Caught In His Embrace: A Second Chance Romance

Sienna paid no attention and stormed into the living room.

"Sienna." Larry's smile faltered, tinged with unease. "It's so late. Is something wrong?"

"Where's Conner?" Sienna didn't even look at Larry. She walked straight up to Tania and demanded, "Where are you hiding him?"

"I have no idea what you're barking about," Tania flatly denied. "I should be asking you. Conner went to the hospital with you, and now he's gone. Where did you take him? Where's my son?"

"What's going on? What are you two talking about?" Larry was utterly confused.

"Cut the act," Sienna said, paying Larry no heed. Her eyes were reddened, and her voice choked with anger. "The surveillance camera at the hospital entrance recorded Conner getting into your car."

"What?" Tania's eyes widened in shock-she hadn't expected them to find out so quickly. She crossed her arms and lifted her chin.

"Conner's my son. What's wrong with him getting into my car?"

"So it's true?" Larry interjected. "Why did you hide Conner?"

"You be quiet!" Tania glared at Larry. "So now you only care about Sienna and not Conner? Why should my son have to donate his bone marrow to your daughter's child?"

The words hit like a hammer-an open admission. "Tania, where is Conner?" Sienna asked, her voice choked with emotion. Her long lashes trembled violently, and tears welled up in her reddened eyes. "Joyce's surgery is imminent."noveldrama

"Not my problem," Tania said, her gaze as cold as a blade.

"Whether Joyce lives or dies, don't even think about blaming me for it."

As Tania spoke, she raised a hand to cover her mouth and let out a lazy yawn. "It's the middle of the night. I need my sleep. Get out."

"Tania," Larry said as he glanced at Sienna. He couldn't bear to watch. "Conner agreed to donate the bone marrow of his own free will. Where have you hidden him?"

"Shut up!" Tania's anger intensified when Larry spoke up. His words only added fuel to the fire.

Tania glared at Sienna. "That's right, I hid Conner. I won't let him donate his bone marrow. So don't even think about it-I'll never tell you where he is."

Sienna fell silent.

A chilling numbness spread through Sienna's heart, seeping into her bones like an icy tide.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Tania sneered venomously.

"Is Joyce about to die? Then let me give you some advice-stop wasting time here. Go home, prepare for her funeral, and make sure she has a grand send-off."

"Tania," Sienna roared, glaring at Tania with bloodshot eyes that looked as if they were about to pop out of their sockets.

Tania tilted her chin and let out a peal of triumphant laughter.

"Angry, are you? But do you even have the right to be? Do you remember what you said when I knelt before you, begging you to save Conner?"

Sienna recalled what she had said, 'Just a child born out of wedlock. Better off dead.' Suddenly, Sienna's body stiffened. She squeezed her eyes shut as she remembered what she had said before.

Tania shot Sienna a sidelong glance, her eyes brimming with undisguised hatred. "Did you never think this day would come?

This is karma."

Sienna clenched her fists, speechless. Those were the very words she had uttered back then when she refused to give Conner part of her liver. Not a single syllable was different. She suddenly lifted her gaze, locking eyes with Tania.

"Hate it, do you?" Tania scoffed. "But what can you do about it..."

Before Tania could finish her sentence, Sienna's knees buckled, and she dropped to the floor. She placed her palms flat on the cold ground, then bent forward, lowering her forehead until it touched the floorboards.

Sienna's voice quivered with desperation as she begged, "It was my fault. I was wrong. I beg you-tell me where Conner is. I'm begging you. Please..."

Sienna wouldn't hesitate to give her life for Joyce, let alone kneel.

Tania looked at Sienna coldly, unmoved. "Now you come begging me? It's too

late." She turned and strode upstairs. "Get out. Get out of my house."

"Tania..." through..."

Larry looked at Tania and then at Sienna, feeling utterly torn. He turned to help Sienna up. "Sienna, get up. Let's talk this Sienna looked up abruptly at Larry and grabbed his arm. Since Tania refused to speak, Larry was her only hope. She bit down on her lip so hard that her sharp teeth pierced the skin, drawing fresh blood. Gathering her strength, Sienna said, "Dad."

Larry was shocked. . "Sienna, you.. What did you just call me?" It had been over a decade-ever since Tiffany's passing, Sienna had never called Larry that again.

"Dad." Tears streamed down Sienna's face as she called out once more.

At that moment, nothing-neither her hatred nor her pride- mattered in the face of Joyce's surgery. Sienna knelt on the floor, clutching Larry's arm with all her might.

"Dad." Sienna stared at Larry with pleading eyes. Choking back sobs, she begged; "Please, I beg you, help me. Joyce is your granddaughter She's still so little-not even four years old yet. Her life has barely begun."

"We finally found a matching bone marrow donor. Conner is willing to donate, and the surgery is scheduled for this week. Once it's done, Joyce will be healthy again," Sienna added.

"Please. I'm begging you. Just tell me where Conner is. Make her tell me where he is." Sienna could barely speak through her tears.

"When Mom died, I begged you to take me in, but you refused.

When Grandma passed away, you did the same. I begged you to come get me when I was being sent to Fliraty, but you never did,"

Sienna added.

Upon hearing that, Josiah was taken aback. He couldn't believe Sienna had gone to Larry for help back then, before heading to Fliraty. She despised him, yet she still pleaded with him.

'Just how much had Sienna dreaded leaving for Fliraty that she would humble herself before the very man she loathed?' Josiah wondered.

Before Josiah could dwell on it

further, Sienna choked back a sob and continued, "When I returned tox Jeiacrity asked to borrow 160 thousand dollars for Joyce's surgery, but you ran away, afraid Tania would find out..." Each instance revealed Larry's cold-hea rted nature.

·

"Dad." Sienna bit down hard on her already wounded lips.

"Just this once. I beg you, please. For the sake of me being your daughter, help

me this one time. Joyce is all I have in this world.

She's all I have left." Sienna's breath hitched, almost losing consciousness

"Sienna." Josiah reacted swiftly, catching Sienna before she could collapse. "Are you all right?"

"Dad." Sienna ignored Josiah and grabbed Larry by the arm.

"Please, I'm begging you."

"Sienna," Larry said, his face was streaked with tears, yet he remained hesitant. "I promise I'll try, but I can't guarantee anything."

After all these years of living under the same roof, of course Larry knew what kind

of person Tania was.

Upon hearing that, Sienna straightened her back. Her face turned ashen, her eyes lifeless and unmoving "Sienna," Josiah called.

Sienna lifted her gaze, clutching tightly onto Josiah's lapel. "What do I do? Joyce... What do I do? Why am I so useless? I can't save my daughter. Ah." Darkness clouded Sienna's vision as her eyelids fluttered shut. Eventually, her strength gave out, and she collapsed into Josiah's arms. "Sienna." Josiah caught Sienna, scooping her up effortlessly. His long strides carried them past the Fischer residence's threshold.

His brows furrowed as he gazed at the fragile figure in his embrace.

Josiah wondered what right he had to call himself a man if he couldn't protect Sienna and Joyce.