When Dad left after the conversation and our dinner at Sterling's, I was painfully taken back to yesterday's rollercoaster events. I was just looking through some important files when my phone buzzed - a message from Rachel. "Sia, you need to see this. A&L Corp is throwing a massive celebration party tonight. Everyone's talking about it."

My stomach dropped. I hadn't heard anything about a party, and I was supposed to be company's partial share owner now. I grabbed my keys, my hands trembling as I drove to the office building.

The top floor was alive with music and laughter. Through the glass doors, I saw champagne flowing freely, executives mingling with broad smiles. In the center of it all stood Jason, his arm wrapped around Tiffany's waist as Marcus raised a toast.

"To the successful acquisition of Alpha&Luminary Corps!!" Marcus's voice boomed across the room. "And to my son, who played his part perfectly."

The room spun. I pushed through the doors, and the crowd parted. Jason's smile faltered when he saw me, but Tiffany's grew wider.

"Oh look who's here," Tiffany purred, pressing closer to Jason. "The girl who thought she'd found true love." She flashed the bracelet I'd thought Jason had lost.

Marcus stepped forward, that familiar twinkle in his eye now cold and calculating. "Sienna, my dear. You weren't supposed to find out this way, but since you're here - let me explain how your father's company is now mine."

"The company I handed to you," I whispered, looking at Jason. "You said we'd run it together."

"Business is business," Jason shrugged, not meeting my eyes. "Dad's been planning this since before I met you. Your father took everything from him years ago. It was time for payback." I could no longer even believe it was all real, I didn't want to.

This was the same man who was my lover for the last 4 years was, the one who promised me the world. Same one standing in front of me being completely indifferent and careless towards my deep heartache and so easily announcing his betrayal while holding his lover so close

Tiffany laughed, the sound sharp as glass. "Did you really think he loved you? Jason and I have been together for years. You were just part of the plan."

I stood there, frozen, as my world crumbled around me. The mentor I'd trusted, the man I'd loved, the future I'd planned - all of it had been an elaborate lie.

My knees weakened as Tiffany circled me like a shark that had smelled blood. "All those nights you spent together? He came straight to my bed afterward saying you don't even know how to keep a man happy. You actually don't huh?" She laughed hysterically almost forcing it out, and dangled her phone in front of my face, scrolling through intimate photos of her and Jason. "See? While you were drafting contracts, we were planning your downfall."

"That's enough, Tiff." Jason's words held no real conviction. He stayed rooted beside her, his hand still on her waist.

I turned to Marcus, searching for any trace of the man who'd mentored me through countless late nights at the office. "You were like a father to me."

"Oh please." Marcus adjusted his cufflinks, his blue eyes cold as winter. "You made it almost too easy. So desperate for approval, weren't you? Just like your father - too trusting, too weak to see what was right in front of you."

The room tilted. Champagne flutes clinked around us as if this was just another celebration. As if my world wasn't shattering into pieces. I could see piercing gazes from all around the room looking at me absolute mocking pity and the humiliation was suffocating

"Aw, look at her face." Tiffany's voice dripped with mock sympathy. "Did you actually think someone like Jason would choose you? Honey, you were just a stepping stone. A rather pathetic one at that."

Jason pulled Tiffany closer, pressing a kiss to her temple almost exaggerating his actions to show me. The same gentle gesture he'd done with me countless times. "It's nothing personal, Sienna. Just business."

"Business?" The word tasted like ash in my mouth. "You told me you loved me last night."

Tiffany's laugh cut through the air. "He says that to all his marks. Don't feel special." She wrapped her arms around Jason's neck, making sure I saw every possessive touch. "Though I must admit, watching you fall for every single lie was quite entertaining."

Seeing me defenseless she continued.

"Your father trusted you with his life's work." Tiffany's words slithered under my skin. "And look what you did with it. Handed it right over to Jason without a second thought."

My throat closed up. Dad had built A&L Corp from nothing. Poured his soul into every brick of this building especially after his ex business partner, Marcus betrayed his trust. The same Marcus who's now celebrating regaining the company.

"He warned you about being too trusting, didn't he?" Marcus swirled his champagne. "Just like he trusted me once. But you... you've managed to lose everything he built in record time. At least I had to work for years to orchestrate this."

The room blurred as tears threatened to spill. Dad's face flashed in my mind - his pride when he'd announced me taking over, his faith in my abilities. All shattered because I'd fallen for pretty words and false promises.

"Daddy's perfect little princess." Tiffany's voice dripped with venom. "Not so perfect anymore, are you? He gave you one responsibility - one - and you couldn't even handle that."

I looked at Jason in hope to find some sense of relief. But he didn't even meet my eyes and his silence cut deeper than any words could.

"Tell me, Sienna," Marcus leaned closer, "how will you face him after this? How will you explain that you gave away his legacy because you were desperate for love?"

The truth of his words pierced through me. Dad had trusted me with everything he'd built, and I'd failed him completely. The weight of that betrayal pressed against my chest until I could barely breathe. I

I managed to get out of the room almost impossible to catch my breath back, feeling like something is stuck in my throat. I could hear the party being continued as if nothing ever even happened there.

Tiffany cracking a joke about my 'incompetence' and the room filling with laughter.

With tears soaking my face I walked as fast as I could. Feeling completely lost I decided to do the first thing that came to my mind and took my phone out

My hands trembled as I dialed Dad's number. Each ring echoed through my skull like a death knell. Part of me prayed he wouldn't answer, but after three rings, his familiar voice came through.

"Sienna?"

"Dad, I-" My voice cracked. The words stuck in my throat as Marcus's mocking smile flashed in my mind. "I messed up. I messed up so badly."

Silence stretched between us. I could picture him at his desk, that crease forming between his brows.

"Tell me everything."

So I did. Every betrayal spilled out - how Marcus had played the caring mentor, how Jason had wormed his way into my heart and my company, how I'd fallen for their act like a naive schoolgirl. My voice broke when I reached tonight's events.

"They planned it all, Dad. Marcus, Jason, even Jason's girlfriend Tiffany - they were all in on it. I gave them access to everything because I..." I swallowed hard. "Because I trusted them."

More silence. The weight of his disappointment pressed against my chest until I could barely breathe.

"I warned you about trust." His voice was quiet, controlled. Not the explosion I'd expected, which somehow made it worse. "Especially after what Marcus did to me years ago."

"I know." Tears rolled down my cheeks. "I'm so sorry. I'll fix this, I promise-"

"No, Sienna." He sighed, and in that sound I heard years of regret. "You can't fix betrayal. That's the one thing I taught you, remember? The one thing I never forgave Marcus for. And now history repeats itself."

The truth of his words hit me like a physical blow. I'd known his rules about betrayal, had watched him cut ties with Marcus years ago over it. Yet here I was, making the same mistakes.

"I should have listened." My voice came out barely above a whisper.

"Yes," he said simply. "You should have."

"Dad, I-" The words died on my tongue. What could I possibly say?

His words knocked the air from my lungs. A long exhale crackled through the line. When he spoke again, his voice carried an unfamiliar softness, as if he was forcing back decades of pain.

"The company shares?"

"Secure until now. But the clause in the agreement I signed with Jason have provisions to nullify that too. That's worrying me the most." My fingers traced the edge of my desk, remembering how Marcus had stood here just hours ago, champagne in hand, celebrating what he thought was his victory.

"I'll look into it" I heard him say sternly.

"But they have sensitive data, project specs, client lists-"

"We'll handle it." The strain in his voice betrayed how much effort it took to maintain his composure. "I'll have legal draw up the paperwork first thing."

The careful words told me more than any lecture could. He was holding back anger- not for his sake, but for mine. The weight of that kindness crushed me more than any anger would have.

"You never told me what happened with Marcus."

Silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken history.

"Some betrayals cut too deep to speak of." His voice roughened. "I hoped... I hoped keeping you away from him would be enough. That my mistakes wouldn't become yours." The tears came faster now, blurring the city lights into streaks of gold.

"Anyways where are you?" he continued after a moment's silence.

"Outside company's building"

"You've been staying there this whole time?"

"Yes" I embarrassingly murmured

"Go home, Sienna." Dad's voice softened. "You're in no state to handle this tonight."

"But the company-"

"Will still be there tomorrow. You need rest."

I wiped my eyes, remembering all the times I'd rolled them at his cautious nature, his constant warnings about keeping people at arm's length.

"The car service-"

"No, I can drive. I need... I need to clear my head anyway."

"Text me when you get home." A pause. "And Sienna? This isn't your fault. Marcus... he's had years to perfect his act."

I ended the call, my chest tight with everything left unsaid. The drive home passed in a blur of streetlights and memories - every conversation with Marcus, every smile from Jason, now tainted with their true intentions.

The clock read 3 AM when my phone lit up. Dad's name flashed on the screen.

"Did I wake you?"

"No." I sat up in bed, sheets tangled around my legs. "Haven't slept."

"I found something." The energy in his voice made me grip the phone tighter. "A solution."

"What kind of solution?"

"Not over the phone. Meet me tomorrow, first thing."

"Dad-"

"Get some sleep, Sia. We'll fix this."

The line went dead before I could protest. I stared at the dark screen, his words echoing in my mind. We'll fix this. Not you'll fix this, but we'll. Maybe that was the silver lining in this mess - it had taken betrayal to finally bring us together. And I couldn't wait to know what the solution he figured was.

That was how I ended up in the 'meeting' with dad about my marriage to be arranged. I met dad at Sterling's, our favorite restaurant and he told me all about the "solution". Coming back I slumped against my apartment door, the weight of Dad's solution pressing down on my shoulders. Marriage. An arranged marriage to Alexander Hawthorne. The words felt foreign, wrong.

Dad's voice echoed in my head from our meeting . "Alexander's company can absorb the impact of Marcus's attack. The merger would stabilize both companies."

I'd sat there, frozen in his office, as he laid out the terms. Alexander was willing. The paperwork was ready. All I had to do was say yes.

"This isn't punishment, Sia." Dad's eyes had softened when I stayed silent. "It's protection. For you, for the company, for everything we've built."

My fingers traced the cool metal of my keys, remembering how easily I'd agreed. How desperate I'd been to fix my mistake, to make things right. Now, in the quiet of my apartment, doubt crept in.

"The board needs reassurance," Dad had said. "They need to see strength, unity. Alexander can provide that."

I'd nodded, numb. "And there's no other way?"

"Marcus left us no choice." The steel in his voice matched the set of his jaw. "He won't stop until he destroys everything."

I pushed off the door, kicking off my heels. The city sparkled beyond my windows, oblivious to how my world had shifted. Marriage to a stranger - it felt like something from another century, not my life.

But what choice did I have? Marcus had played me perfectly, using Jason to get close, manipulating my trust. The damage was done. The only question was how to contain it.

"Alexander is different," Dad had insisted. "He's honorable, successful. This isn't just business for him."

Maybe not, but it wasn't love either. It was strategy, plain and simple. A chess move to counter Marcus's attack.

My hands shook as I poured a glass of wine. The memories I'd been fighting all day crashed through my defenses.

Jason's smile that first day at the coffee shop. The way his eyes crinkled when he laughed at my terrible jokes. Our walks through the park, his fingers laced through mine. All lies. Every single moment.

"I never meant to hurt you," he'd said at the party, Tiffany draped over him like a second skin. The smirk on her face told a different story.

My stomach churned. How many nights had I worked late at the office, pouring over reports, while they laughed about my naivety? How many times had he left my bed to crawl into hers?

"You're so trusting, Sienna." Marcus's voice, smooth as silk, poisonous as a snake. "That's what makes you special." He'd played the perfect mentor, filling the void Dad left behind. Another calculated move in their game.

And now I'd agreed to marry Alexander Hawthorne. A stranger. Someone else's choice for my life.

Dad's solution felt like a prison sentence. Yes, it would save the company. Yes, it would stop Marcus. But at what cost?

I sank to the floor. The tears I'd held back all day finally broke free. I'd lost my company, my reputation, and now my chance at real love - all because I'd trusted the wrong people.

The worst part? I had no one to blame but myself.

And now there was another new man who was a complete stranger. I had no clue what kind of a person he was. And that was terrifying. I was about to call dad and back down on my decision of marriage when my phone buzzed.

Another news notification. I almost ignored it until Jason's name caught my eye. My thumb froze over the screen. Photos of Jason and Tiffany splashed across the society pages. Their passionate embrace outside some upscale restaurant. The headline screamed: "Power Couple's Secret Romance: Tech Heiress Left in the Dark."

The headline blurred as tears clouded my vision. More photos followed - Jason and Tiffany at exclusive clubs, secret rendezvous at luxury hotels, stolen kisses in dark corners. The article painted their romance as a grand love story, stretching back months before I entered the picture.

My fingers trembled over the screen. Their timeline matched perfectly with when Jason and I started dating. Every romantic dinner, every weekend getaway - he'd been with her too.

I slammed my phone down, but the images burned behind my eyelids. That red dress. His hands. Their secret smiles. My stomach heaved as another wave of humiliation crashed over me.

I had wasted months thinking I wasn't enough, pushing myself harder, trying to be worthy of Jason's attention. All while he paraded Tiffany around town, showering her with gifts meant to mark their milestones together.

The diamond bracelet glinted in my mind - their anniversary present. I counted back the months. He'd been with her before he even met me. Before our first coffee date. Before he'd kissed me in the rain and told me I was different from anyone he'd ever met.

My hands curled into fists. The media was having a field day with my humiliation. "Poor little rich girl" " too naive" was all how I was described . The comments section overflowed with mock sympathy and barely concealed glee at my downfall.

I needed to do something. Anything to stop feeling like a victim in their love story. Dad's words echoed in my head - Alexander was different. Honorable. My eyes drifted to my phone.

And suddenly, calling Alexander didn't seem like such a terrible idea.

At least with him, I knew where I stood. No hidden agendas, no secret girlfriends, no elaborate revenge plots. Just a business arrangement between equals.

My fingers hovered over his contact information. One call could change everything. Set the wheels in motion for the merger, for our arranged marriage, for my chance at redemption.

I took a deep breath and pressed dial.

My heart pounded as the phone rang. Once. Twice. Three times.

"Alexander Hawthorne." His voice cut through the line, deep and authoritative.

"Hi, this is Sienna Aldridge." My voice cracked. I cleared my throat. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

"No. I've been expecting your call." The directness in his tone sent a shiver down my spine. No small talk, no pretense.

"I wanted to discuss the arrangement my father proposed." The words felt heavy on my tongue.

"Are you having doubts?" Something shifted in his voice - not softer, but more focused. Like he could see right through my hesitation.

"No, I-" I paused, caught off guard by his perception. "Maybe. Everything's happening so fast."

"Listen carefully, Sienna." The way he said my name made my breath catch. "I don't play games. If we do this, we do it right. No secrets, no lies. I protect what's mine."

Heat crept up my neck. There was something magnetic about his straightforwardness, so different from Jason's smooth charm.

"I understand." And surprisingly, I did, down to my bones. "But how can we be sure this will work?" My fingers twisted nervously in my lap, seeking reassurance that seemed just out of reach.

"We can't." A pause, weighted with unspoken promises. "But I give you my word - I'll never betray your trust. That's more than most people in your life have offered lately." The way Alexander said it, without pity or judgment, made the truth easier to swallow.

His bluntness should have stung, but instead, it felt like a lifeline. Here was someone who saw the mess I was in and didn't sugar-coat it. After months of Jason's hollow promises and Marcus's calculated guidance, the honesty was refreshing.

"When can we meet?"