Forgotten Wife My Ex-Husband Regrets It After I Left (Clara and Liam) novel Chapter 289

Sienna’s POV

I left the studio with lighter steps. The nervousness was still there, but it had shifted into anticipation. That meeting hadn’t just gone well, it had gone far better than I’d imagined.

And I smiled in relief. My book cover was finally on its way to being born.

paused in the hallway of the building, closing my eyes for a moment, letting every part of our conversation settle one by one.

Rudolf was different from what I’d expected. I had thought he’d be cold, a perfectionist who was difficult to work with, or perhaps a self-proclaimed genius like so many famous illustrators.

But he wasn’t. He was calm, direct, honest, and somehow, he felt safe. The way he read my character without many words made me feel truly respected as a writer.

A feeling I rarely experienced.

I leaned my back against the cool hallway wall, took a deep breath, then slowly let it out. My heartbeat still hadn’t fully calmed but no longer because of nerves.

It felt more like the leftover adrenaline after something important had just passed.I glanced at the time on my phone. Almost half past three.

Time felt like it had moved quickly, yet strangely, I didn’t feel rushed. For once, I wanted to pause and truly feel this moment.

My hand tightened around the strap of my tote bag. Inside were notes, rough sketches, and a half-finished manuscript, things that had always felt fragile, as if they could fall apart if the wrong person touched them. But earlier Rudolf had touched them without breaking anything. He looked, understood, and then gave them space.

“Rare,” I murmured softly, almost like a confession to myself.

Rarely are the people who don’t try to turn my story into something more “marketable.” Rare are those willing to listen without interrupting. Rare are those who understand that pain doesn’t always need to be screamed to feel real.

I smiled again, this time more sincerely.

Footsteps echoed at the end of the hallway. I instinctively straightened my pesture, a little awkward. Two people passed by, chatting quietly, probably staff from another floor. They didn’t look my way, didn’t care. And that made me feel free.

I closed my eyes again for a moment.

Behind my eyelids, fragments of our conversationreplayed. His voice is flat yet full of meaning. The look in his eyes as he studied the color catalog. The way he said you have that without a hint of judgment. Such a simple sentence, yet enough to make me want to stay a little Longer in a world that often feels unkind to writers like me.

I exhaled, opened my eyes, and started walking toward the elevator. Each step felt lighter. Even my head, which had been crowded with worries, seemed to clear, making room for something gentler hope.

“You can do this, Sienna,” I whispered.

The doors opened, and I stepped inside. In the quiet elevator, I reached into my bag and took out my phone.

There was a message from Liam.

[Have you met Rudolf yet? I hope everything went well.]

Now, I am starting over.

My phone rang a call from Liam.

I answered immediately. “Hello?”

“Sienna?” His voice was warm on the other end. “Are you done? Are you okay?”

I smiled softly. “More than okay. I feel relieved. Thank youfor supporting me.”

“You’re the amazing one,” he replied. “Noah and I will be waiting at home.”

Warmth filled my chest again. “Okay. I’m heading home now.”

After ending the call, I rested my head against the car window. The crowded streets felt easier to endure when my heart was no longer burning with pressure.

I waited for the traffic light to change, while inside me a small voice whispered,

Sienna, you’ve come this far. Keep going.