Chapter 3

3

"The secretary said Ms. Sterling is out sick. She's resting at home."

"No wonder she hasn't been around. I guess even the most beautiful people have a fragile side."

"Seriously. I heard she has to go to the hospital every month for some kind of holistic treatments."

I was floored. Sienna was sick? Was she really that fragile?

I couldn't help but wonder if I was the one who had upset her enough to trigger it.

Ever since we reunited, I could tell she wanted to get even with me, which is why she kept pushing me.

But she didn't realize that the love I had tried so hard to bury was crumbling the moment she got close.

That was why I had to keep my distance.

As soon as I stepped out of the elevator, my phone started blowing up with notifications.

I checked the screen and saw that Sienna had added me back into our old high school group chat. Everyone was tagging me.

"Asher Lindberg, you're finally back from the dead!"

"You have to come to the reunion!"

"If Asher doesn't show, the whole thing is cancelled."

I hesitated for a moment before typing two words. "I'm in."

The chat erupted in cheers.

I knew Sienna would be there. I needed to see for myself if she was okay.

At the reunion, everyone was dying to know why I had disappeared off the face of the earth.

I just gave them a vague smile and blamed it on some family issues, and luckily, they stopped prying.

The class president leaned in close to me. "So, have you and Sienna been in touch this whole time?"

I shook my head.

"That's weird. She told me she wouldn't come unless you did."

Just as I was processing that, the door to the private room swung open.

Sienna walked in, looking stunning, with Harrison West trailing right behind her.

I'd heard he had just moved back to the city after years of living in London.

I still felt that old, familiar spark of hostility whenever I looked at him.

Maybe it was because of that bet from years ago.

The group swarmed them, asking questions and making comments.

"Why did you two arrive together?"

"Is there something going on between you guys?"

"They were always close back then. It wouldn't be a surprise if they were finally official."

Sienna looked at me, a tiny, knowing smirk playing on her lips. She didn't deny any of it.

Well, she clearly looked fine now. Her cheeks were flushed and healthy.

As the night went on, the conversation shifted to careers and success.

We had been in the honors track, so most of the class was doing pretty well for themselves.

Then there was me. After beating cancer, I had to start all over. I was a full two years behind everyone else.

Whenever the spotlight turned on me, I tried to dodge the questions.

Every single time, Sienna would conveniently call for a toast, drawing the attention away from me.

I felt a wave of relief every time she did it.

"Asher, you haven't touched a single drop of alcohol tonight. That's not cool, man. Everyone's drinking. You can't just stick to soda."

One of our former classmates filled a shot glass with clear liquor and slid it in front of me.

"Sorry, I'm on some pretty heavy antibiotics right now," I lied.

The mood turned a bit stiff. My cancer was in remission, but I was strictly forbidden from touching alcohol.

"Asher is such a dedicated worker," Harrison chimed in, his voice dripping with condescension. "Coming to a reunion even when he's sick. It's fine, don't push him. I'll drink his share."

What a tool, I thought.

Harrison downed the shot in one go.

Sienna watched me intently for a moment before picking up a napkin and gently dabbing the corner of Harrison's mouth where some of the liquid had spilled.

"Thanks, babe," Harrison whispered.

They were being so domestic it was nauseating.

I couldn't stand to watch it anymore, so I made an excuse to use the restroom and slipped out of the room.

I stood by the hotel's back exit, looking out at a small garden, finally finding a moment of peace.

To be honest, Harrison and Sienna looked perfect together. They had the looks, the money, the status.

Why was I even upset? I was the one who rejected her, wasn't I?

But there was still a bitter knot in my stomach that wouldn't go away.

Suddenly, I heard a soft footstep behind me.

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