Chapter 58 A Grandmother’s Anguish

Sierra’s grandmother had lived long enough to put the pieces together. She looked at the Xander brothers and then at Sierra, her eyes filled with pain.

“How did ite to thisb? /bYou always told me you were doing well in the Xander family. I never doubted it. I thought–they’re your real family, your birth parents, your breal /bbrothers. They treat Denise so well; why wouldn’t they treat you the same? I never knew you were suffering so much. I should have asked more questions. I should have checked on you more. But I was afraid–afraid they would think I bwas /bmeddling, afraid that if I stayed too close, they would bhold /bit against you… So I backed off. It’s my fault. I let you go through all the pain alone. Sierra…”

She reached out a trembling hand, and Sierra immediately stepped forward to hold it. Her throat tightened, and her eyes

bstung/b.

Her grandmother’s words brought back too many memories.

When she had firste to the Xander family, she had felt like an outsider. She had called her grandmother just to bhear /ba familiar voice, though she never admitted how miserable she was. She bhad /bonly said she missed her.

And her grandmother hadforted her, saying. They’re your real family. You should try to get along. No matter what, parents ahs love their children the most

She had believed it.

Even

up

until the moment she was sent to prison, she had believed it.

But eventually, she had learned the hard way that not all parents loved their children.

Blood ties didn’t always mean warmthb. /b

“Sierra, it’s my fault.” Her grandmother’s voice trembled, band /btears glistened in her aged eyes.

When the Xander family had taken Sierra back, she had breathed a sigh of relief. At least now, her granddaughter wouldn’t have to be dragged down by her mother.

But now she saw the truth.

She had escaped one hell only to fall into another.

And all this time, she bhad /bbeen worried babout /bDenise–worried that Sierra’s return would make things hard for Denise.

When in reality, the one who had suffered was Sierra.

Seeing the self–me on her grandmother’s face, Sierra squeezed her bhand /btightly.

“Grandma, you didn’t do anything wrong. Alright, enough tears. It’s over now. It’s just something I had to go through.”

bIn /ba way, she should thank her so–called family.

If it weren’t for them she might never have woken up.

Bradley and Evan stood there, silent.

Their grandmother’s words echoed in their ears, leaving them unable to respond..

After a long pause, she finally looked at them and bsaid/b,

“Mr. Xander, I want to meet bDenise/b.”

The brothers instantly became wary.

“What do

lo you want with Denise?”

Finished

Chapter 58 A Grandmother’s Anguish

If she hadn’t learned the truth, she might bhave /bfelt proud for her granddaughter, seeing how well they protected Denise. But now, knowing it came at Sierra’s expense, she couldn’t feel anything but bitter resentment.

“You took Sierra away all those years agob, /band I haven’t seen my own granddaughter even once. Isn’t that a little unfair?”

Before they could argue, she added,

“I know the Xander family is powerful. I’m just an old woman bfrom /ba poor background–we’re not even in the same bworld/b. But people like me have nothing to lose. What am I supposed to be afraid of? You’re threatening us?”

Bradley’s eyes bnarrowed/b, his expression turning cold.

He bhad /bbeen patient bwith /bSierra, knowing they had wronged her.

But this old woman–who did she think she was!

“Threatening you?”

her voice was equally sharp.

“Isn’t this still better than what you did to Sierra? You made her take the fall for a crime she didn’tmit. And now think you bhave /bthe right to be offended?”

Her anger had been building ever since she learned the truth.

She was old. She had no power.

But she could still stand up for Sierra.

Bradley’s expression darkened. He took a deep breath before saying,

you

“Denise’s health has always been weak. Any emotional distress could put her life in dangerb. /bShe’s still your granddaughter. As her grandmother, shouldn’t you care about her well–being btoo/b?”

Sierra nced at her grandmother.

Sure enough, her face wavered.

Her heart clenched.

Of course. This was who her bgrandmother /bbwas/b.

To be honest, her reaction today had already been beyond what Sierra had expected.

She knew her grandmother was speaking up for her.

That was why she had remained silent until now.