That's all just 'what ifs' until you prove otherwise, Riley," Zoey interrupted gently. "Find out for yourself. Anyway, here," she said, pulling out a small bottle of medicine and handing it to Riley. "I figured you might forget to take your meds."

Riley stared at the bottle in her hand. Three long years of torment, and it had all come down to this—her anxiety pulling her down further and further.

"If it scares you to face her," Zoey said softly, "then maybe that's the sign you need to confront her. After all, what do you really have left to lose?"