Chapter 207: No More Ties

Nierra’s grandmother remained silent, studying her daughter for a long time. Even with clean clothes, Volia couldn't conceal her suffering; she looked even more frail than before.

“Sierra, I want to speak with her alone,” Sierra’s grandmother said.

Sierra nodded and stepped outside. The moment the door closed, Sierra’s grandmother finally spoke.

“Why was it so hard to find you, Yulia?”

Yulia immediately began sobbing, recounting her hardships. She had always been weak, always reliant on others. As she spoke, her crying intensified, portraying herself as a victim. Half a lifetime had passed, yet she hadn’t changed. Sierra’s grandmother watched her daughter, disappointment etched in her eyes. How had she raised a child like this?

After a long pause, she asked, “What are you planning to do now?”

Yulia stared in shock. Why was she asking that? Hadn't she sent someone to find her because she was worried? Sierra’s grandmother saw right through her.

She said calmly, “I called you here because I don’t have much time left. No matter what, we are still mother and daughter. I thought I should tell you.”

Yulia froze, then panic flashed across her face. Not because she was afraid of losing her mother, but because she feared that once her mother was gone, Sierra would have even less reason to care for her.

“Mom, what are you saying? Sierra has money now—she can save you! You can’t die! If you die, what will happen to me?” Yulia’s tears grew more desperate. She was already envisioning her own miserable future. Then, as if a sudden realization struck her, she grabbed her mother’s arm.

“Mom, tell Sierra to help me. Ask her to take care of me. She listens to you—she’ll do it.”

Sierra’s grandmother’s heart turned to ice. She looked down at her daughter, kneeling before her in tears. For the first time, there was no love in her gaze, only grief. How had Yulia become this way? She had been a good child once. When had she transformed into someone like this? Her grandmother had just told her she was dying, yet Yulia’s first reaction wasn’t sadness.

Instead, all she cared about was what would happen to her once her mother was gone. Even now, as Nierra’s grandmother lay at death’s door, Yulia was still trying to extract what she could from her. Before, she had tried to convince herself that Yulia was simply weak, that she had been intimidated into submission by James. But now, she understood: her daughter was selfish to the bone.

Closing her eyes briefly, Sierra’s grandmother finally said, “I won’t ask Sierra for anything. She doesn’t owe me, and she certainly doesn’t owe you.” She took a deep breath before continuing, “I called you here not just to tell you I’m dying. I wanted to make one thing clear: if I have even a shred of human decency left, stop clinging to Sierra. Don’t expect her to take care of you.”

Yulia’s eyes widened in shock. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“You… How can you say that?”

“It was my failure as a mother that you turned out this way,” Sierra’s grandmother said quietly. “Maybe this is my punishment.” She turned away. “You should go.”

Yulia completely broke down. “Mom! You can’t be this cruel!” she wailed. “If you don’t care about me, what am I supposed to do?”

Sierra’s grandmother didn’t respond. Desperation turned to fury. Yulia glared at her mother and cried, “I ended up like this because of you! You always told me what I couldn’t do, what I shouldn’t do. It’s your fault that I became so weak! You made me like this—so how can you abandon me now?”

She suddenly stood, eyes wild. “Fine! If you’re going to die, then I’ll die first!”

Before Sierra’s grandmother could react, Yulia ran to the window, threw it open, and climbed onto the ledge, looking back at her mother with a crazed expression.

“If you tell me to leave, I’ll jump!”

Sierra’s grandmother’s face paled. She hadn’t thought her daughter would go this far. The commotion had been loud enough that Sierra, worried something was wrong, pushed open the door—only to see Yulia sitting on the window ledge. She didn’t even look at her. Her first concern was her grandmother. But Sierra’s grandmother was trembling, her face drained of color, her lips trembling with anger and pain.

“Grandma!” Sierra rushed forward. “Don’t get upset!”

“Get her out of here!” Sierra’s grandmother shouted, her voice shaking with rage.

She thought, at the very least, she should see her daughter one last time. But now, she wished she never had. If she hadn’t seen her, at least she could have held onto some hope. Now, she had nothing but disappointment.

“Alright, I’ll make her leave.” Sierra turned and strode toward Yulia.