Chapter 274: Yours and No One Else’s

“You’re overthinking it. What can I possibly do to him? He’s the heir of the Wynn family, after all.” Shane flipped through a stack of old files. His new role in the medical system, and the considerable power it afforded him, granted access to certain things. What he’d unearthed was juicy.

Severe depression? Tsk. Who would’ve guessed the former Mrs. Wynn had that kind of diagnosis? Adding Jonathan’s outburst at the Wynn family banquet, the picture was clear. Shane had a pretty good idea what had happened.

He couldn’t confront Jonathan directly. But not everyone was as bulletproof. That thought solidified, and he opened Jose’s file. There wasn’t much; just a few lines. Honestly, if he hadn’t been at the banquet, he never would have connected the soft-spoken Jose to the Wynn family.

He stared at Jose’s file and muttered, “Sierra, I’m not sending you flowers for some hidden reason. I’m serious. Date me.”

Sierra almost laughed. The absurdity was staggering. Shane wasn’t just sick; he was certifiably unwell. “You work in the medical system now. Might be a good idea to get yourself checked out—especially your brain.”

She started to hang up, but his voice stopped her. “You really think you’d be alive without me? Sierra, maybe stop looking at everything so one-sided.”

Her thumb hesitated before hitting the red button, but his words lingered. Back in prison, she’d nearly died several times. He’d gotten her transferred to a hospital. At the time, she’d been grateful. Then she found out he’d only done it for the thrill of watching her squirm.

The more she’d gotten to know Kason, the more she realized that prison had been filthier than she’d ever imagined. Kason had once joked about wishing he’d met her earlier. Something about it had made her pause, but she hadn’t understood why. Now it clicked.

She might be a Xander by blood, but the Richardson family had never treated her like she mattered. And the Xanders didn’t care about her either. If Kason had known who she was, he definitely wouldn’t have let her go.

And yet, somehow, he’d never seen her. Never even mentioned her name. That hadn’t been luck, had it?

Sierra shook her head sharply, snapping herself out of it. Don’t let Shane’s bullshit get to you. She had bigger problems right now—like dealing with the groupies swarming her at school. With a sigh, she rubbed her temple and made a decision. Then she picked up her phone.

Jonathan had been swamped for days. The Zach family weren’t small potatoes. With years of support from the Yuan family, they’d become one of the most powerful families in Capital City. Tearing them down wasn’t easy. If not for Jonathan’s years of quiet planning, they wouldn’t even have a shot. He and his associates had spent days snatching major projects right out from under the Zachs’ noses.

“We’re moving too fast,” Draven said, adjusting his glasses. “They’re going to notice soon.”

“Good,” Jonathan said coolly. “Let them.” The company he was using had grown rapidly and now ranked in the national top ten. And he still hadn’t played all his cards. He had the firepower. That’s why he didn’t flinch.

Seeing Jonathan so calm, Maddox didn’t press the issue. But Mateo blurted, “What the hell did you do in your past life to deserve a woman like ma’am? I’m seriously jealous.”

Jonathan raised a brow. “What are you on about?”

Mateo shoved his phone in Jonathan’s face. On the screen was a post, pinned at the very top. Jonathan clicked it. He couldn’t help the smile that tugged at his lips. All it said was:

Hub Vilbel forum post—user: Sierra. “I already have a boyfriend, and I don’t plan on switching—now or ever. Thanks for the attention, but please stop wasting your time.”

The comments were exploding. “So this is game over for the rest of us?” “Guess we’re officially out of the running.” “Shouldn’t Mr. Yaeger be the one saying this?” “Hope she doesn’t eat those words later.”

That last one made Jonathan’s eye twitch. He muttered something under his breath and hit the report button so fast the screen glitched. Then, for the first time ever, he registered an account. Real name and everything. He quoted Sierra’s post and added only one line:

“Sierra is mine. Don’t even think about it. You want a fight? Come find me.”