Chapter 189: When the Gavel Falls
Finished
At first, the Xander family couldn't believe the evidence. But it was undeniable, laid out before them, and they had to accept it. They couldn't understand why Denise, whom they had adored, had turned out this way. If not for her meddling, their relationship with Sierra wouldn't have deteriorated so drastically.
People tend to shift blame, and the Xanders were no exception. They placed all the blame on Denise, and Eleanor, unable to contain herself, slapped Denise across the face.
“It’s all your fault! I was blind to have ever doted on you like a precious child, you ungrateful wretch!”
Denise was stunned by the slap! She couldn't believe that Eleanor, who had always pampered her, had hit her! She looked at Evan and Sean, only to see disgust in their eyes.
After a moment of shock, Denise laughed bitterly and spat out, “Blaming me now? You’re the fools. You didn’t care for your own, preferring me, a stranger by blood! Who’s to blame for that? Your own bias, your own stupidity, and yet you blame it all…”
“I’ll kill you?” Eleanor was furious, ready to lunge again, but was held back by the guards. Unable to reach her, she cursed nonstop, causing a commotion with Denise.
Sierra watched from a distance and suddenly felt it was all so meaningless. Jonathan glanced at her, took her hand, and led her out of the courthouse.
Once outside, Sierra exhaled and said, “I always thought I wanted to see this, but now that it’s actually happening, it feels pointless.”
“That’s because they really are just strangers to you now,” Jonathan replied.
Sierra thought for a moment and nodded, “Yes.” Only those close to you can stir your emotions, and she had long ceased to feel anything for the Xanders. Whether angry or sad, she felt nothing anymore. After this, she was done with the Xander family. She wouldn’t concern herself with what they endured in jail. If they managed well, good for them. She wasn’t cruel enough to wish them the hardship she had once suffered.
Jonathan thought Sierra was still too soft-hearted. If it were up to him, he’d ensure they paid tenfold. By now, Sierra knew Jonathan well enough to guess his thoughts by the darkening of his eyes.
“Don’t bother with excesses; it’s unnecessary. Even if they suffered as I did, what would it change? I no longer need their guilt, and it means nothing to me. Plus, dwelling on it would annoy me,” she said resignedly.
Jonathan couldn’t help but look at her admiringly. Sierra’s feelings were always clear, without any dithering. When she decided to let go, she did so completely, whether it was love or hate. This was something many couldn’t manage. Letting go of love might be easy, but hate was much harder. Yet she faced no such barriers, and he knew that if she ever fell out of love, letting go would be even easier for her. With this in mind, he tightened his grip on her hand, interlocking their fingers firmly. He wouldn’t give her a chance to let go of him.
Shortly after they left, Evan and Sean helped Eleanor out, looking utterly disheveled. People outside were throwing things at Eleanor, in particular, berating her harshly; people saying she would suffer karma for her treatment of her own daughter. Evan and Sean protected their mother amid the jostling and debris. Finally, they made it to their car.
After a while, Evan said, “Mom, tomorrow I’ll check on Dad and Bradley.”
Eleanor nodded repeatedly. “Think of something; don’t let them suffer.” As she spoke, Eleanor began to cry. Her son and husband had never suffered like this; it made her wonder what bad karma they had brought upon themselves. Evan and Sean didn’t comfort Eleanor; she had been crying often these days.
Just then, Evan’s phone rang. Whatever the person on the other end said, Evan’s face turned extremely grim. After hanging up, he looked at Sean and Eleanor and said, “The company can’t hold on any longer. We have to file for bankruptcy.”