Chapter 248: The Last Day

The plan with Ava wasn’t final yet, and she still needed to discuss everything with her first. Besides, investing in a restaurant with Ava was completely different from building a company with Zoey.

She wasn’t looking for another demanding career.

She simply wanted to enjoy a quieter life while doing something she loved.

"Zoey," Sienna explained gently, "my friend and I just want to invest in a small restaurant because she loves cooking, and I do too. It’s a small business, a simple one." She smiled sheepishly. "It’s really not the kind of business that matches someone of your caliber."

Zoey laughed at her answer. "You really know how to turn down an offer nicely."

Sienna laughed along with her. "I’m just telling it as it is."

"But if you ever change your mind and decide to start another business in the future, please give your sister-in-law a call first before anyone else."

"I will," Sienna promised with a smile. "You’ll be the first person I tell about it. Well, maybe the second, after Zach."

The conversation naturally shifted to work.

They spent the next several minutes discussing when Sienna planned to officially leave the company and how the transition could be handled smoothly so the department wouldn’t be affected. Since Sienna had always taken her responsibilities seriously, she wanted to make sure everything was properly handed over before her last day.

Zoey respected that decision and agreed to help make the resignation process as smooth as possible.

When there was nothing left to discuss, Zoey finally stood up. "I’ll let you get back to work now," she said with a warm smile.

Sienna stood as well and walked her to the office door.

"Thank you for coming."

"No," Zoey replied with a gentle smile. "Thank you... for accepting my apology."

Sienna smiled and nodded.

After Zoey left the office, Sienna stood quietly for a few moments before returning to her desk.

A gentle smile remained on her face as she sat down.

Her heart felt unexpectedly light.

She had never imagined that everything could change so quickly. Yesterday, she had been worried that Zoey would never accept her. Today, they had spoken comfortably, laughed together, and even discussed future plans.

Most of all, Sienna felt deeply grateful.

Her husband’s sister had finally accepted her as part of the family, and knowing that filled her heart with warmth. It also gave her hope that, little by little, the rest of Zachary’s family might one day accept her just as sincerely.

...

The Last Day of June.

Over the past week, Sienna had been busy completing her transition period, preparing for the end of her career at the Imperial Hotel.

The news of her resignation hadn’t surprised her best friends. They had all expected it from the moment they learned she was dating Zachary Sterling. To them, it had only been a matter of time before she chose a different path.

The person who was happiest about her resignation, however, wasn’t Zachary.

It was Skylar.

Ever since Sienna had told him she would soon be staying home full-time, the little boy had enthusiastically planned out their daily schedule together.

Slowly, her mind drifted to her conversation with her son:

"Mommy, on Monday, after breakfast, you’ll come with me to Math class. After that, we’ll go to my Foreign Language class. I have two language classes on Monday—Chinese and Portuguese."

Sienna smiled warmly as she listened to him.

"Okay," she replied. "What about Tuesday?"

Skylar tapped his head with one finger as though searching through his memory. A moment later, his eyes lit up.

"On Tuesday, you need to watch me practice basketball. After that, I have History class, and in the afternoon, I have Horseback Riding."

Sienna widened her eyes dramatically.

"Wow, young man, why is your schedule so packed?"

Although she already knew his routine, she couldn’t resist teasing him.

Skylar looked at her with complete seriousness and shook his head.

"No, Mom. It’s not packed. When I’m at school, I study even more than this."

His earnest expression made Sienna smile even wider. To everyone else, he might have looked like a miniature adult. However, to her, he was still an adorable little boy trying very hard to sound mature.

He looked at her expectantly before saying, "So, Mommy, promise me you’ll come to every one of my classes."

Sienna gently pinched his cheek. "I promise, little boss."

The memory made her laugh softly without realizing it.

Sitting beside her in the back seat, Zachary looked away from the documents on his iPad and frowned slightly. He had been quietly watching her gaze out the window when she suddenly started laughing to herself.

"My wife," he asked with an amused smile, "what’s making you laugh, dear?"

His voice pulled Sienna out of her thoughts.

She turned away from the passing view outside the window and looked at him.

"I was thinking about Skylar and his busy schedule."

Zachary raised an eyebrow. "Hmm? What schedule?"

Sienna smiled before telling him about the conversation she had shared with Skylar a few days earlier. She explained how excited their son had been after hearing she would become a full-time mother and how he had carefully arranged a weekly schedule for her so she could accompany him to every lesson and activity.

By the time she finished, Zachary was already chuckling.

"So," he said with a grin, "he’s your boss now."

Sienna laughed and nodded.

"Hmm, he is." She leaned comfortably against her seat. "And I can’t believe my schedule is going to be busier than it was when I worked at the Imperial Hotel."

Zachary laughed even harder. "I think he’s making sure you won’t get bored."

"I think so too."

Although Skylar’s carefully planned schedule sounded exhausting, Sienna couldn’t help feeling excited about it. Every activity he had listed reminded her of all the moments she had missed while she was away from him. Now, she finally had the chance to be there for him, not only as his mother but also as someone who could watch him grow every single day.

That thought alone made every sacrifice feel worthwhile.