From Exile To Queen Of Everything - Chapter 58: Chapter 58

At the sound of a knock at the door, Amber's heart leaped with joy, her sorrow instantly dissipating.
Amber quickly wiped away her tears, checked the mirror to make sure no trace remained, then put on an aloof air before opening the door. But it was just Elisa.
Amber felt the joy that had welled up in her heart vanish in an instant, like a wave crashing against the shore and retreating back into the sea, leaving only the ebbing tide of disappointment.
Amber's eyes betrayed unconcealable disappointment and anger as she snapped, "What do you want?"
Elisa said, "Miss Amber, Miss Sienna noticed you didn't eat much at dinner and was concerned you might get hungry later. She specially asked me to prepare some seafood pasta for you. Would you like some?"
Amber's gaze fell upon the exquisite array of small pasta dishes before her, each crafted with a variety of seafood and meats. 'Wow, they actually look pretty delicious,' she thought.
Amber swallowed hard and asked, "Did Sienna tell you to make these?"
Elisa picked up on the meaning behind Amber's words and smiled. "Yes, Miss Amber. Miss Sienna insisted I have this ready. She was worried you might go hungry.
"After dinner, she had to go out again, probably for work, and before she left, she kept reminding me to make sure you'd be taken care of."
Upon hearing this, Amber didn't feel quite so down anymore. 'Was she really just out-handling work?' she wondered. 'So Sienna and Vivian just bumped into each other by chance, right?
'Since they didn't actually hang out behind my back after all. Fine, I suppose I'll grudgingly go to the amusement park with her tomorrow. She definitely hasn't been there before.'
Upon this realization, Amber brightened up, her brow relaxing as she pouted, "Just leave it there."
'Like I'd even eat this. What did she even make? Looks so basic,' she wondered.
Though Amber kept a straight face, Elisa still noticed that adorable little cowlick sticking up on her head, and the twinkle in her eyes that betrayed her hidden delight.
Amber was secretly thrilled, but her pride wouldn't let it show. Playing along, Elisa set down the tray and quietly withdrew.
Vivian stepped into Sienna's room to find her towel-drying her hair. Bathed in the soft lamplight, she looked breathtakingly beautiful, her sheer white nightgown clinging to her graceful figure.
"Sienna, here's some hangover remedy," Vivian said gently.
Sienna gave a slight nod, walked over, and settled onto the sofa. She blew gently on the hangover remedy before taking a few sips.
Vivian hurried into the bathroom and grabbed a hair dryer. She smiled and offered, "Hey Sienna, let me blow-dry your hair for you."
"Sure." Sienna nodded.
Vivian gently ran her fingers through Sienna's silky hair. A delicate fragrance wafted over. The scent of her shampoo was pleasantly fragrant yet never overpowering.
Vivian couldn't help but breathe in that scent. It wasn't just about feeling safe. There was this unspoken joy, this quiet dependence she couldn't even begin to explain.
"Hey Sienna, is the temperature okay?" Vivian asked.
Sienna nodded slightly as Vivian quietly blow-dried her hair, then turned off the dryer.
Vivian found Sienna had fallen asleep. Her longing gaze lingered on her, unable to suppress the surge of emotions. There was a dangerous glint of obsession in her eyes.
'Sienna belongs to me,' Vivian thought desperately. 'I won't let anyone steal even a shred of her love from me. Not even Amber.'
Vivian carefully lifted Sienna onto the bed and tucked her in with the blanket. She then picked up the half-finished hangover remedy Sienna had left and downed it in one gulp. Then, she turned and firmly closed the door behind her.
The door clicked locked. Sienna's beautiful eyes flickered open, deep and inscrutable, before she feigned sleep once more.
Vivian marched to Amber's door. When Amber opened it and saw her, her eyes burned with loathing. She snapped, "What the hell do you want, Vivian?"
Vivian glared at her and warned, "Amber, I don't care what you and Jocelyn are scheming. If you dare lay a finger on Sienna, I swear I'll stop at nothing to destroy you both."
Amber froze, torn between shock and fear. She'd never seen Vivian look like this before.
With her gentle, innocent face, Vivian radiated a chilling aura like a sweet girl hiding a dangerously obsessive side.
At this moment, Vivian was like a rose lurking in the shadows, deceptively beautiful, yet armed with thorns.
"Who the hell do you think you are to warn me, Vivian? Mind your own damn business, you psycho," Amber snapped.
She slammed the door shut with a bang, clenched her fists, and pounded her pillow in a fit of rage. 'Who the hell does Vivian think she is, warning me like that?' she fumed.
Amber thought furiously, 'Vivian actually suspects that I'm conspiring with Jocelyn to hurt Sienna? What a ridiculous joke.'
The next day, as Sienna opened her eyes, she found Amber slumped on the sofa, nodding off, her head bobbing sleepily.
"Miss Sienna, Miss Amber got up unusually early today. I told her it's the weekend with no school, so she could sleep in, but she insisted she had matters to attend to and has been waiting all this time," Elisa reported respectfully.
Sienna replied coolly, "Got it."
Elisa lowered her voice and said, "Miss Sienna, there's something else. Early this morning, Linda escaped from the dark room. We don't know where she went."
Sienna had already gotten Lana's report on Linda's whereabouts. Smirking inwardly at Linda's attempt to bring Aiden back for the show, Sienna decided to put on a performance they wouldn't forget.
"Let Jocelyn out," Sienna ordered.
"Yes, Miss Sienna." Elisa nodded.
Jocelyn finally stumbled out, weak and exhausted. The moment she spotted Amber, she rushed straight over. "Amber—"
Amber had nearly dozed off when a sound startled her awake. Rubbing her eyes, she looked up in confusion. "Jocelyn, what's wrong?"
Jocelyn wiped away her tears and began pouring out her grievances. "Amber, I know I'm not blood-related to the Hart family. You've always treated me like an outsider. I understand that. I really do."
"Jocelyn, I've never thought that way," Amber said earnestly. "Even though we're not blood-related, you're still part of the Hart family."
"No, I'm not, Amber. I know Sienna has never liked me. She thinks I stole Dad's love from you all and drove a wedge between you and your real sister. It's all my fault." Jocelyn, with tears in her eyes, poured out her grievances, leaving Amber completely bewildered.
'Why would she think that way?' Amber wondered.
"Sienna, all I want is to live peacefully with Amber. Please, won't you stop targeting me?" Jocelyn pleaded, her vulnerability clearly feigned.
Sienna looked down at her with an icy expression, her eyes brimming with undisguised mockery. "Jocelyn, if you're that delusional, I'd be more than happy to have you committed to a psychiatric facility for a couple of days."
At those words, Jocelyn felt a chill run down her spine. Fear slowly crept through her as her half-open mouth froze mid-sentence.
Jocelyn clenched her fist so tightly that her nails dug painfully into her palm. Only when the sharp sting pierced through did she finally push past her fear.
'Today,' Jocelyn thought viciously, 'I'll make sure Sienna gets kicked out of the Hart residence for good. There's no turning back now.'
Jocelyn continued, "Sienna, why must you mock me like this? All these years while you were gone, I was the one by Amber's side. I treated her like my own sister and gave her everything she needed. I—"
"Get out," Sienna snapped, cutting her off before she could finish.
"Jocelyn didn't do it on purpose. She has always been good to me. Please, cut her some slack," Amber spoke up in Jocelyn's defense.
Sienna took a deep breath, a fleeting shadow of disappointment passing through her cool, composed eyes before she turned and ascended the stairs.
Jocelyn watched Sienna's retreating back as she ascended the stairs, a triumphant smirk curling her lips.
Her phone buzzed with a message from Linda. [Aiden is almost home. Make your move now.]
Jocelyn steeled herself, clenched her teeth, and chased after Sienna. "Sienna, please don't be upset. Amber didn't mean to blame you. I'd never want to come between you two.
"You're family, after all, and I'll always be an outsider. I know my place, Miss Sienna. If my presence ever causes any rift between you and Amber, I honestly couldn't live with myself."
Sienna retreated two steps, while Jocelyn stood right at the top of the stairs.
Sienna fixed Jocelyn with a cold stare. "Drop the act, Jocelyn. Did you really think I'd let you stay here without seeing right through your scheming little plans?"
Sienna's icy gaze swept over her. "Jocelyn, has anyone ever told you your pathetic schemes are downright embarrassing?"
"You—" Jocelyn gaped at her, utterly stunned.
At that moment, Jocelyn thought Sienna could see right through all her schemes. Jocelyn was just a helpless puppet in her hands. No matter how she struggled, she could never escape her clutches.
"Don't get too cocky, Sienna. What do you think Dad would do if I took a tumble down these stairs right now?" she murmured. Just picturing that scene, Jocelyn couldn't help but let out a triumphant laugh.