Chapter 100: Debts of Blood and Betrayal
Sietta’s voice was calm, unnervingly so, as she spoke. “Every time my father lost money, he would come home and beat my mother. When I was little, I tried to protect her. I’d throw myself in front of her, thinking if I took the hits instead, she’d be spared.”
She let out a small laugh, bitter and cold. “But she never once tried to protect me. If anything, she was relieved. Because if I was there to take the blows, she didn’t have to.”
A suffocating silence filled the room. But Sierra wasn’t finished. “Whenever I was beaten, she’d just hide in the room, peeking through the door. Then, once he was done, she’d come out and squeeze out a few useless tears. And the next time, she’d do it all over again, pushing me forward without hesitation.”
Sierra’s words struck like a whip, each sentence lashing across the pride of the Xander family. Their faces twisted; their expressions frozen in horror. But Sierra continued.
“I nearly dropped out of high school because we couldn’t afford the tuition. I had to pick up trash with my grandmother just to scrape together enough money to study. At the time, I actually believed I had a future.”
Her lips curled into a mocking smile. “But then my father lost me in a gamble.”
The air in the private dining room grew suffocating. “He let me away to a man in his fifties. If Mr. Cameron hadn’t arrived that day, I would’ve been sold off like livestock.”
A chilling pause. “And even then, do you know what my so-called father said? He regretted it. Not because he felt guilty, but because he realized he could have sold me for a higher price.”
Sierra tilted her head slightly, her gaze fixing itself onto Evan. Her smile was razor-sharp. “So, tell me, dear Mr. Evan, how exactly should I repay that kind of upbringing? Should I carve out my heart and offer it to them?”
The room was deathly silent. The Xander family sat stiffly, their faces grim, their pride in tatters. Eleanor’s eyes were red, brimming with guilt and shame. She wanted to reach out, to hold Sierra, but she stopped herself. Because she knew Sierra wouldn’t let her.
She had said everything in a calm tone, her voice devoid of hatred or resentment. But that only made it worse; the pain was too deep. The betrayal had long since become part of her bones. “As for that so-called upbringing…”
“Didn’t they already sell me off to the Xanders? I’d say that more than covered their investment.”
Sierra’s icy gaze swept over the room. “Now, let’s talk about blood ties. I think I’ve already repaid those, don’t you?”
Her words landed like sharp blades, slicing through the tension in the air. No one spoke; not a single person dared to. Even Denise, who had been trembling since Sierra’s first sentence, remained utterly frozen. Sierra’s sharp eyes locked onto her.
“Evan, instead of lecturing me, shouldn’t you be focusing on your precious little sister? You hold such a high moral standard, so surely, your dear Denise wouldn’t dare shirk her own responsibilities, right? After all, Mr. Coleman and Ms. Lewis are her biological parents. She should be the one taking care of them, no?”
Denise’s fingernails dug into her palms; her breath uneven. I hate her. I hate her so much! Her existence alone was a constant reminder, a reminder that Denise was nothing but a misplaced imposter. But she knew how to play the game.
Swallowing her rage, she forced her voice to tremble as she whispered, “Sierra, I know you never liked me. And I’m sorry; this is all my fault. I stole your place, Mom and Dad’s love. I stole everything from you; I’m so, so sorry.”
And just like that, the Xander family snapped. Bradley’s brows furrowed. “Denise has been helping her biological parents.” His voice was firm, as if trying to erase any doubt. “She’s been supporting them for years.”
But the next moment, James snorted loudly, cutting in, “Well, Mr. Xander, I just have to say something here! Forget about everything else, but Denise has never once helped us over the years. Help? She probably wishes we were dead! The last time I went to see her, she acted like she didn’t even know me. Not only that, she even had her driver try to run us over! If I hadn’t reacted quickly, I might not even be standing here today.”
“Impossible!” Sean didn’t even think before snapping back, “Denny is not that kind of person! She told us herself that most of her monthly allowance was spent on helping you. Mr. Coleman, heaven is watching. You better not make things up!”
Hearing this, James shot up from his seat, his face red with anger. At this point, he no longer cared about the fact that he couldn’t afford to offend the Xander family. Raising his hand, he swore loudly, “You’re right, heaven is watching! I swear, if I’ve ever taken a single penny from her, may I get hit by a car the moment I step outside. No, may I lose every bet I ever place!”
Now, that was a real curse. After all, for a gambler, nothing was more devastating than never winning again. Looking at James, burning with indignation, and then turning to the Xander family members, who all wore expressions of shock and disbelief, a slow, amused smile crept onto Sierra’s lips.
She turned her gaze toward Denise, who was sitting there with her head down, her body trembling slightly. Whether it was from fear or just another act, well, that remained to be seen.