CHAPTER 6
1210 Words
The text arrived before dawn.
Family brunch today. Everyone will be there. Including Landon. Be ready at 11:30.
Sienna's body reacted before her mind did. Her stomach clenched. Her throat tightened. She lay still, staring at the ceiling as pale light crept through the curtains.
For one weak second, she had forgotten.
Then it all came back.
The dinner.
The note.
Landon's voice outside in the cold.
You were nothing special.
Her chest felt wrong. Like something inside her had been twisted and left that way. She pressed her palm against her ribs, hard, until pain bloomed and grounded her.
Her father's voice rose in her head, sharp and familiar. Don't ruin this. The Callahan money is our lifeline.
She sat up slowly. The mirror reflected a woman who looked thin and drained, like she had already given too much of herself away.
Her phone buzzed again.
Noah.
Good morning, beautiful. Can't wait to show you off today.
Show you off.
She swallowed and typed back.
Can't wait.
The lie slid out easily. Too easily.
~~
By eleven thirty, she looked perfect.
Pale blue dress. Soft makeup. Hair smooth and neat. Innocent. Eleanor once said blue made her look pure. Safe. Like a woman who would never cause trouble.
Inside, she felt hollow.
The Callahan garden was flawless. White cloths stretched tight over tables. Crystal glasses caught the sun. Roses bloomed in obedient rows. Everything looked planned. Controlled.
And then she saw him.
Landon sat near the center table, relaxed, laughing. Dark jeans. White shirt. Sleeves rolled up. Tattoos bare. Real. Alive.
Across from him sat a woman in red.
Blonde. Beautiful. Effortless.
Her hand rested on his arm like it belonged there.
Sienna's lungs forgot how to work.
"Oh," Eleanor said pleasantly. "That's Victoria Ashford. Lovely girl. Landon met her at a gallery last week."
Last week.
The week he came back. The week he tore her open again.
"They suit each other," Eleanor added. "Don't they?"
Sienna nodded because it was expected.
Noah appeared beside her, arm wrapping around her waist. Tight. Possessive.
"My brother and his latest conquest," he said lightly. "Victoria's from a good family. Strong connections."
Conquest.
They moved closer. Too close.
Victoria laughed, her head tipped back. Landon leaned in, smiling. The same smile he once gave Sienna in the dark.
Her chest burned.
She lifted her champagne glass, hands shaking.
Someone brushed past her chair.
A hand touched her shoulder.
"Excuse me," Landon said calmly. Polite. Like she was nothing.
Then his mouth dipped close to her ear.
"Stop staring. You're embarrassing yourself."
The words cut clean and deep.
Champagne spilled onto the tablecloth. White stained gold.
"I need the bathroom," Sienna whispered.
She fled.
Inside, she locked the door and gripped the sink. Her reflection looked cracked. Eyes too bright. Mouth trembling.
Maybe she imagined that night.
Maybe she imagined him.
When she stepped back into the garden, Victoria's voice floated easily through the air.
"Some women don't know their place," she said sweetly. "They convince themselves they're special when really they're just desperate."
Landon laughed.
"It's pathetic," he said clearly. Loud enough. "Clinging to something that was never real."
Sienna froze.
This wasn't a conversation.
It was a message.
For her.
~~~
Dinner felt like punishment.
The dining room glowed with candlelight and polished wood. Perfect. Cold.
Sienna sat beside Noah. His hand covered hers, heavy, claiming. Landon sat across from her, unreadable.
Eleanor talked about flowers. White. Red. Purity and passion.
"What do you think, Sienna?" Eleanor asked.
"Whatever you think is best," Sienna said quietly.
Noah smiled. Proud. "See? She's perfect. Never difficult. Never demanding. Just grateful."
Perfect.
Across the table, Landon's fingers tightened around his glass.
"Perfect," he repeated softly. Not a compliment.
"She'll strengthen the Callahan legacy," Noah continued. "She fits."
Fits.
Landon leaned back. "Sounds like a merger."
Silence fell.
"Excuse me?" Noah said.
"You're talking about her like an investment," Landon said calmly. "Not a woman."
"That's enough," Eleanor warned.
"No," Landon said. "It's not. You're buying a wife. Not loving one."
Noah stood so fast his chair scraped hard against the floor.
"How dare you," Noah snapped. "You don't know what love looks like."
"Do you?" Landon shot back. "Or do you just like owning things that behave?"
"Sienna chose me," Noah said sharply.
Landon's eyes flicked to her. Sharp. Searching.
"Did she?" he asked quietly.
Sienna's heart slammed.
"She's happy," Noah said quickly.
Landon leaned forward. "Then ask her."
Noah's jaw tightened. "She doesn't have to answer that."
"Why not?" Landon pressed. "Afraid she will?"
Thomas Callahan slammed his hand on the table. Glasses jumped.
"Enough," Thomas said, his voice low and deadly. "You will not tear this family apart at my table."
Landon straightened. "Funny. You did that years ago."
Thomas's eyes hardened. "Watch your mouth."
"You never liked me," Landon said. "Because I wouldn't become what you wanted."
"You threw your life away," Thomas snapped. "You embarrassed this family."
"I freed myself," Landon said. "There's a difference."
Noah laughed bitterly. "You ran."
Landon turned to him. "And you stayed. And now you sound just like him."
Thomas stood. "Noah is the future of this family. You are nothing but wasted potential."
The words landed like a whip.
Landon's face went still. Something old surfaced in his eyes. Hurt. Rage. A wound that never healed.
"You're right," he said quietly. "Thanks for the reminder."
He dropped his napkin.
Stood.
Pushed his chair back.
And walked out.
The doors slammed hard enough to echo.
No one spoke.
Eleanor tried to smile. Noah squeezed Sienna's hand too tightly.
But Sienna couldn't breathe.
~~~
Eleanor insisted she stay the night.
Noah's room smelled like cologne and certainty. He wrapped an arm around her and fell asleep quickly.
Sienna lay awake.
Trapped.
She slipped free and crept downstairs.
The pool lights glowed blue.
Landon sat at the edge, whiskey bottle beside him, feet in the water, staring into nothing.
"You stalking me now?" he said without looking up.
"I couldn't sleep."
"That's not my problem."
She stepped closer anyway.
"You don't have to hate me."
"You're marrying my brother," he said flatly. "That makes you the enemy."
"I never chose this."
"Then why are you wearing his ring?"
Her throat burned. "Because it's expected."
He laughed quietly. "Do you practice that smile too?"
"At least I don't numb myself with liquor and strangers."
That made him stand.
Slow. Dangerous.
He stepped close. Whiskey on his breath. Heat everywhere.
"Careful," he said. "You're starting to sound like you care."
"Maybe I do."
For a moment, everything cracked.
He leaned in. Close enough to ruin her.
Her eyes closed.
Then his voice cut through.
"I don't touch what belongs to my brother."
Shame hit her hard.
"You're his now," he continued coldly. "I don't play with other people's toys."
She stepped back, shaking.
"You're disgusting."
"Maybe. But I'm honest."
She ran.
Back to Noah. Back to the cage.
He pulled her close in his sleep.
"I love you," he murmured.
She stared into the dark, lips burning with what almost happened.
Landon hated her because he wanted her.
And wanting her was going to destroy them both.
Sienna closed her eyes.
And she knew she was already ruined.
- Writer
