Chapter 70

Riley rubbed her temple and let out a soft laugh as she saw Harriet and Nyx with Sienna in her living room. She knew she couldn't protest; Sienna would insist on getting her checked regardless.

Harriet and Nyx turned to her, their expressions a mix of concern and judgment. "Why are you guys looking at me like that?" Riley laughed weakly, cradling her wound as she walked slowly toward them.

"Seriously, Riley? You want to keep this from us? If Sienna hadn't called us, we wouldn't even know this was happening to you!" Nyx scolded, her tone sharp.

"I just didn't want to worry you," Riley shrugged, though she knew Sienna was worried too.

"What were you thinking?" Harriet asked, her voice serious as she gazed at Riley with deep concern.

"I'm fine, really. It's not like I need surgery or anything," Riley replied, attempting to lighten the mood.

"But still, you should've told us!" Nyx insisted, frustration evident in her voice.

Riley sighed, running her fingers through her hair in defeat. "I'm sorry, okay? I just didn't want this to become public. The media has been following us since the sudden collaboration, and if anything happens—especially this—it would be too easy for them to feast on it."

As much as she tried to downplay it, Riley wanted to avoid any more public attention.

Harriet moved closer to Riley and lifted her shirt, carefully inspecting the bandages. She gently removed the old bandage to clean the wound again before applying a fresh one. "You really need to get checked, Riley. You should go to the hospital to ensure that your internal organs weren't affected. The stab isn't that deep, but it's better to be safe."

"Do you want to go back to the mansion first? I don't think you two are safe here," Harriet added.

"No, I'm fine here," Riley replied, shaking her head. "Besides, I have too much going on right now. This place is easier to access."

Nyx smacked Riley on the head. "Ow!" Riley exclaimed.

"Stop your nonsense, Riley," Nyx's face darkened. "You're still doing this, aren't you? We already told you to stop investigating what happened two years ago! For goodness' sake!"

"What do you want me to do then?" Riley shot back, standing up to face her sister. "Just act like nothing happened? It was my research that got compromised, Nyx! It was—" She paused, feeling a sharp ache from her wound.

Sienna sighed and stepped toward Riley. "Can you please listen to your sisters for now? If this case is important to you, then so are you. You're important to us, so please focus on healing first."

Riley bit her lower lip and lowered her gaze. "Sorry," she mumbled, guilt washing over her. She realized she had been getting ahead of herself in her determination to complete the investigation.

Riley sighed as she absentmindedly petted Mochi, who playfully nipped at her hand while she lay on the couch. She had been instructed to rest for a couple of weeks after her check-up. Though there were no complications, the size and depth of the stab wound still needed monitoring.

She sighed again before sitting up, gently lifting Mochi and placing him back in his cage. As she made her way to the kitchen, she saw Sienna busy preparing something at the counter. Riley walked up and wrapped her arms around Sienna from behind. "I'm bored," she muttered, resting her head on Sienna's shoulder.

"Then go sleep," Sienna teased, her soft laughter filling the room. She had been staying with Riley consistently since the incident, taking care of her.

Riley pressed her chin into Sienna's shoulder, not letting go. "Eh? Don't I get any special activities while stuck at home?" she murmured playfully, pulling Sienna closer into the hug.

Sienna smirked and playfully pinched Riley's hand. "Sorry, that's a no-can-do," she replied, laughing as she continued slicing meat.

Riley kissed Sienna's cheek softly, tightening the embrace. "I love you," she whispered, her voice tender as she buried her face in the crook of Sienna's neck, taking in her scent.

"I love you more," Sienna replied with a soft smile, still focused on slicing the meat.

Riley grinned mischievously. "Marry me?" she murmured, pressing gentle kisses along Sienna's neck. "Or is that still a no-can-do?" she chuckled, teasing her.

Sienna froze for a moment, her hands stopping mid-motion. "It is, because technically—"

"Right, you have a husband," Riley interrupted, laughing lightly, but the hint of tension beneath the joke was hard to miss.

"Rile—"

"I'm just kidding," Riley quickly added, pulling Sienna closer into the warmth of her embrace. She pressed another kiss to Sienna's neck, lingering a little longer this time, as if the closeness could momentarily erase the complexities between them.

"Do you want me to step down already?" Sienna asked softly, her voice laced with uncertainty.

Riley paused, her arms still wrapped around Sienna's waist. "I do," she admitted, her tone gentle but firm. "But... do you want to do it?" She leaned in closer, her lips brushing against Sienna's ear, making sure Sienna understood this wasn't just about what she wanted. "Only if you're ready, only if it's what you want too."

"What about your plans?" Sienna asked quietly, turning to face Riley. Riley loosened her embrace and leaned back against the dining table, her arms crossed over her chest.

"I'm nearing the end of it all," Riley murmured, her eyes darting away, avoiding Sienna's concerned gaze.

Sienna nodded softly, walking over to the sink to wash her hands, the sound of running water filling the silence. "But you've been held up since the accident," she remarked, turning off the faucet.

"Yeah, but Zoey's been helping me with most of it," Riley replied, her gaze drifting back to Sienna's back as if seeking comfort in her presence. "Once I'm back at work, I'll start negotiating with the people involved." She paused, her voice growing more serious. "And I'll try talking to your father, too."

Sienna froze at the mention of her father, her hand trembling slightly as she turned on the electric stove to start cooking. "Talk to him about what?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, the weight of the question evident.

Riley shrugged, though her tone was far from casual. "You know, try to get him to admit whether he was involved... or what exactly his role was in the whole mess." She let out a heavy sigh, the frustration clear. "This shouldn't have escalated into such a big issue, but I patented those medicines during my research... It's personal, Sienna. I can't just let my research go to waste because someone sabotaged it."

"Tell me when you plan to talk to Papa. I'll come with you," Sienna said quietly, her voice steady, but there was a glimmer of something more in her gaze as she glanced at Riley.

Riley raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "Why would you do that?"

Sienna paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. "Because," she started, her voice wavering slightly before she steadied it, "I need to know... whether my father still has any good left in him, or if he's completely blinded by power and wealth." She let out a bitter laugh, but her eyes betrayed the pain behind it. "I've always wondered how far he's willing to go to protect what he thinks is ours."

Riley's expression softened, her defenses lowering as she studied Sienna. "You don't have to be there for that, Sienna. It's not going to be easy," she said softly, though there was a note of concern in her voice.

Sienna shook her head. "No, I do. If there's anything I've learned... it's that I can't keep looking the other way when it comes to my father. If he's done something wrong, I need to know the truth—no matter how ugly it is."

Riley watched her, feeling the weight of Sienna's inner conflict. She knew how much this would hurt Sienna, but she also understood her need for answers. After a moment, she nodded. "Alright... when the time comes, we'll do this together."

Sienna's eyes softened with gratitude, but there was a lingering sadness behind them. "Thank you," she whispered, more to herself than to Riley.