Zachary’s words caught her completely off guard.

For a moment, Sienna stared at him, stunned by the directness of his words.

And the worst part? He wasn’t wrong. She knew for sure she had changed.

She had become more careful, more reserved, more aware of every word and every movement. Somewhere along the way, she had placed a distance between them without even realizing it.

Slowly, a quiet guilt settled in her chest. As if a weight had been pointed out rather than placed there.

She exhaled silently, her shoulders relaxing as something inside her shifted.

This time, she didn’t refuse him. She walked over and sat down, leaving just one empty stool between them. A small distance that felt both intentional and unnecessary at the same time.

"I’m sorry if I appear careful around you," she admitted after a moment, her voice softer now. "You are right, since last night, I see you as my boss..."

"Yes, I could see that clearly," he said calmly, looking at her. "There’s no reason to be nervous around me, Sienna. Just like when we had dinner for the first time..."

There was no pressure in his tone. No command either, just a genuine request.

She looked at him for a second longer before nodding with a smile, "I will try..."

"That’s good to hear," His tone calm but carrying a quiet insistence that made Sienna feel like she had just agreed to something much bigger than a simple change in how she addressed him and carried herself around him.

Once again, a small silence settled between them, but it no longer felt heavy or awkward. Instead, it stretched gently, like a pause that allowed both of them to breathe.

Sienna lifted her cup and took another sip of her latte, letting the warmth steady her.

Her eyes drifted toward the large window beside the kitchen. Morning light poured in without hesitation, painting everything in soft gold. It felt too beautiful to ignore.

She shifted slightly on her stool, angling her body toward the view, her earlier nervousness slowly melting.

"It’s really beautiful," she said, almost as if she were speaking to herself.

Zachary followed her gaze, though his expression suggested he had seen this view many times before.

"The villa?"

She nodded. "I didn’t really notice it yesterday. Everything was... overwhelming." She gave a small, self-aware smile. "But now that I actually look at it..."

Outside, the garden stretched wide and full of life. Flowers bloomed... soft pinks, bright yellows, deep reds, they all swaying gently as if they were part of a silent conversation with the wind.

Beyond that, the infinity pool shimmered like a mirror, its edge disappearing into a vast sea of greenery.

"It doesn’t even feel real," she added. "Like... if I stare too long, I might forget I have responsibilities."

Zachary let out a quiet laugh. "That happens."

She turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? Frequently?"

"More than I’d like to admit," he replied, leaning back slightly. "That’s why I come here often."

"With Sky?" she asked, remembering what he had said earlier.

"Hm. Once a month. It’s our thing, and we’re looking forward to it."

"Only once a month...?" she asked before she could stop herself, her tone carrying a hint of concern.

Zachary didn’t seem offended. Instead, he looked like he expected that question. "Work keeps me busy," he said simply. "Too busy."

Sienna rested her elbow lightly on the counter, her fingers curling around her cup. "So this place is... your escape?"

"Something like that," he said. Then, after a short pause, "More like compensation."

She tilted her head slightly. "That sounds serious."

"It is," he replied, though there was a faint, almost self-mocking smile on his lips. "I don’t get to spend much time with him during the month. Meetings, deadlines, flights..." He exhaled slowly. "So when we’re here, I try to make it count."

Sienna watched him quietly, noticing the shift in his tone. It wasn’t dramatic, but it was real.

"You are a good dad, Zach..." She genuinely praised him.

She also grew curious about Skylar’s mother. "Where is she?" she wanted to ask, but of course, those words only lingered in her mind.

Then, his voice broke the silence, "I try—"

Sienna gazed at him. She watched him lower his gaze toward his latte. "What do you usually do together?" she asked carefully.

"In summer and autumn, we go hiking," he said. "There are trails nearby. Sky likes to pretend he’s exploring an unknown land."

Sienna smiled. "Of course he does."

"He brings a stick," Zachary added, completely serious. "Calls it his ’expedition tool.’"

She laughed, covering her mouth slightly. "That sounds very official."

"It is," he said. "Apparently, it has multiple functions."

"I’m almost afraid to ask."

"According to him, it can be a walking stick, a weapon, and sometimes... a pointer for important discoveries."

Sienna shook her head, her laughter growing softer but warmer. "He’s adorable."

Zachary’s expression softened at that. "He is."

"And how about in winter?"

"We go skiing," he said. "He falls a lot."

"That’s part of the experience," she teased.

"He claims he’s practicing advanced techniques."

"Of course he does," she echoed, amused.

The conversation flowed more easily now, the earlier stiffness between them fading into something natural.

After a moment, Sienna glanced around the kitchen again, then back toward the window. "This place must take a lot of work to maintain," she said. "Do you handle everything yourself?"

Zachary let out a quiet scoff. "If I did, this place would be a disaster."

She smiled, recalling that last night he said he might break the dishwasher. "That’s reassuring."

"There are a few people who live a few miles from here," he explained. "They take care of the villa. Cleaning, garden, maintenance. They come when needed."

"That makes sense," she nodded. "Otherwise, those flowers would probably rebel."

"They almost did once," he said.

She blinked. "You’re serious?"

"I skipped coming here for a while," he admitted. "Came back and the garden looked like it was planning revenge."

Sienna laughed. "I would have loved to see that."

"I didn’t," he replied dryly. "It was terrifying."

She smiled, then hesitated slightly before asking, "So... what about the cooking?"

"I have a chef," Zachary said.