Chapter 1

Sienna's POV

Blake's keeping me locked up in a villa outside the city, with a dozen bodyguards watching me around the clock. They won't let me step foot outside my room.

He once promised Vanessa, the woman he never got over, that he'd give her company shares and his estate. Now she's back after her divorce, pregnant, crying to Blake that I threatened her, told her to give up what he promised, and that I wanted to hurt her and her baby.

Blake believed her.

He's convinced I'm evil and gold-digging. He locked me up here while he stays at the hospital, never leaving Vanessa's side.

I'm going into sudden labor, crying and begging him to let me go to a hospital. I swear I never wanted those things, never hurt her.

Blake just sneers. "You're such a liar. I don't believe a single word from someone as vicious as you. After Vanessa delivers, I'll get you a doctor. Stop trying to fool me."

But when he finally sees my body, he completely falls apart.

……

The contractions twist through my stomach like a dull blade.

I'm kneeling on the bedroom floor, gripping the edge of the bed with both hands. This is the seventh one. Each worse than the last.

A month ago, Vanessa came back. She told Blake I threatened her, forced her to give up the property and estate he'd promised. Said I wanted to hurt her and her baby.

Blake didn't ask me a single question. Just locked me here.

I struggle to my feet and rush to the door.

Two bodyguards stand outside in black suits, faces blank.

"Move! The baby's coming, I need to get to a hospital!"

The one on the left doesn't even look at me. "Mr. Harrington's orders. You're not leaving this villa."

"Please!" I grab the door frame, tears streaming down my face. "At least call an ambulance—"

"Stop wasting our time." The guard on the right cuts me off, irritation in his voice.

I try to push past them. Both guards immediately grab my arms from either side. One of them yanks too hard. I stumble backward, my lower back slamming into the sharp corner of the coffee table.

Pain rips through me.

I fall to the floor. My forehead hits the edge of the marble, blood running down past my eyebrow. Everything blurs.

The guards just stand there. Not one of them moves to help.

I crawl toward the couch and grab my phone.

My hands shake as I dial Blake's number. The same automated message plays. The number you have dialed is unavailable.

He blocked me.

I try texting. "Blake, the baby's coming, I'm not lying, I swear I never threatened Vanessa, I don't want anything anymore—"

Message failed to send.

Another contraction hits, fiercer this time. I curl into a ball. A sudden warmth gushes between my legs. I look down. There's a puddle spreading across the floor.

My chest tightens.

"Help me..." I lift my head toward the guards. "Please, just call Blake, one call—"

No response.

They keep standing there like statues, blocking the exit.

A car pulls up outside.

Footsteps. Someone's coming upstairs.

"Well, look at poor Sienna."

Garrett's voice. Blake's younger brother, twenty-eight, the company VP. He's never liked me.

He stands in the doorway, looking down at me kneeling in a pool of blood, a mocking smile on his lips.

"Garrett..." I reach out. "Please... let me out... I need a hospital..."

He walks over and crouches down. He grabs my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes. "You know, Sienna, my brother almost threw away everything with Vanessa because of you. Thought you were some sweet, innocent girl. Turns out?"

"I didn't..." Tears blur everything. "I never threatened her, she made it all up—"

"Enough!" Garrett drops his hand. "You tried to hurt Vanessa and her baby, and now you're pulling this act?"

He takes out his phone and dials casually.

"Hey, I'm at the villa." Garrett glances down at me. "She looks pretty bad, actually. Blood all over the floor. Maybe you should come back?"

I hold my breath.

Blake's voice comes through the speaker. "Blood? What game is she playing now?"

"Blake, sweetie." A soft female voice suddenly interrupts, sugary sweet. "Is Sienna going into labor too? God, you should go check on her. I'll be okay here."

"Poor thing, all alone in that villa... I can manage, the doctors and nurses are with me. Don't let me keep you from her. Don't worry about me."

Vanessa sounds so gentle, so concerned. Like she actually cares.

But all I feel is the bitter irony. She's lying in the most luxurious suite at a private medical center with an entire team of specialists and nurses attending to her every need. The whole floor reserved just for her.

And I'm locked in this isolated villa without even a single nurse.

Blake's voice turns ice cold. "She's playing you! Garrett, don't fall for her act!"

"Vanessa just had some contractions. I can't leave. Watch her. Don't let her pull anything."

"Got it." Garrett hangs up, his expression darkening. "Well, since my brother says so..."

He gives the bodyguards a look.

They start moving toward me.