From Exile To Queen Of Everything - Chapter 57: Chapter 57

The butler froze for a moment, then composed himself, his face flushing with embarrassment as he turned to leave and call for help.
'Seriously? Just trying to cozy up to the Preston family? Pfft, who does she think she is?' he thought. He'd seen plenty like that before.
Hearing that Nora had come home drunk again, Ethan ran his fingers through his hair, took off his glasses and set them on the table, then stood up abruptly and marched to the door.
Without even glancing at who it was, he snapped, "Hand her over. Give her some money and send her away."
Sienna pulled Nora protectively closer, her eyes glinting with murderous intent.
With just a glance from Sienna, Lana instantly understood. She stepped forward and delivered a sharp slap across Ethan's face.
Ethan never expected a woman could hit so hard. His whole face was stinging. He was completely blindsided; he never imagined Lana would just rush up and slap him out of nowhere.
"You're dead—" The word froze on his lips as he recognized Sienna. His pupils dilated violently, and he stared at her in utter disbelief.
The butler roared, "Who the hell are you? How dare you lay hands on Mr. Preston?"
"Enough. Dismissed," Ethan snapped.
The butler didn't dare disobey and obediently withdrew.
Ethan fixed his gaze on her, his voice trembling. He pinched himself to make sure he wasn't hallucinating, and only after confirming it was real did he finally manage to speak, "Sienna? Is that really you?"
Sienna tightened her hold on Nora and swept past Ethan without so much as a glance. Ignoring the burning red slap mark on his face, Ethan, his heart pounding with unease, hurried after them. "Let me. I'll take Nora to her room."
Ethan reached out to take Nora from her arms, but Sienna didn't even glance at him. Turning to Lana, she commanded, "Lana, take her upstairs to rest."
"Yes, Miss Sienna," Lana responded promptly.
Ethan motioned for a servant to lead the way, then poured Sienna a cup of coffee. "Enna, it's really you. We all thought you were— When did you return?"
Sienna lifted her gaze to meet Ethan's eyes directly. The boyish youth had completely faded from him, now exuding mature vigor, his broad frame radiating an elite nobility that Nora had often described.
Yet the faint but unmistakable aloofness in his piercing stare lent his presence an icy edge.
"Ethan, answer me this. Do you want a broken family or a happy home?" said Sienna.
Ethan froze momentarily before lighting a cigarette. His eyes grew deep and unreadable, and when he finally spoke, his voice was hoarse, laced with resignation. "Enna, you don't understand. There's no going back for us."
Sienna cut him off decisively, "Enough. I understand."
Ethan's Adam's apple bobbed as he hesitated, unsure what to say. After a moment, he spoke hoarsely, "Enna, I know I failed her. But if you were in my shoes, you'd break too. Nora is not the girl I used to know anymore.
"If I could, I'd want nothing more than to make things right between us. Enna, I'm hurting, and so is she. Instead of torturing each other, maybe it's better if we both just let go and find our peace."
Sienna sneered, "Save your pathetic excuses for cheating, Ethan. Nora gave you everything, and you stabbed her in the back. Look at you now—so high and mighty.
"Have you already forgotten that stormy night, when a girl risked her life to secure your position, taking your place in the doomed car?"
Ethan felt something inside him collapse, sending ripples through his entire being. He opened his mouth to say more, but Sienna was already on her feet, striding out without a backward glance.
Ethan hesitated, then offered, "Let me walk you out."
Sienna said coldly, "Save it, Ethan. This isn't torment. It's your guilty conscience. I'm not involved, so I won't interfere.
"But from now on, if you ever make her shed another tear, I'll take a pound of your flesh. Count on it. Tonight is just the beginning."
Sienna's icy gaze suddenly blazed with murderous intent. Without hesitation, she swung the glass vase at Ethan's head. Blood instantly gushed from the wound.
The butler and servants gasped in shock. Ethan raised his hand, his voice cold and commanding. "Dismissed."
Ethan hung his head. Only when he heard the click of Sienna's heels did he slowly look up, watching her retreating figure.
Seated in the car, Sienna radiated a palpable aura of dark resentment so intense that Lana could feel its oppressive weight.
Lana said respectfully, "Miss Enna, I'll hand over all the information about Miss Sinclair from the past few years to you tomorrow morning."
Sienna gave a curt nod. "Okay," she replied.
Sienna gazed out the window, lost in thought. In her mind's eye, she saw the vivacious girl who had once been, lying pale in a hospital bed, her radiance faded.
When Nora noticed Sienna, she managed to summon a faint smile. "Enna, Ethan's elder brother was imprisoned. Now, no one will threaten his position. He's the sole heir of the Preston family."
Battered and bruised all over, Nora looked happier than ever.
At seventeen, when most girls cared only about their looks, Nora's back was marred with scars, lasting reminders of the car crash. She knowingly walked into that trap alone, clearing away every threat for the one she loved.
If they ever truly parted ways, Sienna would make sure Ethan experienced a car crash, repaying him in kind.
Ethan simply bandaged the wound on his head, then took a warm towel and gently wiped his wife's face as she lay on the bed.
With careful, trembling hands, he helped her out of her dress, revealing more than a dozen faint scars on her back, barely visible unless examined closely.
Ethan's heart constricted as if gripped by invisible hands, leaving him breathless. A painful lump formed in his throat, choking him.
"Nora." Ethan planted a tender kiss on her back as if solidifying a resolution. "We're not getting divorced."
"Miss Enna, shall we return to Charmvale?" Lana asked.
"Has Vivian returned yet?" Sienna said.
Lana shook her head. "No."
Sienna nodded. She thought to herself, 'I could use a drink. Ten years have changed so much.'
"Lana, come sit and have a drink with me," Sienna said casually.
"Yes, Miss Enna," Lana replied respectfully.
Sienna watched as Vivian laughed cheerfully with her classmates, then turned her gaze to the wineglass in her hand, lost in thought.
"I said, bow. Bow, damn it. Today, I own you and your drink." At the next table, a bald man with a gaudy gold chain around his neck snarled at a young man.
The young man stood firm, drink in hand, completely unfazed.
Beside the bald man sat a woman whose predatory gaze kept roaming over him. She leered at him and purred, "Hey, pretty boy, name your price for the night. You're mine now."
The bald man bellowed, "Didn't you hear? She's talking to you. Answer her right now."
The young man said calmly, "Sorry, that's not in my job description."
With that, he turned to leave, but the bald man kicked him square in the back.
The young man lunged forward and crashed to the floor, the wine bottle shattering as he fell. The spilled wine looked mundane under the lights, nothing compared to the vivid crimson stain now marring his striking features.
"You don't know what's good for you, do you? Who the hell do you think you are? Even if I beat you to a pulp today, you'd damn well deserve it. Now get your sorry ass up," the bald man shouted.
Adrian Winslow struggled to his feet. Hearing the commotion, the manager stormed over. Taking one look at Adrian's disheveled state, he snarled, "What the hell?
"Can't even do a damn job right. Watch it, or I'll dock your pay. Get the hell out of here unless you want me to drag you out myself."
Adrian murmured, "Sorry," and turned to leave.
But the bald man roughly blocked his path. "Hold it. Who said you could go?" he growled.
The manager bowed slightly with an obsequious smile and said, "My deepest apologies, sir. He's young and doesn't know better. Please don't be upset. Tonight's drinks are on the house."
"Get lost. When I'm talking, it's not your damn place to butt in," the bald man snapped.
The manager's expression soured for a moment, but this was far from his first rodeo. He swiftly schooled his features back into professional politeness.
"Sir, it was entirely his fault. Let me have him apologize to you properly, alright? How about we just let this matter go? There are so many people watching. Let's not make a scene," the manager offered.
"What the hell, pretty boy? Get your ass over here—my sister's calling you. Are you deaf or just stupid? Move it, now."
Adrian clenched his fists, every muscle in his body tensed as he stood ramrod straight. Sienna recognized him instantly. He was the boy Amber had once helped deliver a love letter to. If she remembered right, he was also a top student.
"Miss Enna, that's Adrian, the cast-off illegitimate son of the Winslow family. They're aware of his existence, but they've never formally acknowledged him," said Lana.
"Oh? The Winslow family?" Sienna's interest perked up.
Lana continued, "Yes, Miss Enna. Technically, he's not really an illegitimate child. Years ago, the Winslow head married his first love, but later abandoned her for an arranged marriage.
"After he had a complete family with his current wife, he ran into his first love and had a relationship with her, resulting in a child."
Lana had investigated all those involved in disputes with Amber. Adrian was special. He was only sixteen and had skipped grades to attend the prestigious academy.
Lana caught the glint of amusement in Sienna's eyes. "Miss Enna, shall we intervene?"
Sienna took a sip of her wine. Reading her expression perfectly, Lana stood up and walked toward Adrian. "Hey, you. Come pour a drink."
Adrian turned at the sound and found himself face to face with Sienna, a breathtaking beauty whose very presence sent a shiver down his spine.
Her features held an icy allure and untouchable nobility, her powerful aura leaving him momentarily stunned.
There she sat, hands cradling a wineglass, her breathtaking face an impassive mask. Yet her mere presence cast everything around her into insignificance as if the world had faded before her.
"Yes," Adrian replied deferentially, lowering his head as he approached to pour her a drink.
The bald man instantly flew into a rage, charged over, and jabbed his finger in Lana's face. Snarling, he spat, "Who the fuck do you think you are, crossing me? Got a death wish or something, you worthless tramp?"
"Ah." The moment the words left his mouth, a piercing scream followed as Lana snapped the finger he'd been pointing at her.
The man's screams were drowned out as the music volume quintupled, leaving the club's ambiance completely undisturbed.
The manager adjusted the volume on his phone with visible satisfaction, barely resisting the urge to spit in that bastard's face.
Lana snapped, "Get the hell out of my sight, and don't you dare come back."
After dismissing those two, Lana calmly returned to her seat.
Adrian stood nervously to the side, swallowing hard before speaking. "Thank you, Miss," he said.
Sienna waved her hand dismissively. Adrian's pulse quickened at the gesture. He gave a respectful nod and withdrew.
Adrian then made his way backstage and approached the manager. "Sir, I broke a bottle of wine tonight."
The manager shot him a disdainful glance and snapped, "Alright, I heard you. Now get out of here. You're always causing trouble everywhere. If you're late again tomorrow, you're fired. Got it?"
Adrian said, "Thank you, sir. I got it."
"Get lost, now." the manager snapped impatiently, shooing him away.
Then a woman sashayed out, swaying her hips, and scoffed, "Damn, you've got some balls hiring a minor to work here."
The manager sighed. "What can you do? When it rains, it pours. That kid's dirt poor, yet he's studying at an elite school."
"An elite school? Aren't all their students either wealthy or well-connected? What would any of them be doing working here?"
The manager guessed, "Probably some family's illegitimate kid—just sixteen."
Vivian hadn't touched a drop of alcohol all night. She'd only had juice. Just before she left, Marcy and Bella, both completely wasted, clung to her legs and started bawling their eyes out.
"Vivian, we were such blind fools. How could we have missed how genuine you really are?" sobbed Bella.
Marcy slurred, "Vivian, you're honestly the first person I've ever truly looked up to. Even after being disowned and going through so much hardship, you're still incredible. Your strength and character are truly admirable."
"Vivian, I-I'm so sorry. I sent the waitress to humiliate you. I'm such a petty bitch. You were right. What gives me the right to be such a snob? My family's just nouveau riche trash," murmured Marcy.
Bella sobbed, "Vivian, me too. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have kept sabotaging you at every turn. I'm just rotten."
Vivian forcibly peeled the two drunk girls off herself and hurried out. Drunk people really were annoying.
Just as Vivian was about to hail a taxi, a coat carrying that familiar cool fragrance was draped over her shoulders. She turned around, beaming. "Sienna?"
Sienna smiled faintly, "Okay, let's go home."
Vivian's excitement soared through the roof. She threw her arms around Sienna, nuzzling against her shoulder. "Sienna, when did you get here? Did you come just to pick me up?"
Sienna replied casually, "I came to meet someone."
"Hey Sienna, what a happy coincidence. Let's go home together," Vivian smiled.
After gaming for hours, Amber stepped out of her room, about to grab a snack downstairs, when she unexpectedly ran into Sienna and Vivian, who were coming home together, their closeness unmistakable.
Amber immediately darted into a corner, holding her breath.
"Sienna, I've secured the deal. And Miss Yeast has even been taking me under her wing—" Vivian animatedly recounts to Sienna everything that's happened to her over the past few days.
Sienna smiled and praised, "Vivian, you're truly outstanding."
"Sienna, you've been drinking, haven't you? Go upstairs and freshen up first. I'll make you some hangover remedy, okay?" Vivian cared about her.
Sienna looked into Vivian's sparkling, expectant eyes and ruffled her hair. "I've already asked Elisa to make the hangover soup. Would you bring it up for me, Vivian?"
"Got it, Sienna. I'll go right now. Go on, and head upstairs."
Vivian raced excitedly toward the kitchen, tossing her bag in the general direction of the couch, but it missed by a mile.
Sienna shook her head with an amused sigh, picked up the fallen handbag, and gracefully ascended the stairs.
Amber clenched her sleeve tightly, pouting as tears brimmed in her pretty eyes. 'They went out without me,' she wondered.
Amber felt as if her heart had shattered into pieces, and they just swept them into the trash.
'Betrayal.' The word burned in Amber's mind as she thought, 'We just had dinner together, but she snuck out without me. It's just a blatant betrayal. Vivian, always sucking up, how can she be so annoying?
'And Sienna is too much, too. I haven't even forgiven Sienna yet, and she's already running around with Vivian again. So in her heart, Vivian's the only family that matters?'
Amber thought bitterly, 'Like I care. Sienna, I don't want you as my sister anymore. I don't. I hate you now. Fine. I-I'm not going to the amusement park with you tomorrow.'
Amber stormed into her room and slammed the door shut. Watching the door click closed, Elisa recalled Sienna's earlier instructions. "Elisa, I noticed Amber didn't eat much at dinner.
"She's at a growing age, so please prepare a midnight snack for her later."
With that in mind, Elisa handed the hangover remedy to Vivian and carried a plate of pasta upstairs.
"Elisa, who's that for?" Vivian asked, eyeing the food in her hands.
"Miss Vivian, Miss Sienna was worried that Miss Amber didn't eat enough, so she asked me to prepare a late-night snack for her," Elisa replied.
Vivian nodded and stomped upstairs, each step heavy with anger. She thought, 'Amber, how shameless of her to skip meals just to get Enna's attention.'
Elisa watched as Vivian stormed upstairs in a huff, puzzled by her mood. Then, still confused, she carried the food toward Amber's room.