He Buried Me But I Painted My Own Resurrection novel Chapter 26

“You know exactly how to behave later...”

He paused, turning his head to shoot her a threatening glare.

“You know what I mean.”

Sienna knew exactly what he meant. No mentioning divorce, no bringing up Lyla, and absolutely nothing that would upset Eleanor.

In short, she was to play the perfect wife.

“I know.”

After a forty-minute drive, they pulled into the sprawling Gauthier estate in the North End.

Staff members in crisp black uniforms and white aprons stood at strict attention on either side of the grand entrance.

The head butler stood at the forefront, bowing respectfully with a practiced smile.

Sienna stepped out of the car, instantly hit by a blast of cold wind carrying the faint scent of expensive sandalwood.

Elegant floral arrangements lined the corridors, and a grand welcome banner stretched from the main hall all the way to the atrium.

The elite guests were dressed to the nines, gathered in small circles with champagne glasses, their laughter easily piercing the glass doors.

Grant shot her a warning glance. “Keep your mouth shut in there. Do not embarrass me.”

Sienna replied with zero emotion, “Fine.”

Her detached agreement made Grant inexplicably uncomfortable.

In the past, whenever Sienna accompanied him to an event, her eyes would light up with joy.

Now, she acted like she was just checking off a chore.

A chore that had nothing to do with him.

The moment they entered the grand hall, Madeline spotted them.

Wearing a sophisticated deep-purple designer gown and a breathtaking emerald necklace, her smile instantly vanished when she looked at Sienna.

“You're here?”

Sienna nodded. “Madeline.”

Madeline scoffed, giving her a slow once-over. “With all these important guests today, you dress like we're bankrupting you.”

Sienna wore a simple cream-colored dress, completely devoid of jewelry, her complexion pale.

She was naturally slender, and in that outfit, she looked so fragile a strong gust of wind might blow her away.

Nathaniel Gauthier sat in the main armchair. Hearing the commotion, he barely lifted an eyelid.

“Madeline, don't be so harsh.”

Sienna followed the sound to see Grant's cousin, Seraphina Sterling.

She wore a striking burgundy evening gown, holding a flute of champagne, flanked by two heavily manicured socialites.

Seraphina strutted over to Sienna, flashing an overtly fake, honeyed smile.

“If any other woman were despised by her husband for years, she would have packed her bags by now. Isn't it impressive how she just stubbornly clings on?”

A brief silence fell over the room as the guests' gazes uniformly locked onto Sienna.

Their eyes were filled with judgment, scrutiny, and a sick thrill for drama.

With no pushback from Grant or Madeline, she escalated her taunts.

“Since it's Eleanor's birthday today, what gift did you prepare?”

“I heard Lyla brought a priceless antique marble sculpture, won at auction for millions of dollars.”

Sienna's heart skipped a beat, her face registering pure shock.

Lyla was here too?