On the other side of the hall, the host hurried onto the stage to calm the guests, explaining that the electrical system was undergoing inspection.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After the backup generator kicked in, the dim lights cast a hazy glow over the room. Guests gathered in small clusters, speaking in hushed voices.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clayton shook Miles off and pushed through the crowd, searching for Sienna. His heart raced inexplicably as an indescribable restlessness spread through his chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSienna!\u201d he called out instinctively, but his voice was swallowed by the noise.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cClayton, stop looking for her already.\u201d Miles caught up with him, trying to block his way.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s definitely hiding somewhere on purpose to scare you. You\u2019re just playing right into her hands if you keep looking for her like this,\u201d he continued.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clayton stopped short, a chill flashing through his eyes. \u201cMiles, watch how you talk about Sienna. Say one more disrespectful thing about her, and don\u2019t blame me for turning on you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Miles shut his mouth awkwardly. Sienna had snapped at him plenty of times before, but Clayton had never stopped her. He wondered why he was the only one getting lectured by Clayton.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just then, he lifted his head and caught sight of two figures on the balcony.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIsn\u2019t that Sienna? See? She\u2019s perfectly fine. I told you she just found somewhere to hide. And look, she\u2019s even getting handsy with another man,\u201d Miles accused.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clayton followed his gaze and recognized the figure beside her. \u201cThat\u2019s her brother.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Miles muttered under his breath, \u201cBut they don\u2019t look alike at all. You could say they\u2019re a couple and people would believe it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDonate your eyes if you have no use for them,\u201d Clayton snapped, smacking the back of Miles\u2019s head before striding toward the balcony.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ethan\u2019s voice carried clearly on the night breeze. \u201cFine, we won\u2019t talk about having you over for dinner. When are you and Clayton finalizing the divorce? I can help if things don\u2019t go smoothly.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before Sienna could respond, Clayton\u2019s arm wrapped possessively around her waist.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A cold smile curved his lips. \u201cYou\u2019re awfully concerned about our married life, Ethan. It seems you\u2019re eager for us to get divorced. Was that text last time not enough? Now you\u2019re lobbying in person? No wonder she\u2019s been making a fuss lately. You were the one stirring things up, weren\u2019t you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat text?\u201d Sienna\u2019s gaze flicked between the two men.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ethan looked straight at Clayton, his tone steady. \u201cEnna hasn\u2019t been happy ever since she married you. You never treated her well. It was a mistake from the start\u2013and mistakes should be rectified sooner rather than later.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh?\u201d Clayton sneered. \u201cShe\u2019s not happy being married me? Then who do you think she\u2019d be happy marrying?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He deliberately tightened his hold, pulling Sienna closer to his chest. \u201cYou didn\u2019t say a word about her being unhappy when she married me back then. Now you\u2019re suddenly running around sowing discord.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDo I need to sow anything?\u201d Ethan retorted without backing down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a fact that you fool around outside. News of the incident at the Turner family\u2019s birthday banquet has spread everywhere. How do you think Sienna feels about that? Is that how you\u2019re making her happy?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The two men were locked in a tense confrontation. They were treating Sienna as if she weren\u2019t even there. Her earlier\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 83\u00a0<\/p>\n
question was unanswered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
By then, the power in the banquet hall had been fully restored.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna interrupted coldly, \u201cI\u2019m leaving. If you want to argue, argue all you want here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
With that, she turned and walked away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
22\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clayton followed in long strides, grabbing her wrist. \u201cWhy are you running around again? You disappear the moment I look away.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He frowned as he sized up her filthy dress. \u201cI was gone for five minutes and you turned yourself into this state? I did tell you not to drink, but you didn\u2019t need to pour it all over yourself. You\u2019re unbelievably stupid.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s none of your business!\u201d Sienna struggled, but his grip only tightened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ethan stood where he was, watching them leave, their figures growing more distant. His gaze was dark and unreadable, like a bottomless lake.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Large, glaring yellow stains spread across Sienna\u2019s ivory dress. Unable to stand it any longer, she asked a server for a change\u00a0<\/p>\n
of clothes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just as she was about to enter the lounge to change, she noticed Clayton following close behind her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy are you following me?\u201d She hugged the clothes to her chest, standing at the lounge door and eyeing him warily.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clayton slipped one hand into his pocket and said solemnly, \u201cI\u2019m just worried someone might peek. I\u2019ll stand guard for you. Don\u2019t you trust me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re overthinking it. Other than you, no one would peek,\u201d Sienna said as she moved to close the door\u2013only for his foot\u00a0<\/p>\n
to block it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A smile crept into Clayton\u2019s eyes, the corners lifting slightly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His voice dropped, low and pleasant. \u201cWhich part of you haven\u2019t I seen already? Why would I need to peek?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She got the divorce and bolted 83 On the other side of the hall, the host hurried onto the stage […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20157","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-she-got-the-divorce-and-bolted-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20157","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20157"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20157\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20157"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20157"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20157"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}