Sierra pulled Sophia along so quickly that Sophia struggled to keep up. It wasn''t until they entered the elevator that Sierra finally let out a sigh.


    "Cee, why are you walking so quickly?" Sophia asked as she finally caught up. Remembering Zachary''s words, she decided to ask directly. "Cee, what''s going on between you and Sky?"


    Sierra looked at her reflection in the elevator and sighed. "What do you mean? Sophia, that''s not how you use that phrase. Just because I''ve been abroad for years doesn''t mean myprehension is bad."


    Sophia pressed, "So what exactly is going on between you and Sky?"


    Sierra fell silent for a long moment before finally saying, "Sophia, I have my own ns. I want to stay in Dithoria. I want to have the protection of my parents and our mom.


    "Samuel made me see that even if you''ve known someone your whole life, even if you''re childhood sweethearts, it doesn''t mean you can trust thempletely."


    She paused briefly before continuing, "As for you and Zachary, I don''t want to make assumptions, but you''ve said that Zachary was once your therapist. He knows everything about you and the Sinir family.


    "People''s hearts change, and a psychologist knows how to y with them. Zachary might love you now, but who can say that love willst forever?"


    Sophia asked, "So you intend to use Sky, right?"


    Still holding Sky''s jacket, Sierra hesitated before slowly nodding. "Yes, I admit it. I want to use him. After meeting Sky today, everything I did went as nned. Samuel doesn''t just want Sinir Group-he also wants all my parents'' assets.


    "My parents thought he was a good son-inw, so they sold all their properties in Amberton and moved to Dithoria with the money. Well, you know what happened after we arrived in Dithoria. It''s impossible for me to establish myself here as a lone woman."


    Sophia felt her heart drop. Zachary had been right. Sierra was indeed nning to use Sky. However, Sophia didn''t entirely agree with her methods.


    After a moment, Sophia hesitantly spoke up. "Why not go to Marcus or Natalie? They''d be a better choice than Sky! He has a criminal record."


    "Emma''s dead," Sierra said tly. "Sophia, Emma died in prison. Did you know that?"


    "What?"


    Sophia was shocked. She hadn''t heard anything about Emma''s death.


    "Sophia, since you and Zachary started dating, you''ve stopped paying attention to things like this. You''ve let important information slip away," Sierra said with a small smile, and at that moment, the elevator doors chimed open. "We''re here. Let''s go home."


    Sierra stepped out first, and Sophia hurried to follow.<fn9052> Get full chapters from Find~Novel</fn9052>


    Sierra continued, "I''m nning to buy a ce in Causeway Bay tomorrow. I know Sky has a vi there, so I''m going to buy a house right next to his."


    "Cee, don''t get too involved with Sky," Sophia said, grabbing Sierra''s hand. "You can''t control a man like him."


    "I don''t need to control him," Sierra replied calmly. "Sophia, I''m not sure what you learned from your time with Natalie, but while I''ve been in Dithoria, I''ve been reflecting on more than just dealing with Samuel."


    She went on, "If a woman wants to


    ет


    seed, she has to work harder than a man. Sometimes, using a man to get ahead is just part of the game of you can use a man''s resources, use them. If you can


    leverage his guilt, do it Only when


    you''re strong enough can you stop fearing anyone or anything."  s


    Sierra let out a heavy sigh before continuing, "Sophia, didn''t the girls from Coalmarsh use Natalie''s help to escape? If they had only relied on themselves, do you think they would''ve made it out?


    "Natalie helped you, and when you were younger, Marcus protected you. That''s why your life got easier. Those were resources you got from others. Why is that any different if I want to get something from Sky now?"


    As Sophia stood there, listening to Sierra''s calm words, she felt a distance between them for the first time. "But Cee, you weren''t like this before."


    Sierra sighed. "Sophia, I need you to understand something. No one wants to go from being a carefree girl to a strong, independent adult overnight. If I don''t change, what awaits me is being pushed aside by Samuel while he drains the wealth my parents left me.


    "When Samuel pulls that final move, have you thought about what would happen to me?"


    Sierra continued, "I admit that I''m using Sky, and I know what I''m doing isn''t exactly honorable. I wasn''t always this calcting. I used to be kind, generous, gentle, and obedient, but Samuel is forcing me into this.


    "I don''t want anything bad to happen to me, but can I control that? I was lucky to be saved once, but what if it happens again?"


    She paused and added, "Sophia, haven''t you been lucky too? You''ve met Natalie, Marcus, and Zachary. But can you really guarantee that your life will always be the same? Will Zachary love you like this for the next few years or even decades?


    "Do you remember the time you


    pretended to be Natalie? That was a calcted move too, wasn''t it? I know it was because you wanted Marcus'' protection. There''s nothing wrong with that, and I don''t think it''s


    shameful. When gins


    are in tough,


    situations, it''s okay to gethelp from and even use men."


    to s


    Sierra took another deep breath and said, "In Coalmarsh, men use their sisters to arrange marriages for themselves. They use their wives.to keep having children, and when they have daughters, those daughters


    serve their sons. Men can use women, or even their sisters. So, why can''t we use them?"  s


    Sophia froze when Sierra said this.


    Sierra bluntly pointed out that when Sophia was younger, she had pretended to


    be Natalie, taking credit for Natalie''s act of saving Marcus. Sierra was essentially saying that Sophia had also been calcting.


    Since Natalie had forgiven her without holding a grudge, and Marcus had been generous, Sophia had nearly forgotten about it.


    Now that Sierra had brought it up, she realized that she wasn''t any better herself.


    "Cee, you''re right. I don''t have the right to criticize you," Sophia said softly. "I just worry that if you use Sky, you might get hurt."


    Sierra stepped forward and hugged Sophia. "Sophia, I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to bring up your past, but sometimes, I have to say things bluntly for you to understand my intentions. I admit that what I''m doing isn''t right, and I don''t want to be maniptive.


    "However, I have to do this to achieve my goal. I need to protect myself and my parents. They''ve already suffered from losing me for so many years, and I don''t want them to keep worrying because of my issues with Samuel.


    "They''ve reached an age where they deserve peace and happiness. I just want them to have a peaceful, happy life in their old age. That''s why I need to be strong. Sophia, do you understand?"