Chapter 2 Steering Vivian away from the chaos , Sienna stopped at a quiet corner and gently dabbed at the lingering tears on her cheeks . Vivian was not so short , but next to Sienna with those heels on , she looked as fragile as a porcelain doll . " Don't cry , Vivian , " Sienna said softly . " Tell me what happened . Tell me everything . " Vivian's shoulders shook with silent sobs . She didn't want to cry , but the injustice of it all was overwhelming Everyone had told her Sienna was dead - gone for ten years , a full decade of silence . But she never believed it . There were so many things she wanted to ask her . Seeing Vivian so upset , Sienna decided to take her somewhere quiet to eat and talk . She took her to a cozy diner and ordered steaks for both of them . As the hot food arrived , Vivian's storm of emotions began to calm . " Sienna … where were you these years ? " she wiped her face clean and finally asked the question that had been haunting her for years , " They all said you were dead… " Vivian had never believed it - nor had the other sisters . Not the official story about the plane crash . But after ten years without a single word , even the strongest hope begins to fade . A wave of guilt washed over Sienna . " I thought I was dead , too , " she admitted . " By some miracle , I survived . A kind couple found me , adopted me . " Watching Vivian's expression closely , she slowly continued , " But I had amnesia . For ten years , I didn't know who I was . Then , three days ago , everything came rushing back . The moment it did , I booked a flight home to find you . " Amnesia . That single word wiped away a decade of resentment . All the anger Vivian had held onto - for being abandoned , for being left alone - seemed to vanish into thin air . " It's our fault . We should've found you sooner … " Vivian's voice cracked as she looked across the table at Sienna , scared she might disappear like a ghost . " Enough of that , " Sienna said gently but firmly . " Now , tell me about that Mason . " " He's my ex . But we're over now , " Vivian said , a little too quickly . She couldn't bear for Sienna to know the whole , humiliating story . " Speaking of that , how about staying with me tonight ? " Sienna didn't push . If Vivian wouldn't tell her , she'd find out on her own . And anyone who had hurt her family would learn the true meaning of regret . After they finished eating and talked a bit more , they left the diner . When they arrived at the address Vivian had given , Sienna stopped in her tracks . The building was a rundown walk - up in a rough part of town . " Vivian , this is where you live ? " she asked , disbelief clear in her voice . Their family home was a sprawling villa at No. 1 Southlake . Why was Vivian living here ? Was this some misguided attempt at independence ? Sienna felt a knot of confusion tighten in her chest . Vivian couldn't meet her eyes . She had been thrown out of her home seven years ago . How could she possibly explain that ? " It's not so bad . Come on , let's go up ! " she said , leading Sienna upstairs . Sienna followed silently , swallowing her questions . Just as Vivian reached for the door , a portly , greasy - looking man stepped 1/3 7:36 pm 200 E Chapter 2 forward , blocking their way . " Vivian ! Late on the rent again , I see ," he boomed . " You're six months behind ! With utilities , you owe me two thousand bucks ! And now you're bringing guests ? Pay up ! " Vivian froze , her face a mixture of panic and shame as she glanced between the landlord and Sienna . She prayed he would just shut up . I've been patient with you , you know , ' cause you're a pretty little thing , " the landlord continued . " But you're pushing your luck ! A girl who looks like you can't scrape together two grand ? What a waste . " His eyes roamed over Vivian with a possessive leer that sent a chill down Sienna's spine . It was clear he expected payment of a different kind , not money . Just as Vivian opened her mouth to protest , Sienna stepped forward . She pulled a thick wad of cash from her purse and slammed it into the man's chest . " Here's the rent ," she said , her voice dripping with ice . " Now get out of my sight before I do something we'll both regret . " " Hey ! Who do you think you are ? " the landlord sputtered , stunned by the cash . But before he could say more , Sienna had pulled Vivian inside and bolted the door . " Sienna , I. Vivian stared at the floor , unable to look at the sister she'd always worshipped . Sienna said nothing . She calmly set down her luggage , cracked open a window to let in the cool night air , and switched on the light . The room was tiny , the furniture old , the walls peeling . But it was tidy and had a certain warmth to it . It was obviously a home , one Vivian had lived in for a long , long time . She then turned to Vivian , studying her expression carefully for a moment . Her face was still sweet and round , her big , bright eyes just as striking as when she was little . Her long , straight hair fell like a curtain as she hung her head in shame . In the end , Sienna simply opened her suitcase and asked , " Do you want to shower first , or should I ? " " Huh ? " Vivian's mind went blank . She'd been desperately trying to come up with a believable lie , a story to explain everything . But that simple , everyday question caught her completely off guard . She'd expected accusations . Demands . Not this . She blinked , watching as Sienna picked up a silk pajama set and walked toward her . Then , without thinking , she squeezed her eyes shut . She must be mad . She's going to hit me , Vivian thought . ' And honestly .. I deserve it . I'm so useless . She began to replay everything in her mind . After Sienna left , nothing stayed - she couldn't even go home . Their mother's belongings had all been taken over by that woman , and their father had changed too , twisted into someone unrecognizable , It felt like she couldn't protect anything . Not even the Bartholomew Bear Sienna had loved so much - she hadn't managed to save that either . Her younger sisters had scattered , pulled in different directions , and she … she had failed them all . But the slap never came . Instead , a gentle hand began to stroke her hair . Vivian's eyes shot open . Sienna was looking down at her , a soft smile on her face that seemed to warm the entire room , chasing away the shadows in Vivian's heart . " You need a minute ? I'll go first , then , " Sienna said softly , and disappeared into the bathroom . Vivian stood there , dazed , a slow , brilliant smile blooming across her face . She stared at the closed bathroom door , her heart 2/3 7:36 pmDD Chapter 2 filling with a feeling she hadn't known in ten years - hope . A few minutes later , Sienna stepped out , wrapped in a cloud of steam and the soft scent of body lotion . Her skin glowed , and a silky , moon - white nightgown draped effortlessly over her graceful frame . Curls spilled over her shoulders , damp and tousled . She looked like she'd walked straight out of a dream . Drying her hair with a towel , she caught Vivian staring , wide - eyed . Sienna let out a soft laugh and reached over to give her check a gentle , teasing pinch . " Your turn , Vivian ." Vivian blushed deep red , wishing she could sink right through the floor . She watched as Sienna sat down on the edge of the bed , and somehow , the drab little apartment seemed to change . The peeling walls , the dim light … it all faded into the background . In that moment , the whole room felt like it had been made just to frame her . Sienna didn't belong in a place like this . She made it look like a palace . Vivian's heart hammered in her chest . Sienna was even more beautiful than she remembered . She really admired her - those curves , that graceful figure , the way she carried herself . Even as a girl , Vivian couldn't help but be a little jealous . She wondered if , all these years alone , any slimy men had tried to take advantage of her . Just thinking about it made her blood boil , and her cheeks would puff up in frustration - like now , fresh out of the shower , looking like a little pufferfish . AD Comment