Chapter 269: I Thought She Had Some Backbone
"Mr. Harris, I get it. I messed up badly. I didn't do this on purpose! I fell for my sister's prank. I was stupid and took it too seriously!"
Sierra choked back tears, knowing the man before her wasn't Master Cameron and wouldn't be lenient. Worse, Olivia and Ronald weren't there to rescue her.
Nathael showed no interest in her excuses. He glanced at his watch, his tone icy. "You have thirty seconds." Sierra's heart leaped; the pain from the slap still throbbed in her cheeks and everywhere else.
She never imagined her anticipated visit would end so disastrously.
What should I do? What should I do?
Despite her naiveté and spite, Sierra wasn't stupid. She knew self-harm wouldn't help, and if Nathael remained unsatisfied, her efforts would be for naught. With her reputation in ruins and so many watching, further humiliation would be unbearable.
But maybe Maggie! If Maggie intervened, perhaps Nathael would forgive her.
Tears welled in Sierra's eyes as she frantically searched for her phone. "My sister! I need to call my sister! She loves me most; she'll understand!" Nathael watched silently, wondering if Maggie was asleep.
Does she feel as horrible as I do?
Sierra desperately searched for Maggie's number, but Maggie, Mia, and Joyce were too drunk to hear their phones ringing. Given their past conflicts, Maggie wouldn't answer even if she saw the call.
After three failed attempts, Sierra still couldn't reach Maggie. She felt utterly powerless, overwhelmed by shock and fear.
Nathael's patience evaporated, assuming Maggie wouldn't appear. "Ethan, handle it," he muttered, losing interest.
Chapter 270: I Thought She Had Some Backbone
"Dad! Please help me! Find Maggie and tell her to talk to Mr. Harris!"
Sierra sobbed, her voice trembling with fear and desperation.
Ronald received Sierra's distressed late-night call. His mood wasn't ideal, but her crying immediately caught his attention. "Take a deep breath. Tell me what's going on," he urged, his brow furrowing.
Before Sierra could explain, Ethan intervened, grabbing her hair and delivering a harsh slap.
"Dad! I'm at Crimson Grove!" Sierra's terrified scream pierced the air.
Ronald heard a busy signal. Olivia, beside him, noticed the commotion. "What's happening? Is something wrong with Sierra?"
"It seems to involve Mr. Harris and Maggie. Let's go check it out. You call Maggie; see if she answers and ask her to come," Ronald instructed. Sierra's vision blacked out. She cried out as Ethan approached again. "I'll do it myself!"
Ethan's fighting experience made even a gentle touch overpowering. Sierra collapsed, slowly raising her hand. She no longer cared about onlookers; she just wanted the nightmare to end.
Nathael's gaze remained cold, detached. Jimmy raised an eyebrow. "For someone so arrogant, I thought she had some backbone, but a few slaps scared her."
"Indeed," Nathael replied indifferently.
Unbeknownst to Nathael, that statement had been true for Maggie in a past life. Maggie's meticulous planning had blinded and scarred Maggie's face, showcasing her skill.
Sierra's eyes glazed over. She closed them, swallowed blood, and finally slapped herself.
That vile btch Maggie! Everything today is because of her!* Every hardship she'd endured in the past year was linked to Maggie. Sierra vowed revenge.
Mon, 27 May.
Chapter 269: I Thought She Had Some Backbone (Continued)
The commotion attracted the night manager, Moses Serpentine, who intervened, offering help. Seeing someone approach, Sierra's eyes lit up.
Can someone please save me?
To Sierra's dismay, Moses refrained from interfering, especially after hearing the story. He silently cursed her bad luck.
What rotten luck! How could he encounter such a twisted woman who insulted Mr. Harris and called him a gigolo? No man would tolerate that, let alone Nathael.
"Mr. Harris, please stay calm. Your and Mr. Hansen's expenses are on me. This woman is disrespectful and not worth your sympathy. But if the boss hears about this, I'll be in trouble," Moses worried.
Jimmy waved him off. "That's enough. None of your business. Go."
Relieved, Moses sighed, dreading the consequences of offending them. He looked at Sierra and shook his head. He'd met a bringer of misfortune.
Sierra mechanically slapped herself ten times, stalling until Ronald and Olivia arrived. Finding Sierra wasn't difficult; the crowd of onlookers gave her away.
Pushing through the crowd, Ronald and Olivia saw Sierra—hair disheveled, covered in dirt and blood, cheeks swollen. Olivia cried, rushing forward. "Sierra, what happened?"
Hearing her mother, Sierra flung herself into Olivia's arms, sobbing. "Mom! Mom! It's that b*tch Maggie! She set me up!"
Ronald's expression darkened with anger. She was still his daughter, a Cameron, and she'd suffered such humiliation.
"What's going on here, Mr. Harris?" Ronald demanded, furious.
Chapter 270: I Thought She Had Some Backbone (Continued)
Let's Start All Over Again, Shall We?
Chapter 270: Self-Punishment
Nathael sneered, his gaze on Ronald. "Mr. Cameron, why not bring in Mr. Serpentine?"
Moses stepped forward, detailing the events. Ronald's confidence wavered; his expression soured as he looked at Sierra.
How could I have fathered such a naive daughter? How dare she disrespect Nathael? Even if Master Harris heard, he wouldn't rebuke Nathael. She'd mistaken him for a gigolo and insulted him with money. Preposterous! And her audacity to belittle Maggie in front of Nathael! Nathael had defended Maggie, and Sierra insulted her openly. This was an insult to both. She’d used the Camerons' status to smear Nathael's name.
Olivia, distant in the crowd, caught parts of the conversation. She looked at Sierra, her frustration mounting. Once spoiled and willful, what had she become? This could harm her and Joseph.
Ronald softened his approach. "I'm sorry, Mr. Harris. My fault for not raising my daughter properly. Please forgive her youth."
Nathael calmly lit a cigarette. Ronald felt the weight of public humiliation. At fifty, a notable figure, he was used to respect, not public disgrace. Nathael's silence deepened his shame.