Page 102 of Between Love & Ruin

“God, you really love her a lot. More than I could comprehend.”

I stay silent, knowing I agree with it.

The truth is, even I don’t know how much I love her.

I just know that I will never not love her.

I will never exist in a world where Sienna Hayes doesn’t exist.

Because she is quite literally my world.

“Move Myra out of NYC this morning. I don’t want to see a trace of her in this state. I don’t care how you do it—but by tomorrow morning at 11 a.m., Myra will be out of our world. Understood?”

“Understood, boss.”

Sienna Hayes

Ithought asking Dominic directly about our past would ease the knot in my chest.

I thought maybe his answer would ease all the doubts Myra planted in my head. I know better than anyone that Myra doesn’t want me and Dominic to stay together.

The fact that she kept a condition in front of me to leave him the second I got to know the truth is what terrifies me.

Because I know I would never be able to do that.

I would have usually ignored her words had she not threatened to ruin every single thing that gives me happiness. I would have never asked Dominic that stupid question had she not threatened to ruin our work of months.

If it was only me who would be getting impacted, then I would have taken the hit no questions asked.

But she mentioned Aisha, and as much as I want to be selfish with everything—I know I can’t be selfish with her. Aisha has worked her butt off on this project. She made sure I felt comfortable in every process, and more than that, she and Reyansh became the sort of family and support I never had, and I can’t ruin that.

So despite every part of my brain yelling at me to just let this thing go, to forget that I ever spoke to Myra, I do the one thing I know I will regret doing.

I call her.

“So what brings Ms. Sienna Hayes to call me?” she says, amusement laced in her tone the second she picks up

I bite my tongue to not say something I will regret later. I tell myself I just need to get over the situation once and for all. Close this chapter and never look back.

“I don’t have time for the theatrics,” I tell her, keeping my voice as balanced as possible. “Send me the proof that Dominic is hiding something from me.”

“And then you will go back to Chicago and leave for good?”

I swallow the bitter words and the lump in my throat.

“Yes.”

Because if Dominic has hidden something from me, despite me asking multiple times not to, then I guess I was wrong about everything to begin with.

“Good,” she says, a contended sigh leaving her lips, and I wonder how a person can get so much happiness and relief from someone else’s pain. “Check your email. You can thank me later.”

My heart beats in my chest, anxiety coiling in my throat like a vice, making it harder for me to breathe.

“And Sienna?” She says just when I’m about to hang up in her face.

“You will do as we agreed because if you don’t, then I will make sure to ruin the rest of what’s left of your peace. Understand?”

I clench my fists, feeling the urge to punch her in the face.