Chapter 6 The Chess Game

Sienna pulled several documents from her bag and laid them neatly on the table. "The initial review for the equity transfer has been approved. This is the timeline I've prepared for the next steps. I've already spoken with legal - as soon as the divorce certificate is in hand, the name change will take effect immediately."

Only then did Violet open her eyes, her cloudy yet shrewd gaze circling Sienna's face before finally settling on her slightly pale lips.

"Quite a scene last night?" Violet snorted coldly. "With Ethan's temper, did he give you a hard time?"

Sienna smiled faintly, her eyes completely calm. "He's too busy dealing with his own problems to worry about me. But you - those plots of land you promised me, the paperwork hasn't moved forward yet."

"You're quite greedy." Violet signed the papers. "As long as you get out of the Howard family on time, you'll get what's coming to you."

"Pleasure doing business." Sienna collected the documents, her movements swift and without a trace of attachment.

Walking out of the study, Sienna felt the suffocating pressure that had been building in her chest ease considerably.

She was no longer the Mrs. Howard who had to grovel for approval, but a hunter collecting her spoils.

As she crossed the second-floor corridor toward the terrace, the crisp sound of game pieces accompanied by deliberately lowered laughter drifted over.

It was the Howard family's specially designated sunroom. Queenie and Mona were sitting in wicker chairs with a white jade chess set between them.

And Ethan sat nearby in a wheelchair, a thin blanket over his legs, his slender fingers holding an unlit cigarette.

Sunlight streamed through the glass onto him, making his cold, noble face appear even more inscrutable.

Sienna had intended to leave directly, but Mona spotted her with sharp eyes and spoke mockingly, "Oh, if it isn't our busy Sienna? What, haven't reported to your new lover yet?"

Ethan turned his head at the sound, his gaze locking onto Sienna like a hook, carrying heavy pressure.

Sienna didn't break stride, not even sparing them a glance as she headed straight for the stairs.

"Sienna!"

Queenie jumped up urgently, moving so quickly she knocked over the teacup beside her.

Ignoring the water stains on her dress, she ran to block Sienna's path, her eyes red like a startled rabbit.

"Sienna, are you still mad at me? That voice message last night... it was a misunderstanding. I just wanted Ethan to rest early and accidentally hit the voice recording button..."

Her voice was delicate, trembling, sounding extremely wronged.

Sienna finally stopped.

She looked down at Queenie, a mocking curve forming at the corner of her mouth.

Such terrible acting - she'd actually put up with this for three years.

"Are you done?" Sienna's voice was cool. "If you're done, move."

"Sienna, did you take the wrong medicine!" Mona slammed the table and rushed over to stand protectively beside Queenie. "Queenie is apologizing to you, what are you putting on airs for? You really think grabbing a few documents means you can walk all over the Howard family?"

Ethan also spoke slowly, his voice deep, "Sienna, come apologize."

Apologize?

Sienna looked like she'd heard the world's biggest joke.

She turned around, her gaze moving past the two women to look directly at the man in the wheelchair.

"Mr. Howard, have you forgotten what our relationship is now?" She pointed toward the upstairs study. "You signed the agreement, Violet approved it. Right now, I'm a creditor you couldn't get back even if you begged."

Ethan's expression instantly darkened like ink, his fingers gripping the cigarette tightening sharply.

Sienna's gaze shifted to the chess board.

In the current game, Queenie held red, Mona held black.

"This pathetic game is worth you all putting on a show here?" Sienna laughed mockingly. "Still playing at romance here, how shameless!"

"Who are you calling pathetic?" Mona's chest heaved with anger. "Queenie specially played this game with me. What do you know about chess?"

Queenie tugged at Mona's sleeve, speaking softly, "Mona, stop. Sienna might just be in a bad mood. I really didn't play well - I've embarrassed myself in front of Sienna."

"She didn't play well because she's pure-hearted, not full of schemes like you." Ethan spoke coldly, his gaze falling on Sienna with obvious protectiveness and disgust. "Sienna, don't bring that sharp tongue you learned outside back into this house."

"This house?" Sienna repeated the words playfully. "Ethan, this won't be my house much longer. As for chess skills—"

She stepped forward, casually picking up a red piece from the box, her fingertips rubbing against the cold jade.

"This level of playing house really doesn't require much thought, because in the face of absolute skill, being pure-hearted is just being stupid."

She tossed the piece back onto the board with a crisp clatter.

"If you're so great, you play!" Mona challenged. "If you can beat Queenie, I'll eat this chess board!"

Sienna raised an eyebrow, looking at Queenie. "Do you dare accept?"

Queenie hesitantly looked at Ethan. Seeing him nod slightly, she smiled reluctantly. "Since Sienna is interested, I'll play a few games with her."

Sienna pulled out a chair and sat down, her entire being radiating a sharp aura she'd never shown before.

"No need for several games." Sienna's slender finger tapped the center of the board. "One game decides it all. I'll even let you go first."

"You're crazy!" Mona shrieked.

Ethan's brow furrowed tightly. In chess, giving such an advantage - unless the opponent was a complete novice - meant almost no chance of winning.

Was Sienna seeking her own destruction, or humiliating the Howard family?

"Let's begin." Sienna lifted her eyelids slightly, her tone terrifyingly calm.

Queenie bit her lip and made the first move.

She played steadily, each move trying to block Sienna's attacking routes.

However, Sienna's strategy completely defied convention.

Her playing style was sharp, decisive, even carrying a near self-destructive madness.

She didn't defend.

All her pieces were attacking.

Even if it meant losing her own elephants and advisors, she'd trade them for the opponent's crossed pawns.

The air seemed to freeze.

Only the dull sound of jade pieces falling on the wooden board remained in the sunroom.

Ethan had initially watched coldly, but as the game progressed, his body involuntarily leaned forward, a flash of shock crossing his deep eyes.

Sienna's chess style was exactly like her business tactics - seemingly gentle and harmless, but actually full of deadly intent at every step.

In less than ten minutes, fine beads of sweat had appeared on Queenie's forehead.