Chapter 2

2.

When I woke up, I learned that Harrison hadn't visited me once.

This was the same man who used to cry if I so much as got a paper cut.

Now, he was the accomplice in the death of the only person I had left.

The doctor looked at me with pity.

"Ms. Holt, you're pregnant. You cannot afford this kind of emotional distress."

I didn't say a word. I went to the crematorium to handle Rose's remains.

Clutching the urn to my chest, my voice cracked.

"Rose, I'm taking you away from here soon..."

"To a place where nobody can hurt you."

I wiped my swollen eyes and dialed a number I had kept hidden.

"Help me stage a disappearance. I need to disappear."

It was raining lightly when I returned to the villa to pack.

Harrison's name flashed on my phone.

"Jade is doing an interview. Get over here and clear her name in front of the press."

I was so angry I could barely breathe. Tears blurred my eyes again.

My sister was dead, and he was still using her to threaten me.

When I didn't reply, he sent a voice note.

"Sienna, do you want me to cut off your sister's medical funding?"

My tears spilled over. He didn't even know she was gone.

If I didn't go, he would suspect something was wrong and ruin my plan to escape.

Under the bright lights of the media cameras, Harrison held Jade protectively in his arms.

"Everyone, Jade is a kind, innocent soul. She would never do such a thing."

"The victim was mentally unstable. It was an unfortunate accident caused by the victim's own actions."

Hearing those words felt like being plunged into a void.

The husband who once cherished me was standing before the world, protecting a murderer.

It was a sick joke.

Harrison saw me and impatiently dragged me into the frame.

"Tell the media the truth. Tell them your sister was jealous and tried to ruin Jade."

He shoved a confession into my hand, forcing me to apologize on camera.

The shutters clicked incessantly.

"I can't believe the stalker's sister is Mrs. Holt. Harrison is so unlucky to be married to her!"

"That psycho sister of hers tried to hurt our Jade. She got what she deserved!"

I couldn't take it anymore. I pointed at Jade and screamed.

"She killed my sister! She's the one who should be dead!"

Jade looked up with teary, victimized eyes. "Sienna, even with Harrison backing you, you can't just make things up..."

"And your sister was clearly unwell. She brought this on herself..."

"Jade! You... you soulless bitch!"

I lunged forward and slapped her across the face with everything I had.

But Harrison grabbed my arm and threw me back instantly.

Jade clutched her cheek, sobbing.

"Harrison, my face... she ruined my face..."

Harrison looked at Jade's swelling cheek, his expression icy.

"Sienna, what the hell is wrong with you?"

My lips trembled. "Don't you know? She―"

Before I could finish, he grabbed Jade's hand and used it to slap me.

One slap. Two. Three. Four.

I spun until I hit the floor, blood trickling from the corner of my mouth.

The humiliation, paired with the mockery of the crowd, shattered what was left of my soul.

Once, if I so much as whimpered, Harrison would buy out an entire auction house just to make me smile.

Now, he was hitting me for another woman.

I let out a hollow laugh.

I hated them. And I hated myself for being too weak to get justice for Rose right now.

Harrison frowned at my bruised face.

For a split second, a flash of regret crossed his eyes. He reached down to wipe the blood.

But his voice remained freezing.

"Sienna, enough is enough. Think about the baby in your womb."

"If you keep acting like this, I'm done with you. Jade is innocent. Do you understand?"

I shoved his hand away in disgust.

I didn't care about this man anymore.

Harrison looked annoyed by my rejection.

But Jade's whining quickly drew his attention back.

In front of all the cameras, he picked her up and carried her to his car.

He didn't spare a single glance for his pregnant wife.

As I watched his car drive away, the pain and betrayal felt like a poison coursing through my veins.