Sienna’s heart was already a ruin of a thousand wounds. No further injury could touch her. She repeated the words like an automaton.

“I’m sorry. Can you forgive me?”

Amid the jeers of the crowd and Kaelan’s mocking gaze, Sienna lost count of how many times she said she was sorry before Bianca finally whispered.

“It was my fault, I wasn’t holding it steady. It wasn’t Sienna’s fault.”

Only then did Kaelan deign to speak. “Fine. Come get it tomorrow.”

The next day, Sienna was waiting outside Kaelan’s villa at dawn.

But Kaelan wouldn’t open the door.

Sienna called his phone. He answered in a low whisper, as if afraid of waking someone.

“Bianca’s still asleep. Don’t wake her. If you want to wait, then wait.”

The early winter wind sliced at her face like a razor, but she seemed to have lost all feeling, standing there stubbornly, waiting.

It wasn't until the sun had flooded the sky with light that the villa door finally opened.

Kaelan was gently feeding Bianca breakfast.

Sienna sniffled, fighting back tears.

“Where’s my stuff?”

Kaelan didn’t even spare her a glance.

“Upstairs. Find it yourself.”

Sienna searched her old room for ten minutes but couldn’t find the original draft.

She went downstairs, her voice edged with anxiety.

“Where is it?”

Kaelan was slowly buttoning Bianca’s coat. “It’s there. Sienna, what kind of game are you playing now?”

Sienna’s face was deathly pale.

“It’s not there. I looked. It’s not there!”

Seeing that she wasn’t faking it, Kaelan was about to go upstairs and get the draft himself.

But Bianca tugged on his sleeve.

“Kael… you promised you’d take me shopping today.”

Kaelan turned, took Bianca’s hand, and brushed Sienna off.

“I’m busy today. Come back tomorrow.”

Sienna’s eyes widened. She immediately stepped in front of him.

“You said you’d give it to me today! Kaelan, do you have any idea what a plagiarism accusation will do to me? It will ruin me!”

Kaelan sneered, shoving her aside.

“And you? When you were hurting Bianca, did you think about how that would ruin you? Sienna, you’re in no position to make demands of me!”

A triumphant smirk flashed across Bianca’s face as she linked her arm with Kaelan’s.

“Let’s go, Kael.”

Sienna was thrown out by the security guards Kaelan had called.

The fourth day, the fifth day, the sixth day.

Sienna stood outside the villa for three whole days. The cold seeped into every pore, invading her body. Her lips turned blue, and her fingers, stiff and numb, clutched at the hem of her coat as she shivered uncontrollably.

She had only one thought: she had to get that draft back and prove her innocence.

On the seventh day, Kaelan mercifully opened the door.

This time, Sienna found it.

She found the original draft, torn to shreds, in the trash can.

Her body went rigid. She felt a wave of nausea from the prolonged exposure to the cold. Overwhelmed by misery, she couldn't stop her eyes from turning red.

“Kaelan!”

Kaelan glanced at the scraps of paper in her hand, the coldness in his eyes deepening.

“Sienna, I warned you to drop the petty games! Who are you trying to frame now?! No one has been in this room but you. If it was torn, you’re the one who tore it!”

He radiated a vicious energy, like a wolf fiercely protecting Bianca behind him.

Sienna’s throat tightened, her lips trembled. Every breath felt like a struggle. She was suffocating.

She stared at Kaelan, her gaze shifting to the trembling Bianca hiding behind him.

She looked at them for a long, long time. Then, just before Kaelan could speak again, she smiled.