Chapter 119: Heartstrings and Harsh Truths

“Then let her die!” Sierra cut off Bradley’s incessant chatter. Bradley stared at her, shocked. “How can you be so cold-hearted? She is your…” He wanted to say she was her sister but stopped, realizing it was inappropriate.

“I am that cold-hearted. Stop bothering me; I don’t care whether she lives or dies. If you show up in front of me again, I guarantee your beloved sister won’t just be close to death; she’ll be thoroughly dead.” Sierra’s gaze was icy, no longer seeing Bradley as a stranger but something repulsive.

Bradley was startled by this side of Sierra; for the first time, he sensed a murderous intent in her. Was Sierra planning to kill someone? Me? But I am her brother, Bradley! How could she be so heartless?

Fueled by anger, Sierra headed home. On the way, she contacted a private detective she’d been in touch with before, instructing him to dig into Denise’s affairs. “Look into everything; the finer the details, the better. I’ve already doubled your fee!”

After hanging up, Sierra thought that if Denise wanted to disgust her, she wouldn’t just sit back and wait. She didn’t want to stoop to their level, but now it seemed her restraint was being mistaken for weakness—how absurd. She was actually curious to see if Denise could survive falling from her high pedestal.

After calming herself in the elevator, Sierra returned home only to find her apartment completely dark. Her heart tightened as she turned on the lights, calling out, “Dickson!” She feared something had happened to Dickson, but when the lights came on, she found him sitting on the couch, which eased her tension somewhat.

Noticing something off about Dickson’s mood, she quickly approached him. “What’s wrong? Why are the lights off?”

Dickson seemed to snap back to reality, looking up with slightly red eyes, perhaps from crying. “Sierra, I miss my sister.”

Dickson’s sudden remark caught Sierra off guard, but she responded, “Then tomorrow, after my classes, I’ll take you to visit her, okay?”

Dickson managed a weak smile. “Okay!”

After a while, Dickson asked again, “Sierra, how did my sister really die?”

Dickson was clearly not himself today; Sierra thought he was just missing Daphne and thus asking these questions. She patiently explained, “Haven’t I told you? It’s not the right time yet. When the time comes, I’ll tell you everything.”

When the truth comes out, she would tell him. She had withheld the truth before out of compassion, but now she wanted to protect Dickson even more.

Dickson looked down, silent for a long while before finally speaking, “Sierra, why are you so good to me?”

“What’s gotten into you today?” Sierra couldn’t help asking.

Dickson avoided Sierra’s gaze and said softly, “Because when I first got here, your sister helped me, and also because I see my past self in you!”

Sierra patted Dickson’s shoulder. “Stop worrying, get some rest, and tomorrow I’ll go with you to see your sister.”

Sierra was still preoccupied with Denise’s situation, not noticing the sudden change in Dickson’s expression as she got up. His eyes no longer showed complete trust but were mixed with anger and pain. Remembering what that person had told him today, Dickson felt incredibly hurt. When he met Sierra, he thought his luck had finally turned, that he had met a kind-hearted person, but it was all a lie. Sierra was kind to him because she felt guilty; she had caused his sister’s death! It was laughable that he had ever naively believed there were truly good people in the world.

Sierra was unaware of Dickson’s turmoil. She was reviewing the information sent by the detective she had hired. There wasn’t much due to time constraints, but according to hospital reports, Denise’s condition was indeed serious, and the need for surgery was real. Denise was indeed ruthless, sickening her even in her own dire state. No wonder she had the Xander family wrapped around her finger all these years. She loved to play roles; well, let her play. Sierra was curious to see if Denise could keep it up in the end.

Sierra had classes early the next morning and was up before dawn. Usually, Dickson was an early riser, but he was nowhere to be seen today. Worried something might have happened, she cautiously opened his bedroom door, found him still sleeping, and quietly closed the door, planning to accompany him to visit Daphne after her classes.