Chapter 41: Revealing the Truth of That Year

Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Revealing the Truth of That Year

Sienna Everett surveyed the room. It was elegantly furnished and comfortable. Through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, she had an unobstructed view of the resort’s gorgeous scenery.

In the distance, the dusky mountain ranges, wreathed in varying shades of green mist, looked just like an ink wash painting.

Waterways snaked through the resort, flanked by lush trees. There were large flower gardens and a crescent-shaped man-made lake, its surface vast and shrouded in mist.

The view alone was enough to soothe the mind.

After looking it over from every angle, Sienna Everett concluded that this had to be the best room in the entire resort. It was absolutely impeccable.

The only fly in the ointment was that there was only one bed in the room...

’She was going to sleep with Julian Forrester?’

It was still early. Keith Sterling handed the room key to Sienna Everett. "My brother won’t be here for a little while," he said. "Want to take a walk around the resort first?"

Sienna Everett nodded. "Sure."

Not only was the scenery at the resort lovely, but the air was also incredibly fresh.

As they reached a wisteria-covered trellis, Keith Sterling’s phone rang. He pulled it out apologetically. "Sister-in-law, I’ve got to take this."

"Don’t worry about it. Go ahead." ’It’s not like she’s a child who’s going to wander off and get lost.’

Keith Sterling stepped aside to answer his phone.

Sienna Everett glanced around. The wisteria trellis was truly beautiful. A few brightly-feathered birds fluttered nearby. ’They must be kept by the resort,’ she guessed.

She watched the birds for a moment, then someone suddenly tapped her on the shoulder from behind.

Sienna assumed Keith had come back. But when she turned around, she was shocked to see Wyatt Everett.

Sienna’s good mood was instantly ruined. An irritated expression crossed her face.

Wyatt naturally noticed the change in her expression, and he felt a knot of discomfort in his chest.

Just a moment ago, she had been happily admiring the scenery. The instant she turned and saw him, her mood had soured completely.

’Does she really find me that repulsive?’

What was even more fucked up was that when Wyatt saw Sienna—this sister he had once despised more than anyone—he felt a faint, hidden thrill.

’Finally, a chance to talk to her.’

’I can’t believe I ran into her at this resort.’

"Sienna Everett, unblock me right now! And where the hell have you been living since you left the Everett family?"

"What business is that of yours?" Sienna asked, her face impassive and her voice devoid of warmth.

"I..." Wyatt choked on his words for a second, then his face and neck flushed red as he shouted defensively, "I’m your brother! What’s wrong with me asking where you’re living? That’s what a brother is supposed to do!"

Sienna looked at him as if he were a complete idiot.

"Wyatt, how many times do I have to say it? I cut ties with the Everett family a long time ago. You stopped being my brother then."

Wyatt’s hands, which had been hanging at his sides, clenched into tight fists. He glared at her, eyes wide with fury. "It doesn’t matter if you cut ties! You’re still an Everett, and you still have Everett blood running through your veins!"

At his words, a chill crept into Sienna’s otherwise clear eyes.

’The unchangeable fact that Everett blood flowed through her veins... it only made her feel utterly disgusted!’

Wyatt immediately took this as his opening and pressed his advantage. "So, stop talking all this nonsense about cutting ties. Just be good and come back home. I’ve already smoothed things over with our parents and older brother. They won’t object to you coming back to the Everett family anymore."

A thin, cold, mocking smile played on Sienna’s lips. "Wyatt, you’re being incredibly self-righteous."

"Sienna, what did you just say!"

Sienna’s expression didn’t falter. She enunciated every single word, each one landing like a hammer blow.

"Let me tell you something, Wyatt. A place like the Everett estate, and a ’family’ like all of you, are like filthy, stinking stones in a cesspool. Just looking at you makes me sick!"

"Go back? I will never set foot in that house again as long as I live!"

"You!" Wyatt’s chest rose and fell violently, his whole body shaking with rage. He had never imagined that this was how Sienna truly saw the Everett family—as something unbearably foul.

’Filthy, stinking stones in a cesspool...’

’It was the most insulting thing she could have possibly said!’

In the past, if he had heard Sienna say such a thing, he would have slapped her across the face without a moment’s hesitation.

But now, meeting her icy, numb gaze, completely devoid of emotion, he found he couldn’t bring himself to raise his hand.

’The sister who used to chase after him, begging for just one glance in her direction... how had she become so cold and heartless?’

Wyatt’s hands were clenched into tight fists. He held back for a long moment before finally managing to squeeze out a question. "Fine. Then let me ask you this. Last time, you said the person who saved me wasn’t Shannon Everett. What did you mean by that?"

Sienna’s eyes narrowed, a sharp sarcasm brewing in their depths. "What’s the matter? You no longer think I’m trying to steal Shannon’s glory?"

"I can tell the difference myself! Shannon is so..."

Just as Wyatt said this, someone grabbed his shoulder from behind and jerked him backward with immense force.

THUD.

Wyatt lost his balance and fell hard onto the ground.

It was a gravel path, and the sudden, heavy fall sent a jolt of pain through every bone in Wyatt’s body.

"Fuck! Who the hell grabbed me, you blind or something?!"

Wyatt had always had a foul temper. Furious, he started cursing as he looked up, only to see Keith Sterling standing over him, looking down with a superior air.

"Ster—"

Wyatt’s eyes widened in shock, and he swallowed the rest of his curses.

Keith first looked over at Sienna, his expression full of concern. "Are you okay, Sierra? Did this piece of garbage bother you?"

Seeing how anxious he was, Sienna couldn’t help but smile. "I’m fine."

Only then did Keith Sterling relax. ’His brother had told him to look after Sierra. If she got bullied by one of the Everetts on his watch, would he even be allowed to live?’

’Julian would definitely have his hide.’

Keith glanced down at Wyatt on the ground. A sneer tugged at his lips, and his eyes were filled with cold arrogance. "Wyatt Everett, I’m warning you. Try bullying Sienna Everett again and see what happens."

Wyatt was stunned. ’Why would Keith Sterling suddenly appear to defend Sienna? And why does he look like he’s ready to die protecting her?’

’Don’t tell me he and Sienna have some kind of deep relationship?’

’No, that’s not right,’ Wyatt remembered. ’Sienna signed with Sovereign Entertainment; she’s one of Keith’s artists.’

’And Keith, for all his dashing, playboy airs, is fiercely protective of his own, especially the artists signed to his company. That must be why he’s defending Sienna so fiercely, right?’

Wyatt’s whole body ached from the fall. He got to his feet, grimacing. "Mr. Sterling, what’s the meaning of this?"

Keith raised a devilish eyebrow, his smile roguish and untamed. "It means I felt like hitting you, obviously!"

At those words, fury instantly surged through Wyatt.

But the Sterling Family was no ordinary powerhouse. The Everetts couldn’t afford to provoke them.

So even though he’d just been assaulted, Wyatt couldn’t retaliate. He could only grit his teeth and bear it, turning his head to look toward Sienna.

Sienna, however, wouldn’t even give him the time of day, as if a single glance in his direction would spoil her mood.

A knot of pain formed in Wyatt’s chest, sharp as a needle prick. ’In the past, Sienna would have rushed to his defense. She would have been distraught to see her brother get hit. But now...’

’Why wasn’t she defending him?’

’Wasn’t she worried about him at all?’

’How could she side with an outsider against her own brother?’

Wyatt shot a dejected glance at Sienna, then turned and limped away.

Only after Wyatt was long gone did Keith turn back to give Sienna a thorough once-over. Seeing that she was really okay, he finally let out a breath of relief.

Sienna thought he was making a mountain out of a molehill and found it rather amusing. "Was all that really necessary?"

"Of course it was! And another thing," Keith gave her a wink and asked conspiratorially, "Sister-in-law, do you know why Wyatt Everett is at this resort?"

"Why?"

"Heh heh heh..." Keith snickered. "Don’t you worry, Sister-in-law. My brother said he’s treating you to a good show today!"

Sienna asked, "What kind of show?"

Keith decided to be mysterious. "My brother found a video involving Shannon Everett. Let’s just say the content is... spectacular! You just wait and see, Sister-in-law!"

The truth of what happened all those years ago was about to be revealed.