Chapter 5

I froze for a second. I didn't want to explain myself the way I always had before.

I knew that even if I did, Ethan would still pin Natalie's injury on me.

So I didn't bother.

Arguing with Ethan was pointless.

The next second, Ethan grabbed my wrist so hard it hurt and dragged me into the car.

"You're coming with me to apologize to her face."

In the hospital room, my parents sat by the bed, wiping away tears.

The moment they saw me, they let out a cold snort.

"You ungrateful girl! How dare you show your face here! Your sister only just got her license, and you made her drive back to unlock the door for you!"

"Couldn't you just wait outside for a little while? Was it really that urgent?"

My brother's face darkened at once. "Sienna, if anything happens to Nattie, I swear I'll never let this go!"

Ethan shoved me from behind. "Get in there and apologize!"

"If it weren't for you, Natalie wouldn't have gotten hurt!"

Every one of them blamed me for calling Natalie.

Even if this really was an accident, as long as I was connected to it in any way, they blamed me without a second thought.

Things like this seemed to have happened countless times over the past few years.

Every time before, I had swallowed it for the sake of this family, for the sake of the debt of having been raised by them for more than ten years.

But now that I had already decided to leave and cut ties with them for good, what reason did I have to keep swallowing it?

"What exactly am I supposed to apologize for?" I swept my gaze over everyone in the room.

"Ethan, you were the one who had Natalie register her fingerprint and knock mine off the lock. You were the one who hung up when I called you. From start to finish, which part of this did I stir up?"

The room fell silent for a moment.

Ethan opened his mouth, but a soft sob from Natalie cut him off.

"Ethan... my head hurts so much..." She frowned, her eyes settling on me, and tilted her head in confusion. "Who... is this? Why is she in my room?"

Ethan froze. "Nattie, what are you saying? She's Sienna. Your big sister."

Natalie's brows knit together, her expression completely baffled. "Mom and Dad only had me. Ethan, are you sure?"

"We grew up together. We're childhood sweethearts. We got engaged last year and just got married this month. What sister?"

Everyone in the room exchanged looks and called for the doctor.

Soon the doctor came back with the test results.

The car accident had caused a head injury, which had led to so-called memory confusion.

And the treatment he recommended was that Natalie not be upset by anything from her past memories, so she could rest and recover in peace.

Then, maybe, she had a chance of making a full recovery.

Leaning against the doorframe, I let out a scoffing laugh at this utterly absurd diagnosis.

The laugh sounded jarring in the quiet room, and everyone turned to look at me.

Ethan's expression hardened. "Since the doctor says Nattie can't take any more stress, you'll move out for a while. Nattie will stay in the marital home for now. You two will switch places until she recovers. Then we'll see."

"When it comes down to it, if it weren't for that call of yours, things never would have gotten this bad."

"You should feel guilty about what you did to Nattie."

My brother chimed in. "Sienna, move out of the Whitmore house. Stop upsetting Nattie."

I raised my eyes to my parents, who stood off to the side.

When they met my gaze, they only looked away without a word and stayed silent.

And yet that was already the clearest answer they could have given.

I thought that the debt of having been raised by them for more than ten years had probably been paid off, right at this moment.

I nodded. "Fine. I'll move out."

"I wish your family a happy reunion."

With that, I ignored the sour expression on their faces, turned, and walked out of the room.

The next day, I got a message from the Sinclair family.

[Someone will pick you up at 10:30. Remember to send your location then.]

That same day, I went back to the new house.

The fingerprint lock still wouldn't open, but luckily the housekeeper Ethan had hired was inside.

After I told her who I was, I went into the villa.

The new home Ethan and I had decorated together now felt completely unfamiliar to me.

Every one of our wedding photos had been replaced with pictures of Natalie and him.

Even the way the house was arranged followed Natalie's taste.

But none of it mattered anymore.

Since Natalie was in such a hurry to replace me, I would give her this house and this man, both.

The housekeeper told me quietly, "Mr. Prescott just got back. He's upstairs."

I nodded, pulled the divorce agreement I had already signed out of my bag, went upstairs, and pushed open the study door.

The moment he saw me, Ethan frowned.

"Didn't I tell you not to come around for a while?"

"Whatever it is, make it quick. Once it's done, leave. I still have to go pick Nattie up from the hospital."

I gave a wry smile and set the agreement down in front of him.

"A small contract. A deal between the Whitmores and the Prescotts. It just needs your signature."

Ethan didn't even look at it. He took it and signed.

Then he tossed it back at me impatiently. "Alright. Now go. It wouldn't be good if you ran into Nattie."

The way he said it, you would think I was the other woman who had to stay hidden.

I bent down and picked up the agreement.

Without a moment's hesitation, I turned and walked out.

The moment I finally walked out of the villa community, I felt completely at ease.

A black Porsche pulled up in front of me. I opened the door and got in.

"Miss, Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair and the young master are all waiting for you."

"Welcome home."

***