22 You Lied
Adrian’s heart slammed into his ribs. The panic that surged through his body was instant. He shot to his feet, eyes wide with disbelief, muscles tense. He took a step closer, hastily wrapping the sheet around his waist.
“What the fuck do you mean?” he rasped.
Sienna slid her sweater over her head, her voice calm but cruel. “I’m done playing with you. I just needed some thrill in my life when I was bored, and you happened to be there. But I’m over it now. I don’t want you anymore.”
Her gaze met his without hesitation. “You want to relive that old relationship. I don’t.”
His stomach sank. The arousal that had wrecked him moments ago now fading immediately.
Adrian's chest rose and fell sharply, his breath growing more ragged. Adrian took a step toward her, jaw tight. “Is this because of Theo? About the deal I canceled?”
Sienna’s eyes snapped to his, sharp and penetrating, a mocking smile curling on her lips. “You're quick to admit it this time.”
“I knew you’d find out,” Adrian said, voice low as he reached for her, but she pushed his hand away instantly and stepped back.
His hand fell to his side, curling into a trembling fist. His eyes stayed locked on hers, jaw clenched. “I didn’t want to hide it from you. I was going to tell you.”
“You lied to me,” she snapped. Her voice cracked with rage. “You’ve been lying to me from the start. You pretended to care while destroying Theo’s business behind my back. Every move you made was just manipulation. How many other lies have you told me, Adrian? How long have you just wanted to own me to just satisfy your damn ego?”
His jaw clenched so tight it ached. “It’s not—”
“Stop it!” she shouted, voice shaking. “Adrian Vaughn, you may own the entire damn car industry in this country, but Theo will make it—without your money, without your fucking deals. And I’ll always stand by his side. I’ll start from scratch if I have to. But I’ll never let you ruin him!”
Her words cut deep, each one sinking like a nail into his chest. Adrian’s fists clenched at his sides, his body trembling with restrained emotion.
“The more you try to humiliate him,” she said, her voice low and deadly, “the more I will hate you.”
In two steps, he closed the distance, grabbing her by the wrist and yanking her closer, his other hand curling against her neck—but not squeezing, just holding, trembling. His eyes, wild and burning, locked with hers. “You love him that much?”
Sienna looked him dead in the eyes. “This was never anything more than a dirty little secret between us. You knew that. And now, it’s over.”
She shoved him off, pushing his chest with both hands. Adrian stumbled back, stunned, and she turned around to leave.
“No, Sienna—wait!” Adrian’s voice cracked, raw and desperate, his heart pounding like it would burst. He chased after her, grabbing her from behind and wrapping his arms around her waist. His lips hovered near her ear, voice thick and breathless. “It’s my fault. Please… don’t go. I’ll fix everything. I’ll call off every move against Theo. I won’t touch his business again.”
She ripped herself free, breaking his grip with force.
“It doesn’t matter what you do anymore,” she said, her voice low, cold. “You already crossed the line. This was never about love. It was always about control. The moment I slipped out of your grasp, you made it clear who really has the power in this relationship.”
Adrian stood frozen, pain etched across his face. His chest tightened painfully. He pressed a hand to his abdomen, his face twisting with an unbearable ache.
“Let me hold you… just your hand,” he pleaded, reaching for her fingers.
She jerked away like his touch burned her.
He stared at her, heart breaking. “I never wanted to control you. This is a misunderstanding, Sienna. I wanted you. I still want you. From the start, I have loved only you. Everything I have—my life, my happiness—it all belongs to you.”
He reached for her again, desperate to touch her. His body breaking with pain running through his veins. He couldn’t bear the distance between them.
Her stare was cold. She pulled her hand further away, not letting him get close.
“You need to stop pretending,” she said icily. “I know you too well. Five years, Adrian. I’ve seen every side of you, and nothing’s changed.”
He couldn’t take it. Her rejection was like tearing open a wound that never healed. He needed her touch. He was addicted to it. Needing it. Craving it. And now she wouldn’t even let him near her. His chest burned. The pain in his gut grew worse.
“I admit it!” he exploded, voice shaking. “But don’t act like Theo is some saint. He left you for business deals, he’s had relationships all over the city! And yet you still defend him? Why?! He doesn’t love you the way I do! You’re nothing more than a pawn in his perfect life!”
“It’s none of your business to interfere in my relationship with Theo!”
Adrian’s shoulders fell. The exhaustion on his face matched the heaviness in his chest. He stepped closer, his deep voice rough with desperation.
“Give me a chance, Sienna,” he said hoarsely. “I’ll make you fall in love with me again. Just stop thinking about Theo.”
Sienna shook her head slowly, her eyes filled with a mix of frustration and pain. “You’ll only hurt me again.”
“I won’t,” Adrian said, his voice cracking. He lowered his head, swallowing hard. “Not this time. I swear, I’ll never hurt you again.”
Sienna’s expression softened, her voice quieter now. “I’m tired of all this, of you, of this endless back and forth. I don’t want to be tangled in this mess anymore. This relationship was bound to end eventually.”
She walked up to him, closer than before, but still didn’t touch him. Her eyes lingered on his face, unreadable.
“It’s goodbye now,” she whispered. “We’re over.”
She whispered the words like a final breath and turned to leave.
Adrian's chest tightened. “No…” he whispered under his breath, his legs moving before his mind could catch up. But the moment he took a step, a sharp pain tore through his abdomen. His knees buckled, and he hit the ground hard.
The sound of his fall echoed in the room.
Sienna spun around instantly, panic flashing in her eyes. “Adrian!”
She rushed to him, dropping to her knees. “What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice trembling as she saw his face twisted in pain, sweat pouring down his forehead.
Adrian clutched his stomach with one hand, his other planted firmly on the floor, trying to hold himself up.
Sienna grabbed her phone, fumbling to call an ambulance, but he reached out and knocked it from her hand.
“Don’t call anyone,” he muttered through clenched teeth. “If the word got out that you were in my bedroom this late, it’ll ruin your reputation.”
His hand found hers again, trembling uncontrollably. His grip was weak, but when their fingers touched, he sighed, just a little, like the pain had loosened its hold on him for a second.
Sienna cupped his face, forcing him to look up at her.
“Tell me what’s going on. What’s happening to you?” she demanded.
Adrian shook his head. His voice cracked slightly, but he tried to keep it steady. “It’s just a stomach issue.”
“Adrian—”
“I drank too much,” he finally confessed. “After you left me two years ago, I couldn’t sleep. Couldn’t eat. I was a wreck. I drank too much, damaged my stomach. That’s all.”
A wave of pain hit him mid-sentence, and he groaned, eyes shutting tight as his hand clutched hers harder.
“It just flares up when I’m stressed.”
Sienna stared at him, disbelief and confusion written all over her face. “You expect me to believe that? Just because your babysitter left? That’s all I ever was to you, wasn’t I?”
Adrian opened his eyes, locking onto hers. His voice dropped, raw and full of aching honesty.
“For five years, your scent was on my sheets, your laughter in my walls. You were everywhere. I wasn’t just living with you—I was living because of you. And then you were just gone . Tell me how a man’s supposed to live with that. How do you expect me to breathe when you’re gone?”
He drew in a shaky breath.
“You were my home. My only love. My family.”
Still kneeling in pain, he looked up at her. “I know I realized it too late. But I never cheated on you. I never betrayed you. If I have to prove it every single day to win back your heart, I will. Just give me one more chance, Sienna.”
Her eyes softened slowly, piece by piece.
She looked down, let out a small breath, then met his eyes again.
“Alright. As long as you don’t hurt Theo or his family’s business, I’ll forgive you.”
Relief crashed into Adrian like a wave. He pulled her into his arms, burying his face in her shoulder.
Despite the pain burning inside him, holding her was the only thing that gave him peace.
He inhaled deeply, burying his face in her neck, overwhelmed by her scent.
His eyes fluttered shut.
‘I’ll let Theo go this time,’ he thought, his jaw clenched. ‘But he won’t escape me forever. I will never let him destroy you.’
***
As Sienna entered the house, she paused in the hallway. Theo and Rosie were sitting on the couch, and the moment they saw her, they shot to their feet.
“Hey guys, what’s going on?” she asked, trying to sound light, even adding a little laugh.
“Sienna, where were you?” Rosie asked, concern etched across her face.
Theo stormed up to her, his face hard. “You don’t have to sacrifice yourself for the sake of my business,” he snapped. “I told you I’d handle it. Why are you going near Adrian? He destroys everything he can’t have, and he already ruined you once! You told me you’d never go back to him! So what the hell is happening?”
“I’m fine,” Sienna said calmly. She reached for Theo’s arm, gently rubbing it, then gave a small smile to Rosie. She was heavily pregnant. The last thing Sienna wanted was for Rosie to stress over anything.
“There’s no sacrifice. Adrian promised me he won’t interfere with your business anymore.”
“What did you give him in return?” Rosie asked, one hand protectively resting over her belly, her eyes narrowed.
“Did you make some deal with him?” Theo added, his suspicion rising. They both knew Adrian was never the kind of man to do anything without getting something in return.
Sienna shook her head. ““There’s no deal. I didn’t offer him anything. I’m just... really tired. I’m going to bed now.”
And with that, she walked away, leaving their questions unanswered.
***
brEAKING NEWS: ‘Theo Montgomery suspected of secret affair—child on the way with former secretary!’
The next morning, every major news channel and newspaper was flooded with the scandal. Screens across the country lit up with the breaking news, leaving everyone stunned.
Photos flashed across the news. Theo, caught in an intimate moment, kissing a woman clearly pregnant. The scandal had exploded overnight. And now, the world knew.