The Tired Bird Rests

When Sienna woke up, she was in her own bedroom.

Her head was pounding, and every inch of her body was sore.

The housekeeper, who was bringing her some medicine, rushed over when she saw that she was awake. “Ms. Lewis, are you okay?”

Sienna shook her head. Her voice was hoarse. “How did I get back here?”

She remembered jumping from the balcony and crashing onto the ground.

Before losing consciousness, she thought she saw Zayden’s shadow.

Did he bring her back?

“The driver saw you passed out by the roadside and brought you home,” the housekeeper said.

Sienna’s mind went blank for a moment. It was not Zayden?

Had she imagined it?

Well, that made sense. He was probably with Riley.

As she thought that, her phone suddenly started vibrating nonstop.

She picked it up and saw texts from her friend.

[Sienna, are you feeling better now? Go check my social media! I avenged you for what happened yesterday!]

Sienna clicked on her friend’s social media.

She saw a long post that detailed everything that had happened yesterday.

It called out Riley for her actions and questioned her relationship with Zayden.

This friend of Sienna was well-connected in Sea City. She had the contact details of countless rich heirs and socialites.

As soon as the post was up, gossip-hungry elites rushed to it.

[Is Riley insane? Sienna would become a member of the Scott family someday, right? So why does Zayden allow her nonsense?]

[You didn’t know? Zayden has spoiled her rotten for years. With how close they are, do you really think there’s nothing going on?]

[That’s Zayden for you. He sure knows how to have fun.]

…

The comments kept pouring in.

Before Sienna could finish reading, the door to her room was kicked open with a loud bang.

Zayden stormed in angrily. He did not say a word and threw a phone at her.

The phone’s sharp corner nearly hit her eye.

“Why did you do it?!”

It was not a question. It was an accusation.

He did not even ask how she was feeling or if she was recovering properly.

The moment Riley was in trouble, he came running.

Sienna laughed at herself. She had treated him well for so many years and done so much for him. She had paid such a heavy price, yet he had never spared her a single kind word.

“It wasn’t me.”

Sienna met Zayden’s gaze.

Zayden did not believe her and sneered. “If it wasn’t you, then who? Sienna, I know exactly what kind of tricks you play. If you have a problem, come to me. Why go after Riley?”

Tricks?

Sienna frowned.

What tricks was he talking about?

Was it the “trick” of seducing him? Or the “trick” of drinking so much for him that she ended up in the hospital, vomiting blood, and ending up as Sea City’s laughingstock?

Or did he mean the “trick” of almost being violated like some throwaway object?

The terror from last night still haunted her. Everything felt as fresh and vivid as ever.

She clenched her fists and snorted. “Why? Did that post hit the nail on the head, and now, you feel guilty?”

Smack!

Zayden slapped her hard across the face.

The slap was forceful. A red mark bloomed on her pale cheek. It looked painful and humiliating.

Even the housekeeper standing by could not bear to watch. “Sir, Ms. Lewis just woke up. She really doesn’t know anything.”

Zayden shot her a glance. “You think I can trust you? Throw her out!”

“No!”

This housekeeper had come with Sienna from her mother’s house. She had been with her for over ten years. She was one of the few people Sienna could call family in Sea City.

How could Zayden treat her like this?

Sienna bit down hard on her lip. Her eyes turned red with tears as she looked at him and asked, “Riley treated me like that, and you didn’t punish her. But now, just because of a post that only tells the truth, you’re treating me like this? Zayden, is there really no place for me in your heart?”

Seeing her stubborn yet wounded face, Zayden felt a strange pang in his chest. But it vanished as quickly as it came.

“What nonsense are you talking about? Delete that post, and I’ll let this go.”

Let it go?

How merciful!

Sienna almost laughed out loud. Her hand was bandaged.

If she had not jumped off that balcony last night, she would be a laughingstock in the city and nothing more than an empty shell.

How could he be so heartless?

“If I don’t?”

Zayden’s expression turned icy. “Then… don’t say I didn’t warn you.”