The wind of March carried a hint of cool dampness, making Sienna Monroe shiver slightly.
Sebastian Prescott noticed this detail, seeing her wearing a short gray down jacket, and asked, "Cold?"
There’s an overcoat in his car.
Upon hearing him, Sienna laughed and shook her head, "Not really, just a bit of a shock coming out of the warm house."
Then she asked, "Did you drive?"
Sebastian responded with a question, "And you?"
"I walked."
Sebastian t her gaze and spoke casually, "Let’s walk. It’s not far, just right to work off so food."
"..."
Did he not drive?
Feeling curious about it, Sebastian had already started walking.
She opened her mouth but said nothing.
When passing the parking area near the intersection, about ten ters away, she seed to spot the familiar silhouette of a black Bentley.
Yes, familiar.
It seems to be Sebastian’s car.
However...
Now, Sebastian’s calm deanor left her uncertain.
Not sure, she’ll check again later.
Sebastian noticed her gaze, also glanced in the sa direction, and, just two seconds later, calmly looked away.
Cautiously, he added, "The cherry blossoms outside The Left Bank Courtyard are nice."
Sienna was startled, turned to look at him, and slowly curved her lips, "Yes. The cherry blossoms this season... are very nice."
She said no more and walked to him, side by side, under the cherry blossom street.
Sebastian, gazing at the beauty beside him, her ceramic-white face under the cherry blossoms, flickered between light and dark.
Her eyes gently blinked, her serene apricot eyes seemingly filled with the whole spring.
Radiantly spirited and bright.
The surroundings seed to be forcefully muted at this mont, leaving only the "thump thump thump" of his heartbeat.
In his deep, indifferent phoenix eyes, he held the view of the person enjoying the scenery.
This, too, was his spring.
Sienna didn’t notice Sebastian’s anomaly, completely captivated by the scene of cherry blossoms dancing ahead.
The tension that had been there for a long ti seed to be well relaxed and relieved at this mont.
This path wasn’t long; in just a few minutes, they entered the gate of The Left Bank Courtyard.
Both entered the elevator.
Upon reaching the tenth floor, Sebastian ntioned the case again, "The court will issue the diation docunt tomorrow or the day after, and I’ll contact you when it arrives."
The docunt requires the plaintiff’s signature, and then the lawyer will copy and stamp it to resubmit.
After all, the process was familiar to her since the divorce last ti.
Sienna was familiar with it, asked no more, and nodded in agreent.
With nothing else to say, Sebastian looked at her, lowly said, "Sleep early, goodnight."
Sienna hesitated, still not reacting when the elevator door had already closed.
The sa "Goodnight" still hadn’t had a chance to be uttered.
*
The next day remained sunny, a day with endless blue skies.
After the exhibition ended, the art gallery’s work didn’t calm down, but she, as the curator, eased up.
Apart from dismantling the exhibition, the paintings sold during the exhibition needed organizing, tily communication with buyers, and preparing for Ivy’s exhibition.
In short, Nora Joyce and Director Dawson were busy like spinning tops every day.
Truly nonstop.
Sienna wasn’t one to idle or shirk. The reason she didn’t go to the gallery yesterday was mainly due to hangover aftereffects.
She worked overti past eight tonight, just received a call from Sebastian.
Asked if she returned.
Sienna replied, "Still at the gallery, what’s up?"
Sebastian said, "The court’s docunt arrived this afternoon, needs to be sent by 9 AM tomorrow, and I have to go to the won’s prison early tomorrow morning.
I’ve just finished here, when will you go back?"
The won’s prison was in Eastwood, still nearly two hours’ drive from Southcroft.
He indeed wouldn’t make it on ti.
He could only let her sign the docunt tonight, and he could submit it tomorrow on his way.
Sienna understood he’s socializing given the way he spoke.
She looked at the work at hand, estimated still busy for one or two hours more, inconvenient to take ho.
These days, every departnt of the gallery worked overti.
Nine or ten o’clock beca normal.
She thought for a mont and said, "Not sure, how about... you stop by the gallery’s parking lot, I’ll wait there for you."
Sebastian agreed, "Alright, I’ll be there in about half an hour."
Hanging up, Sienna glanced at the ti, continued with her work.
When close to the ti agreed with Sebastian, she went down seven to eight minutes ahead.
Walking to the roadside by the parking lot entrance, took just five minutes.
Perfect timing.
She lowered her head to check her phone, inford Sebastian of her location via WeChat.
Just sent it when a text ssage popped up on her phone.
In this quiet street, the "ding" sound appeared particularly jarring.
[Danger! Caleb Sinclair bribed a thug for $8,000 to harm you, attempting a rescue scenario to win your heart back.]
Sienna was stunned, her breathing hitched.
$8,000?
Thug?
Rescue scenario?
These three keywords blended, almost not recognizing the characters.
Absurd!
How absurd!
Caleb Sinclair has beco really cunning now.
Even such a sinister trick he could pull off?
Truly ruthless!
Of course, considering he could drug her with such dirty deeds.
She tightly pressed her lips, her gaze constantly falling, even though the ssage didn’t specify the ti.
Based on past patterns, it was likely happening now.
This indicated it could be now.
The parking lot entrance was unsafe.
Just thinking of it, she heard soft footsteps behind, her heart suddenly tightened.
Is this...
It’s happening?
Her breath instantly paused slightly, but still gentle, fearing alerting.
She cald her thoughts.
Since Caleb Sinclair intended to pull her back with this "rescue hero" act, the thug was likely just pretending to harm him.
Alternatively, might stage a show, scare her, then Caleb acting, getting a slight injury, selling pity.
Yes, how things might turn.
Laughter suffocated her thoughts for a mont, unsure how to describe this affair.
Disgusting, truly disgusting.
But blades had no eyes, she could guess, but couldn’t predict what might happen.
Definitely not worth risking herself.
Even for Caleb Sinclair, not worth a drop of blood.
The gallery was behind, surely couldn’t go back, while ahead was an open building plaza, able to be seen clearly.
Now she could only muster courage to move forward a bit.
After consideration, she took a light breath, put her phone away and started walking.
Her pace was not fast nor slow, thinking about what to do when Caleb appeared.
Just moved two ters when a shadow was cast behind her, pulling her scattered and tensed thoughts back.
The streetlight was dim, but could clearly see the shadow holding a knife on the ground.
Even knowing this was an "actor" hired by Caleb Sinclair, her heart clenched slightly.
"Sienna! Be careful!"
Behind her, as the knife swung down, she heard a voice she resented.
It was Caleb Sinclair.
Just as the voice fell, she was pulled into a warm embrace, surrounded by the familiar scent of cedar at her nose.
Her startled expression softened, soon after the air mixed with a faint scent of blood, followed by the sound of wind as the knife-wielder was kicked out.
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