Chapter 253: Sienna Bennett Pulled Up to the Harrington Estate

Sienna Bennett pulled up to the Harrington Estate on her motorcycle. She spotted Noah in the living room, intently focused on his laptop. She approached cautiously. “Noah, where’s your father?”

“Daddy went out earlier and hasn’t returned. Why are you home so soon, Mommy?” Noah set aside his device and hurried toward her. He lifted his arms expectantly. Sienna instinctively scooped him up. “Did your father drive himself?” she pressed, a frown forming. “Or was Dominic with him?”

“Uncle Dominic was driving,” Noah replied.

Sienna quickly calculated the timing. Dominic typically drove around 40 kilometers per hour. The trip from the estate to The Alder Club should have taken no more than 25 minutes. She had been gone for half an hour—so why wasn’t Lucas back yet? Had she misjudged the situation? Maybe he hadn’t heeded her warning and went to meet Vanessa after all. A surge of unease shot through her. She set Noah down on the sofa and pulled out her phone to call Lucas.

Beep, beep, beep! The line rang, then went to voicemail. A robotic voice informed her, “The number you have dialed is currently unavailable.” Sienna’s frown deepened. No answer. Could Lucas actually be in trouble? She turned back to Noah. “Do you have Uncle Dominic’s number?”

“Sorry, Mommy, I don’t,” Noah said, his expression growing anxious. “Mommy, do you think something happened to Daddy? When he left this morning, he said he had a very important meeting—something about your future happiness. He left in a rush and cleared his entire afternoon schedule. I tried calling him ten minutes ago too, but he didn’t answer. He still hasn’t called me back.”

Sienna’s concern spiked. No answer for ten whole minutes? Lucas was notoriously reliable. It was completely unlike him to miss calls—especially twice. Something was definitely wrong. She faced Noah immediately. “Noah, stay here, okay? Mommy is going to find Daddy.”

“Okay!” Noah nodded vigorously.

Sienna snatched her motorcycle keys and bolted for the door. Her mind raced with thoughts of the Nightshade perfume’s potent effects. She had developed it herself; she knew its power better than anyone. Ordinary drugs might cause discomfort and weaken resolve, but a strong will could sometimes fight them off. Nightshade was different. It induced powerful hallucinations, warping the victim’s perception of reality, making them see someone else entirely. It attacked the mind directly. No amount of willpower could resist its grip. If Lucas had been with Vanessa because of her own creation…

The mere idea sent a white-hot fury coursing through her. So consumed was she by her thoughts that she didn’t see the solid figure blocking her path until she collided with a hard wall of muscle. Staggering back, Sienna looked up, her brow furrowing in instant recognition. It was Lucas! He stood there, aloof and impeccably handsome in his tailored suit, looking completely unruffled.

“You’re back?” she asked, her voice tight. “Why weren’t you answering your phone?”

“Hmm?” Lucas noted her flustered state, then his gaze shifted to Noah.

Just ten minutes prior, Lucas had used Dominic’s phone to check on Noah. He’d explained his own phone had malfunctioned and specifically instructed the boy to reassure Sienna if she returned home early. Meeting his father’s questioning look, Noah flashed a mischievous grin. “Daddy, I told Mommy you were in trouble. She was rushing out to find you. See? Mommy does care about you! Have fun!” With a gleeful chuckle, he scampered off on his short legs. Sienna stood frozen, completely dumbfounded. The little schemer had tricked her.

A visible lightness seemed to wash over Lucas’s features. His eyes locked on hers, a teasing glint in their depths. “You were worried about me?”