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Lahat ng Kabanata ng A Bargain Of Hearts : Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

33 Kabanata

Chapter 1

Sienna's POVA perceptible wave of tension and anxiety hung in the atmosphere, tainting the air with an iridiscent chill, the kind that mirrored the turmoil in my mind. I leaned on the headrest and peered out the window, letting the breeze from the wheezing cars on the road dry up the sweat on my face as heat coursed through my veins.My body had an unusual way of reacting to anxiety. I would have numerous stomach aches, and since the anti nausea pills hadn't done their job, I sat straight in the backseat, and placed my hand on my stomach, an attempt to contend with the ache rippling through it."Gavin," I called out to my driver. "How long till we arrive at the court?""We're almost there ma'am," he answered slowly. "We'll be at the building in two hours."My stomach rumbled again, my intestines twisting into knots as a patch of goosebumps suddenly broke out of my skin, covering me from head to toe.Oh heavens. This was it. I said to myself as bile rushed to my throat. I placed my h

Chapter 2

"Were you truly engaging in masked porn?" Another reporter asked. "Did you really throw ableist slurs at deformed people,by taking a photo by a ramp and wearing the hijab as though it were an ordinary cloth?" "No," I muttered, even though the chattering of the angry crowd drowned my voice. "I never insulted anyone, these are all lies, a setup to put my career to an end. "Sienna Brooks, do you really abuse your manager, Miss Angela Devon and your cook, Mrs Rose Everton""Are you really on drugs? Are you really behind candy bars which have been mixed with cocaine? Sienna, are you really stealing money.?""Tell the world and your disappointed fans the reason behind your disgusting attitude." "Sienna Brooks, Sienna Brooks, slut, assaulter, thief, drug addict, porn star...." All these voices drowned in my head as guards tightened their grips around my arm to prevent me from stumbling and hurting my legs. I was caught in a web of lies and there was a high chance that I wouldn't get out

Chapter 3

The next chain of events felt like a scene from a dystopian drama, and I stood there, dumbfounded and weak until two policemen nudged my shoulder and took me away. Edwina had finally won and the two people I called my parents gloated at me as though I was a common stranger. My heart sank down my stomach and I felt the weight of the words crashing on my shoulder. Ethan had betrayed me, and in the worst way possible. His last words rang in my ears, the English feeling weird for my analyzing ears until the flashing of camera lights jolted me back to life. The policemen were leading me through the crowd and the angry jeers erupting from them was something that would keep me up at nights. My acting career had been totally destroyed. I would have to pay numerous fines, my properties had been repossessed and all the money in my bank account was flagged as illegal. I can't believe Ethan did this to me, I can't believe I trusted him. The man I married had suddenly turned to a monster

Chapter 4

"We were both drunk last night Max," I explained. "None of this is my fault and besides you also knew who I was beforemaking passes at me.” "Hmm," he scoffed, rolling his eyes distastefully. "You know what, just take the money on the dresser and leave." But I only rammed my leg into the sneaker, brushed past him and walked out of the room, slamming the door behind me. I refused to be treated like a common whore, picked off the streets. Tears blurred my vision as I descended the long staircase in the hotel, burning my cheeks as they finally rolled down. I didn't think there would have been a better description for shame and embarrassment. I had met Max at countless charity events, but I had never approached him or spoken to him. He had a reputation for being arrogant and stuck up and I didn't believe the assertion until now. I walked as fast as I could, fearing that people would now recognize me until I finally hailed a cab and went straight to my home. I regretted not acc

Chapter 5

“You’re serious about this,” I said, staring at the stack of papers Max had placed on the table between us. “You want me to marry you?”Max leaned back in his chair, his expression calm but unwavering. “I don’t play games, Sienna. This is a business arrangement. You sign the papers, follow the terms, and we both get what we want.”“And if I refuse?”He smirked. “Then you’ll find yourself back in that cockroach-infested apartment with no money and a child on the way.”I bristled at his tone but kept my voice steady. “Fine. I’ll do it. But I won’t stay in the same house as you.”“That’s non-negotiable.” Max’s reply was immediate. “You’ll live with me. If we’re going to convince the world this marriage is real, you have to be in my home. End of discussion.”I folded my arms. “You think you can control every part of my life, don’t you?”“No, Sienna. I know I can.”Before I could argue further, Max’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, then gestured to the butler standing by the door.

Chapter 6

Max's POV I should have known better than to let my guard down that night. One night of drinking to drown out my company’s losses and the pressures of my grandfather’s demands, and I ended up in bed with Sienna Brooks. Sienna Brooks. It wasn’t just her face plastered all over the tabloids that bothered me—it was her reputation. The stories about her being manipulative, violent, and a liar were impossible to ignore. I had no reason to doubt them, and waking up to her in my bed only confirmed what I thought: she was trouble. “Disgusting,” I muttered to myself as I adjusted my cufflinks in the mirror. But then came the twist I didn’t see coming—a child. My child. She hadn’t even been subtle about it, messaging me as if I would jump at the news. At first, I ignored her. What did I care about her or her sob story? But then I remembered my grandfather’s ultimatum. No trust fund unless I had an heir. And Sienna, whether I liked it or not, had handed me the perfect solution. I would marr

Chapter 7

Sienna's POVI stood there, my hand in Max’s iron grip, as he delivered his glowing speech to the crowd. Every word felt like a knife twisting deeper into my chest.Love? Forgiveness? Redemption? What a load of crap.I forced a smile for the cameras, but inside, I was seething. This wasn’t a celebration—it was a circus, and I was the main attraction. Max had turned my life into a spectacle for his own amusement. I glanced at him, standing tall and confident, soaking up the gasps and murmurs from the crowd. He was enjoying this.“Smile, darling,” he whispered, his voice low and mocking.I bit my tongue, resisting the urge to yank my hand away and storm off. Instead, I tilted my head slightly, the smile plastered on my face so fake it hurt.The rest of the ceremony passed in a blur of forced grins and polite applause. As soon as we were out of the spotlight, I pulled my hand free and stepped away from Max.“Where are you going?” he asked, his tone calm but

Chapter 8

Sienna's POVI kept my head down as I slipped out of the crowded garden and made my way toward the house. Every step felt heavier under the weight of the stares burning into my back. No matter where I turned, eyes were on me—judging, whispering, dissecting my every move.I reached the terrace, hoping for a moment of peace, when a group of journalists appeared, cameras at the ready. My stomach dropped.“Miss Brooks!” one of them called, hurrying toward me. “Can we have a moment of your time?”I hesitated, my instinct screaming at me to turn and leave. “I’m not giving any interviews,” I said quickly, keeping my voice calm.“Please, just a few questions,” another reporter chimed in, stepping closer. “We’d love to hear your side of the story.”My side of the story? That was a laugh. No one cared about my side.But as I looked at their eager faces, something inside me wavered. The questions didn’t seem hostile—at least, not yet. Maybe this was my chance to regain a bit of control.“Fine,”

Chapter 9

Max’s POVIt’s not like I had not expected the reporters will snoop. I mean, that was the reason they were here in the first place. The plan was to get them all around her and then, just as I had done, I would be the Prince Charming to swing in and rescue her. Every now and then, to maintain balance, things like this needed to happen to remind her she badly needed me.“Harry,” I called as we reached one of the quieter rooms in the house.“Yes, sir?” my butler appeared almost instantly; his hands clasped behind his back.“Stay outside this door,” I instructed, gesturing to the room I’d just led Sienna into. “Make sure no one gets in unless I say so. And get her whatever she needs.”Harry nodded. “Understood, sir.”Sienna, standing by the window with her arms crossed, glanced at me suspiciously. “I don’t need a babysitter, Max.”“It’s not about what you need,” I said, keeping my tone even. “It’s about keeping people out. The last thing we need is anoth

Chapter 10

Sienna's POVI stood by the window, staring out at the garden below. My parents were with Max, their body language tense even though their smiles were still plastered on. Max stood tall, his posture calm and unbothered as always. But there was something about the way he spoke—controlled, deliberate—that made me pause.He wasn’t just talking to them. He was defending me.Again!I could read it in the atmosphere. For a moment, I felt the strangest sense of relief. But it didn’t last long.What was I doing? Hiding up here, letting Max deal with everyone while I stayed out of sight? How long could I keep running like this? From the reporters, my parents, Edwina... even Max.My hands tightened around the edge of the window frame. Was I really going to let him take the reins of my life completely? That thought terrified me more than anything else.I exhaled slowly and squared my shoulders. No. I couldn’t let this become my reality. I couldn’t keep hiding.

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