Chapter 4

The funeral was small and quiet.

I didn't have much extended family left, so hardly anyone came.

I buried her right next to my father.

I knelt before the twin graves, staring blankly at the polished headstones.

They were together now, somewhere peaceful. I was the only one left behind in this miserable world.

"I'm so sorry for your loss. I really didn't know your mom would..."

"If I had known, I never would have let Ethan prioritize me."

Vanessa’s sickeningly sweet voice drifted from behind me.

My expression turned ice-cold.

I spun around, glaring at the two of them.

Ethan lowered his head, speaking in a muted tone. "Sienna, I'm sorry. The situation was chaotic."

"Vanessa’s whole career depends on her legs. I had no idea your mom was that critical..."

I gave him a hollow, blood-chilling smile. "Your revenge worked, Ethan. It was brutal. Are you satisfied now?"

"I'm begging you, just leave me alone."

"Sienna, I—"

"Get the hell out of here," I cut him off, voice trembling with raw hatred. "Don't disgrace my mother’s resting place."

They turned to leave together.

A few minutes later, Vanessa walked back alone.

I glared at her coldly.

She leaned down close to my ear and whispered like a demon:

"Your mother’s crash wasn't an accident."

My head snapped up, staring at her unblinking eyes.

Vanessa smiled triumphantly. "I arranged it."

"Honestly, who knew that old hag was so fragile? Just a gentle tap from a truck and she dropped dead."

"My leg? Just a scratch."

Seeing the murderous fire ignite in my eyes, she sneered, "Who told you to take what was mine? Ethan belongs to me. I just wanted to show you who matters more to him."

"Consider this a little warning."

"If you know what's good for you, walk away and stay away. Otherwise—"

Pure fury tore through every vein in my body. I lunged forward, grabbed a fistful of her hair, and slammed her into the dirt.

She shrieked in agony. "You crazy bitch! Ethan is coming back right now! Don't you dare touch me!"

I knew she had done this deliberately to provoke me, to make Ethan catch me looking unhinged.

But she was too arrogant. Right now, I didn't care about anything. I just wanted to kill her.

I had nothing left to lose. What could she possibly threaten me with?

Taking her to hell with me sounded like a damn good trade.

Ethan hadn't seen Vanessa return to the car, so he came back to check on her.

The moment he saw me pinning Vanessa to the ground with my hands clamped around her throat, he panicked and rushed over to pull me off.

Fueled by sheer hatred, my strength was unnatural. He couldn't budge me at first.

He screamed at the bodyguards behind him, "What are you standing there for?! Pull her off!"

The guards slammed into me, twisting my fingers backward until bone snapped. I collapsed onto the grass, gasping for air.

The only regret in my mind was that I hadn't choked the life out of her.

Vanessa huddled in Ethan’s arms, sobbing hysterically.

"I just wanted to comfort her! I never thought she’d hate me so much that she'd try to murder me!"

"Ethan... we can't see each other anymore. She's going to kill me!"

Ethan held the trembling woman, his eyes blazing with ice as he glared at me.

"Sienna, enjoy rotting in a cell!"

He meant what he said. He immediately filed attempted murder charges against me.

In the end, I didn't go to prison.

Ethan’s mother bailed me out.

She looked at my bruised and battered body with deep sorrow. "My poor child... look what he’s done to you."

My face was completely numb. "I want the divorce finalized."

She sighed heavily, tears shining in her eyes. "Ethan has lost his mind. He’s going to regret this for the rest of his life."

"He failed you. I support your decision completely."

She slid a black card across the table toward me.

"Take this as compensation on his behalf."

"Go, Sienna. Run as far away from him as you can."