Chapter 242

Chapter 241 A Fresh Start
When Sean told Bradley that Sierrahadgiven the apartment back. Bradley froze for a moment.
Then, slowly, he lowered his head.
Back when he gave her that apartment,whathad he been thinking?
Maybe therehadbeen a flicker of quilt–an attempt at making amends.
But even then, he had given it withanair of superiority.
At the time, one apartment meant nothing to him.
He had thought that by giving Sierraaplace to stay, the Xander family’s debt to her would be reduced.
Yet now, that same apartmenthadbecome their lifeline.
He couldn’t even muster the pride to refuse it.
Now he undersiond what it meant to have nothing.
His mother was gravely ill.
Evan’s situation was still uncertain.
He and their father were locked away with no power to change anything.
It was here, in this cold, suffocating place,thathe finally realized-
Sierra had spent threewholeyearsina hell worse than this.
And she had been completely alone.
For the first time, Bradley saw how wrong he had been.
For years, he had convinced himself that Sierra was the one holding a grudge.
That she was being petty.
He had never stopped to considerthatit was they who had broken her heart first.
After a long silence, he finally said to Sean,
silence,
Tell her Bradley was wrong”
Sean pressedhislips together.
She probably doesn’t care anymore
Sierra never foundoutabout the brothers‘ conversation.
Andeven if she had, she wouldn’t have cared
She was busy packing the last of herthings
After over twenty yearsinMaviston, all she had to show for it were two suitcases
Apart from her grandmother, therewasnothing in this city worth holding onto.
Before leaving, she reachedoutto Bella.
Since adding each otheronsocial media, Bellawouldoccasionallymessage her, and the two hadgrowncloser.
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Chapter 241 A Fresh Start
Now that she was leaving, Sierra wanted to meet for one last meal.
Bella was reluctant to say goodbye,
Making a true friend wasn’t easy.
But she knew the Capital would give Sierra far more opportunities.
I’m actually trying to apply for my PhD there,” Bella admitted.
“If I get in. we might run into each other again. You better look after me when that happens.”
Bella’s cheerful personality was something Sierra had always liked.
They talked for a long time, until it got lateandthey finally said their goodbyes.
Johnathan had already called Sierra several times.
When she finally returned, he couldn’t help but comment,
“Enjoyed your chat?”
Yeah
Sierra smiled.
Johnathan, it’s rare
for me
to have a real friend.
She wasn’t exaggerating.
As a child, no one wanted to play with her.
Aftermovingin with the Xanders, she had been ignored at best, mistreated at worst.
Even at school, she had been nothing more than Denise’s shadow.
Denise never acknowledged their relationship.
To everyone else. Sierra was just a glorified servant.
Denise played the innocent, and Sierra’s quiet nature only pushed people further away.
For so manyyears, Bellawasthe fir
firsttruefriend she had made.
Hearing this, Jolmathan felt an odddiscomfortsettleinhischest.
He was realizing moreandmore–Sierra affected his emotions far too easily.
It was such a sumple statement.
Andyet, it made him deeply unsettled.
He had been annoyed that she came home late.
But now, he couldn’t even bring himself to stay mad.
“From now on,you’llhave plenty offriends.”
Hisattempt at comforting her wasalittle awkward.
Sierra chuckled
“Mr.Johnathan, you sound like an oldmangivingadvice.”
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8:38 PM
Chapter 241 A Fresh Start
Johnathan’s eyes darkened.
Was she calling him old!
Without another word, he picked her up and carried her straight to the bedroom
He was going to show her exactly how young he was
On the day of their departure, Sierra had no regrets.
She took one last look at Maviston.
Then with Johnathan and Dickson at her side, she left.
A new city. A new life.
She’d be lying if she said she wasn’t nervous
But looking at Johnathan beside her, she felt like there was nothing to worry about.
Johnathan had made all the arrangements in advance.
The moment they landed, Mateo was waiting for them.
“Everyone else was busy, so here I am” he said with a grin.
“Ma am, let me take that.”
He quickly grabbed Sierra’s luggage and led the way, chatting with Dickson as they walked
Johnathan had already purchased two apartments near Sierra’s school
A larger one for them, and a smaller two–bedroom unit that Sierra had personally bought.
Both were in the same residential complex, just in different buildings–exactly as they had agreed.
Sierra had planned to help Dickson settle in first
but before she could. Mateo stepped up
“Ma amleaveit to me I handled everything, so I know where everything is
He turned to Dickson
“Come on, kid. Follow me?