Chapter 2

Sienna's hand, which was wrapping around mine, froze mid-air.

She still carried the chill of the outside air. Her shirt collar was slightly creased, and there were dark circles under her eyes.

Before, if she came home like this, my heart would ache for her.

I would make her hot soup. I would tell the nanny to take the baby to the nursery. I would whisper, "Go get some sleep, Sienna. I'll handle Jonah."

But now, I could only stare at the words hovering over her chest.

"Owner: Xavier Vance."

It wasn't just her dress.

It wasn't just her watch.

It was her entire person.

Sienna slowly let go of me, her jaw tensing. "Who did you just say?"

I looked her in the eye. "Xavier Vance."

The living room fell dead silent.

From the nursery, our son Jonah let out a faint cry, and the nanny quietly hushed him.

Sienna quickly forced a smile.

But it was as dry as paper.

"Are you just tired lately, Leo? I haven't been sleeping well post-partum, and you've been stressing out with me. It's easy to start overthinking when you're exhausted."

She reached out to feel my forehead.

I took a step back.

Her hand froze in mid-air.

I pointed toward the nursery. "Where did that crib come from?"

"I bought it."

"Where's the receipt?"

Her brow furrowed. "It's just a crib, Leo. Why are you checking receipts?"

"I asked you, where is the receipt?"

Her expression darkened. "Leo, the baby just fell asleep. Do you really have to start a fight in the middle of the night?"

Her words almost made me laugh out of pure anger.

It had been three months since Sienna gave birth. I was the one waking up multiple times every night. When her breasts were engorged and she had a high fever, I was the one who carried her to the hospital.

She was always on business trips.

She was always in meetings.

She was always busy.

And now, simply asking where a crib came from made me the one "picking a fight."

Sienna's father, Mike, walked out of the guest room with a robe thrown over his shoulders. He looked highly annoyed. "What's going on now? The baby is crying, and you two are still arguing?"

Sienna rubbed her temples. "It's nothing, Mike."

But Mike turned his glare on me. "Leo, I'm not trying to take sides here, but Sienna works incredibly hard to put food on the table. She just had a baby. You're the one staying home, so you need to be more supportive. Stop being so paranoid."

I looked up at him.

The diamond ring on his finger caught the light.

Floating right above it were the words:

"Owner: Xavier Vance."

Suddenly, I had nothing to say.

So it wasn't just Sienna.

Even her father had accepted gifts from Xavier Vance.

Mike grew uncomfortable under my gaze and quickly hid his hand behind his back.

In that split second, I knew. He knew exactly who Xavier Vance was.

I asked quietly, "Mike, that ring looks expensive. Who bought it for you?"

Mike's face flushed. "I bought it myself."

Sienna stepped in front of him. "Leo, don't take your anger out on Mike."

I stared at her. "I'm just asking who Xavier Vance is."

This time, she didn't answer immediately.

After a long pause, she whispered, "He's an investor in our company."

"He's been helping me a lot lately, and he sent some gifts. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to overthink things."

How thoughtful.

Even her lies were packaged as "protecting my feelings."

I walked to the nursery door.

My son, Jonah, was lying in that light-wood crib. His tiny hands were balled into fists, and his face was red from crying.

Above the headboard, those words floated silently:

"Owner: Xavier Vance."

I turned back to Sienna.

"Throw that crib out tomorrow."

Her brow twitched. "The baby is sleeping fine. Why do you have to make a scene?"

"My son is not sleeping in another man's things."

Mike immediately raised his voice. "Leo, are you insane? That's an expensive, imported crib! You're just going to throw it away?"

I stared straight at Sienna, pronouncing every word clearly. "I'm not the one who's insane."

"Xavier Vance's things have crossed the line."

Just as she was about to speak, her phone rang.

The screen lit up.

Caller ID: Xavier Vance.