Chapter 270: The Line That Can’t Be Crossed

Johnathan had barely left when Sierra’s phone rang. Unknown number.

“Hello?”

There was a beat of silence. She checked the screen, thinking it was a wrong number. Just as she moved to hang up, a voice she knew too well spoke.

“Long time no see.”

Sierra froze. Shane. She’d almost managed to forget him, to bury those three years as if they were nothing but a nightmare she’d finally awakened from. But hearing his voice was enough to remind her—she hadn’t escaped anything. Not really.

“What do you want?” she said.

“Just thought I’d see how you’re doing,” Shane said casually, as if they were old friends.

“Yeah? Well, I don’t want to see you.”

She moved to hang up.

“You’re awfully confident now,” he added. “Must be nice, having Johnathan behind you. But are you really so sure of your place? You think the Wynn family’s going to accept someone like you?”

“Not your concern,” she snapped, and hung up before he could say another word. Then she blocked the number. Her good mood vanished instantly. She didn’t know what Shane was up to, but she knew him well enough to guess—it wasn’t anything good.

She considered telling Johnathan, but after a moment, decided to wait. Right now, he had enough on his plate.

At that moment, Johnathan arrived at the Wynn family’s private hospital. As soon as he walked in, he was stopped.

“The patriarch says no visitors.”

It was one of his grandfather’s oldest aides, loyal and trusted. Johnathan’s expression didn’t change, but his chest tightened.

“How is he?”

The man sighed. “Sir… he was really upset. He collapsed the night of the party. The doctors say if this continues, there’s a serious risk of a stroke. You know how old he is. And he loves you, more than anyone. Please… think about him.”

Johnathan looked toward the tightly closed door. He stood there for a few seconds, then turned and left.

Right outside the hospital doors, he ran straight into Chase. Father and son locked eyes like two enemies on a battlefield.

“How long are you planning to hold this grudge?” Chase said.

Johnathan stared back, cold and quiet.

Chase flinched as if he’d been hit. He hadn’t expected that. Somewhere deep down, he’d believed they could still fix this, that Johnathan would come around eventually.

When Johnathan tried to walk past him, Chase reached out and grabbed his arm.

“It’s not what you think,” he said quickly.

Johnathan looked at him with thinly veiled disgust. “Oh? So you’re telling me you didn’t cheat? That Jose isn’t your kid? Or maybe you want me to believe you weren’t with your mistress—your new little family—while my mother was dying?”

Every word hit like a punch. Chase’s face turned paler with each one. No one else in the Wynn family knew the truth. Only the three of them had been there when his mother died.

“I’m sorry,” Chase said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t know—”

“You didn’t know because you didn’t care!” Johnathan snapped. “You didn’t know she was sick. You didn’t know I spent every day hoping you’d come back. You weren’t there. You never were. I kept wondering why my dad wasn’t coming. Then I found out the truth. We were never important to you.”

Chase opened his mouth again, but nothing came out.

“You were never a father to me. So don’t act like one now,” Johnathan said. “And don’t think I’m letting anything go. You want your son to challenge me for the Wynn family? Fine. Let’s see if he survives it.”

Chase looked horrified.

“He’s your brother! You hate me, fine, but he’s always respected you. All he’s ever wanted was your approval. He—”

“Shut up,” Johnathan cut him off. “You want to cry about this? Do it somewhere else. I’m not going to make a scene in front of the hospital—but don’t think for a second this is over.”

He gave his father one last look before walking away. Chase stood there, stunned. And old. So much older than just a few minutes ago. He looked down at the ground, his eyes heavy with pain. There were things he regretted, deeply. But some things… once broken, just couldn’t be fixed.

Johnathan didn’t go home right away. Instead, he called He Shen and a few others, gathering them together for drinks. He was calm, drinking slowly, even relaxed—but the look in his eyes said otherwise. While they talked, Johnathan laid out his next steps. And this time, he wasn’t holding back.