Chapter 65

Sienna had been deep in discussion with Riley, going over the data gathering results in her office, when a soft knock interrupted them. Her secretary stepped inside and bowed politely.

"Ms. Sienna, Mr. Calloway is here," the secretary announced. Sienna glanced at her, then at Riley. Riley scoffed, already pushing her chair back to stand, but Sienna reached out, stopping her.

"Can you tell Ethan to wait? I'm in the middle of something important," Sienna began, her tone firm.

"You can let him in; it might be urgent. We can finish this later," Riley cut her off, her voice calm but distant. Sienna chuckled, about to say something, when the door opened wider, and Ethan strolled in without waiting.

"Sorry to interrupt. You can go now, Ms. Secretary," Ethan said, fully stepping into the room. Riley clicked her tongue, rubbing the corner of her lips in annoyance.

Sienna rolled her eyes and stood, glaring at Ethan. "I literally told you to wait for my call, didn't I?" she said, her voice sharp.

Ethan shrugged nonchalantly. "Eh? I didn't know Riley was here." His gaze finally fell on Riley. "Wow, it's been a while. How've you been, Riley?"

Riley chuckled dryly as she stood up. "I was doing fine... until you walked in."

Sienna scoffed, shaking her head before clearing her throat to regain control of the situation.

Sienna clapped her hands lightly, releasing a sigh before turning to face Riley. "Ms. Pierce, perhaps we can continue our discussion later today. I have to tend to something else right now," she said, her voice cool but professional.

Riley glanced at Sienna, nodding as she began gathering the documentation scattered on the desk. "Right, your husband might need your attention," she replied with a playful smile, the word "husband" dripping with sarcasm.

Ethan raised an eyebrow, looking between the two women. "Riley can stay, though. I won't take too much of—"

"I insist on leaving," Riley cut him off, her voice steady but firm. "I'll send you the remaining information later today, Ms. Reed. We can go over everything again once you've handled your... priorities." She picked up her laptop bag, excused herself with a nod, and made her way out of the office.

Sienna rubbed the bridge of her nose in frustration, watching Riley leave. She then grabbed a pillow from the sofa and threw it at Ethan, glaring at him. "What the hell was that?" she snapped, her patience wearing thin.

Ethan caught the pillow, looking confused. "I didn't know you were with Riley," he mumbled, holding the pillow awkwardly.

Sienna sighed deeply, pressing her fingers to her temple as she stared at the screen in front of her. The news about her "husband" dating someone of the same sex had leaked, sparking a wildfire of public opinion. Social media was ablaze, and their relationship was suddenly the hot topic of the moment.

She glanced over at Ethan, who stood beside her, rubbing the back of his neck with a guilty smile. "Do you see now what the consequences of your actions are? It's only a matter of time before our parents catch wind of this," she said, leaning back in her chair, visibly exasperated as she rubbed her temple.

"I know," Ethan replied, his tone pleading. "That's why I came to talk to you—what should I do?"

Sienna sighed again, her patience thin. "Ethan, I told you, I was willing to help you maintain the status quo before the wedding. But this? This reckless behavior? It's beyond my control now. This was your decision." Her eyes narrowed as she locked her gaze onto him. "If I had done something like this, how would you react?"

Ethan shifted awkwardly, understanding the weight of her words. "I know you're frustrated, and I get it. But I really need your help, Sienna. I don't know how to handle this on my own." His voice softened, desperation creeping in as he pleaded for her guidance.

Sienna leaned forward, her fingers tapping against her desk. "I'll help you, Ethan. But you need to understand that this is the last time I can clean up after you. Next time, you need to be ready to face the consequences on your own."

Ethan sighed heavily, nodding in defeat. "I know, and I really appreciate it. I get that you have a lot going on, and now this is just another thing piling up on you."

Sienna's eyes hardened as she fixed him with a stern look. "You need to man up, Ethan. You have the guts to parade around with your boyfriend in public, but when the fallout hits, you're scrambling. You can't keep causing a mess and expect someone else to fix it every time."

Just then, Sienna's phone chimed with a new notification. She glanced down, her brows furrowing as she read the message. It was from her father. "Well, I guess they finally caught wind of it," she said, shrugging nonchalantly as she tapped the screen to open the full message.

"Come home today at once, and bring your great husband with you."

She looked up at Ethan, holding up her phone so he could see the message. "Looks like we're both in for a long day."

As they arrived at the Reed mansion, both of them held their breath. One of the household staff greeted them politely. "Your father will see you now, Señorita."

Sienna glanced at Ethan and nudged him gently. "Remember, don't say a word. I'll be the one to explain this mess you've caused," she whispered, ensuring Ethan understood the gravity of the situation.

When they entered her father's office, the tension was palpable. Her father's stern demeanor cast a heavy atmosphere over the room. "Good evening, Papa," Sienna greeted, trying to keep her voice steady.

Ethan nodded as a silent greeting.

Arthur's voice was firm and cold as he gestured for them to sit. "So, you've finally arrived," he said. Sienna sat next to Ethan, and they both knew the drill—pretending their marriage was perfect whenever they were under this roof.

"I suppose you already know why I summoned you both here?" Arthur asked, his eyes sharp as he studied them from across the desk.

Sienna held her breath as she exchanged a quick glance with Ethan before turning to face her father. With his commanding presence and cold demeanor, Arthur Reed sat behind his large oak desk, his eyes sharp and unforgiving. He folded his hands in front of him, resting them on the desk.

"Yes, Papa, we know," Sienna said, her voice steady, but her heart pounded. She forced a polite smile as she added, "And I can explain everything."

"Explain everything?" Arthur scoffed, throwing a scrutinizing glare at Ethan. "Please do. I'm eager to hear what this scandal about your fool of a husband being involved with another man is all about."

Sienna swallowed hard, her nerves tense as she noticed Ethan shifting uncomfortably in his seat. "The allegations against Ethan are baseless accusations. They're just rumors until proven otherwise—"

"Rumors?" Arthur's hand slammed down on the table between them, startling both of them. "This is far more than mere rumors! Do you realize what kind of damage this scandal could do to our reputation? And of all things, Ethan—dating someone of the same sex in public? You're disgusting—"

Sienna abruptly stood, slamming her own palm down on the table, leaning in toward her father. "You seem to have forgotten that your daughter had a female lover too, Papa. If Ethan is filthy in your eyes, then so am I."

Arthur rose to his feet, meeting her gaze with equal intensity. "Are you testing my patience again, Sienna?"

"No, Papa. But remember, this is the consequence of your own ambitions. So now, deal with it," Sienna shot back, her voice steady, though her heart raced.