THE ONE MISTAKE I'D MAKE AGAIN

THE WARNING

EPISODE 3 — THE WARNING

Sienna didn't sleep that night.

The message kept replaying in her mind.

Stay away from Ethan Cole.

She had no idea who the caller was.

She didn't even know how they had gotten her number.

And somehow, that frightened her more than the warning itself.

At six in the morning, Sienna finally got out of bed.

She picked up the photograph again.

The picture was old—creased at the edges, slightly faded.

She turned it over.

Don't trust the Coles.

She had never seen those words before.

But she recognized the handwriting.

Her heart sank.

She knew exactly who had written it.

---

At the Cole residence, Ethan sat across from his father at the breakfast table.

His father placed a folder in front of him.

"You need to read this."

Ethan didn't touch it.

"What is it?"

"Something you should have been told years ago."

Ethan looked at him.

"That sounds reassuring."

His father ignored the comment.

"The university campaign isn't just a marketing project."

Ethan's expression hardened.

"What do you mean?"

"There are people involved who have been watching this company for a long time."

"Who?"

His father hesitated.

"That's what I'm trying to find out."

Ethan opened the folder.

Inside were several documents.

Then he saw a photograph.

His eyes narrowed.

It was Sienna.

He looked up immediately.

"Why is she in here?"

His father didn't answer.

"Ethan—"

"Why is Sienna Blake in this file?"

His father's expression became serious.

"Because her family may be connected to something that happened to ours."

Ethan stared at him.

"What happened?"

"Twenty years ago, someone betrayed this family."

"Who?"

"We never found out."

Ethan closed the folder.

"And you think Sienna knows something?"

"I don't know what she knows."

His father leaned forward.

"That's why I need you to find out."

Ethan stood.

"You're asking me to investigate a woman who has nothing to do with this."

"I'm asking you to protect the family."

Ethan shook his head.

"No. You're asking me to use her."

His father said nothing.

Ethan walked away.

But one thought wouldn't leave his mind.

Why had Sienna's photograph been in his father's file?

---

Later that morning, Ethan arrived at the university.

Sienna was sitting outside the library with a notebook open in front of her.

She looked tired.

He approached.

"You look like you didn't sleep."

Sienna looked up.

"Neither did you."

Ethan smiled faintly.

"Fair."

He sat across from her.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Sienna asked:

"Why are you here?"

"Work."

"At my university?"

"Unfortunately."

She almost smiled.

Almost.

Ethan studied her face.

"Is everything okay?"

Sienna hesitated.

"Yes."

He knew she was lying.

But he didn't push.

Instead, he asked:

"Do you trust me?"

She looked directly at him.

"No."

Ethan raised an eyebrow.

"That was quick."

"You asked."

He smiled.

"At least you're honest."

Sienna closed her notebook.

"Ethan..."

"Yeah?"

"Who is your family?"

His smile disappeared.

"Why?"

"Just curious."

"That's dangerous."

"Why?"

"Because once you start asking questions about my family, you might not like the answers."

Sienna stared at him.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then Ethan's phone rang.

His father's name appeared on the screen.

He stood.

"I have to take this."

Sienna watched him walk away.

She reached into her bag.

Her fingers touched the old photograph.

She hadn't told Ethan about the warning.

And she wasn't sure why.

---

That afternoon, Sienna returned to the charity booth outside the university.

The same volunteer from two days earlier recognized her.

"You're back."

Sienna smiled.

"I wanted to help."

The woman handed her a small envelope.

"This was left for you."

Sienna frowned.

"For me?"

"Yes."

She opened it.

Inside was a single sheet of paper.

Three words.

Ask about Marcus.

Sienna's hands went cold.

Marcus.

That was her father's name.

She looked around.

The crowd moved normally around her.

Students laughed.

Cars passed.

Nobody seemed to be watching.

Then she noticed a black car parked across the street.

Her heart stopped.

The car looked familiar.

But before she could see who was inside, it pulled away.

Sienna stared after it.

She didn't know who was following her.

She didn't know what Marcus had to do with the Coles.

But she finally understood one thing.

Whatever happened twenty years ago wasn't finished.

Someone was making sure she remembered it.

And Ethan Cole might be much closer to the truth than either of them realized.

To be continued…