Chapter 3

3

When I arrived at the family estate I grew up in, our butler, Mr. Harrison, was already at the door.

"Miss Sienna, you're finally home!"

He gripped my hand tightly, his eyes filled with worry. "You've suffered so much out there."

That long-lost warmth finally broke through my defenses.

"I'm fine, Mr. Harrison. The hard part is over now."

Mr. Harrison had been our butler since before I could remember. After twenty years, he was more like family.

As we walked through the gardens, everything felt familiar yet strange. He pointed out the changes as we moved toward the back patio.

There, I saw the man my parents had been talking about: Logan Maxwell.

If Ethan's look was aggressive and sharp, Logan was the opposite. He had the look of a warm, reliable gentleman.

When he saw me, he immediately took off his apron and reached out a hand. "Hello, Sienna. I'm Logan."

"Nice to meet you. I'm sorry you had to cook."

I reached out and shook his hand.

In the five years I was with Ethan, I was the only one who ever cooked.

But here was a man I had just met, and he was already making a meal for me.

Throughout dinner, I was impressed by Logan. He was attentive, polite, and knew exactly how to hold a conversation without being overbearing.

Most importantly, he genuinely respected women and their work.

When I told him about how I started a business against my family's wishes, he didn't mock me. He praised my resilience and intelligence.

I felt like the universe was finally doing me a favor by putting someone so compatible with me in my path.

I used to be so blind, only seeing Ethan. I wasn't going to miss this chance.

"Do you mind that I just ended a five-year relationship?" I asked bluntly.

Logan seemed startled by my directness for a second. "I don't mind at all."

"Then, are you willing to marry me?"

This time, Logan was completely stunned. Even with his years of studying abroad, he had probably never met a woman this bold.

Just when I thought he might say no, his voice came back steady and firm. "Yes."

The next morning, we went straight to the courthouse to register our marriage.

Looking at the marriage license in my hand, I felt a wave of emotions.

I had waited five years for a proposal that never came. Today, I got it from someone else in a heartbeat.

When my parents heard the news, they cut their vacation short and booked the first flight home. They insisted on throwing us a massive wedding.

I laughed, telling them they were more excited than we were, but they just smiled.

Maybe they were just happy to see me finally smiling again.

Between Ethan and Jade's nonsense, I hadn't truly laughed in over a year.

Logan sat beside me, watching me video chat with my family. He peeled an orange and handed me a slice.

Just when I thought everything was going perfectly, a call from a former colleague hit me like a bucket of ice water.

"Sienna, that elder-care AI software you designed... Jade just launched it on the market!"