Thinking about revenge was easy, but facing your abuser in person was something else.
Tom came and hugged Ruby, who was quick to step into his arms without hesitation. Snaking her arm around his waist, she was clinging to him like a leech.
Her parents were meeting their soon-to-be son-in-law, introducing him to their relatives. There was a smile playing on his lips as he presented Mr. and Mrs. Mason a gold souvenir, a token from his family.
"Mom said it's the perfect gift for her future daughter-in-law's parents," Sienna held her breath when she heard his familiar voice.
He had always been a charmer who thought that people loved him and were crazy about him for his looks and money. He thought he could buy people easily at the click of his fingers.
Breathe, Sia. Breathe. Don't panic.
"And… what have we got here…" Sienna raised her eyes and found him looking straight at her. The smile on his face vanished as their eyes met.
"Is she…" Tom frowned in confusion.
"Sienna," Ruby tightened her arm around him, "My elder sister. Didn't I tell you?"
Very slowly, without breaking eye contact, he removed Ruby's arm, leaving her stunned, and started walking towards Sienna.
Sienna gulped hard and prayed for a miracle. For a savior.
She couldn't even stand up from her seat. Tom smirked, thinking that she found him so attractive that she couldn't look away.
"All this time, where were you, beautiful?" He bent ahead to reach her eye level, "Why didn't you meet me first?" Now he was serious as he looked into her eyes and pinched her delicate chin with full force.
Sienna stopped herself from wincing. She didn't want to give him the impression that she was scared of him.
He was someone who enjoyed inflicting pain on those weaker than him.
Her chin seemed to crack under the pressure of his strong hold. He was doing it intentionally. Sienna moved her eyes to look at her sister, who was standing there with a pale face.
"Tom," George Mason chimed in, in an embarrassed tone, "Why don't you take a seat, son?"
Tom, who didn't seem to have any desire to let her go, at last, straightened and scurried to sit beside Ruby, whose tense smile was now back on her face.
"George Mason," Tom's condescending voice appeared in the room, "Why was your other daughter kept hidden from me? I don't think your other son-in-law is as wealthy as me. Shouldn't I be the first one to get a glimpse of both sisters and choose the one I like?"
A hush fell in the room after his remark. Ruby was looking at her as if she had a hand in it.
Huh! The audacity!
Sienna thought with cold rage, burning in her chest. Her chin still hurt from his touch, and she wanted to break it free from her face.
None of them knew that she had already married Hunter, and now nothing could be done. In her previous life, Tom had made it clear that he would have chosen her because to him, she was like a little lamb who was too innocent to fight anyone. He often used to call her my pet.
Their relatives were now seated quietly, maybe secretly enjoying the show while Ruby's face was getting redder in insult with each passing moment.
"Hey, Sia," Tom called her silkily, leaning back in his chair, "It's you I want to marry, darling. It's either you or no one," He then turned to her father, "George. My business offer will stay on the table if you let me marry her. Or consider me out."
Her parents were staring at Tom, open-mouthed. No one was expecting this turn of events except Sienna.
"Okay," George Mason spoke hurriedly with a strained smile, "Take Sienna. Both my daughters are equal to me."
"Daddy!" Ruby tried to argue and got up from her seat.
Sienna felt like she was sitting on the counter of a utility store, and the customer wanted to buy her at any cost.
She cleared her throat and batted her lashes innocently, "It's not possible, Papa."
"What do you mean?" Tom slapped his hand on the table, making everyone around it wince, "How dare you speak when I'm having this discussion with your father?" He raised his voice.
If she were the old Sienna, she would have peed her pants. But this one was not a coward.
"I'm asking you something," Tom asked her again, "Why can't I marry you, Sienna?"
"Because I already married her," A deep voice spoke from the doorway, making everyone turn their heads in his direction.
Suddenly, several gasps erupted in the room.
"Good God. Who is he?"
"Who is this Greek God?"
"Is he Hunter Levisay? The said heir of the Levisay group?"
Hunter was standing there, leaning casually against the doorframe. Though he was still wearing shades, his presence seemed a little intimidating, something Sienna never felt in her previous life.
He was dressed in a dark turtleneck that fitted his body perfectly. Over it, he was wearing a blazer and paired it with espresso brown trousers.
Hunter pushed against the frame and walked inside, "Hello, wife," The corner of his mouth curled a little as he leaned ahead and gave a quick peck on Sienna's lips, taking everyone by surprise. He pressed a bouquet into her hands that had White Orchids.
Sienna was taken by surprise, "There was no need for these… I mean…"
"Save it," His gaze held hers, "You're worth the trouble, wife."
"What?" A flicker crossed George Mason's eyes, "You married him?" He asked Sienna sternly, "Why would you do that without informing us?"
Because I knew you would hand me over to Tom like a trophy.
Thanks to Ruby, who gave her the chance to escape Tom's clutches.
She thought to herself, looking for suitable words that sound convincing, but Hunter seemed to know her hesitation, "I asked her, Mr. George Mason, and I take full responsibility for it."
Sienna froze.
She never wanted Hunter to take the blame, and here he was. Making it sound like he was the one who desperately wanted this marriage.
"Why, Sienna?" Her mother demanded, "How can you marry him without our blessings?"
Hunter ran a gaze over the audience and shrugged casually before taking his seat beside Sienna, "I didn't want anyone to claim her, and I'm not a fool to let her go."
Sienna's relatives seemed impressed. Her parents kept staring at him until Ruby asked them in an amused voice to take seats and start eating.
Tom didn't seem to take it well, but now Ruby had started filling up his plate, "Have you brought something for our parents-in-law, Hunter?" Tom asked him with a sarcastic grin, making everyone realize that the other son-in-law was empty-handed.
"Yeah," Hunter smiled, "I've got something," His hand vanished inside his pocket as he took out an envelope and placed it in front of George Mason, "Yacht passes. Sienna told me how you both love yachts a lot," He straightened, and Sienna could feel people's curious gazes, "Access across Europe, crew included, zero waiting."
Mrs. Mariana Mason's mouth was wide open, along with her eyes, when she opened the envelope; two large, glassy cards fell out of it.
Her front teeth were missing. They always had been, ever since Sienna could remember. She had been told it was because her mother once fell down the stairs.
Now she wondered if that had ever been true.
"Wow," Her mom whispered. Now there was a drool on Mr. and Mrs. Mason's faces.
Poor Ruby seemed surprised because Hunter brought nothing when he came to meet her in her first life.
"How are you?" Hunter asked Sienna as he sat beside her, and she smiled faintly, turning to him.
"I'm good. We were just…" She trailed off when she saw him staring at her face, "What happened?"
Hunter leaned ahead and then touched her chin gently, "Who did this?"
"What?" She asked in confusion, but winced in pain when Hunter touched the spot that was grabbed by Tom a few minutes earlier.
"Who did it?" He was dead serious when he repeated his question. She chuckled, trying to shrug it off, but he asked her again, "Was it him?"
Sienna knew who he was asking about.
"Oh. Leave it, Hunter. It's just a minor…"
Hunter must have guessed because he tossed the napkin on the table and got to his feet. Everyone's eyes rose as they saw his distinguished figure walking to the chair where Tom was sitting.
He took the other seat next to Tom and tapped his shoulder. Tom turned his head, still half listening to Ruby, when Hunter pinched his chin with full force, "Nice meeting you, Tom," he was smiling openly, and Sienna could see pain in Tom's eyes.
A rare sight.
"I'm … fine…" Tom tried to get rid of his hand, but Hunter didn't budge. He made it look like he was happy meeting his brother-in-law.
"Good. I'm so happy that, at last, we are part of the same family," Sienna could tell that Hunter's grip on Tom's chin was slowly increasing, making Tom more uncomfortable.
No one else at the table could feel the tension. Not even in his wildest dreams did Tom ever expect such kind of treatment from anyone. He always considered himself the king of the world.
"We should meet some day for a drink. Just us … two brothers. What do you say?" Hunter suggested with the same wide smile.
Sienna's father released a slow breath when he saw his sons-in-law opening up to each other. The earlier tension in his jaw loosened a bit.
This time, Tom didn't respond and kept staring at Hunter with a poker face. Hunter suddenly let go of his chin and then leaned forward to kiss Tom's cheek, "See you soon, bro," He left the seat and came back next to his wife.
Though Sienna wanted to act innocent throughout dinner, a trace of a smile stayed on her face.
The way Hunter fought for her made her feel things she didn't want to feel.