Chapter 85
Sienna’s POV:
Just as I was about to unleash more accusations at Audrey, my phone vibrated in my pocket.
The screen displayed Brandon’s name, and my stomach clenched.
“I need to take this,” I said curtly, turning away from Audrey.
She studied my face for a moment, clearly puzzled by my sudden retreat from our confrontation.
Then, with a small shrug, she said, “Whatever, Sienna. I’m going upstairs to pack my things.”
She turned and headed up the stairs, leaving me alone in the foyer. I waited until I heard her footsteps fade before answering the call.
“Sienna!“Brandon’s voice cracked through my phone, each word dripping with rage. “You never thought to mention that your foster sister
is some kind of martial arts expert?”
I paced across the living room, my shoes against the hardwood floor.
“How was I supposed to know?” I hissed back.“She was always just the quiet one with the paintbrushes.”
“Well, ‘the quiet one with the paintbrushes‘ just put two of my men in the hospital,” Brandon spat.
I stopped pacing, my stomach dropping. “Are they talking? Have they mentioned your name?”
“Not yet,” Brandon’s voice lowered. “But it’s only a matter of time before Caspar starts investigating. He showed up at the precinct himself
and bailed out Audrey.”
There was a pause before his voice turned accusatory. “I thought you said Caspar had abandoned her for Daisy Cole? ”
“I–I thought he had,” I stammered, my mind racing. “Everyone’s been talking about them being together in London. There were photos…”
“Enough, if this gets traced back to me,” Brandon continued, his tone shifting from angry to threatening, “I’m taking you down with me, Sienna. Don’t forget I still have something on you, just wait and see.”
The call ended abruptly, leaving me staring at my phone in terror.
I tossed it onto my cream–colored sofa and resumed pacing, faster now.
Brandon was right to be worried. If Caspar discovered Brandon was behind the attack on Audrey, the consequences would be devastating.
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Chapter 85
And he wouldn’t stop at Brandon–he would come for me too, once he learned of my involvement.
A cold sweat broke out across my forehead.
A
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I was trapped between two ruthless forces: Caspar’s vengeance and Brandon’s desperate self–preservation.
The walls of my elegant apartment suddenly felt like they were closing in.
My carefully constructed life, my social standing, my future–everything I had worked for was hanging by a thread.
Audrey appeared again, coming down with a large duffel bag and a small suitcase.
Her face was set in that determined expression I’d always secretly envied–the look of someone who knew exactly who they were and
didn’t care what anyone thought.
She barely glanced at me as she reached the bottom step, clearly intent on leaving without another confrontation.
“Audrey, wait,” I blurted out before I could stop myself.
She turned, surprise flashing across her face before settling into wary caution. “What now, Sienna? I’m really not in the mood for another
argument.”
I opened my mouth, then closed it again. Pride and desperation warred within me.
But she was also the only person who might be able to save me.
“I… I need to talk to you,” I said, my voice uncharacteristically small. “It’s important.”
Audrey set down her bags slowly, studying my face. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I might as well have,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around myself. “Audrey, I’ve done something terrible.”
Her eyebrows rose slightly, but she didn’t speak, just waited.
“Those men who attacked you tonight,” I continued, the words tumbling out now that I’d started. “Brandon Thornton sent them.
Audrey’s expression shifted from cautious to shocked.
“And you’re telling me this… why?” she asked, her voice suddenly hard.
I swallowed hard. “He has things on me, Audrey. Photos, videos… private things.”
My voice cracked with humiliation. “I never wanted to hurt you, not like that. I just thought they would scare you enough to leave New
York.”
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Chapter 85
“And now you’re confessing because…”
P:
“Because Brandon is panicking,” I admitted. “He’s threatening to drag me down with him if Caspar finds out. I need your help, Audrey. I
need you to convince Caspar not to investigate further.”
A bitter laugh escaped Audrey’s lips, “You want me to protect you? After you helped set me up to be attacked?”
“Please,” I whispered. “I’m begging you.”
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Audrey’s face hardened into an expression I’d never seen before.
“Let me make something very clear, Sienna. I am not a saint, and I am not forgiving you for this. Do you understand what could have happened tonight if I hadn’t been able to defend myself? I might not even be standing here having this conversation.”
She took a step closer to me, and I instinctively backed away.
“You’ve spent years making my life miserable,” she continued, her voice low and controlled. “But this crosses a line.”
Without another word, Audrey grabbed her bags, storming out.
The door slammed behind her with force.
I stood frozen for a moment, staring at the closed door, the echo of the slam still reverberating through my body.
My last hope had just walked out, leaving me alone with the mess I’d created.
My legs gave way beneath me, and I slid down against the wall until I was sitting on the cold floor.
I pulled my knees to my chest and wrapped my arms around them, rocking slightly as despair washed over me.
How had I let myself get so entangled with Brandon Thornton?
That venomous snake had seduced me with promises of social advancement and insider connections, coaxing me into intimate moments
that he’d secretly recorded.
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That my body, my reputation, and eventually my safety would all become bargaining chips in his vendetta against Audrey. Each time I’d tried to back away, he’d send me a still image from those videos as a reminder of what he could release to the world with a single click.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
