Sienna had a wide grin on her face when she stepped into the living room. Lina was nowhere in sight, which meant she must be in her room.

"Uh huh. How can I forget about her?" She muttered as she noticed Ruby sitting in the living room, curled into the corner of the couch.

Sienna paused mid-step and frowned, watching Ruby, "Is everything alright?" Ruby’s face was pale, and now she could see dried tears on her cheeks.

Ruby gave a small shrug, then avoided eye contact as she picked at her nail, "Nothing is alright, Sia."

Sienna walked past her, picking up her phone from the table, "What’s going on?" Sienna turned to face her.

Ruby sighed and then suddenly laughed under it, like she didn’t know where to begin, "Tom..." She pressed her lips together, "He’s not normal, Sia."

Sienna leaned against the edge of the table and folded her arms, "Explain," She stated innocently, though she knew perfectly well what was going on in her sister’s life.

Ruby raised her hand and showed her the wrist where there was a faint mark, "He keeps losing his temper. Over nothing... over everything. The moment I utter a single word, he’s ready to grab me, hit me, or lock me in the bathroom. He treats me like..." She shook her head, "Like I’m nothing but a piece of garbage."

Sienna was aware that she was telling the truth because in her past life, she had borne all the shit coming from Tom.

Something cold settled in her heart. Ruby’s injuries were nothing compared to what she did to her and her daughter in her previous life.

"I’m sorry," Sienna shrugged, faking pain and concern on her face, "I thought you two were... in love, that was why you chose him. I was happy for you."

Ruby shook her head and chuckled, "I thought that too. I was mistaken," She raised her shoulders, smiling helplessly, "He doesn’t love me... he cares for his mistresses more than me..." she trailed off as her voice turned teary.

Without saying anything, Sienna walked to the side counter cabinet, picked up a bottle of water, and took a sip, "So," she glanced back at Ruby, "What do you want from me?"

Ruby straightened, as if she had been waiting for it, "I don’t have a proper place to stay. The one my director is offering is so...pathetic..." She got quiet, and Sienna was impressed by her sister’s dramatic scenario she was creating.

Sienna nodded at her, "Okay."

"My shoots are on hold right now, and after that I won’t be dependent on you..."Ruby was telling her the same story, and Sienna knew what was ahead and what to expect.

This was the exact same excuse Ruby used in her past life.

"Can I crash at your place?" Sienna acted as if she were shocked.

"My place?"

Ruby nodded, "Yes. Once my producer pays me an advance, I can stand on my two feet. I don’t exactly have other options, and I don’t want to go back to Tom."

In her last life, she complained that Hunter was abusive. Now, Sienna knew it was all a lie.

Silence filled the room as she heard what Ruby said next, "I also want to join our father’s office," She tried to smile, "That’s my office too, and I want to support myself financially until the movie starts."

Sienna narrowed her eyes, trying to look through her. This was something unexpected. Her grip tightened on her bottle, "You mean... you want to join my office?"

Sienna wanted to get it through Ruby’s thick skull that the office didn’t belong to their father anymore.

Moreover, she was aware Ruby didn’t know a thing about office work. She was just here to get in as George’s spy.

In her past life, Ruby wanted to live under her roof to destroy her life, but this time she wanted both her home and her office.

"Arrange a place of your own, Ruby," Sienna said straightaway, "Hunter won’t like it," Yeah. It was an easy excuse.

Let’s put everything on Hunter.

"But I can sure let you work in my office," She smiled, "It’s only for one month. Right?"

Ruby’s smile shook a little, "Yeah. Just one month," She raised her shoulder, feigning innocence, "Please, sister. I don’t have anyone except you."

***

Hunter had been sitting on the couch in one position for a while. He hadn’t even changed the channel. His eyes were on the screen, where they were first showing a rom-com, and now there was a cooking show.

Brian was watching him from the kitchen as he cleared his throat, "Hunter. You don’t look alright to me.

But Hunter didn’t answer him.

Brian tossed his apron on the counter and scurried towards the couch, "Wow," he said, sitting beside him, "Very... informative indeed."

With a frustrated sigh, Hunter picked up the remote and changed the channel. Brian leaned slightly, studying his face, "So, ma’am won’t be home tonight!" He said more to himself.

Hunter hummed in answer, his eyes were still glued to the TV.

Brian tried to keep his face straight, "Doesn’t this house ... feel... empty?" 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Umm hmm."

Brian glanced around, making a face, "No noise. No arguments. Isn’t it very peaceful?"

"Hmm."

Brian narrowed his eyes slightly, "Looks like someone is missing his wife."

This time, Hunter peeled his eyes off the screen and shot him a glare, "I’m not missing her!"

"Oh," Brian curved down his lips, "Then why are you acting like a lost puppy as if someone abandoned you?"

Hunter fixed him with a cold look, "Can you stop talking?"

Brian bit back the smile tugging at his lips. Hunter was indeed missing Sienna, but looked too scared to admit it. He bent towards Hunter and whispered, "Say her name. Sometimes it helps."

Hunter wanted to strangle his neck. He was trying to decide if he should punch Brian’s face or fire him on the spot.

Both of them looked at each other when they heard the knock.

"I’ll get it," Hunter jumped off the couch, thinking it must be Sienna, "Brian. We should give her an extra pair of keys."

Brian nodded, watching him walk away with a faint smirk on his lips. Hunter reached the door and pulled it open without much thought.

He was stunned to find Ruby standing there as surprise flashed across his face.

"Hello, Hunter," Ruby smiled, "Can I come in? Please?"