Chapter 89: Familial Fables and Foes

After their conversation, Wagner was about to hang up, but Denise added, “Actually, there are other ways besides conducting experiments! Maybe you could check with the prison about what happened to her over these past three years. Don't hesitate to ask—I want to know what really happened to my sister.”

Why had she changed so much? How did she learn all this? Thinking of the unmistakable admiration in Jonathan’s eyes, Denise couldn’t hide her jealousy.

After hanging up, her expression darkened. The entire call, Wagner was inquiring about Sierra, and from his tone, it seemed they weren’t confident they could easily dismiss her.

“This won’t do,” she thought. “I need to come up with something else.” As she pondered, the door to her hospital room swung open. Evan stood there, his face as cold as frost, though it was unclear how long he’d been there.

Denise’s heart skipped a beat, and she managed a timid smile. “Evan, when did you get here?”

“Who were you just on the phone with?”

Evan’s voice was cold, and he hadn’t expected today’s visit to be so revealing. Already harboring suspicions, today’s call had made everything clear to him.

“Why are you doing this?”

The disappointment was evident in Evan’s eyes, as if he didn’t recognize his own sister. In his mind, his sister was frail and naive, but today, he saw another side to her.

“Was it also you who deliberately shared with Mr. Wagner that Sierra cut ties with the Xander family? And was it you who stopped Bradley from making arrangements? Denny, why would you do this? She’s your sister!”

Evan’s questioning made Denise panic, and she shook her head frantically. “Evan, what are you talking about? I don’t understand.”

“It was Mr. Wagner who called me. He wanted to ask about my sister. What’s wrong with that?”

“I’ve always felt guilty about my sister going to prison; I’ve always wanted to make it up to her. How could I harm her?”

“Evan, how could you think of me like that?”

Tears started falling silently down her cheeks, and coupled with her pale face, she looked both pitiable and innocent.

Is that so? Evan frowned, watching Denise. He was focused on his studies, not naive enough to be oblivious, but he was reluctant to doubt his beloved sister.

Seeing Evan’s unmoved expression, Denise let out a bitter laugh. “Even you think so lowly of me, no wonder Sierra doesn’t like me. I’m not actually your sister by blood, and I’m thankful for how well you’ve taken care of me. How could I ever do the things they’re accusing me of? Maybe I should’ve left and gone back to my own family after we cleared everything up. That would’ve spared us all this drama. Evan, don’t worry, once I’m well enough to leave the hospital, I’ll return to my biological parents, and you won’t have to deal with me possibly hurting Sierra ever again.”

Evan’s suspicions melted away at her words, and he quickly reassured her, “What are you talking about? I was just confused before, that was my mistake, please don’t hold it against me. Everything has been so overwhelming lately. You belong here with us, don’t even think about going back to your biological parents; it would break Mom and Dad’s hearts. As for Sierra, I’ll clear things up with her. She’s got the wrong idea about not just you, but all of us. But don’t worry, families don’t hold grudges; we’ll sort everything out.”

Denise sniffled and looked up at Evan. “For real? Will Sierra really forgive us?”

“She will,” Evan affirmed confidently.

“That’s good.”

Denise lowered her eyelids, hiding the irony and resentment in her eyes. Wagner and the others were probing into Sierra’s…

Jonathan knocked on Sierra’s door, smiling as he asked, “What do you think I should say?”

Sierra glanced at the message and smirked slightly. She truly had no fondness left for the school; if it weren’t for the fact that she couldn’t leave Maviston yet, and Maviston had no better institution than Northwind University, she wouldn’t have stayed.

The leadership at Northwind University wasn’t great, but the teachers were commendable, particularly Jonathan, who was notably distinguished.

“Mr. Yeager, what brings you to Maviston?”