The alcohol stung, but she didn’t even furrow her brow.

"It doesn't hurt," she told herself. "It will all be over soon."

Over the next few days, Sienna took sick leave to recover at home.

On social media, Chloe posted a grid of nine photos:

【The best Julian, feeding me handmade noodles himself. Although being sick is hard, my heart is very sweet.】

The photo featured a large, knuckle-defined hand holding the bowl of noodles Sienna had made while enduring her illness.

Sienna scrolled past with an expressionless face and "liked" the post.

Until that afternoon, a sudden commotion broke out downstairs in the neighborhood.

"Quick! Call an ambulance!"

"She's bleeding so much!"

Looking through the window, Sienna saw Julian being helped out of a car. His arm was wrapped in thick gauze, already soaked through with blood.

Meanwhile, Chloe followed behind, crying like a rain-drenched flower, completely unscathed.

She heard neighbors discussing that they had run into a medical dispute at the hospital. Someone had charged at Chloe with a knife, and Julian hadn't even thought twice before blocking the blow for her.

After hearing this, Sienna simply gave a light "Oh," closed the window, drew the curtains, and shut out the noise of the world.

She continued packing her suitcase.

Chapter 5

The news of Julian’s injury quickly spread throughout the villa complex.

The assistant, Xiao Zhang, came knocking: "Ma'am, President Fu refuses to cooperate with changing his dressings at the hospital. He says it hurts, and he wants to drink the fish fillet porridge you make..."

Sienna was sitting on the sofa reading, not even looking up: "I don't know how to make it."

Xiao Zhang was anxious: "Ma'am, President Fu was injured while saving someone; how can you..."

"He was injured saving Chloe. Chloe is right there; let her make it."

Xiao Zhang returned defeated.

A few more times after that, Julian had friends and company executives take turns being lobbyists.

"Sienna, Julian wants to see you..."

"Sister-in-law, how can there be grudges between a husband and wife that last overnight..."

Sienna’s response was always the same three words: "Busy," "Not going," "Find someone else."

By the third day, Sienna was about to seal the storage box full of memories.

Heavy footsteps sounded behind her.

"Are you really this cold-hearted?" Julian stood at the door with his arm in a sling, his face pale, suppressed rage and confusion in his eyes.

Sienna turned around, her tone flat: "Isn't Ms. Chloe taking care of you? What would I go there for? To be the third wheel?"

"Sienna!" Julian’s chest heaved with anger: "Chloe is a guest! How could I let a guest serve me? You are my wife; shouldn't you be by my side at a time like this?"

"So, it’s only when you need someone to serve you that you remember I’m your wife." Sienna smiled, though the mirth didn't reach her eyes: "Mr. Fu, your calculations are truly brilliant."

"You..." Julian was just about to lose his temper when a "clatter" sounded from the doorway.

Chloe was standing there, a broken fruit basket at her feet.

Her eyes were red and she looked like she was about to collapse: "So... so it was because of me... that Sienna refuses to take care of you. It’s my fault for being insensitive, staying here and being a nuisance... I’ll leave now, I’ll go back to that leaky rental apartment..."

After finishing, she covered her face and turned to run, her silhouette appearing pitiful.

"Chloe!" Julian’s expression changed drastically. Ignoring his injury, he pushed Sienna aside and chased after her: "Stop right there!"

Sienna was shoved into the cabinet, and the burns that had just scabbed over throbbed with a dull pain.

She watched the empty doorway with a detached expression.

Julian spent the entire night coaxing Chloe.

The next morning, he returned with Chloe in tow.

Chloe was holding his good arm, looking apologetic, though her eyes held a hint of provocation: "Sienna, I'm sorry. Julian said I'm not safe and insisted I move in. He said... he said the master bedroom faces south, has good sunlight, and is suitable for me to recover in. He wants you to move out of the master bedroom and let me stay there for a few days."

Sienna looked at Julian.

A trace of embarrassment flashed across Julian’s face, but it was quickly covered up by a sense of righteousness: "Sienna, Chloe has severe depression and needs an environment with plenty of sunlight. You are the lady of the house, you should be magnanimous. You can sleep in the guest room or make do in the study; it’s only for a few months anyway."

A few months?

Sienna sneered inwardly.

Julian had even prepared his excuses: You're healthy, it doesn't matter where you sleep; Chloe is a patient, we need to take care of her...

Before he could finish, Sienna interrupted calmly:

"Fine. I'll make space for you."

Chapter 6

Julian froze, clearly not expecting Sienna to agree so readily, without even making a scene.

Sienna ignored him and called the housekeeper directly: "Help me move my things out of the master bedroom and into the small guest room next to the storage room."

Her actions were surprisingly quick; in less than two hours, the master bedroom was vacated.

She packed up all her personal belongings, and she even replaced the bedsheets with new ones.

After moving, Sienna walked over to Julian, who was still stunned, and Chloe, who was secretly pleased.

She took a bank card and a key from her bag and placed them on the coffee table.

"Since Ms. Chloe has moved in, and Mr. Fu says she is one of our own, let Ms. Chloe handle the household expenses and social obligations from now on. This card contains your salary and dividends from the past few years; the password is your birthday."

Julian’s expression changed: "Sienna! What are you doing? This is the authority to manage the household! How can you just give it to an outsider?"

Chloe’s eyes lit up, however, and she tugged on Julian’s sleeve, acting coy: "Julian... I also want to learn how to manage the house. The Fu Corporation has a charity banquet next week, can I try helping with the arrangements? I want to share the burden for you..."

Julian looked at Chloe’s expectant eyes, then back at Sienna’s cold, emotionless face.

"Fine." He said, sounding almost spiteful, "Since you want to be lazy, let Chloe try."

Sienna nodded, turned, and walked into the dark, cramped guest room, locking the door behind her.

Julian stared at the closed door, feeling inexplicably panicked.

He had the persistent feeling that with this surrender of power, Sienna had seemingly handed over their home along with it.

In the days that followed, the house was turned into a mess by Chloe.

High-end groceries would be left to rot in the refrigerator, and the electricity was cut off because the utility bills weren't paid... It wasn't that Julian didn't know, but every time Chloe cried, his heart would soften.

Until the day of the charity banquet.

Chloe wore a custom-made gown and said to Sienna with an air of arrogance: "Sienna, you shouldn't go to tonight's event, so as not to embarrass me."

Sienna was glad for the peace and quiet, staying in the small guest room alone to read.

Late at night, the bedroom door was suddenly kicked open with force.

Julian burst in, cold air clinging to him, his face ashen—a look of terror Sienna had never seen before.

"Sienna," he rushed to the bedside, grabbing her shoulders, "Do me a favor! A life-saving favor!"

"Speak."

"At the banquet tonight, Chloe... she accidentally broke a vase." Julian’s voice trembled, "That wasn't an ordinary vase; it was a national gift that the Mayor’s wife was preparing for foreign guests! It's priceless! Now the higher-ups are furious and are looking to hold someone accountable, even threatening to take her away for investigation on charges of 'sabotaging commercial diplomacy'!"

He stared fixedly at Sienna, his eyes bloodshot: "With Chloe’s psychological state, if she goes to the police station, she will definitely have a breakdown and commit suicide! And if her past criminal record is exposed, her life will be ruined! Sienna, you’ve always been strong, you have a good mental state... can you... can you take the blame for her?"

"As long as you say you broke it accidentally—you are Mrs. Fu, and it’s a first offense—at most you'll be detained for a few days and pay some money! I’ll pay for it! Once you get out, I will definitely compensate you tenfold!"

Sienna looked at the man in front of her.

She looked at his anxious, panicked, and even pleading face.

She suddenly felt that her five years of youth were like a joke.

She thought her heart had turned to ashes and wouldn't feel pain anymore.

But hearing him so naturally demand that she go to jail to take the blame for his "white moonlight," the scar on her heart that had long gone numb was still torn open, leaving her bleeding.