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    Samuel kept talking on the phone, but the more Sierra listened, the worse her


    expression became. She didn''t interrupt and just silently let Samuel continue.


    "Marcus and I have known each other since we were kids. We were friends. Just


    because I''ve been abroad all these years and haven''t kept in touch with him, does


    that give him the right to have his bodyguard beat me up?


    "Is he doing this just because he''s the heir of the Holden family? Just because


    he''s the richest man in the world, he thinks he can do whatever he wants?


    "Cee, I''m in the hospital right now, alone and feeling terrible. Can youe keep


    mepany?"


    "Sorry," Sierra finally answered. "Samuel, I think you have a serious problem with


    how you see things. I need some time alone to think. You should take some time


    to reflect too.


    "I disagree with what you''re saying. When we were abroad, you told me you didn''t


    want anything from the Sinir family. When Mr. Holden reached out and told you


    about my biological parents, you said we were returning home to reconnect with


    our family, not to fight Sophia.


    "Do you really not know the real reason we had to leave the country when we


    were kids?"


    Tears welled up in her eyes as she continued, "Most importantly, I can''t ept the


    fact that you''re using the pain Sophia went through to attack her. You''re her


    biological brother. If even you think this way, how is she supposed to go on?


    "Samuel, I didn''t want to say this. You''re my husband, and I should stand by you,


    but Sophia is my friend. I still remember when Mom first brought me back to the


    Sinir residence, it was Sophia who took me to her room, ran a bath for me, and


    gave me her new clothes to wear.


    "It was Sophia who held my hand that night, let me sleep next to her, and told me


    that from that day on, I had a mom, too.


    "When something happened to her, I was devastated. I wished I could kill the


    person who hurt her. But as her brother, how could you say something like this?


    "Now I finally understand why Mom and Sophia won''t ept you returning to the


    Sinir residence. It''s because you don''t deserve it."


    After saying that, Sierra hung up the phone. As soon as the call ended, her tears


    fell.


    Sophia was such a good person. Did she choose to go through everything she


    suffered? Of course not.


    Sierra regretted not apologizing to Elijah. Perhaps it was a good thing that Elijah


    had broken Samuel''s leg.


    Samuel was beyond saving.


    But... should she divorce him over this?


    Sierra felt lost. Her whole life had been intertwined with Samuel''s. But she would


    never forget how Sophia had treated her with kindness, warmth, and joy when


    she first arrived at the Sinir residence.


    Sophia had even said that she would treat Sierra like a younger sister since she


    was older, and that the day Sierra was brought back by Samantha was her new


    birthday.


    From the moment she entered the Sinir residence, Sierra had been given a


    new life.


    Now, on one side was her husband, on the other was someone she considered a


    sister. Her husband was also her sister''s biological brother.


    By all logic, they should be the closest of family. But now, things had fallen apart.


    Sierra sat in a daze for a while before her phone rang again. It was Samuel calling


    back.


    Annoyed, she simply hung up and blocked his number.


    Taking a deep breath, she called Sophia. Sierra hadn''t seen her since returning to


    Dithoria State.


    Back at the beach, when she ran over to Samuel, Sophia had already left.


    The call connected, but Sophia took a long time to answer. "Hello, Sierra."


    "Sophia, I''m sorry." Sierra''s first words were an apology. "I scolded Samuel for


    what he said. I''m apologizing to you on his behalf."


    "Oh." Sophia''s tone was indifferent. "Is there anything else? If not, I''m hanging


    up."


    "Sophia, let''s meet. Since I got back, I haven''t had time to see you and Mom. All


    these years while I was abroad, I really missed you both."


    Her voice grew choked. "I''m sorry you had to stay here alone all these years. It


    must have been hard."


    "Forget it." Sophia''s voice turned


    even colder. There''s no need for us


    to meet. My mom doesn''t want to


    see you or Samuel. And since you


    and Samuel are two different people,


    you can''t apologize on his behalf.


    Goodbye."


    "Sophia,e pick one as your bridesmaid dress."


    Sierra heard another voice in the background. It was Natalie.


    "Coming!"


    Before Sierra could say anything else, Sophia hung up.


    Natalie was asking Sophia to choose a bridesmaid dress. Was Sophia going to be


    Natalie''s bridesmaid?


    At Nouvelle Zara Bridal Boutique, Natalie was pulling Sophia along to pick out a


    bridesmaid dress.


    Sophia nced around and felt overwhelmed. There were so many beautiful


    dresses. Every single one of them was breathtaking.


    "Nat, are you sure you want me as your bridesmaid?" she asked hesitantly while


    browsing. "My past has been messy. I don''t want to ruin your wedding."


    Sophia loved every dress she saw, but she didn''t dare to pick one.


    "Nat, I think I should sit this one out. Your wedding with Marcus is the most


    important event of your life. I don''t want anything to taint it."


    "I''m not worried, so why should you be?" Natalie held Sophia''s hand tightly.


    "Sophia, that''s not the right way to think about this."


    "I know you''re looking out for me,


    but I don''t want to be selfish."


    Sophia looked at Natalie with


    gratitude. "Nat, thank you. You pulled


    me out of hell. There''s not much I


    can do for you in return."


    "The fact that you care means the world to me."


    Sophia hugged Natalie. "Just throw your bouquet to me, okay? I''ll sit being your


    bridesmaid out."


    "Sophia, you really don''t have to be


    afraid." Natalie sighed. "You didn''t do


    anything wrong. You can''t let what


    others did to you trap you in


    self-doubt forever.


    "We have to face things head-on. We have to break free. We have to shine. Why


    punish ourselves for other people''s mistakes?"


    "I understand, Nat. It''s not that I can''t move on. I just don''t want anything bad to


    happen at your wedding."


    Sophiaughed. "You care about me, and I care about you."


    Natalie concurred. "We care about each other."


    Sophia continued, "Please, just say it''s alright. Okay?"


    Sophia pouted and pleaded with Natalie, who could only sigh and agree. "Okay,


    okay."


    Sophia broke into a smile. "Have you decided on your bridesmaids yet?"


    "Olivia." Natalie grinned. "She''s a model, you know? I''m actually scared she''ll


    steal my thunder."


    "She won''t," Sophia reassured her, linking arms with Natalie. "And you''re way


    more beautiful than she is."


    ```