She got the divorce and bolted 16
Chapter 16
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Chapter 16
Sienna had just stepped out of the restroom when she ran straight into Samuel. It had been a long time since they had last seen each other.
They had crossed paths a few times before, but Sienna always pretended not to recognize him. After all, they had almost gotten married to each other in the past. If word got out, people would definitely talk.
But tonight, Irene wasn’t around. Besides, Clayton was openly flirting with his first love, Melody. So why should she still play the part of the virtuous wife?
That was how she ended up on the terrace, chatting with her former fiance.
The night breeze brushed past them. Samuel leaned against the railing, a fleeting smile on his face. “So, what’s it like being married to Clayton?”
He had seen everything that happened earlier, especially the moment Melody had forced Sienna out of her own seat. His curiosity had been thoroughly piqued since then.
“If we’d gotten married back then,” he said, “and some other woman tried to steal your seat, I’d have been firmly on your side.”
Sienna gazed at the night view in the distance, her tone light and detached. “It’d be the same either way.”
No matter who she married, the ending seemed to be the same anyway.
Back in her senior year of college, Eleanor had been in a car accident and fallen into a comatose state. Sienna’s living expenses were what little her stepmother left her after skimming off the rest. It was nowhere near enough to cover the staggering medical bills.
She had no choice but to turn to her family for help. The price was a business marriage, using herself as a trade to benefit the Winger Group.
Her blind dates rotated like a carousel. Some lasted a few hours, while others lasted a few days. The longest one didn’t even
last a week.
Samuel was the last one. He wasn’t exactly ideal marriage material. He was a notorious playboy, constantly surrounded by
women.
But Eleanor’s condition was critical, and Sienna didn’t have the energy to keep searching. She and Samuel agreed that after marriage, they’d live separate lives.
They had already reached the stage of discussing wedding details when Clayton had suddenly returned to Brightford.
That night, they ran into each other at a bar. Samuel dragged her along to make rounds, pouring drinks nonstop. She drank until she blacked out, and somehow ended up sleeping with Clayton.
Once the news got out, her engagement with Samuel naturally fell apart. Finding another suitable match also became nearly impossible after that.
Even now, she still didn’t understand how things had happened that night.
Taking advantage of this rare meeting, Sienna finally voiced the doubt she’d carried for years. “Was that night three years ago arranged by you, Samuel?”
He froze for a moment, then laughed. “I’m not generous enough to set myself up to be cheated on. And besides, doing that wouldn’t benefit me in any way.”
Sienna stared right into his eyes. “Maybe you never wanted to get engaged in the first place.”
He shook his head, unusually serious. “If I didn’t want to, I could’ve just cut it off. Why go through all that trouble?”
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After a pause, he let out a self-mocking chuckle. “I’ve never taken a hit to my pride like that. When I found out you’d slept with him, I was furious. I even lost my temper at you, remember?”
Sienna thought back and nodded. “Yeah, I remember. You even slapped me.”
“And you kicked me where it hurts,” he said exaggeratedly, clutching his nether regions. “It still aches when I think about it.”
Then he let out a sigh. “I regret being so impulsive. Pride is useless. I should’ve just married you. I went on so many dates afterwards, but none of them were as understanding as you. Some women are absolutely hysterical in arguments.”
“That’s because I didn’t love you, which made it easy to be that understanding,” Sienna said softly, lowering her gaze. Her voice was barely more than a sigh. “If you truly love someone, how could you ever tolerate sharing them?”
Samuel patted her shoulder, half-joking, half-serious. “It’s fine. If you ever get divorced, you can consider me again. I’m still single.”
Before Sienna could respond, a cold voice cut in from behind them. “Flirting with someone else’s wife so openly… Does your mom know about this, Mr. Stelton?”
Both of them turned around. No one knew how long Clayton had stood at the entrance to the terrace. His expression was dark, as if someone had desecrated his ancestors’ graves.
Samuel, as thick-skinned as ever, even smiled back. “If Mr. Hale hadn’t stolen her from me three years ago, maybe Sienna and I would already have kids old enough to run errands now.”
Clayton strode forward, grabbed Sienna’s wrist, and yanked her to his side. A mocking smile tugged at his lips. “In that case, I’m really sorry. She’s my wife now. You’ll have to find a random nobody to have some brats with.”
Samuel shrugged, deliberately provoking him. “Who knows? Maybe you’ll get divorced?”
The smile on Clayton’s face slowly faded away. He spoke each word deliberately. “Even if it’s something I don’t want anymore, I don’t like other people setting their sights on it.”
“You’re the object, you bastard!” Sienna flung his hand away in fury and stormed back into the banquet without looking back.
Clayton didn’t chase after her. He turned a cold gaze on Samuel instead. “What were you two talking about just now?”
Samuel poured fuel on the fire on purpose. “Oh, lots of things. She said she regrets marrying you and wants to come back to
me.”
“You can try,” Clayton said icily. “But let’s see if you can afford the consequences.”
Samuel didn’t dare to truly offend him, backing down immediately. “It was just a joke, Mr. Hale. There’s no need to take it so seriously. We were just catching up for old times’ sake. Besides, my family wouldn’t allow it either. I wouldn’t dare touch your wife.”
“You’d better not,” Clayton warned him.
When Sienna returned to her seat, the stage performances had already begun.
Rupert’s 80th birthday banquet was held with great fanfare. They had invited famous pop singers, renowned classical performers, and even an international magician. Applause filled the banquet hall again and again.
After their performances came the segment where friends and family volunteered to perform.
At Miles’ enthusiastic recommendation, Melody walked onto the stage carrying a cello. Under the spotlight, she looked dazzling, every bit like a graceful artist.
Out of the corner of her eye, Sienna noticed Clayton. He had returned to his seat at some point and was now calmly watching the figure on stage.
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Of course, he wouldn’t miss a single second of his first love’s shining moment.
Melody adjusted her bow, took a deep breath, and began to play. She chose “The Swan” by Saint-Saëns. As the bow glided across the strings, the cello’s deep, flowing melody unfurled slowly, the notes spreading outward like ripples on water.
Her technique was polished, her vibrato controlled and delicate, and her expression of emotions was perfect. It was undeniably a wonderful performance.
Many guests in the audience looked impressed. Only Beatrice wore a look of open disdain, not caring a single bit.
Sienna knew next to nothing about music. To her, the piece sounded so somber that it cast a shadow over the birthday celebration. Bored, she glanced at Clayton, wondering if he was listening as attentively as he did in math class back in the day.
The moment she turned her head, she realized he was looking at her too. Their gazes collided.
Sienna froze, then quickly looked away, cursing inwardly.
“What are you staring at? Are you judging me for not being as talented as your precious first love?” Sienna thought to herself.
Feeling like she had lost the upper ground, she glared back at him defiantly and silently mouthed two words.
Clayton frowned. He had a feeling the words weren’t exactly polite.
Just then, the performance ended as the final note faded into the air. Thunderous applause erupted throughout the hall.
Melody stood up gracefully and bowed to the audience, a poised smile on her face. “I dedicate this to Grandpa. May you be blessed with good health and peace, may your years be long and steady, and may your life continue to be full, strong, and flourishing…”
“That’s enough!” Beatrice suddenly cut her off, her sharp voice echoing through the hall. “You dragged out one song forever, and now you want to take five minutes for wishes too? What? Are you going to take root on that stage, or wait for someone to hand you a lifetime achievement award? There are still people waiting to perform. Get off the stage now!”
She had opposed Melody performing in the first place. The drawn-out ending only annoyed her even more.
Melody’s face went pale. Hugging her cello, she stumbled off the stage, anger choking her chest.
Miles, holding in that anger on her behalf, darted over to Sienna and said smugly, “Well? Melody completely outclasses you, right? Her family background is ordinary, but she plays the cello so well. That’s real talent. Meanwhile, just look at you!”
Sienna was long used to such provocations from him. She ate a slice of fruit calmly.
“Anyone who didn’t know better would think you were the one playing earlier.”
“How arrogant! Are you her husband or something?”
“I guess when your mom praised her just now, she forgot about you!”
With every sentence, Miles’ face darkened. “Stop talking nonsense! We’re just friends!”
“Friends?” Sienna asked calmly, “Does Clayton know that?”
She added leisurely, “Your intentions are so obvious even a stray dog could see through them.”
“Everyone knows that! Don’t try to stir things up!” Miles jumped in agitation. “Let me ask you one thing. Do you dare go up there and perform?”
Sienna set down her fork and shot back lazily, “That’s your grandfather, not mine. Why don’t you go up and entertain everyone?”
Miles was speechless as his face turned ashen. He said through gritted teeth, “I knew it. You’re scared. You’ve got no talent at
all!”
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Sienna stared at Melody, who was staring at her from not far away, and instantly understood what was going on. She was waiting here for Sienna.
Beatrice had humiliated her, and now they wanted to take it out on Sienna.
“Oh,” Sienna said, “so did Melody send you over? Otherwise, why are you so obsessed with getting me on stage?”
Exposed, Miles dropped all pretense and went all out. “So what if she did? I’m simply asking if you dare to go up there and perform!”
“Give me two million dollars if I go onstage,” Sienna said, her eyes gleaming with greed.
“That’s daylight robbery. 500 thousand dollars,” Miles negotiated.
“One million dollars. Take it or leave it,” Sienna said.
“Deal.”
Sienna stood up, a faint smile curling her lips. “Then it’s settled.” “Just wait and see, you little punk.”
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