Chapter 23

Sienna’s POV

The click of Daniel’s front door closing echoed in my ears as I walked down the silent hallway. The Miami sun was already high, hot and harsh. The cool air inside his house, the warmth of his bed, the comfort of his arms—it all felt like a dream now, a soft memory fading as real life crashed back.

Zoe’s words, sharp and mean, started playing in my head. The accusation sliced through the last bit of peace Daniel had given me. A familiar cold knot formed in my stomach. Was Zoe right? Was I being selfish? Running to Daniel, finding comfort in his strong arms and kisses, while my family felt like it was breaking apart.

I remembered Evan’s face, his ridiculous proposal. He had looked so sure I would just fall back in line. The raw pain of his betrayal, the years of feeling unseen and unheard, surged through me. He had pushed me aside, then tried to take me back. And Zoe, my own daughter, had taken his side. It felt like another punch to the gut.