Chapter 63

Riley leaned against the headboard, cradling Sienna's trembling form against her chest, her fingers soothingly stroking Sienna's hair. Sienna held on tight to Riley's waist, as if afraid that any moment now, Riley would slip away again.

"Don't leave me again, please," Sienna mumbled, her voice muffled against Riley's shirt.

"You're still married, Sienna," Riley reminded her with a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood despite the heaviness in her heart.

"I know, but that marriage isn't even legally registered. We never wanted to make it official," Sienna replied, finally catching her breath as she leaned back slightly to meet Riley's gaze.

"Still—"

"Do you even know who my husband is?" Sienna asked, her tone shifting as she looked up at Riley, vulnerability etched across her face.

Riley shook her head. She had never cared to find out who Sienna's husband was; all she had focused on was the ache of their separation.

"Ethan," Sienna murmured, the name hanging in the air like a dark cloud.

Riley's heart dropped. "What?!" she hissed, disbelief coloring her tone. "Ethan? Calloway? The Calloway—your ex?"

Sienna let out a humorless laugh, a mix of sadness and resignation. "Yeah, the one who cheated on me with a girl and a guy. We're both so torn in this situation." She paused, taking a deep breath to steady herself. "That's why I planned for our marriage not to be registered; I don't want to be married to anyone if it isn't you. Remember I told you I only wanted to marry you? Only you."

Riley felt a rush of emotions—anger, disbelief, and an overwhelming sense of longing. "And yet you got involved with him?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"It was complicated. I only thought of getting you back, not thinking properly what would be the consequences of this all. And I am scared that I might lose you forever," Sienna confessed, tears spilling down her cheeks once more.

Riley's heart ached at Sienna's words. "You never needed to be scared of me. I would have fought for you, for us, even if you didn't ask me to."

"I know that now," Sienna replied, her voice breaking. "I just wish I had realized it sooner. I wish I hadn't let fear control me."

Riley took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "So what now? What do we do?"

Sienna's eyes shone with determination as she looked up at Riley. "We fight for each other. We figure this out together. I'm not letting you go again, not after everything we've been through."

Riley's heart swelled at Sienna's resolve, her own fears slowly dissipating. "Together," she echoed, feeling a spark of hope ignite between them.

"But first, I need to talk with my father about what he's done. I won't forgive him this time," Sienna declared, sitting up straighter, determination flashing in her eyes. For three long years, she had carried the burden of believing that Riley had abandoned her, and now she felt ready to confront the truth.

Riley looked deeply into Sienna's eyes, her heart heavy with concern. She cupped Sienna's face gently, feeling the warmth radiating from her skin. "He might hurt you again," Riley whispered, pulling Sienna closer, as if to shield her from the storm brewing outside their moment. "Maybe it's best to wait for the right timing. I have something on my hands, too."

Sienna searched Riley's face, wanting to understand the depths of what she meant. "What do you mean? What's going on with you?"

Riley hesitated, the weight of her own secrets pressing down on her. She wanted to protect Sienna, to shield her from the chaos that had ensued since they'd been apart. "It's complicated," she finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've been dealing with things that are... well, messy. I didn't expect to see you again like this."

Sienna felt a pang of anxiety ripple through her. "Riley, whatever it is, we can face it together. I can't lose you again."

Riley leaned in, brushing her lips softly against Sienna's, igniting a familiar warmth between them. "I don't want to lose you either," she murmured against Sienna's lips. "But right now, I think we both need to be careful. You with your father, and me with whatever's coming my way."

As they broke the kiss, Sienna searched Riley's gaze, feeling the connection between them stronger than ever. "You're right. We need to strategize, but I want to make sure you're okay first. I've missed you so much, Riley. I don't want anything to come between us again."

Riley smiled, a sense of relief flooding over her. "We'll get through this together, I promise. We just need to tread carefully and not let anyone pull us apart again."

Sienna nodded, her heart feeling lighter despite the weight of their circumstances. "Then let's figure this out, one step at a time. No more secrets. I want to know everything."

Riley took a deep breath, feeling the strength of their renewed bond. "Okay, but first, let's just enjoy this moment. We have two hours before anyone comes back."

With a soft laugh, Sienna leaned in again, this time sealing their commitment with a kiss that spoke of hope, healing, and a future they would fight for together.

Riley heard the door unlock, and Zoey entered the room. She glanced at the sleeping Sienna, gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear and pulling the comforter to cover her before getting out of bed.

Walking toward Zoey, Riley couldn't shake off the weight of the conversation she just had. She glanced back at Sienna one last time. Zoey raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing Riley's expression. "Did you two talk already?"

Riley nodded, her heart still racing from the intensity of their reunion. "Guess she wasn't the one who sent those messages... I can't believe after all these years..."

"See? I told you that you shouldn't have gone to another country," Zoey chuckled, shrugging off the tension. "So what now?"

Riley sighed, her mind racing with possibilities. "I want to win Sienna back, but I need to figure out who sabotaged the company's development, causing a massive capital loss first." She walked toward the living area, the weight of the situation hanging over her.

"What if Sienna's family is involved in the capital loss? What would happen between you two?" Zoey asked, her tone serious as she gauged Riley's awareness of the potential fallout.

Riley halted, considering the implication. "No matter what, I will still choose to be with Sienna. You know that, Zoey. Even my family is aware of it. I'll do everything I can to end this rivalry and put them behind bars if they're involved in the malpractice. I know Sienna would understand that it's the right thing to do."

Zoey sighed, crossing her arms as she leaned against the wall. "I've gathered all the documentation you asked for. There are inconsistencies between the two documents."

"Let's see them," Riley said, her voice firm. The adrenaline surged through her as she took a seat, ready to analyze whatever evidence Zoey had collected.

Zoey handed over the files, and Riley studied them carefully, her mind racing with thoughts of Sienna and the challenges ahead. "If we can prove their involvement, it'll not only help our company but also protect Sienna from her family's influence. I just need to connect the dots."

As Riley flipped through the papers, she felt a renewed sense of purpose. Sienna was worth fighting for, and she wouldn't let anything, not even the intricacies of family ties and corporate sabotage, stand in her way. "We need to act fast, Zoey. Time is of the essence."

Zoey nodded, her demeanor shifting to match Riley's intensity. "I'll help you in any way I can. We'll get to the bottom of this."