Chapter 36: The Unwelcome Announcement

Knowing she had injuries on her arms, Sierra deliberately paired her evening gown with a pair of long gloves. She glanced at them, a mocking smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She didn’t bother to respond and simply walked away.

The guests had mostly arrived. Those who mingled with the Xander family were all prominent figures, and Jonathan was among them. He hadn’t wanted to come, but after recalling what Sierra said that day, he decided to attend. Currently, Denise was standing in front of him, her face tinged with shyness and admiration as she spoke. Jonathan responded politely but distantly.

He wondered why Sierra hadn’t come down yet. As if seeing his thoughts, he suddenly looked up toward the staircase. Behind his gold-rimmed glasses, his dark eyes flickered with a hint of astonishment. Yes, astonishment!

Sierra usually preferred the simplest attire: hoodies, jeans, and a low ponytail. He knew Sierra had good features, but he hadn’t expected her to look stunning when dressed up. She was tall, and the red mermaid evening dress showcased her figure perfectly. As she walked, her fair legs peeked through the slit, making her look like a captivating enchantress. In contrast, Denise, standing in front of him in a princess dress, paled in comparison.

Denise glanced at Sierra as she descended the stairs, a flash of jealousy quickly crossing her eyes before disappearing. She blinked and turned to Jonathan.

“Mr. Yeager, I’ve been having some trouble lately. Could you help me with it?”

Jonathan smiled at her. “Your brother, Evan, has a Ph.D. He should be able to assist you. You can consult him. Sorry,” he added with an apologetic smile, walking away and leaving Denise with a displeased expression.

As Sierra made her way down, numerous eyes fell on her, filled with scrutiny and appraisal, as if evaluating a commodity. Among them, two gazes felt particularly uncomfortable. Sierra instinctively looked in the direction of those gazes and saw a thin and frail man staring at her with an indescribably repulsive expression. She averted her eyes and was about to leave when Bradley approached.

“Sierra, come here. Let me introduce you. This is Kason Richardson, the patriarch of Richardson Pharmaceuticals.”

Then, he turned toward Kason. “Mr. Kason, this is Sierra, my younger sister.” Bradley introduced the man in front of her.

“Nice to meet you, Ms. Xander.” Kason extended his hand, but Sierra didn’t take it. This person that Bradley had introduced was the same man who had made her feel extremely uncomfortable earlier.

“Ms. Xander doesn’t seem very welcoming,” Kason said with a forced smile. His naturally gloomy expression made the smile even more unsettling.

Bradley quickly smoothed things over. “My sister is quite shy. Please don’t take it to heart, Mr. Kason.”

Afterwards, Bradley took Sierra around to meet other people, playing the role of the dutiful older brother. Sierra watched calmly. Up until now, she still couldn’t figure out what the Xander family was planning. Then, she heard her father, Mr. Franklin, announce:

“Today is my daughter, Siena’s, 22nd birthday. Taking advantage of this auspicious day, I’d like to share some good news. My daughter Sierra and Mr. Kason have developed a deep affection for each other. Mr. Nathaniel and I will soon become in-laws. We will be holding an engagement banquet for them shortly, and I hope you all can grace us with your presence.”

Sierra’s smile gradually faded. She looked at the beaming faces of the Xander family, feeling nothing but irony. She had always wondered what else they could possibly want from her. Had they truly had a change of heart? Of course not. She had been overthinking it. She had considered the possibility of them marrying her off before, but she thought her scars and criminal record would make her undesirable. Yet, she had underestimated the Xander family’s capabilities. Even someone like her could still be sold off. How laughable!

Her gaze slowly shifted, taking in each member of the Xander family. They all wore faint smiles, not a single one looking surprised. So, everyone knew what was going to happen today, except her. But did they think they could still control her? Did they think they could decide her fate without her consent?

With that thought, Sierra slowly walked toward her father. Bradley had been keeping an eye on her movements out of the corner of his eye. Seeing her approach, his heart skipped a beat. He quickly signaled his two younger brothers with a glance, urging them to intercept Sierra.