The rain pounded against the glass windows of the Lawrence estate, its relentless rhythm matching the turmoil in Sienna's heart. Drenched and cold, she stared at the now-empty place. Her eyes had gone numb after crying for days, her entire being shrouded with sorrow. Not even the frosty wind could bring her out of her misery.
Sienna dragged her heavy body through the door, and the memories of her with her family hit her instantly, running through her mind like a broken record.
Despite being adopted, her family had never treated her as such. From her parents to her elder brother and sister as well as her grandparents, everyone loved her and cherished her, and she was the pampered young miss of the Lawrence family.
That was until three days ago. Everything changed three days ago when she received the news of her family's demise. In just one night, she had lost her adoptive family and had become an orphan again.
"Miss, how did you get so wet? Please take a hot bath and change out your clothes." The cook, Agnes, came running to her when she saw the young lady's state. Not caring about the mess she had created on the carpeted floor, Agnes led her to her bedroom and filled the bathtub for her.
"Miss, please change out your clothes. I'll prepare some ginger tea for you. It's easier to fall sick in this weather." Agnes gently pushed her inside the bathroom and closed the door after her.
Sighing in despair, she picked out a comfortable pajama set and a pair of undergarments and laid them on the bed before making her way down.
Meanwhile, Sienna stood silently as she gazed into space with blank eyes. Nothing had gone into her head. She hadn't heard a word Agnes had said. Her family members' faces kept flashing in her mind - from her grandfather doting on her to her grandmother cooking her favorite food, her father teaching her how to conduct business, her mother bringing her loads and loads of items whenever she went shopping, her brother teasing her while her sister protected her from him - every minute thing, every small memory, every happy incident came rushing back into her mind like a flooded river and Sienna let out a loud cry.
Three days - three days had passed since their death. Her family was now laid to rest and wouldn't be waking up ever, and the thought of not seeing them again hit her hard.
A wail ripped out of her lips, and Sienna squatted and hugged her knees. The pain of losing her loved ones was heart-wrenching. Her chest constricted in agony and she was having a hard time breathing. Tears tumbled down her cheeks, and Sienna couldn't stop her desire to lie down and rest with them forever.
The thought had come to her time and again. From the moment she heard the news of her family members' deaths until their coffins were lowered, the thought of leaving the world with them had crossed her mind not just once. Without them, she felt helpless and lost.
However, Sienna wasn't courageous enough to take the step. Also, her family wouldn't be happy with her decision. They would want her to stay alive and continue striving, especially when their murderer was at large, enjoying their life at the expense of her family's demise.
Sienna sniffled and raised her head. She didn't know how long she had been squatting. A paralyzing pain shot through her legs as she tried to stand up, eliciting a hiss from her.
Gritting her teeth, she peeled the drenched clothes off her body and waited until blood started circulating to her legs before entering the bathtub. Luckily, the water was still warm and Sienna didn't have to dawdle for long.
Sienna was in no mood for a relaxing bath. She waited until the chill left her body and departed from the bathroom after tying a towel around her body. Even though she was still devastated, she had a lot of matters that required her attention. With her family gone, all the business fell onto her shoulders and she had to manage it well.
A small smile made its way onto her lips when she saw the pajama set and underwear on the bed. At least she still had Agnes, Frank, and the other servants who remained loyal to her.
Once dressed, she entered the dining hall and took her usual chair. It was expectedly lonely. The once bustling hall, filled with jests and light-hearted conversations, was now bereft of people. The dining hall seemed barren, and Sienna lost all her appetite.
"Miss, please have some porridge." Frank, the Lawrence family's butler and Agnes' husband, placed a bowl of porridge and a cup of ginger tea.
"I don't have an appetite, Frank." Sienna pushed the bowl away gently and leaned back.
"But you need to eat something, Miss. You haven't eaten anything in the last two days." Frank tried to convince her. He was worried about her. If this continued and she remained adamant, she'd only fall sick.
"Please have something. We don't want you falling sick, do we?" Frank tried to persuade her and eventually, Sienna succumbed and finished the bowl of porridge and the cup of ginger tea under his coercion.
"Frank, Agnes, you two must be exhausted as well," Sienna said, acknowledging the hard work they had put into taking care of the estate for the last three days. She glanced at the only two people she could trust wholeheartedly. "Inform all the servants and guards. There will be a meeting tomorrow at 11 a.m. I have an announcement to make."
"Rest assured, everyone will be present tomorrow, Miss," Frank guaranteed.
"Thank you." Sienna smiled sadly, ignoring their concerned looks. She could do nothing about it. The mishap had happened and her family was gone. Now, she could only strive to move on and cherish them well in her memories.
"I hope Miss comes out of her grief soon," Agnes sighed as she looked at the young lady climbing the stairs.
"It's difficult Agnes. She lost not just one but all her family members on that dreadful night. It'll be hard for her to forget everything." Frank felt terrible for her. But he could do nothing about it. After all, he was a mere butler. He was helpless.
"I'm sure she'll get out of her misery soon. She has to. The Lawrence empire needs her and if she crumbles right now, the hyenas waiting for her to surrender will rip her apart into shreds."
Sienna heard Agnes and Frank's words loud and clear and agreed with them silently. She had to clear her head and focus on important matters. With her family now gone, she'd have to brace the world all alone and face the monsters who were waiting to destroy her while eying the Lawrence family assets.
Sienna entered her room and closed the door after her. Picking up the portrait of her adoptive family on the nightstand, she ran her fingers over their faces. Their smiles were frozen in time, a stark contrast to the cold reality that had shattered her life just days ago.
Wiping a droplet of tear that had slid down her cheek, she stared at her portrait with unwavering determination. "Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Leah, Trevis, I promise…" she sniffed. "I will take care of myself. Don't worry about anything and rest in peace. This daughter of yours will handle everything and ensure your hard work will not fall into sinister hands. I'll not allow anyone to snatch anything that doesn't belong to them. And..."
Sienna's expression turned grim, and she looked at the smiling faces, her eyes filled with killing intent. "I will hunt down the people who killed you and send them to hell. Nobody gets to hurt my family and live well. Nobody!"