Chapter 488: Sienna Froze Mid-step

Sienna froze mid-step. Her knees hit the marble floor with a sharp crack.

"Mr. Harrington," she whispered, voice trembling. "Please...I want to live. I'm not ready to die." Her hands clenched into fists on her thighs. "I only reconciled with my parents five years ago. They have no other children. I can't leave them like this."

Lucas turned at the sound of her collapse. His eyes narrowed as he took in her crumpled form kneeling before him. He reached down, fingers closing around her arm to pull her up.

"Valerie drugged you?"

"Yes." The word came out choked. "This afternoon. She gave me your address. Helped me get past Willowcrest Estate's security." Her gaze dropped, unable to meet his. "She said...she said no one could develop an antidote. That I'd need monthly doses to survive. If I told you, the worst you'd do is kill her...but I'd suffer forever."

Lucas's expression darkened. His jaw tightened. Not only had Valerie targeted Sienna, but she'd dragged this innocent woman into her schemes? "Go home," he commanded, voice low. "I'll handle this."

"Thank you." Relief washed over her features. "Thank you so much." She bowed deeply before turning to leave.

Lucas watched her retreating figure, his gaze heavy with unspoken thoughts. This woman had endured so much pain...and he was the unwitting cause of it all.

"Dominic," he said without turning. "Watch her. And dig deeper into her situation."

"Yes, sir."

Meanwhile, inside the manor...

After Lucas and Sophia left for the gardens, Noah tugged Sienna toward the window. He pressed a pair of sleek, high-tech earbuds into her palm. "Put these on, Mommy. They'll pick up their conversation from here." Sienna shook her head. "Noah, we can't. This is an invasion of privacy."

"But Daddy's family!" Noah insisted, his small face serious. "We have a right to know what's happening. You're his wife. This isn't spying—it's understanding him better. How can we be a happy family if we don't understand each other?"

Before she could protest further, he slipped the earbuds into her ears. Sienna tried to remove them, but Noah held her hands firmly in his. She had no choice but to listen. The voices came through crisp and clear. But then Noah heard something he shouldn't have. His eyes widened. "Mommy, take them off! Now!" He released her hands, suddenly frantic. But it was too late. Sienna had heard everything. Every devastating word. Her world tilted. An invisible hand seemed to squeeze her heart, stealing her breath.

That fragile, gentle woman...was the one Lucas had slept with? Noah's biological mother?