He Buried Me But I Painted My Own Resurrection novel Chapter 16

He glanced over his shoulder at one of his men, who quickly tapped away on his phone for a few seconds before nodding and whispering something into his ear.

Laird looked back at Sienna, scanning her up and down.

The sleazy appraisal made Sienna's skin crawl.

"You're Grant Gauthier's wife?"

Sienna was just about to clarify that she was already divorcing Grant, but Fiona frantically beat her to the punch. "Yes, yes, yes! My daughter is the Mrs. Gauthier!"

"Why the hell should I believe you?" the buzz-cut man challenged.

Simon answered without missing a beat, "It's simple. If the money isn't paid back by the deadline, you can just march straight into the Gauthier Group headquarters and collect the debt there."

Hearing this, Samuel instantly flipped his attitude, plastering on a greasy smile.

"You know how wealthy the Gauthiers are. They have billions in liquid assets alone. A hundred and forty million is just a drop in the bucket for him."

Laird didn't agree immediately. He mulled it over for a solid half-minute before finally speaking.

"Fine. I'll give you ten days."

He stepped right up to Sienna, towering over her aggressively.

"I want to see the cash in ten days. If you're playing me, I'll drag you back and serve you up to the boss myself!"

He turned and walked out with his men before he even finished his sentence.

The front door slammed violently, leaving the living room in total ruins.

Samuel collapsed backward onto the sofa, his legs still completely giving out.

Not a single one of the three bothered to ask Sienna if she was okay.

Sienna stood amidst the shattered porcelain. The heater was running, but her fingers were turning purple from the cold.

She spoke with a voice entirely devoid of warmth. "I will not pay a single cent of your debt."

"You won't?" Samuel sneered. "If you don't pay up, I'll march right up to the Gauthier estate and raise hell!"

"You're real close with that old hag, aren't you? Heard she's throwing a birthday party soon?"

Sienna's jaw clenched so hard her teeth nearly cracked, her hands balling into tight fists at her sides.

Knowing he had found her weak spot, Samuel grinned triumphantly. "So be a good girl, go back to the Gauthiers, and get that money together in ten days."

"It's a win-win for everyone, isn't it?"

When she didn't answer, he shot a look at Simon. "Your brother will drive you back. And remember, if you ever bring up this divorce nonsense again, I promise you, we will tear the Gauthier family apart that very day!"

"If that old woman ends up having a heart attack over it, well, that's not my problem."

After a long, suffocating silence, Sienna finally let out a defeated sigh in her heart.

Swallowing her humiliation, she allowed Simon to escort her into the car heading back to the Gauthier estate.

"Well, look who's back, Ms. Sawyer."

She wasn't 'Mrs. Gauthier' anymore. Just 'Ms. Sawyer'.

The shift in title was more viciously direct than any insult.

Sienna ignored her completely and headed straight for the front door.

Instead of moving, Susan stubbornly stood right in the center of the walkway, dog bowl still in hand. She shifted slightly to accommodate the poodle by her feet, but deliberately blocked Sienna's path.

"Hold on a second, Ms. Sawyer."

Sienna stopped.

"Ms. Lennox said that the house has been redecorated recently. If you're moving back in, you need to report to her first so she can make the proper arrangements."

The new maid stood off to the side, too intimidated to speak.

Susan bent down to wipe the dog's mouth, her tone dripping with practiced cruelty.

"Oh, and one more thing. From now on, please use the side door. Ms. Lennox is a bit of a germaphobe, and she doesn't like random people coming in and out of the main entrance."

Random people.

Sienna glanced down at the poodle happily trotting through the front door.

Even the dog was treated better than her.