Chapter 1

On the eve of her wedding, Sienna Rhodes and her stepsister, Natalie Rhodes, were abducted. However, her fiancé, William Sanders, only rescued the stepsister.

The abductors sneered as they lunged at her, ripping her clothes apart with a sharp tear.

Sienna couldn't believe it, clinging to a shred of hope. "No! Please wait a little longer. William promised to pay the ransom."

The abductors let out a sinister laugh, dialing a number. "Natalie, your sister's really naive!"

Sienna's mind went blank as Natalie's mocking voice came through the line.

"Did you really believe that nonsense about Will coming to save you? Let me tell you the truth—I'm carrying his child!"

Sienna's face turned pale. "When… When did this happen?"

"Will has always loved me. Being with you was just a way to use you to start his company. Now that he's the CEO, do you know why you were abducted?"

Sienna's hands and feet went cold as she shook her head. "I don't believe it. Let me talk to William!"

"He's lying right next to me. I'm pregnant, and he still can't get enough of me."

The man's cold, emotionless voice came through the phone. "Sienna, you're no longer of any use. Just accept your fate."

Her world shattered in an instant. Eight years of love and commitment had been nothing but a cruel manipulation. To take full control of the company, he wanted her dead.

Tears streamed down Sienna's face.

Natalie's voice was filled with malice. "He wanted to leave you intact, but I want you to die miserably. Have your fun with them first, and then we'll throw you to the wolves!"

"Natalie, I treated you like my own sister. How could you do this to me? Mom and Dad won't let you get away with this!"

Natalie's sneer deepened. "Do you think Mom and Dad actually love you?"

Sienna froze. What did she mean by that?

Before she could think further, the abductors dragged her into the wilderness. Their sinister laughter filled the air as they loomed over her trembling form.

Sienna refused to accept her fate. Would she really die because of Willam and Natalie's scheme, at the hands of these men?

No, she couldn't let it end like this.

Suddenly, she noticed a car parked by the dark road below. The door was strangely open, and a man sat in the backseat—a tall, shadowy figure exuding a stifling, ominous bearing.

Summoning every ounce of strength, Sienna broke free from the abductors and rolled down the hill, rushing toward the car. "Sir, please let me hide in your car!"

"Get lost," came the man's icy warning, his voice heavy and threatening.

The abductors were closing in.

"Someone's after me! Please, I'm begging you!" Sienna threw herself into the car, clutching his leg and pulling the door shut.

Her trembling body brushed against his tailored pants, but she didn't notice.

In the dark, his cold, predatory eyes snapped open. His Adam's apple bobbed as he spoke with a sinister smile. "You're not leaving?"

"I can't!" she stammered, trying to climb to the front seat.

Suddenly, a scorching hand grabbed her ankle.

"Interesting." His voice was low and chilling. "No matter who sent you, since you've come to me, don't regret it."

Before she could react, the man yanked her onto the seat. His powerful frame descended upon her.

Pain consumed her. Sienna's cries were muffled as she struggled against the overwhelming force.

Darkness swallowed her whole.

When she awoke, the night was still deep, and the man was asleep. Quietly, she gathered her clothes and fled the car.

That night, she escaped the abductors, but at the cost of her dignity.

Wiping away her tears, Sienna dared not look back.

…

Ten days later, Sienna stumbled back to Rotschire, barely alive. Penniless and starving, she had endured a journey that left her clinging to life.

Her fists clenched tightly. In all this time, not a single news report mentioned her father, Carl Rhodes, searching for her.

Natalie's words echoed in her mind, "Dad never loved you." Memories of the unfair treatment she had endured since childhood resurfaced, filling her with bitterness.

She refused to believe it. She had to return and demand the truth.

At the Rhodes residence, she slipped in through the back door, only to hear heated voices from the living room.

"She's dead, but we haven't found her body. How can we rest easy?" Julia Collins, her stepmother, sounded anxious.

Natalie's voice was sharp and sinister. "Dad, if you're worried about her haunting us, just arrange a posthumous marriage for her. We can profit from it while trapping her soul. She won't dare seek revenge then."

"Isn't that a bit too much?" came Carl's cold, indifferent voice.

Sienna collapsed to the floor, trembling, her face expressionless but pale as if stripped bare by an icy wind. She had once imagined her father wracked with guilt over her safety, her stepmother and Natalie consumed with fear and regret.

But the reality was far worse—they were plotting to squeeze every ounce of value from her death, even binding her soul through a posthumous marriage.

"Honey, Sienna was only ever meant to shield Natalie from harm," Julia added cruelly. "And her mother? If Sienna ever finds out the truth about her death..."

"Enough! Even if she weren't dead, I would've made sure she died today." Carl's voice held not a shred of fatherly compassion.

"Next, smear her name. Let Natalie and William use it as an excuse to take over her company. Everything her grandfather left behind will be ours. As for her uncle, he'll be dealt with sooner or later…"

Hell was empty, and all the devils were here.

Sienna bit her lip so hard it bled, resisting the urge to storm in and confront them. Terror and unbridled rage churned inside her, sending waves of pain through her abdomen. She understood now—her mother's death wasn't as it seemed, and worse, her own origins were in question.

She couldn't die here.

With her heart in pieces, Sienna clutched her stomach and ran, hailing a cab. "To the hospital…"

The radio in the cab blared, "Breaking news: Rhodes family heiress Sienna Rhodes is suspected of engaging in multiple illicit affairs and was reportedly murdered by a lover in the mountains. Her family is devastated and is actively searching for her remains…"

For a moment, Sienna sat frozen, then let out a cold laugh. She had longed for news of her family searching for her.

Instead, they had twisted the truth, tarnishing her reputation to justify Natalie and William's eventual seizure of everything she had.

Hatred. Burning, all-consuming hatred.

She couldn’t afford to die. She had to survive. She had to take revenge.

"Miss?" The driver's voice cut through as he shouted, noticing her fainting in the backseat.

"What happened to this woman? She's badly injured!"

Faintly, Sienna heard the voices of doctors rushing toward her before losing consciousness.

When she woke again, Sienna found herself lying in a hospital bed with an IV in her hand. A doctor approached, holding a test report, looking visibly surprised.

"Miss, your HCG levels are very high. This indicates that not only you're injured, but you're also pregnant!"

Sienna froze, struck as if by lightning. "Doctor… what did you just say?"

"It's early, not even two weeks yet. Has your boyfriend been informed?"

Sienna's lips turned pale as the realization hit her—ten days ago, the night of that assault.

How could she be so unlucky? Pregnant from that?

The doctor, noticing her reaction, seemed to understand. "Do you want to terminate the pregnancy? I can schedule the procedure…"

"No one is touching her stomach!"

Suddenly, a group of men stormed into the emergency room.

Leading them was a sharply dressed man in a suit who immediately dismissed the doctor.

He turned to Sienna and nodded politely. "Ms. Rhodes, you're pregnant, correct? Please come with us."

Sienna's unease deepened as she asked nervously. "Who are you?"

"The father of the child you're carrying requests your presence," he replied calmly.

Chapter 2

Sienna was stunned. Blood drained from her face, and her heart pounded against her chest. She didn't even know what that man looked like. All she wanted was to ask for help, but he…

At the thought of this, anger and humiliation rose in her chest.

The man dragged her into the car, but she didn't resist because she had nowhere to go.

The hospital was crowded, and she would be destroying her family if she, the top socialite of Rotshire, was discovered here.

Sienna clenched her fists as she observed the unassuming Bentley.

Meanwhile, the man received a call and answered politely, "Yes, madam. I've picked Ms. Rhodes up. Don't get so excited. Your grandchild is yet to be born…" Helplessly, he coaxed the elderly woman.

Soon, the car arrived at a hill, where a modest villa belonging to a wealthy family stood. When Sienna got out of the car, two maids welcomed her at the door.

"They are Mary Jenkins and Amy Smith. For the next ten months, they'll take care of you until you give birth to the baby," the man explained.

Sienna was taken aback and realized that she had fallen into a trap. Her eyes turned cold as she said, "Not only did he violate me, but he even wants to hold me captive to give birth? I want to meet that jerk!"

"He's not a jerk and was set up by others that day. Otherwise, you wouldn't have the opportunity, either."

Speechless, Sienna was mad with fury, but she was forced into the house. Despite being physically weak, she refused to succumb. By refusing food, she forced them to call their employer.

In the evening, Amy finally brought news. "He will be here tonight to meet you."

Secretly, Sienna balled her fists. While she was mad at that man, she was also a little curious about him.

Late at night, Sienna was in the bedroom when she heard the sound of a car engine echoing from downstairs.

Then, she heard people speaking, but it came to a stop at her door, and it slowly swung open.

Sienna's heart galloped, and she hurriedly grabbed a vase and waited while holding her breath.

The door opened, and an elongated shadow cast into the room. The temperature around the door seemed to drop automatically; this man was rather cold.

A shiver ran down Sienna's spine, and she saw him knocking on the door like a gentleman before coming in. Panicking with a trace of anger, she raised the vase.

The man put out his cigarette and dropped his hand. Calmly, he reminded her, "Before you hit me, it's the couch two steps behind you. Don't trip yourself."

Stunned and speechless, Sienna took a glance behind herself.

His voice sounded elegant, deep, and strong.

She glared at him with daggers in her eyes. The man that night was incredibly strong, but the man before her now was gentle, elegant, and even polite.

However, he was too cold and carried the domineering authority of a mature man. It was tough to connect the two men together.

When he turned around, Sienna saw that he was wearing a silver half-mask. She couldn't see his face, but she knew that he had a tall nose, deep-set features, and a chiseled jaw.

He wrenched the vase out of her hands and stared at her. "I'm sorry if I hurt you that day, but that's the only thing I'm sorry about."

At first, Sienna was stunned, but when she realized what he meant, her face blushed brightly.

His tall and big build towered over her oppressively as he looked at her with judgemental eyes. "I don't care what is the reason you climbed into my bed, got pregnant with my baby, and purposely let my mother find out—"

"You've got the wrong idea!" Sienna bit her lip, and the man looked at her from the bridge of his nose.

"She only has one year to live. As you wish, we'll get married with an agreement. After the child is born a year later, you'll leave, and I'll pay you the compensation."

His words were an order, not a discussion.

Fury crept over Sienna's face. "Do you think I'm just a birth-giving tool to pacify your family? Why should I agree to your terms?"

He turned on the TV, his dark eyes twinkling with amusement.

Meanwhile, Sienna saw the news. "Carl Rhodes has verified that Sienna Rhodes was murdered while having an affair. The Rhodes family will be holding the funeral tomorrow afternoon.

"Based on her will, Fortuna, which was under her name, will be transferred to William Sanders, while the enormous inheritance left by her maternal grandfather will be inherited by her younger sister, Natalie Rhodes. The Rhodes are in deep grief…"

Sienna's face was filled with hatred. They simply couldn't wait to bury her, and even her will was perfectly forged.

"Don't you want your revenge for the way the Rhodeses treated you?"

"Yes." Sienna gritted her teeth.

She once trusted this plastic family so much. Her father, Carl, always told her to give in to Natalie, and even William asked her to assist Natalie.

He promised to marry her, so she did everything she could, but it was all for the benefit of others.

"As a dead person, you don't even have a place to hide. Do you have any other choice?" The man raised his dark, cold eyes and handed her an agreement before taking a seat.

Sienna took a deep breath, lowering her head as tears welled up in her eyes. "No. I'll need your protection."

He was high and mighty. "My protection depends on the sincerity you bring into our collaboration. I have three rules after our marriage.

"Firstly, we don't interfere with each other. Secondly, don't betray me, and lastly, forget about falling in love with me."

"What a narcissist," Sienna thought, grabbing a pen and slowly signing her name.

The man rose to his feet and said curtly. "We'll get registered tomorrow."

She nodded. Pausing for a second, she then asked with a frown, "Do I… have to give birth to this child?"

Chapter 3

The man looked back with an unreadable look in his eyes. "Are you unwilling to have the baby?"

Natalie bit her lip. To begin with, this man was a stranger to her, and they conceived this child under such complicated circumstances.

Slowly, he paced to her and raised her chin. She had a gorgeous, attractive face with rosy lips, but she was still young—only 23 years old.

In a solemn voice, he said, "Although I don't mind the labor for some things…"

Sienna paused and didn't understand what he meant.

He smirked wickedly, but his tone was serious. "I have respect for life. Give birth to the baby!"

He was domineering, and Sienna suddenly understood what he meant by the word "labor," blushing inexplicably.

The man walked to the door, but before he could open it, the excited voice of a middle-aged woman threatened, "Rascal, if you come out of there tonight, you'll never see me alive again!"

Next, the door was locked.

Sienna was confused. "Who's that outside?"

"Your mother-in-law."

His answer left Sienna speechless.

Pulling a long face, he spun around and dragged her to the bedside. "Are you going to cooperate with me?" he asked in a deep, alluring voice.

"Cooperate with what?"

"Let's pretend it's our wedding night."

Quietly, Sienna stared into his mature eyes, which had a deep look in them. It dawned upon her what he meant, and her face turned scarlet. "But I… don't know how to do that."

Furrowing his brows, he pinned her against the headboard of the bed and tried to undress her.

She shrieked and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Do you know what to do now?" He raised his brows at her mischievously.

Immediately, the voice echoed through the door from outside happily. "Thank goodness, this rascal finally straightened things out!"

Quietly and awkwardly, Sienna remained pinned with her shoulder exposed. The man brushed his gaze over her silky skin, and the look in his eyes turned dark as he caught a whiff of her sweet scent.

They were so close that Sienna could feel his lean, strong muscles and blushed until the tips of her ears. Sensing immense danger, she wanted him to get away from her as quickly as possible and purposely let out a pathetic wail.

"Rascal, you better watch out! She's pregnant with my grandchild!"

Lowering his head, the man stared at the blushing Sienna. "Are you having your revenge on me?"

Sienna looked away. "A-Are we done?"

The edge of his lips curled up unnoticeably, and he released her without teasing her further.

Along with his desires and aloofness, he walked to the couch and plopped on it. Casually, he yanked off his tie.

With his broad shoulders, perfectly proportioned body, and the regal air he carried with him, he was undeniably attractive.

Curled at the bed, Sienna took a quick glance at the door and asked nervously, "Are we sleeping together tonight?"

"Do you want to?" He picked up a magazine and threw her a glance from the corner of his eyes.

While the cat got Sienna's tongue, he said breezily, "Do you think I'll stoop so low as to take advantage of a pregnant teen?"

His tone was sarcastic but serious, and he even called her a pregnant teen. Frustrated, Sienna wondered whether he was much older than herself.

As she stared at his silver mask, she was filled with curiosity, wondering if he had a hideous face or had scars that he didn't want anyone to see.

When he settled on the couch and made no more moves, she straightened her clothes and climbed under the sheets. Then, the man turned off the lights.

Tentatively, Sienna asked, "You investigated everything about me. May I ask how old you are and what's your name?"

He didn't answer her for a long while, ignoring her. This man was aloof and unreadable, making him an unapproachable person.

As Sienna was from a prestigious family, judging from the high and mighty mysterious air he carried with him, she reckoned that he must have been brought up in an elite family.

Just when Sienna almost dozed off from tiredness, he said in his husky voice, "L."

He wouldn't even tell her his name. Who in the world was this man? Did he cover his face because she knew him?

…

The next morning, Sienna was greeted by her mother-in-law, Helen Wilson's, smiling face.

"Sienna, I knew that both of you would be compatible from the first moment I saw you. Have some more yogurt. Did my son hurt my grandchild last night? I'll teach him a lesson for you."

Although Sienna said nothing, she almost choked on the food. Helen was really jovial. If it wasn't because of her pale face, Sienna couldn't imagine that she only had one year left to live.

Sienna looked away. On the other far end of the dining table, a dashing figure wearing a white shirt paired with a pair of black suit pants had been sitting there for a long time. The silver half-mask was still on his face, revealing his tall nose and beautifully shaped lips.

He seemed calm and appeared unfazed by Helen's playful personality.

In the meantime, the household staff and Helen seemed unbothered by his mask. This only served to intensify Sienna's curiosity. Who was he? Why was his identity so mysterious?

Just then, Amy brought a sheet from upstairs and whispered, "Madam, the sheet is clean. Should I keep it away?"

Sienna took a look at it but had no idea what it was about.

Seeing her curiosity, Helen smiled and explained, "According to local customs, this is used during wedding nights to verify the chastity of the bride. The household staff spread it for you without knowing anything—"

"Don't practice such senseless customs," L grumbled.

He paced to Sienna to pick up the jam. When he came to a stop, he raised his brow and said, "I know whether it was her first time or not."

Sienna was quiet.

As though he wasn't completely sure, he stuck his hands into his pockets and whispered next to her ear, "Was I right?"

Blood rushed to Sienna's fair ears as she was too embarrassed to answer the question. Especially when he remained next to her, his masculine scent interspersed with an oppressive strength smelled pleasant, but it tingled her skin.

Worried that he would say something even more out of line, she scooped a spoonful of yogurt and stuffed it into his mouth angrily. "Eat your food and talk less."

That move startled Amy. "Mrs. L, Mr. L is a cleanliness freak."

L looked at her. Then, he swallowed the yogurt and returned to his seat with a smirk.

The more composed he was, the brighter Sienna blushed. Staring at the spoon he had used, she wasn't sure whether she should use it again or not.

With a mischievous smile, Helen pushed the spoon into her palm. "Hurry and finish the food. An indirect kiss is sweet, isn't it? Hang on, what happened to your palm?"

She held Sienna's right hand, and the look in Sienna's eyes turned cold when she saw her hand.

On the day she was kidnapped, Natalie had pierced through her palm with her foot. Thankfully, Sienna had some medical knowledge and used some herbs on herself while escaping. Otherwise, her hand would've been a lost cause.

Natalie was jealous that her hands were gifted at designing.

"Why didn't you mention this last night?" L cast her an icy glance and knitted his brows. "Amy, get the doctor."

When their house doctor arrived, Sienna was taken aback because he was the most famous doctor in Rotschire. The Rhodeses once wanted to invite him home for a house visit, but they didn't have a chance at all.

It turned out that he was actually the house doctor of this villa. What was the background of this man in front of her?

"Ouch!" Sienna gasped softly when the antiseptic touched her wound.

L put down his newspaper, crossed his legs, and saw the nasty injury on her palm. That night, her fair and soft fingers were on his body.

He gulped softly and rose to his feet with raised brows, ordering the doctor, "Her hand is not bad. Don't leave any scar on it."

The doctor was shaken while Helen sniggered and whispered to L, "What about her hand? What are you thinking about, rascal?"

Sienna was at a loss for words as she was forced to understand what she meant. For the first time, she met such an open mother-in-law.

A blush crept over her face, but L ignored it and cast Helen a serious look, making the latter say no more.

…

After breakfast, Sienna and L were shoved out of the house by Helen. "Get registered right now. Only then can I be at ease."

The Bentley was already parked outside the door. L opened the door for Sienna like a gentleman, and she climbed in awkwardly. His assistant in the passenger seat passed him a laptop, and he didn't speak anymore after that.

Even though Sienna wanted to find out something about him by stealing a look at his laptop screen, she was afraid.

Soon, they arrived at the courthouse.

There weren't many people at the courthouse today, and Sienna immediately caught sight of two familiar faces after she got out of the car—William and Natalie.

Chapter 4

On the 11th day after they planned Sienna's kidnapping and had her mercilessly murdered, William and Natalie had secretly registered their marriage.

What a coincidence!

Sienna was rooted to the spot, holding her breath for so long that it was beginning to hurt. Hatred crept into her every being, and her eyes were filled with iciness. Scenes from the past began flashing past her mind, instilling her with irony.

"Sienna, I promise I'll marry you. Soon, you'll be Mrs. Sanders.

"You're a genius, Sienna. Just draw one more draft in Natalie's name. She must take the first spot in the jewelry design competition!

"We'll throw the wedding before getting registered. Rest assured, I won't betray you."

There was no wedding because William wanted Sienna dead.

Her clenched fist was released by L. Standing tall, he asked indifferently, "Should I give you a few minutes?"

Sienna pursed her pale lips together and shook her head. Then, a personnel politely led them into the building.

It only took them two minutes to get the official documents. Sienna took a glance at L, who was busy working in his seat, and then, at the marriage certificate. Only the letter "L" was written as his name.

Domineering, stoic, and perfunctory. Did she marry nothing? It seemed like this certificate was only her shackles and Helen's comfort.

She knew nothing about him and didn't even know who she had married.

It was then that Sienna suddenly looked outside the door. William and Natalie were in another room to get registered, and the latter had picked up her purse before heading to the bathroom.

A smile tinged Sienna's lips, and she said to L, "I'm getting something done."

L's assistant, Brian Miller, looked at her from the back and lowered his head, asking, "Sir?"

Without looking away from his work, L frowned. "Protect her."

In the bathroom, Sienna took out a lipstick from her handbag, crushed it, and mixed it with water. Next, she scribbled it all over a paper, tossed it into a cubicle, and left with a smirk.

Outside the courthouse, Sienna asked the driver to pull over for a while. A few seconds of silent waiting later, a petite woman ran down the stairs in panic, shouting without a care, "William!"

William bolted to the panicking Natalie, who handed him a blood-stained paper with trembling hands. "Look… That's the name of the posthumous partner we found, and Sienna's name is written next to it! This appeared in my bag suddenly. Could this be Sienna? Is she back for revenge?"

William was startled by the blood-stained paper and staggered backward a couple of steps. Furrowing his brows, he helped Natalie on her feet. "That's nonsense. She's already dead. Remain calm and don't let the paparazzi capture anything."

"William, I'm so afraid…" Natalie's eyes were gloomy, and her face was as white as a sheet.

Watching the immoral couple who were looking around, Sienna sneered and took a picture with her phone.

The pain from her pierced palm was excruciating, and her eyes turned bloodshot as she recalled the words of her stepmother, Julia Collins. "We're not cruel. We raised Sienna to protect Natalie from disasters, to begin with."

Really? What brutal truth it was! From now on, she would be Natalie's disaster!

Sienna checked the news about the funeral in the afternoon and sneered. She had just served the appetizer, and the main dish would be served soon.

She was going to repay this deep hatred one by one and reclaim everything which was hers!

She pulled back her palm, which was numb from the pain. "Mr. L, we can go now."

Suddenly, a big hand held hers. L set his work aside for a while and asked, "Does it hurt?"

His voice was so low that Sienna was stunned for a second. Almost simultaneously, the tears she had been fighting back were about to break through the dam.

"Don't cry. I'll massage it for you." He knitted his brows and massaged her, his every move gentle. There was no emotion on his face, and his breathing was warm and deep.

Sienna stared at the stoic man in a daze, and he said sternly, "I don't care what you're going to do, but you must ensure that the baby is safe."

"I promise you." It was a deal they made. Sienna didn't expect him to help her with her revenge. Moreover, he was suspicious of her objectives.

On the other hand, she needed a safe place to stay, and this marriage came as a convenience to her.

"Send her." L hopped out of the car. He was a busy man and didn't mention the destination.

As Sienna watched his straight back in a suit, she said to the driver, "Please send me to Eternity Funeral Parlor."

…

In the meantime, Julia sniggered at the blood-stained paper in the lounge of the funeral parlor. "It's a prank made from lipstick. Who are you trying to fool?"

Still, Natalie was a little under the weather. "But nobody else knows about the posthumous marriage we set up for her!"

Julia said nonchalantly, "Even if her employees are ours now, she still had a couple of annoying friends. This is a cheap trick."

With a snort, she added, "The funeral will begin soon. Carl will announce to the media that you'll be inheriting all her assets. Sienna Rhodes no longer exists in this world."

"She's dead and will never return," Carl said in an assertive tone.

Natalie regained her composure, smiling triumphantly.

…

At 2:00 pm, the funeral parlor was packed with people. The Rhode family was a prestigious family in Rotschire, and everyone knew about Sienna, who was renowned for being a businesswoman at 18 years old. In addition, she was a genius and drop-dead gorgeous.

She had died, and her death was so scandalous that it could cause a commotion during the funeral.

Narrowing her eyes, Sienna made a call on the sidewalk. Even when she had nothing now, she could still remember some journalists she was familiar with.

She hid the blood the driver bought under her shirt, put on a pair of sunnies, and removed the bandage on her palm before walking into the funeral parlor.

A snigger spread across her lips. She had returned.

Melancholic music started playing, and Sienna immediately saw the empty coffin in the middle.

"She was once the top socialite. Who would have imagined that she'd end up this way?" someone commented.

"Didn't you watch the news? She was violated and murdered by her lover! Despite her innocent appearance, I heard that she was a promiscuous woman and clinched all her business deals with her body.

"Not only did she make a cuckold of William, but she even bullied her stepsister."

"You're right. I work at Fortuna and saw Ms. Sienna sleeping with a male shareholder and always made things difficult for Ms. Natalie."

"Cut it out." Natalie wiped her tears away gently. "Sienna is already dead, and I'm very upset. I forgive her for forcing me to draft designs for her to claim as her own—"

"She's such a tyrant, bullying her sister. It's a good thing that such a slut is dead," someone spat angrily.

Hiding in a corner, Sienna smiled coldly and tightened her fists.

"Shut up, all of you!" An angry female voice echoed. "Natalie Rhodes, you backstabber. You're the one who stole Sienna's designs, but you spread rumors about her after her death. You're evil!"

Sienna froze. That was Zoe Yates, her best friend who was here to attend her funeral.

A sinister look flashed past Natalie's eyes, and she winked at the Fortuna employee who had spoken earlier.

Immediately, the employee dragged Zoe away. "You're of the same feather as Sienna. What nonsense are you saying about Ms. Natalie? Get out of here!"

Outnumbered, Zoe fell to the floor and cried at Sienna's picture, "Sienna, I know you've died a wrongful death…"

Tears welled up in Sienna's eyes, and her fists were tightly balled. Secretly, she promised Zoe that she would turn things around.

The memorial service began. Sienna hid her face behind messy hair and slipped behind the flower wreaths when no one was looking.

Carl stood on the podium, tears rolling down his face. "My beloved daughter is gone, but the living have to continue living. With respect to the will she left behind when she was alive, her company and assets will be passed on to her younger sister, Natalie…"

Suddenly, the coffin moved.

Chapter 5

Pin-drop silence blanketed the room, and Carl raised his head at the coffin on his left. At the opening of the coffin covered with flowers, something bloody suddenly stretched out.

"What's that? It's a hand!"

"But I thought Sienna's body was never found!"

The atmosphere in the room turned eerie, and a bloody person climbed out of the coffin, wailing, "Dad, I'm in so much pain! Did I die?"

Carl turned his head stiffly. Scared out of his wits, he fell to the floor.

The bloody body climbed out of the coffin and toward Julia. "Julia, it's so painful! Natalie pierced through my palm with her foot. Natalie, you ordered the crooks to beat me up real bad."

Julia and Natalie shrieked loudly as their knees buckled, and all three of them were as pallid.

Natalie held her head and shouted, "Mom, didn't we already seal her soul so she'll never return? Why did she come back for revenge? Don't come for me! No!"

Her words revealed a piece of important information, and Sienna sniggered as she slowly stood up.

Out of the terrified onlookers, a few looked up. When they saw Sienna moving around freely, they stammered, "M-Ms. Sienna, are you alive?"

"Yes." Sienna walked over and stepped on Natalie's hand, chuckling coldly with her head lowered. "The odd thing is, my family thought I was dead and even sealed my soul."

This news shocked everyone, and a smile crept across Sienn `a's face slowly as her eyes turned bloodshot.

"Does it make it easier to snatch my company and forge my will after burying me? Are you giving all my assets to Natalie?

"Dad, did you forget that ten days ago, Natalie and William paid some crooks to abduct me to the mountains and kill me?"

"Goodness, that's different from the Rhodeses' claim! Wasn't she killed by her lover?"

"What? Did she mean that the Rhodeses conspired to kill her?"

Carl stared hard at Sienna, making sure that she was a living person. She didn't die!

He came around quickly, though, rushing over to hug Sienna. "Sienna, you're alive! This is great!"

"How can I die, Dad?" Sienna glared at him with a piercing look. "Before my wedding, my fiance and stepsister had an affair together and conceived a baby. To keep their baby, they had to kill me. How can I forget such a huge gift?"

Blood drained from Natalie's and William's faces. A clamor broke out from the crowd, and the media swarmed in, holding their cameras.

Hurriedly, Carl gestured at the bodyguards to clear the scene.

"My child, did you hurt your head? Why are you spouting nonsense?" Julia's reflexes were even faster as she dashed over and covered Sienna's mouth.

Forcing out a few tears, she cried, "Are you mad at me and Carl? I'm sorry, we mistook your death because we couldn't find your body. Carl cried for days, and someone needed to run the company. We have no other choice but to present your handwritten will."

"We love you very much. Don't be mad at us anymore, okay?" Carl chirped in a kind voice.

Sienna ripped Julia's hand away. Ignoring them, she swept her gaze emotionlessly across the startled onlookers.

She walked down the steps and smiled gracefully at the media. "The pen is in your hands. Make sure to write today's headlines well!"

The journalists gawked at her stunning face.

"Sienna!" Zoe shrieked.

While heading to Zoe, Sienna saw the female employee who was spreading rumors earlier and gave her a clean, tight slap. "Did you see me sleeping with a male shareholder? You better negotiate a good price with Natalie for spreading rumors. Then, you can stuff your face full with your last dinner."

The female employee's face turned ashen as Sienna's deep warning reached the journalists' ears and sparked a heated discussion.

…

In the private room of a cafe, Zoe held Sienna as she bawled. "Are you pregnant?"

Zoe widened her eyes in shock, feeling sorry for Sienna. "What did you go through, Sienna? I should have been in Rotschire ten days ago. I would have stopped that immoral couple…" she trailed off and bawled again.

It was Sienna's fault for wrongly placing her trust on William for so many years. Sienna tightened her palms and recounted everything to Zoe.

Zoe was even more shocked now. "Not only are you pregnant, but you also married the man who violated you!"

"It's a marriage of convenience. They took me away by force, and I have no other choice, Zoe."

Zoe flinched and asked anxiously, "Who is he? Which family is he from? Could he be a rogue?"

Sienna shook her head. "He wears a mask, and I don't even know his name."

"What?" Zoe was at a complete loss for words. "What kind of mysterious guy did you marry?"

Chuckling wryly, Sienna interrupted, "Let's forget about him for now and get back to the point. Zoe, you're an expert with computers. I need your help."

By looking into her eyes, Zoe knew what she wanted and turned on her computer. As they expected, the news was flooded with the episode at Sienna's funeral. News that she was alive was covered by every outlet, and various guesses were made.

Sienna showed Zoe two pictures.

"That immoral couple got registered!" Although Natalie was wearing a baseball cap, Zoe could recognize her.

Before Sienna could say anything, she sent the pictures to major media outlets. In less than five minutes, they triggered discussions on the Internet.

Someone wrote, "That's Sienna's fiance and Natalie, isn't it? Are they outside the courthouse? It happened this morning!"

"During the funeral, Sienna said that William and Natalie hooked up, and Natalie got pregnant. That's why they colluded to abduct and kill her."

"If Sienna was telling the truth, then the story matches! She has a company and an inheritance. Did the Rhodeses kill their own family for the sake of her assets?"

Just when Sienna and Zoe were enjoying themselves reading the comments, all the comments were removed from the trending searches all of a sudden.

Then, Sienna's phone started ringing. She took a glance, and irony washed over her eyes. Stoically, she answered the call, "What's the matter, Dad?"

Carl held back his fury. "Sienna, don't believe the pictures of William and Natalie on the Internet. Where are you now? Silly child, come home quickly.

"I'm worried that you'll get hurt out there, and Julia already prepared a feast for you. All of us are welcoming you at home."

"Oh?"

He sounded as though he had no idea that she was the one who leaked the pictures.

Smirking, she answered obediently, "Okay, I'll be back later."

"That's great! I'm waiting for you." Carl seemed a little impatient.

Instantly, Zoe objected, "Have you lost your mind? He can't possibly have anything good up his sleeves by asking you to come home now."

A lopsided smile tinged Sienna's lips. "I'll tackle whatever that comes in my way. I won't fall out with the Rhodeses for now because there's something uncanny about my mother's death.

"Furthermore, I have a feeling that my grandfather left more than an inheritance for me. Otherwise, they wouldn't be in such a rush to kill me."

Were there other conspiracies? Zoe knew that Sienna wanted to get to the bottom of it all. "Promise me you'll watch out."

"Do you think I'm still the happy and innocent Sienna from ten days ago?"

The look in Sienna's eyes was as cold as winter—bone-chilling. Stunned, Zoe recalled that Sienna had died once, and her heart wrenched.

"Do you still have my acupuncture bag with you?"

Sienna knew acupuncture and had helped Zoe with her gastrointestinal problems the last time. Immediately, Zoe retrieved it for her.

"I'll contact you tonight," Sienna said and left.

…

Sienna stood at the open front doors of the Rhodes residence and looked around.

Julia rushed to her and held her gently. "You're finally home, Sienna! Carl will clear all misunderstandings that you have. Don't worry, the company is still yours.

"All we want is for you to be alive. Take a seat. I've prepared some soup to boost the recovery of your injury."

Sienna took her hats off Julia's composed acting skills. That explained why she never saw through her in the past.

She walked to the couch, where Natalie was sleeping on it with her back to her.

"What's the matter with Natalie?" Sienna asked.

Julia sighed. "She's tired from the pregnancy. In addition, she was grieving over your death, so she passed out. It's alright. She'll be fine after a nap. Peel a fruit for yourself first, Sienna."

Before Sienna could answer, Julia pushed a paring knife into her palms. Although Julia appeared casual, Sienna lowered her head and saw that all ten of her fingerprints were left on the knife.

Then, she raised her head, looked at the unconscious Natalie, and sneered.

"The soup is ready. Have it while it's hot, Sienna." Julia came over, gently holding a bowl of bone soup.

Sienna took a look and drank it obediently.

Meanwhile, Julia watched unblinkingly as she finished five mouthfuls, and her eyes flashed sinisterly.

When Sienna stood up, she appeared a little unsteady. Supporting her head with one hand, she asked, "Julia, where's Dad? I'd like to see him."

"He's waiting for you in the study upstairs. Go on!" Julia replied with a smile.

Julia went upstairs while holding the staircase railing, shaking her head the whole time. However, she didn't see Carl when she entered the study.

Instead, two portly male shareholders were there. It had been a long time since they had designs on Sienna.

"You're here, Ms. Sienna," one of them said, wearing an evil smile.

"What are you doing in Dad's study?"

"We're waiting for you!"

Panic-stricken, Sienna stumbled backward, and Julia shut the door with a bang.

"Don't come over!" Sienna wailed in the room.

Listening to her cries, Julia grinned and went downstairs. She woke Natalie up and giggled. "I thought she's going to smarten up after dying once. All we need is a few words, and she's still an idiot.

"She released photos to prove that you and William are having an affair, then I'll create proof that she's a promiscuous woman. Later, you'll spread some blood on yourself and lie down upstairs after they've injected the psychotropic drug in her."

Natalie laughed, imagining that the news tomorrow would shake the world, too. "So what if she's alive? She's still not a match for me, and I'll even send her off to jail."

Gleeful smiles hung on their faces, and they pressed their ears against the door to eavesdrop.

"Why is it quiet now?" Julia frowned. "Are they recording a video?"

She was sure that a weak lady couldn't overwhelm two grown men.

Just then, the door swung open suddenly.

Chapter 6

Julia and Natalie stumbled into the room, and their eyes widened in shock at the sight of two men tied to chairs with acupuncture needles precisely placed at the sensitive parts of their bodies.

"Don't move, or things could go terribly wrong," Sienna stated with a cunning smile. Then, she grabbed the bowl of hot broth and splashed it toward the mother and daughter.

Julia and Natalie screamed as the liquid dripped down their faces, while Sienna opened the study's back door that led to a staircase. Two of her fierce Alsatians, trained to follow only her commands, bolted up the stairs.

"Good boys! Go get your dinner!" Sienna commanded with a wicked smile. The dogs surrounded Julia and Natalie, baring their sharp teeth as they growled.

"What are you doing, Sienna?" Julia snarled, her face twisted with malice as she realized her plan had backfired.

Sienna picked up the knife and wiped off her fingerprints, advancing toward Natalie with ice-cold eyes. She said, "Let me guess—you wanted my fingerprints on the weapon, spill some blood on yourself, then frame me as the unstable stepsister who kidnapped and tried to murder you."

She continued, "Oh, let's not forget. You'll also make sure my naked photos make it to tomorrow's headlines, painting me as a corporate scandal who sleeps around with shareholders, even doing so in my own home."

Natalie's face turned ghostly pale as the dogs continued licking the broth off of her. She was too terrified to utter a single word.

Sienna's eyes narrowed as she pulled on gloves and swiftly cut Natalie's palm with the knife.

Natalie screamed, "Ah! You fucking bitch! I can't believe you actually hurt me!"

"What about it? You won't find any evidence to put me behind bars either," Sienna whispered menacingly against Natalie's face before tossing the fingerprint-free knife aside.

As she turned to remove the needles, the two shareholders immediately stood up, ready to flee.

Julia shouted, "Mr. Lowell and Mr. Dunphy, grab her! Do whatever you want with her!"

The men were fearful of the dogs and backed away. As they rushed out the door, they yelled, "Mrs. Rhodes, this is completely unprofessional. We won't forget this!"

Sienna packed away her acupuncture kit and commanded the dogs to leave. Then, she turned to face Julia and the livid Natalie with an eerie smile. "Julia, was the old Sienna so obedient that you forgot how to actually fight? Your strategic skills have really worsened."

Julia was practically choking with rage as Sienna continued her taunt, "You should reflect on this. Your tricks are getting old, Julia; you can't keep embarrassing yourself like this."

"You think you can hurt Natalie and walk away?" Julia snarled with a cruel laugh. "Security, get in here and finish her!"

Before long, about eight security guards charged up the stairs. Sienna's eyes cooled as she realized escape would not be easy.

"Scared now? Strip her down so she can't run!" Julia commanded with a cold smile.

As the bodyguards rushed toward her, Sienna's hand darted to her acupuncture kit, her gaze icy and fierce. But before the guards could grab her, there was a sudden, sickening crack.

Two men in tailored suits appeared out of nowhere and efficiently took down all the guards in mere seconds.

"Who are you? How dare you break into my house!" Julia lunged forward to grab Sienna but was thrown back by one of the men, causing Natalie to scream as her mother hit the floor.

"This way, ma'am," one of the men said as he gestured to Sienna, who quickly followed them downstairs.

A luxury car was waiting for her in the Rhodes residence's driveway. It was not the Bentley she had seen earlier that morning, but she immediately noticed a masked man sitting regally in the back seat.

"Mr. L., what are you doing here?" Sienna's lips curved into a surprised smile.

L studied her for a moment before asking, "If I hadn't arrived in time, how were you planning to protect your unborn child?"

His commanding presence instantly wiped the smile from Sienna's face. She bit her lip and lowered her head, unable to respond.

L opened the car door, and Sienna quietly slipped inside. Her movements reminded him of the night she first entered his car—vulnerable yet captivating, like a delicate kitten.

Upstairs at the Rhodes residence, Carl had arrived as Natalie ran to the window, her eyes filled with venomous spite. When she spotted the luxury car below, she gasped in shock, wondering if Sienna had managed to snag another wealthy man during her escape.

The man in the backseat wore a mask, and the car, while luxurious, was not top-tier. "How pathetic," Natalie mocked.

She turned to her parents and added, "Sienna must have seduced some loser and hired street thugs to help her!"

Julia glanced out the window, noticing the car's missing plates. With a mocking laugh, she said, "Our 'perfect' heiress, reduced to playing dress-up with thugs."

Carl snapped, "Both of you, be quiet. You promised to get her arrested, and you failed miserably."

As Natalie and Julia's faces darkened, he continued, "She was only docile before because of William. I warned you she wouldn't be easy to handle. She's far more capable than you, Natalie, and now we've awakened her true nature."

Natalie clenched her fists in jealousy. Just then, she noticed William's car pulling in, his eyes fixed on Sienna's departing vehicle.

...

The sunset cast shadows across L's chiseled jaw. For a brief moment, Sienna could not help but wonder if he was secretly a stunningly handsome man beneath the mask.

"Mr. L, thank you for saving me," she said quickly, stealing another glance at him.

He remained silent, his long legs crossed as he coldly reviewed documents. His indifferent bearing made the air feel icy, leaving Sienna in an awkward silence.

A moment later, he unexpectedly spoke. "Is verbal gratitude all you offer?"

Their eyes met in the dim light, his gaze dark and unreadable. As Sienna looked confused, Brian chuckled and commented, "Ms. Rhodes, there are only so many ways a woman can thank a man."

Sienna's eyes widened slightly as understanding dawned.

"Isn't that right, Mr. L?" Brian pressed, noting L's improved mood.

The usually serious man glanced at Sienna's lips and responded with a simple, "Indeed."

Sienna caught his gaze and immediately felt uneasy. She wondered if he was staring at her mouth because he was expecting a kiss. Her ears burned red as she instinctively covered her lips with her hand and blurted out, "That's not happening!"

"What's not happening?" L's lips curved into a slight smirk.

Sienna felt her face flush. Was he done working and just in the mood to tease her now? He seemed unusually playful.

As Sienna pressed herself against the car door, he closed his eyes with an amused smile. His imposing presence still filled the car, making it impossible for her to relax.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed. Just as she was grateful for the distraction, her expression hardened when she read the messages.

William: "Sienna, they say you're with some lowlife. Who's that masked freak in the car? Did you sleep with those thugs in that countryside? You're mine! I never really wanted you dead..."

Sienna stared coldly at the screen, her heart aching. When she had been at her lowest, he had discarded her. Yet when another man was in the picture, he had the audacity to question her.

Compared to the Rhodes family, William disgusted her even more. As she prepared to turn off her phone, another message popped up.

This time, it was from Natalie: "Sienna, as expected of a trashy girl like you, you can only seduce thugs. Oh, by the way, Will just told me that after we get married, he's giving me and the baby full control of Fortuna. Feeling jealous yet?"

Chapter 7

Sienna forwarded William's third message to Natalie without changing a word. Within seconds, Natalie called in a fury, "Stay away from Will, you slut! I'm carrying the Sanders family's first heir—you're done for!"

"Stop barking like a rabid dog," Sienna warned coldly. "Keep it up, and I might just seduce William, leaving you to mourn your miscarriage alone."

The memory of William announcing Natalie's pregnancy during the kidnapping hurt more than the abduction itself.

The car had been parked in front of the villa for a while now, the interior heavy with an oppressive chill. As she fumbled with her seatbelt, L leaned in over to help.

His voice was low and commanding as he warned, "Don't mention another man in front of me."

Sienna thought his possessiveness seemed excessive for their arranged marriage. Even so, she chose to appease him and replied, "I understand."

However, he caught her chin in his hand. Caught off guard, Sienna's head jerked up just as L leaned closer. Before she could react, their lips met in a sudden, unexpected kiss.

She tasted a faint hint of tobacco, and his lips were soft yet undeniably seductive. Sienna's mind went blank as the moment stretched. By the time she realized what was happening, he was deepening the kiss, teasingly exploring.

Sienna quickly pushed him away, shouting, "Mr. L, what are you doing?"

Her face burned crimson as she covered her mouth. Her eyes were wide with anger, yet her reaction only seemed to amuse him.

L studied her and asked, "Was that your first kiss?"

Sienna wanted to disappear. As a former high-society darling, she had been raised with traditional values. Even after eight years of being with William, she had saved her first kiss for her wedding night. Perhaps that was why William could not wait to end up in Natalie's bed instead.

"Well?" L pressed, his deep voice rumbling near her ear.

Sienna was getting uncomfortable and tried to squirm out from under his strong arms. However, he effortlessly held her in place, pulling her into his embrace.

He whispered, "I'm sorry. Should I let you kiss me back to make it fair?"

Sienna stared at him, her cheeks burning as her thoughts spiraled. His dark, piercing eyes betrayed no hint of mockery, but the earlier tension in the car had lifted entirely. Moreover, he seemed pleased.

"Mr. L, please show some restraint!" Sienna exclaimed, slipping from his grasp and hurrying into the mansion.

...

At dinner, L was nowhere to be seen. Helen noticed her glance around and grumbled, "He went straight to work upstairs as soon as he got home. That man is as dull as they come—no sense of romance!"

Then, she urged Sienna, "Let's eat! We need to make sure the precious baby gets all the nutrients it needs."

Sienna silently noted how the mother-son dynamic seemed far from harmonious. As they ate, Helen asked, "You're not very familiar with this place yet, are you? After dinner, I'll have a housekeeper show you around."

Sienna's eyes flickered before she smiled. "That would be great. Thanks, Mom."

After dinner, Sienna wandered through the backyard, amazed by the estate's grandeur—multiple buildings, a pool, and a tennis court, all tastefully understated.

As she observed the grounds, she casually asked Mary, "Mary, I just realized… even though I married your employer, I don't even know his full name. Could you tell me?"

"Mrs. L, I've worked here six months but only know him as Mr. L. We don't dare ask questions," Mary replied honestly.

Sienna frowned as she headed back inside. If he intended to hide his identity, she would need to investigate herself.

Just as she returned to the house, Helen approached with a bright smile, carrying a steaming cup of coffee. "Sienna, back from your walk? Good girl! L has been working hard—why don't you bring this up to him?"

Sienna reluctantly accepted the cup, knowing Helen was playing matchmaker. She was unaware of their marriage arrangement and that keeping her appeased was part of the agreement.

After that, they went upstairs and knocked on the study door.

"Yes?" came L's deep voice.

Helen quickly pushed Sienna inside, saying cheerfully, "Your beloved wifey is here to give you a shoulder massage!"

As soon as Helen locked the door behind her, Sienna awkwardly glanced at the tall, commanding figure behind the desk. L did not even look up from his work; his bearing was icy and intimidating.

The video conference was still on; he was clearly in the middle of a meeting. Not wanting to interrupt, Sienna quietly placed the coffee down.

As the meeting seemed to wrap up, one of the men's voices took on a teasing tone and asked, "L, off-topic, but how'd you knock someone up the second you got married?"

Another man chimed in with a laugh "Can you blame him? Poor guy's been single for so long!"

Sienna had been zoning out, but her face flamed red as she realized they were discussing her. Not only that, but they were even doing so so shamelessly.

She glanced at L, who continued working with an impassive expression, seemingly ignoring the conversation.

Yet, the conversation grew more outrageous. "I mean, I've been to the restroom with L. I've seen his"

L's gaze flicked toward the screen. Though his face was cold, his eyes glimmered with subtle amusement, proving he was, in fact, listening.

Suddenly, he turned to the blushing Sienna with a serious face. "Why are you standing there eavesdropping? Please show some restraint."

Sienna's jaw dropped. She could not believe that he had just used her own words from the car against her. The faint teasing in his eyes was not lost on her either, and she realized this man held grudges.

Flustered, she stammered, "It's not like I wanted to hear!"

"So you understood what they were saying?" L smirked as his dark eyes fixed on her.

As Sienna turned to flee, too embarrassed to stay another second longer.

L stared at her cherry lips. Recalling how soft she felt under his touch and his friends' teasing earlier, his mind flashed back to their shared night.

He pondered about it for a moment before calling out, "Mrs. L, let's discuss something. I'm adding a rule to our marriage agreement. After three months, you'll need to fulfill all normal marital obligations."

Her face flushed at his implication. She protested, "Mr. L, this is just for show; it isn't real. And I wanted to discuss something—since your mother lives in a separate house, do I need to stay here except when she visits?"

"What do you think?" he countered, his voice low and firm. His sharp, commanding presence left her speechless.

"Some parts of this arrangement can be real," he murmured with a hint of ambiguity. His tone was suggestive, but his expression was cold and uncompromising. "And, Mrs. L, you don't really have the right to refuse."

Sienna bit her lip, knowing she was trapped for now. She dared not argue further, just holding on to the belief that she would have avenged herself in three months. Then, she could walk away from this for good.

...

Back in her room, Sienna noticed several missed calls from Zoe and called back. "Finally! I was worried," Zoe answered.

"I'm fine," Sienna replied with a slight sigh. "I made it out of the Rhodes family's trap unharmed."

Zoe scoffed. "What did they try to pull this time?"

"The usual dirty nonsense," Sienna said casually.

She explained how she had suspected the broth they served was tampered with and preemptively taken an antidote from her acupuncture kit. The remedy had neutralized the poison without harming her health.

"Thank goodness your mother taught you those remedies!" Zoe exclaimed.

Sienna smiled wistfully. Her medical skills were her mother's legacy. At the time, she did not understand why Eleanor Campbell insisted on teaching her. Now, she suspected Eleanor had foreseen the dangers Sienna might face.

"It's nothing special," Sienna said modestly.

"Nothing special?" Zoe retorted. "You cured my stomach issues with your acupuncture skills. Plus, didn't you once say you saved a man's life?"

Sienna chuckled. It was true. Years ago, during a business trip to win over a client, she encountered a man suffering from a sleepwalking-induced panic attack. She had used her acupuncture kit to stabilize him, marking her first time treating a stranger.

Sienna immediately thought of L's audacious "obligations" remark and felt her cheeks heat up again. Annoyed, she muttered, "I didn't find out much tonight. Just that his last name starts with L."

"How big is he?" Zoe teased.

Sienna nearly choked before catching the innuendo. She gritted her teeth and hissed, "Zoe!"