The lost heiress never forgiven

The Lost Heiress 3

Chapter 3 Plans

upstairs that Sean scoffed. “Look at her. What kind of attitude is that?” “Enough, Sean,” Eleanor scolded. “Sierra just got back. Give her some time.” Denise spoke up gently, “I’ll go check on Sierra. I should talk to her about school tomorrow.” Eleanor’s expression softened. “Yes, you two have always been close. Go talk to her. She’s been acting stranger and stranger lately.” She frowned but quickly suppressed her frustration. Sierra had spent three years in that kind of place—of course, she had changed. Upstairs, Sierra was sitting in her room, planning to find time tomorrow to visit her grandmother. Then, a knock sounded on the door. Before she could answer, the door opened. Denise stepped inside. Sierra’s expression instantly darkened. “Sierra…” Denise called softly, as if testing the waters. “I just wanted to see if you needed anything. I can have someone prepare it for you.” Sierra lifted her gaze slightly, her eyes full of ridicule. That sentence made their positions clear. How laughable. She was the Xander family’s real daughter, yet she was treated like a guest here. No, even worse than a guest. Sierra’s voice was ice-cold. “Three years ago, I told you—never come near me again.” Because of Denise’s mistake, Sierra had spent three years in prison. She didn’t need a sister like that. “Sierra…” Denise’s eyes turned red. “I know you blame me. I know I owe you. I really want to make it up to you. I—” Sierra cut her off. “If you really feel bad, then pay up.” Denise froze. The tears in her eyes wavered as if she wasn’t sure whether to let them fall. Sierra let out a cold laugh. “Didn’t you say you feel guilty and want to make it up to me? Then how about this—one million a year. Three years, three million dollars. Fair deal, right?” Denise was completely stunned. She hadn’t expected Sierra to ask for money. After a long silence, she finally stammered, “Th-three million is too much. I… I don’t have that kind of money.” Denise was spoiled and had plenty of allowance, but a few million? That was beyond her reach. A few hundred thousand, maybe. But she had no intention of giving even that. “Too much?” Sierra’s cold gaze locked onto Denise. “I sat in prison for you for three years. You think three million isn’t fair?” “N-no, that’s not what I meant…” Denise bit her lip, looking troubled. “I’ll… I’ll figure something out.” With that, she hurriedly left the room. Not long after, Sierra’s door was thrown open—this time, kicked open. Bradley stormed in, his face dark with anger. “You’ve been back for a day and already turned the house upside down. Can’t you behave yourself? You know Denny’s health isn’t good—why are you bullying her?” Sierra’s expression remained blank as she stared at Bradley. So this was her big brother. No questions. No hesitation. Just straight to the accusations. “Bradley,” Sierra said slowly, “you say I bullied her. But why don’t you ask how I bullied her?” She looked past him at Denise, who stood behind him with a pitiful, teary-eyed expression. “Did I insult you? Did I hit you? Or did I frame you and throw you in prison?” Denise frantically shook her head. “No, no…” Just hearing Sierra bring up prison made her tremble. “Bradley, Sierra didn’t bully me. Let’s just go downstairs.” Bradley looked at Denise and felt his heart ache. He quickly reassured her, “Don’t be scared. I’m here. She won’t be able to hurt you.” Sierra crossed her arms, leaning against the wall, watching their sibling act with growing boredom. “If you’re not here to give me money, then get out. I want to rest.” “Money? What money?” Bradley demanded. Denise had come to him earlier, her eyes red, but she hadn’t explained anything. Seeing her upset, he had simply assumed Sierra was the problem and rushed over. “Denise said she was going to compensate me—three million dollars.” Back when she first came to this family, Franklin had given her a card with one hundred thousand dollars. She had returned it. At the time, she thought she had come back for family, not money. Now, she wouldn’t be that naive again. Pride didn’t put food on the table. If they were offering, why