Chapter 459 A Family Broken

“I don’t know what made you choose that path back then,” Sierra said calmly, “and I’m not here to judge what you’ve done over the years. But whatever the reason was, it doesn’t matter anymore. He doesn’t care now. And honestly, maybe that’s for the best. All you ever wanted was for him to live well. He’s doing that now. What more do you want from him?”

Susie was left speechless by Sierra’s words.

Their original intention had been to let Jonathan live a good life. Now that he was finally doing that—just like they had hoped—why weren’t they satisfied?

“People have feelings, you know.” Sierra glanced at her. “You were far too cruel to him.”

Right now, all Sierra felt was deep heartbreak for Jonathan. The woman he loved most in the world wasn’t his real mother. Instead, the woman he’d spent twenty years hating turned out to be his biological mother.

How absurd. How cruel.

They thought of everything—except that you can’t take back the feelings someone’s already given.

They assumed that when the truth inevitably came out, Jonathan would let go of the past and forgive them because, after all, they’d been ‘forced into it.’

What a joke.

“I’ve got work to do. I’m heading back.”

With that, Sierra opened the car door and left.

Now that she knew the truth, she didn’t feel relieved—only angrier.

If she already felt this way, she couldn’t even imagine how Jonathan would react if he ever found out.

Susie remained in the car for a long time after Sierra left, only then asking the driver to return. Her face was filled with exhaustion.

Sierra’s words had hit her like a knife straight to the chest.

That night, Sierra didn’t mention anything about her meeting with Susie. She had no intention of telling Jonathan. He had already let go. Knowing the truth now would only bring him more pain.

With the New Year approaching, Sierra asked Jonathan what his plans were.

Without thinking, he said, “Let’s spend it on the island. It’s warm, and we can go early. Once Dickson, Mateo, and Draven finish their work, they can join us.”

That clearly meant he had no intention of spending the holiday with the Wynn family.

Sierra didn’t object. “Alright.”

“We’ll be on break next week. Once you’re off, we’ll head out early. I’m ready anytime.”

Jonathan added, “I’ll go visit Grandpa tomorrow.”

Sierra knew he’d already made up his mind, so she didn’t say more. She trusted that Jonathan would handle Wayne appropriately.

The next day, Jonathan returned to the old estate. Wayne had already heard bits and pieces of recent events and had been wondering when Jonathan would come see him—he just hadn’t expected it to be this soon.

He had been part of what happened back then. He had known the truth all these years. Now, looking at Jonathan, all he felt was guilt.

“Grandpa.”

Jonathan acted as if he hadn’t noticed the guilt in Wayne’s eyes. “The New Year’s coming. Sierra and I are planning to spend it on the island this year.”

That was a clear statement of intent.

As the head of the Wynn family now, this would be Jonathan’s first official New Year in his role. He was expected to be present.

More than that, according to Wynn family tradition, no matter what, every member had to show up on New Year’s Eve.

But Jonathan was now breaking that rule.

Normally, Wayne would’ve been the first to object.

But thinking of everything that had happened and Jonathan’s current attitude—he could only say, “Alright. You young people have your own way of doing things. We won’t spend it together this year, then. I’ll let the others know—everyone can celebrate with their own families this time.”

That way, Jonathan’s absence wouldn’t feel so jarring.

Jonathan didn’t care what Wayne decided. As long as he achieved what he wanted, that was enough. He no longer held any attachment to such traditions.

They talked a bit longer before Jonathan stood up.

“It’s getting late. I’ll head back now.”

“…Alright.”

Wayne watched him leave with a heavy heart.

Jonathan’s attitude hadn’t changed. In fact, he was even more respectful than before. But that only made Wayne feel more uneasy.

Because within that respect was distance.

It meant Jonathan no longer saw them as family.

Wayne’s worst fear had come true.

After some thought, he summoned Chase and Susie.

“Jonathan came to see me just now.”

He repeated what Jonathan had said. The couple’s faces both turned bitter.

In the past, no matter how much Jonathan resented them, he always came home for the holidays.

“What are you planning to do? Just let things go like this?” Wayne asked.

Chase and Susie exchanged a glance. “For now… we’ll let it be. Maybe we can try again after some time.”