The vault was hidden beneath an old art warehouse just outside the city.
Lucien met her at the entrance—black coat, black gloves, eyes sharper than she'd ever seen.
He didn't say anything.
Just unlocked the metal gate and led her inside.
The air was cold. Heavy. Like secrets had soaked into the walls.
They walked through long hallways of forgotten paintings and sealed boxes. Cameras followed every step.
Finally, they reached a thick steel door.
Lucien turned to her.
"What I'm about to show you… only two people in this world know it exists."
Sienna's voice was steady. "Why me?"
"Because I want to stop lying to you. And because if anything happens to me, someone has to know the truth."
He entered a long code. The door unlocked with a deep click.
Inside was a small, dark room.
One painting sat in the middle.
Covered in black velvet.
Lucien walked to it and slowly pulled the cloth away.
Sienna gasped.
It was a portrait.
Of Lucien's father.
But that wasn't what made her breath stop.
In the bottom right corner of the painting—barely visible—was a signature.
Not Lucien's.
Daniel's.
Her ex.
Her past.
Connected to Lucien's darkest truth.
"What… what is this?" she whispered.
Lucien's jaw was tight. "That man you told me about—Daniel. He was more than just a smooth talker. He was my father's partner. His forger."
Sienna stumbled back. "No. That's not possible."
"He painted dozens of fake works under my father's orders. We thought he disappeared after the last scandal, but now… he's back. And he left this here on purpose."
"To warn you?" she asked.
Lucien shook his head. "No. To threaten me. To remind me that he still has the original records. The ones that could ruin everything."
Sienna felt cold all over. "He told me you were playing me."
Lucien looked at her, wounded. "Do you believe him?"
She wanted to say no.
But she didn't.
Not right away.
Because now, two men from her past were tangled in the same web.
One loved her.
One lied to her.
And she didn't know who was worse.
As she turned to leave the vault, Lucien reached for her hand.
"I need to know, Sienna," he said softly. "Do you still trust me?"
She looked into his eyes.
So much pain. So much truth.
So much she didn't understand.
"I don't know," she whispered. "But I still want you."
And that, somehow, hurt more than hate.
Sienna couldn't sleep.
The image of the painting haunted her — Lucien's father, painted by Daniel. Her past and Lucien's, knotted together like some twisted fate.
It wasn't just about art anymore.
It wasn't about love either.
This was about survival.
About truth.
About who was playing whom.
And she needed answers.
The next morning, she called Daniel.
He answered on the second ring. "Miss me already?"
"Meet me," she said. "Thirty minutes. The café on 5th."
He chuckled. "I'll be there."
When she walked into the café, Daniel was already seated, sipping espresso like nothing in the world could touch him.
"You look tired," he said.
Sienna sat down without a word.
"I saw the painting," she said. "The signature."
Daniel didn't blink. "So he showed you the vault. I was wondering when he'd finally crack."
"Why is your name on it?"
"Because I painted it."
"I thought you were just a con artist," she said. "Not an actual artist."
He smirked. "Funny how the two overlap."
Sienna leaned in. "Why now, Daniel? Why come back after all these years?"
His smile faded. For once, he looked serious.
"Because Lucien's past isn't as buried as he wants you to believe. And if he goes down, anyone close to him goes with him—including you."
Her voice dropped. "You're lying."
"I'm warning you," Daniel said. "I used to believe in him too. Until he let his father take the fall, and walked away clean. Don't let that happen to you."
Sienna's fingers curled into fists.
"And what do you want, Daniel?" she asked. "Revenge? Money?"
He looked at her, quiet now.
"No," he said. "I want you to see him for what he really is. Because once, you were mine. And I hated the way you looked at him like he was your beginning."
That night, Sienna stood outside Lucien's penthouse.
She had his key.
But she didn't know if she was unlocking a door… or opening a trap.
He let her in silently.
"Did you talk to him?" Lucien asked.
She nodded. "He said you let your father take the blame for everything."
Lucien's jaw clenched. "He would say that."
"Is it true?"
Lucien walked to the window, stared out into the city lights.
"My father deserved what he got," he said. "He used me. Lied to me. Dragged me into his world. And when everything fell apart, I didn't run—I stayed, paid the price, rebuilt. Daniel ran. He made deals to protect himself. Left everyone else behind."
He turned to face her.
"But if you believe him over me, I won't stop you."
Sienna stepped closer. "I don't believe either of you completely."
He flinched slightly.
"But I believe this," she said softly. "You've changed. I've seen it. And whatever happens next, I want the truth to come from you—not from someone else."
Lucien's voice was low. "Then stay. And I'll give you every truth I have left."
She touched his hand.
"I'm not going anywhere."
But outside, in the shadows of the building, someone watched from a car.
Camera in hand.
Engine running.
He lifted the lens, zoomed in.
Click.
One more photo.
And then he whispered into his phone:
"She's all in. Just like we planned."
Sienna didn't know she was being followed.
She didn't see the black car parked a block away.
Didn't hear the second phone call made after she stepped into Lucien's penthouse.
She only knew the warmth of his hand, the softness in his voice, the way he looked at her like she was the only honest thing in a world full of lies.