Chapter 99: The Ties That Bind and Strangle

Jonathan’s gaze casually swept past Dickson as the boy hurried out the door. But in that brief glance, his sharp eyes caught something amiss about Dickson’s pants. His thin lips curled slightly, his expression turning icy cold behind the lenses of his glasses. A faint scoff slipped from his lips. “Idiot!”

Meanwhile, Sierra had no idea what Dickson was about to do. She had already arrived at the hotel restaurant. By the time she stepped inside, James and Yulia had just arrived as well. Neither of them had ever been to such a high-end place, and their uneasiness was painfully obvious. Yulia, especially, looked like she didn’t know where to put her hands, glancing around uncomfortably.

The moment she spotted Sierra, she visibly relaxed and hurried over. “Sierra!” But as she reached out, Sierra stepped back. Her movements were subtle but deliberate. The avoidance was clear. Yulia’s face fell, looking hurt.

James wasn’t much better off, though he tried to mask it with a forced air of confidence. Seeing Sierra, he relaxed slightly, before scoffing, “At least the Xander family finally found some conscience. After all these years, they finally remembered the daughter we raised for them.”

Sierra was just about to respond, but before she could, the private dining room door swung open again. This time, the Xander family walked in, led by Franklin and Eleanor. Right behind them was Denise Xander, cradling a bouquet in one arm and carrying several exquisitely wrapped gifts in the other, her face glowing with happiness. But the moment her eyes landed on Sierra, the smile froze for a brief second.

She quickly recovered, forcing herself to greet her, but then she noticed James and Yulia. Her face instantly drained of color.

Sierra caught everything; her lips curved slightly, and she turned toward James and Yulia with an innocent smile. “Weren’t you two missing your daughter? Well, here she is.”

The entire room went silent; expressions shifted immediately. Sean frowned, his patience snapping. “What the hell are you saying?”

Sierra tilted her head, looking completely unbothered. “Oh? Did I say something wrong? From a purely biological standpoint, they are Ms. Denise’s real parents. Not even God can change that. And since you invited us all here for a nice little meal,” she smiled sweetly, “isn’t it the perfect time for a heartfelt family reunion?”

Sean’s face twisted in frustration. He wanted to refute her, but the words stuck in his throat. Franklin, sitting at the head of the table, let out a low cough, his brows knitting together. “Sierra’s right. Fate brought both families together. Let’s sit down and eat.” His tone was calm, but his eyes scanned the room sharply. Then his gaze flickered. “Where is Madam Lily?”

Sierra immediately understood what he was getting at. Franklin was trying to use her grandmother as leverage. She smiled, but her tone remained cool: “Grandma isn’t feeling well. She doesn’t have the energy for socializing.” She could practically see the irritation in Franklin’s eyes. But before he could press further, she turned back to Denise.

“Besides,” Sierra continued lightly, “Ms. Denise has already met my grandmother. So, today’s gathering should be focused on her meeting her real parents, don’t you think?”

Every single word struck like a dagger. With each sentence, Denise’s face grew paler and paler. Seeing her daughter’s distress, Eleanor finally spoke up. “There’s no such thing as real or not real in this family. You and Denise are both our daughters.”

Sierra arched her brow. “Oh, but that’s not quite right, is it?”

10:51 AM

Chapter 99: The Ties That Bind and Strangle

should be asking Denise, not me. If they run into trouble and need help, Denise should be the one stepping in, not calling me and crying about it. And if James gets drunk and starts getting violent…” Her voice remained calm, but the air in the room suddenly felt suffocating. “After all, I’ve already taken my fair share of beatings for fifteen years. Wouldn’t you say that’s enough, Madam Xander?”

Eleanor’s face went sheet white. Her lips parted, but no words came out. She had never really thought about it before. When they had first discovered the identity swap, she had been too shocked to accept it. And when she heard about Sierra’s difficult childhood, she had simply ignored it. But she had never once imagined what it was like for a child to grow up in such a household. Seeing her at a loss for words, Sierra finally turned to Denise.

Her gaze was sharp and unyielding. “Ms. Denise, since everyone is here, let’s settle this once and for all. From now on, whatever issues Mr. Coleman and Ms. Lewis have, they are yours to deal with. Don’t push them onto me again. Understood?”

“Enough!” Evan, who had been silent until now, finally snapped. His expression was dark, his voice cold. “Blood ties mean nothing compared to the bonds of family. No matter what, they raised you for fifteen years. Shouldn’t you be grateful?”

Sierra let out a low laugh, a mocking, bitter laugh. “Grateful?” Her voice dripped with sarcasm. “You want me to be grateful?”

She slowly stood up, her eyes glinting coldly. “Do you know what those fifteen years were like? Ever since I can remember, it’s been a home full of constant shouting and fights—my father, a drunk and a gambler, and my mother, always crying.”