With that much money under her name, Sierra knew that without a powerful


    backer or strong allies, she and her parents would easily be targets. Even after arriving in Dithoria, their rtives hadn''t stopped probing into their situation from the shadows.


    That was why Jonathan had asked Marcus for help. He was worried Sierra wouldn''t have anyone to protect her. Marcus had agreed to keep an eye on her, but Sierra knew very well that relying on others would never be as reliable as relying on herself.


    If even Samuel, who had been her childhoodpanion and lifelong support, could turn his back on her in the blink of an eye, how much could she expect from Marcus, who was practically a stranger?


    She needed to n a long-term, foolproof path for herself.


    The Walker family ranked just below the Holden family in Dithoria. Natalie had saved Sophia''s life and was also her friend.


    Natalie had a strong sense of justice, and as a woman, was more likely to sympathize with another woman''s struggles. So forging a connection with Natalie was something both Sierra and Sophia had to take seriously.


    Sophia had now joined Natalie''s charity efforts, securing that link. But Sierra had no interests in charity, and she certainly didn''t want to go somewhere like Coalmarsh.


    Her goal was to use the Walker family''s influence to establish herself in Dithoria— firmly enough that the Remingtons from Amberton would no longer dare toe after her family.


    Sky, though a former inmate, had earned repeatedmendations during his time in prison. His early release had been a certainty.


    With Sophia and Zachary facilitating that release, he now owed them a favor. Once free, Sky was likely to return as CEO of Walker Group, while his younger brother, Lincoln, already ran his own sessful business.


    Sierra had researched Natalie''s brothers carefully.


    The oldest, Sky, had once doted excessively on Emma. Lincoln, the second brother, was a film mogul with a powerful entertainmentpany and many top- tier celebrities under his wing.


    Despite his fame, he had never been caught in a single scandal. He always maintained a professional image, never giving anyone the chance to exploit his


    name.


    Clearly, Lincoln was easygoing on the surface, but firm in his boundaries.


    The third brother, Hector, was a doctor. He ran his own hospital and served as its director. Though busy, he made time to support Natalie whenever she needed him. Hector adored Natalie, but in other areas, Sierra wasn''t sure how much influence he had.


    The fourth brother, Timothy, was a renowned esports champion. A master gamer and extremely low-key in real life, he was virtually invisible outsidepetitions.<fn6f14> Updates are released by find~novel</fn6f14>


    The youngest, Mason, was a sports student. His girlfriend was Olivia Thatcher, Natalie''s close friend and a top model signed under Lincoln''s entertainmentpany.


    Since joining the agency, Olivia''s career had skyrocketed, and she now had amercial value in the eight-figure range.


    Their rtionship was kept under wraps, a testament to how discreetly they operated.


    Mason was off-limits because he was taken. Timothy was too elusive to be a viable option. Lincoln had recently been spotted meeting a ballerina in secret, clearly pursuing someone seriously. Hector, despite his credentials, wasn''t involved in business and wouldn''t be much help in Sierra''s ns.


    That left Sky.


    His criminal record made him both visible and vulnerable. The incident had stirred up a lot of attention, giving him a certain level of notoriety. But no matter how well- known he became, prison remained a stain on his record.


    He had seen Emma''s true nature and had grown cautious around women. He wouldn''t be easy to win over, but if she could gain his trust, he would be fiercely loyal.


    So Sierra nned to go big.


    She arranged this meeting with Sky just to get a foot in the door to talk, maybe be friends, and slowly go from there.


    She nced at the time. Since entering Velvet Swan, she had only finished one ss of water. Sky would probably take a little longer.


    While she waited, Sierra pressed the service bell. "Could you help me buy a bouquet of hyacinths?"


    "Of course," the waiter replied with a smile.


    "Great. Please make sure it''s nicely wrapped," Sierra added, pulling out her wallet


    and handing over several bills. "Keep the change. Thank you."


    "Not a problem. I''ll be back shortly."


    The waiter left with the money. Sierra continued sipping her drink. In the floranguage, hyacinths symbolized rebirth and igniting the me of life. It felt like the perfect gift for a first meeting with Sky.


    ...


    A quick 20 minutester, the waiter returned with the bouquet in hand. Sierra epted it graciously.


    "Thank you so much. I appreciate it."


    "You''re wee, miss."


    Once the waiter left, Sierra tidied the bouquet, and not long after, Sky pushed open the restaurant door.


    Sierra looked up. He wore a sleek ck suit, hair cropped short, his features sharp and masculine. Though lean, he didn''t look weak.


    "Mr. Walker, over here."


    She raised her hand slightly, her voice calm and poised.


    Sky saw her and walked over with steady strides, then sat across from her.


    "Mr. Walker, hello. It''s nice to finally meet you. Here''s a little something for you." She offered the bouquet of hyacinths with a light smile. "Actually, we met once when we were kids. When I was abroad, I honestly thought I''d return someday to attend your wedding with Sophia."


    Sky epted the flowers, eyes lingering on them for a while before he finally nodded.


    "Life is unpredictable. I suppose Sophia and I were never meant to be. Thank you for the gift, Ms. Remington. Apologies for not bringing anything in return. It slipped my mind. But let me cover the meal."


    Sierra smiled. "I was the one who asked you out. Let me pay for it."


    "So, Ms. Remington, what can I help you with?" Sky asked, cing the bouquet beside him and meeting her gaze.


    "There''s something I''d like to ask you about," Sierra replied smoothly.


    "We saw each other briefly at Natalie''s wedding. You didn''t show up for the ceremony, but when I was delivering something, I saw you inside the house." "Is that so?" Sky looked surprised.


    His parents had kept him indoors during the wedding, afraid he might cause trouble and ruin Natalie and Marcus'' big day. Most guests didn''t even know the Walker family''s eldest son had been present at all.


    Now that Sierra mentioned it, he was genuinely caught off guard.