Chapter 57: The Truth Spills Out

“Sierra, stop being stubborn about this,” Bradley said. He knew his sister was disappointed in them, so he had decided to start with the person she cared about most—her grandmother.

Sierra took a deep breath. She was so tired of the Xander family. They never listened, or rather, they only heard what they wanted to hear. That night, she had made herself clear, yet they still believed she was just throwing a tantrum for attention. They never asked if she wanted what they were offering; they just forced things on her and then patted themselves on the back for being generous.

She didn’t want to waste another word on them. Instead, she turned to the hospital staff. “Please don’t allow anyone to disturb my grandmother again.”

The doctors and nurses looked a little uncertain. The lead physician, Dr. Zahn, spoke up hesitantly. “The doctors they mentioned are top specialists. If your grandmother transfers to their facility, there’s a chance for a breakthrough.”

Sierra shook her head. “No need. She’ll stay here. Dr. Zahn, I’ll continue to count on you.”

Dr. Zahn smiled. Being trusted so completely by a patient’s family was a rare thing. “You can rest assured: I’ll do my best.”

She and the doctor hadn’t lowered their voices, so Bradley and Evan heard everything. Evan frowned. His tone was disapproving. “You’re being childish. You say you care about your grandmother, but you’re playing games with her life.”

Sierra turned around abruptly and stared at them. “Did you ever care?” There was a sharpness in her voice, like a blade slicing through the air.

“Once upon a time, I entrusted the person I loved most to you. I thought my brothers would take care of my grandmother. But what happened? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice… No one believes the boy who cried wolf. And I definitely don’t believe you. Besides, what if Denise gets into trouble again? Are you going to push me out in her place? If I refuse, are you going to dangle my grandmother’s life over my head again?”

“Sierra!” Evan snapped, unable to listen any longer. “Do you have to say things like that?”

She turned away and ignored him. They had done those things without hesitation, yet now they thought her words were too harsh? They had walked right into this.

Bradley held Evan back and spoke calmly. “I know this is something you’ve never let go of. But I still hope you can trust me one more time.”

Impossible.

She would never trust them again. The only person she could count on now was herself. Once her research was successful, her grandmother’s condition would stabilize. She wasn’t going to rely on anyone else.

Bradley could see she wasn’t responding. He wanted to keep talking, but before he could, the hospital room door suddenly opened. Sierra’s grandmother wheeled herself out. The argument had been loud enough to wake her. She looked at Bradley and Evan, then spoke softly, “You’re Sierra’s brothers!”

Bradley quickly stepped forward. “Hello, ma’am. We’re Bradley and Evan, Sierra and Denise’s brothers. We should have visited you sooner. I apologize for that.”

Evan gave a brief nod, an acknowledgment but nothing more.

“So you really are her brothers.” Sierra’s grandmother’s voice was steady, but there was an edge to it. “Then tell me—what did Sierra mean just now? You pushed her out? Pushed her where? And what does Denise have to do with it?”

Bradley’s and Evan’s faces instantly changed. They hadn’t expected her to catch that. When they stayed silent, Sierra’s grandmother turned to Sierra instead. Her lips trembled slightly. “Sierra, is it true?”

When Sierra had been arrested, something had felt off. She had raised this child. She knew her better than anyone. She still remembered the day Sierra had gotten her driver’s license. She had been so excited, saying that once she graduated and got a job, she would buy a car and take her grandmother on trips. Then, not long after, the accident happened. At the time, she hadn’t thought too deeply about it. But hearing Bradley and Evan’s words just now, she had started putting the pieces together.

“Sierra, tell me the truth. Is that what I’m thinking?” She asked again, her voice unsteady, her hands trembling slightly as she gripped the wheelchair armrests.

“Let’s talk inside,” Bradley said quickly. He shot a glance at his assistant, who immediately moved to clear the room of doctors and nurses. “Come, ma’am, let’s go inside,” Bradley said gently, pushing her wheelchair toward the hospital room.

Her grandmother’s face had gone completely pale. Her eyes swept over Bradley and Evan before landing on Sierra. “Denise was the one who killed someone,” she said slowly, as if testing the words. “And they used me as leverage to force you to take the blame, didn’t they?”