Chapter 93: Playing by Their Rules

Getting close to Kason was even harder than Sierra had expected. She had always known he was a terrible person, but she hadn’t realized just how twisted he really was—or that there were so many others like him.

“Want to talk about it? I can be a good listener,” Jonathan said, studying her for a moment.

Sierra stayed silent for a while before finally saying, “I ran into something today that reminded me of myself. It made me realize that all the struggling I did during those three years maybe it was nothing more than entertainment for someone else.”

The thought was sickening. She had fought so hard to survive, but to some people, her suffering had been nothing more than a game. Shane had probably been one of those spectators. Maybe there were others, too.

Jonathan’s expression darkened at her words, though his glasses hid the sharp glint in his eyes. He had never asked Sierra about what had happened to her in prison, nor had he bothered to look into it. Jonathan had always seen potential in Sierra, but that was it. She wasn’t someone he needed to concern himself with.

But now, hearing her say this, something about it unsettled him. For the first time, he felt an urge to find out exactly what had happened to her during those three years.

Suppressing the thought, he finally said, “That’s what’s bothering you? If that’s all, then you shouldn’t dwell on it. It doesn’t matter what they saw or what they thought. You did what you had to do to survive. That’s all that matters. You don’t owe anyone an explanation. Staying alive isn’t a crime.”

Sierra thought about his words, and for the first time that night, the weight in her chest eased a little. She let out a dry chuckle. “It’s not that I feel guilty—I just refuse to be anyone’s plaything. Even a show requires a ticket. Did they ever ask for my permission before making me part of their entertainment?”

She wouldn’t let Shane off the hook. And Kason? He was no different. Everything that had happened tonight was recorded on her hidden camera. But it wasn’t enough—not yet. She needed stronger evidence, something that could bring Kason down for good.

Seeing the determination spark back to life in her eyes, Jonathan smirked. Sierra always managed to surprise him. He never knew what her next move would be or how she’d pull it off—there was something about her that felt unstoppable.

“Oh, by the way, I heard the school backed down. Was that the Xander family’s doing?” Jonathan asked, remembering something he had overheard earlier.

Sierra shook her head. “They’re probably still at the hospital with Denise. When it comes to the Xander family, nothing is more important than her health.”

That day, Evan had asked her to come along to the hospital, but she had refused, assuming Denise was faking it. Then, when she checked the school’s online forum yesterday, she saw that Denise had actually collapsed in her dorm. And it looked serious.

Many students expressed concern, but some found the timing suspicious—Denise had collapsed right when Sierra was getting all the attention. A few even speculated that she had passed out out of jealousy. Those comments were few and quickly buried, but they were there.

Sierra had already started looking into what had really happened. She wasn’t going to take the blame for something she hadn’t done.

10:50 AM

Chapter 93: Playing by Their Rules +8 Pearls

Sierra wouldn’t let it slide.

Hearing Sierra’s words, Jonathan was genuinely surprised. Even now, the Xander family was still standing by Denise? He had no idea how they had managed to secure their place among Maviston’s elite—their judgment was downright terrible.

Sierra had already proven her worth with that livestream. If the Xander family had any sense, they’d be doing everything in their power to win her back, not wasting their time coddling Denise.

But in this case, Jonathan had misjudged the situation. Eleanor and Sean might have been oblivious, but Franklin, Bradley, and Evan knew exactly what they had lost.

Franklin replayed Sierra’s livestream several times before finally asking, “Are you sure she did this all on her own?” He couldn’t believe it—the daughter he had overlooked for so long was actually a genius. And not just any genius, but one whose skills were directly connected to the family business.

“Dad, I was there. I saw everything,” Evan said, his expression conflicted. “She did it all on her own.” Even he had to admit he probably wouldn’t have been able to answer those questions as flawlessly as Sierra had.

Franklin let out a slow breath before asking, “When did she even learn all of this?”

But no one had an answer.