Chapter 318: I Can’t Give Up Now!

"That makes me happy." Sienna smiled warmly. "I just want you two to live a happy and peaceful life."

"We do," Maya said. "And now that you’re living in the same city, you’d better visit us often. I don’t want you to disappear from us again for years."

Sienna laughed softly.

"I won’t. I promise..."

Their conversation continued for a while, becoming lighter as they talked about everyday things, Skylar, the school, and their plans for the future.

Sienna felt increasingly reluctant to leave, especially after finally having the chance to spend time with Maya and Jimmy. She had missed these simple family moments more than she had realized.

Eventually, Zachary and Jimmy approached them from the living room. Their conversation seemed to have come to an end, and Jimmy looked much more relaxed than he had been when Zachary first arrived.

Sienna glanced at the clock and suddenly realized how late it had become.

"Oh, it’s already this late?" she asked, surprised. "We should probably go."

Maya looked toward the clock and sighed. "You’re leaving already?"

"I think so. Skylar will be too tired if we don’t..."

Maya nodded, although she clearly wasn’t happy to see them leave so soon.

Sienna stood and walked over, giving her aunt another warm embrace. "Thank you for today, Aunty. I had a really good time."

"I’m the one who should thank you," Maya replied, hugging her niece tightly. "You finally came to visit us, and you brought Skylar and your husband too. I’m so happy I got to meet them."

Sienna smiled as she pulled back.

"Next time, I’ll invite you, Uncle, and my cousins to our house. You should come over and spend some time with us."

Maya’s face immediately brightened.

"Really? Of course! I’d love that."

Jimmy, who had been standing nearby, nodded in agreement.

"We’d be happy to come."

"Then it’s settled," Sienna said with a smile. "I’ll arrange it soon."

Maya turned to Skylar, who stood beside Zachary. "Come here, little Sky. Give Grandaunt a hug before you leave."

Skylar happily walked over and hugged Maya.

"Thank you for the pie, Grandaunt. It was really delicious."

Maya laughed and hugged him back. "I’ll make more for you next time you visit."

Skylar immediately looked pleased. "Then I want to come again soon."

Sienna smiled at their conversation before turning to Jimmy.

"Goodbye, Uncle. Take care of Aunty for me."

"Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of her. You take care of yourself too, and don’t work too hard."

"I will."

After saying their final goodbyes, Sienna took Skylar’s hand and walked toward the door with Zachary. Maya and Jimmy followed them to see them off.

Before stepping out, Sienna turned around one last time and smiled at her aunt and uncle. "I’ll see you soon."

"We’ll be waiting," Maya replied happily.

Sienna nodded, then finally left the apartment with her little family. As they walked down the hallway, she felt a deep sense of satisfaction and happiness.

...

In one of the luxury penthouses in the middle of the city, Jessica Simmons stood in front of the television, her face turning red as she listened to the news about Zachary Sterling.

"What!? He announced his marriage?"

Her voice trembled with anger. Her hand clenched tightly at her side as she fought the urge to grab something and throw it at the flat-screen television.

She stared at the screen for several seconds, hoping that somehow she had misunderstood what the news anchor had said. But the report continued, confirming that Zachary Sterling, CEO of Sterling Capital, had officially announced that he was married.

Jessica’s jaw tightened. She turned away from the television and began pacing across the living room, biting her thumb as she tried to think.

She had carefully planned everything she intended to do next. She had thought through every step and every opportunity she needed to create to get closer to Zachary again.

Now, however, everything had become more complicated because his marital status was no longer a secret.

"Damn it, Zach! Do you really love that woman?" she muttered angrily. "Why did you suddenly announce your marriage?"

She took a deep breath and finally dropped onto the sofa, her legs feeling weak from the frustration that had been building inside her. She stared at the television again, her thoughts becoming more restless.

"Should I give up on him?"

Jessica shook her head almost immediately. The thought of giving up on Zachary was unacceptable to her. No matter how difficult things had become, she still believed there was a chance for her to get him back.

"No. I can’t give up now! I won’t!"

She straightened herself on the sofa and took another deep breath. Her mind returned to the plan she had already prepared.

"I need to continue with the plan. Everything is already set and ready to roll. I only need to execute it when he goes on his business trip."

Her eyes narrowed as she thought about what she intended to do.

"I’ll create an opportunity to sleep with him. That’s the only way I can steal him back from that damn bitch, Sienna."

The gloomy expression that had been covering Jessica’s face slowly disappeared. The more she thought about her plan, the more confident she became.

She had already prepared everything; she just needed the right opportunity to put it into action. If she could get close enough to Zachary again, she believed she could remind him of what they had once shared.

"Zach, I know you still love me. I know you do," she whispered, almost as though he were sitting beside her. "You only made that announcement because you were angry...I came to meet her without telling you, right? You must have been upset because of that."

A small seductive smile formed on her lips as she imagined seeing Zachary again at the conference a week later. In her mind, she could already picture his reaction when they finally stood face-to-face after everything that had happened.

"You’ll see me again, Zach," she murmured affectionately. "And when you do, you’ll remember how much you loved me."