Half-Hearted: Mr. Sinclair, Stop the Act!-Chapter 71: He’s Testing Her

Ding!

Sienna Monroe walked to the elevator, and the phone in her pocket rang again.

[Vivian Nash overheard at the door that you plan to have dinner with Sebastian Prescott tomorrow night and told Caleb Sinclair about it. Caleb used the excuse of having to work overtime to cancel his Japanese dinner with Vivian Nash.]

She looked at the line of text and frowned.

So, was Vivian Nash eavesdropping on her conversation at the door just now?

Well then.

She had endured the pain and sadness brought on by Caleb Sinclair’s "overtime" many times, so perhaps Vivian Nash should experience it too.

As it neared six o’clock, Sienna Monroe passed by the work area with her bag, and Vivian Nash was also getting ready to pack up and leave.

The art gallery hasn’t been very busy these days, so there’s no need to work overtime.

She was just waiting for tomorrow to coordinate well with Faye Irving to start preparing for his joint exhibition with Audrey.

"Sienna, heading off work now?" Vivian Nash greeted enthusiastically, showing no trace of bad feelings on her face, "Cecilia and I are planning to go shopping; do you want to join us?"

Cecilia York glanced over at her upon hearing that.

Sienna Monroe eyed her fair and pure face, showing a faint smile, "Cecilia asked me this afternoon. I’m going to the movies with Caleb Sinclair tonight; can’t go with you two, have fun shopping."

Having finished speaking, she walked towards the elevator.

Vivian Nash instantly stood frozen in place.

Going to the movies?

Caleb Sinclair and Sienna Monroe?

Didn’t he say he was working overtime tonight?

He even detailed the project specifics.

She truly believed him, sympathized with his hard work and adversity, and reminded him to eat well and rest early.

So...

So he’s using the same lies he told Sienna Monroe on her?

Suddenly, Vivian Nash felt as though all her internal organs were on fire, and magma surged through her veins, making her entire body ache painfully.

To be deceived by the one she loved—Sienna Monroe hadn’t experienced this, but she had.

Vivian Nash clenched her fists, breathing heavily, while holding back tears lest anyone notice, forcing herself to swallow her anger.

Cecilia York had walked over to her at some point and waved her hand, softly asking, "Vivian, what’s wrong? You look like you’ve lost your soul."

Vivian Nash snapped out of it, meeting Cecilia York’s gaze, and awkwardly responded, "N-nothing, what’s up?"

"I called you many times just now, but you didn’t respond—what were you thinking about?" 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"Thinking about how well Sienna and your brother get along," she casually replied.

Cecilia York smiled lightly, "Indeed, my aunt says they’ve been like this since they started dating, and they’ve never changed over the years."

Vivian Nash scoffed at those words.

They’ve never changed?

Then what do Caleb Sinclair and her shared nights mean?

What use is Sienna Monroe’s current smugness?

Sooner or later, she’ll have her time to cry.

Thinking this way, Vivian Nash subconsciously touched her belly, knowing the most important thing now was to conceive a child.

But with Sienna monopolizing Caleb Sinclair, she barely had the chance to see him.

*

In the evening, Sienna Monroe didn’t book a spot; she simply dined at a nearby restaurant by the cinema.

At the table, Caleb Sinclair still cared for her, serving food and refilling water without missing a beat, but it wasn’t hard to see the somberness in his eyes behind his lenses.

She knew that beneath Caleb Sinclair’s polished and gentle facade lay paranoid suspicion.

She never found it problematic before.

In fact, she even felt it was the pressure from Rhonda Garrison and her son that forced him to be cautious and guarded, resulting in his current demeanor.

But now she seemed to see it clearly—his essence followed June Ewing. He possessed no inherent kindness, had eyes only for gain, and maintained suspicion and guarding against everyone.

Including her.

Although he had been unfaithful first, he still found reason to suspect her because of Vivian Nash’s few words.

How truly ironic.

She remained silent, quietly eating her meal.

After a while, Caleb Sinclair suddenly mentioned, "Tomorrow is Friday. Mom said she wanted Cecilia to dine at the old residence; would you like to come too?"

Sienna Monroe paused and looked up at him.

This is probing.

At the end of a six-year relationship, he still didn’t trust her.

She lifted her eyes to look at him and suddenly smiled calmly, responding, "I’m busy tomorrow night; I’ve arranged to meet someone for dinner."

Caleb Sinclair’s eyes darkened, and his brows had already furrowed as he said, "Hmm? With whom—Vivian Nash?"

"No," Sienna Monroe replied casually, "it’s with Sebastian Prescott."

"Sebastian Prescott?" Hearing her reply, Caleb Sinclair’s brows furrowed deeper, and his voice gained several degrees of heaviness, "Is it him again? Didn’t I tell you last time not to get too close to him? Be careful if his enemies see and retaliate against you."

"You are pregnant now; if there’s any trouble, what would you have me do?"

Sienna Monroe casually fabricated an excuse while trying to keep her voice as calm as possible.

"Didn’t I save him unintentionally last time? This dinner is a favor he’s repaying."

Caleb Sinclair’s dissatisfaction grew increasingly evident, "Didn’t he already send you a bottle of scar removal cream?"

At his words, discomfort surged within Sienna Monroe as if magnified by a lens, causing her to put down her chopsticks and gaze calmly at his angry and sinister expression.

Once again, she realized that even after six years with him, she still didn’t truly understand what kind of person he was.

Caleb Sinclair was taken aback when he received her kind of gaze and instinctively explained, "Sienna, I didn’t mean it that way..."

"Then what did you mean?" Sienna Monroe wore a faint smile, "Your words make it sound like I did something utterly unforgivable and despicable to you."

"No, absolutely not. I never meant that. I’m concerned about you, fearing you’ll end up in a risky situation again," Caleb Sinclair hurriedly explained.

Perhaps fearing her anger, he quickly served her more food, softened his tone, "It’s my fault, it’s my fault. Honey, don’t be angry, finish your meal—it’s almost eight-thirty, the movie is starting soon."

Sienna Monroe suppressed the complexity inside her and returned her gaze, without pressing the matter further, stepping down the ladder he offered.

Seeing her continue eating, Caleb Sinclair breathed a slight sigh of relief, a subtle gleam flashing in his eyes.

The movie "Distant Boundaries" was average; Sienna Monroe felt unenthusiastic and lost interest halfway through, claiming fatigue and leaving.

Once home, she soaked in a bath, washed up briefly, and went to bed.

The next day, snowflakes drifted in the air over Imperial City, causing the temperature to drop four to five degrees.

Around six-twenty in the evening, Sienna Monroe departed from the art gallery, heading to The Imperial Crest.

Since it snowed today, there weren’t many cars on the road. A waiter led her to the private room Harrison Hayes had reserved, and just as she tasted the tea, Sebastian Prescott and Harrison Hayes arrived.

Today, Sebastian Prescott wore a suit and overcoat as usual, while Harrison Hayes sported a herringbone-patterned double-faced cashmere jacket.

Upon spotting Sienna Monroe, he bypassed Sebastian Prescott and quickly approached her, "Ms. Monroe, hello, it’s nice to meet you; I’m Harrison Hayes..."