Sienna bit her lower lip and voiced her distress, "Can you persuade Mom to stop using her life as leverage against me?"


    "I wish I could, but Mom is unwavering. Every time she threatens to end her life, she means it," Felixmented, shaking his head with resignation.


    Sienna fell into silence. She couldn''t selfishly pursue her desires at the expense of Shelly''s life for the sake of love.


    She held onto the belief in time''s healing power, knowing she would eventually release Daniel, let go of their rtionship, and rebuild her life. Love hadn''t blinded her.


    Dayster, Felix was discharged, and life resumed its rhythm. Sienna delved into writing, assisting Shelly at the shop, dabbling in cooking now and then, and unwinding with her closest friend. One day, Jane reached out and invited Sienna to a high school reunion.


    Sienna, often away for work, rarely attended such gatherings. Being back in her hometown this year, she thought it would be nice to catch up with her long-lost ssmates.


    In a private room of a grand hotel, a lively group of men and women of simr ages filled arge round table. Some were married with children, others were newlyweds, and some were still single. Sienna and Jane, both single, caught the attention of their male peers, especially considering their outstanding looks and figures.


    Amidughter and banter, an unexpected revtion broke the air. "Back in the day, Howard harbored a crush on Sienna for years. Now that he''s divorced, could it be because of his lingering feelings for her?" Caught mid-bite, Sienna nced up in shock at the man who spoke.


    The former ss monitor, now a sessful corporate manager, raised his ss and addressed Sienna directly, "Sienna, rumor has it you''re still single. Does Howard stand a chance?" Sienna''s nerves fluttered as she stole a nce at Howard Collins. Howard''s gaze, gentle yet tinged with bashfulness, met hers.


    Recently divorced, childless, with a stable career in the field of information technology, Howard exuded a quiet charm that matched his handsome appearance. Both of them hailed from the same town, with families acquainted and backgrounds intertwined.


    Sienna, feeling the weight of the attention, offered a strained smile. "Let''s not tease."


    "Howard, do you think this is a joke?" The former monitor chuckled heartily.


    Howard, with a warm smile, boldly confessed, "No. I''ve admired Siennal since middle school. I never found the courage to confess until after college, but by then, we''d gone our separate ways."


    Excitement rippled through the room.


    "Isn''t the chance here?" The male ssmates rallied around Howard, refilling his ss and urging him toward Sienna.


    The female ssmates, too, joined the matchmaking efforts to pair Sienna and Howard together.


    Feeling embarrassed and awkward, Sienna reluctantly clinked sses with Howard and added his contact. They were even seated together.


    Throughout the rest of the reunion, their ssmates continued their matchmaking endeavors.


    As they left the hotel, everyone hailed cabs. They couldn''t drive because they had been drinking.


    Jane was whisked away by someone else, leaving Sienna and Howard to share a ride home, given they were from the same town.


    Alone in the car, Sienna grappled


    with the awkwardness, unsure


    è it. Howard, reserved bet


    nature, remained silent during the


    ride.


    Under the dim glow of streetlights, they walked side by side upon reaching town.


    "Sienna, would you like to go see a movie together tomorrow? There''s a really good one showing." Howard gathered his courage. With the thoughts of pursuing Sienna he


    suggested a movie date.


    Sienna smiled faintly, responding without hesitation, "Howard, I''m sorry, but my heart belongs to someone else."


    Taken aback, Howard remarked, "Jane mentioned you were single."Owned by N?velDrama.Org.