Their expressions changed immediately.
“This is your home!” Mr. Hayes snapped, his brows furrowed. “You just got back–how can you leave again so soon? And haven’t you finished undergrad already? Shouldn’t you be coming home after graduation?”
Mrs. Hayes stepped closer, grabbing her hand tightly.
“Sierra, honey, it’s been so long since we’ve seen you. How could you leave again after only two
visits? Don’t you miss us? Don’t you miss home?”
Sierra stared at their hands—at how they tried to chain her down in the name of love.
She didn’t hesitate to expose them.
“I haven’t had a home here in years. You’re only asking me to stay so I can take care of Maddie, aren’t you?”
That single sentence left them speechless.
Seeing her getting ready to leave, Mrs. Hayes switched tactics.
“The doctor said Maddie might be bedridden for life. She’s going to need constant care. Even if you
don’t want to help… Maybe Chase could do it. Didn’t Chase use to like her?”
Sierra turned sharply, stunned.
For a second, she thought she’d misheard.
But Mrs. Hayes continued, her tone hopeful now. “Ever since your sister saw Chase again, she’s been begging to see him. Can’t you talk to him? Convince him to stay and look after her? Just this
once?”
Sierra yanked her hand free, not even sparing her mother a glance.
“If you want Chase to take care of Maddie, ask him yourself. He has nothing to do with me.”
At the door, she turned one last time.
“I’m serving the country. From now on, don’t contact me again.”
Mr. Hayes shot to his feet, enraged.
“What kind of daughter says something like that? You ungrateful brat!”
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“We raised you for eighteen years, and now that you’re grown, you’re abandoning us like some ungrateful brat?!”
Each word chipped away at the last fragile thread inside her.
“I’m the cold one?” she said, her voice trembling. “Weren’t you ever cold to me?”
“I’ll fulfill my legal obligations. I’ll apply through the federal support program. You’ll receive an annual stipend starting next year.”
“But don’t expect anything more. From now on, you’ve got Maddie. Enjoy the rest of your lives.”
With that, she turned and strode out of the hospital.
Her chest ached like someone had stabbed straight through it.
So this was what it felt like–to be abandoned by the people who gave you life.
Mr. Hayes stood there, silent and grim.
Mrs. Hayes chased after her in a panic, trying to stop her.
But Sierra didn’t even flinch. She stepped into the elevator and hit the close button.
They were done.
Forever.
Outside the hospital, Chase was already waiting.
Rowan had gone back to school early, so the drive back would be just the two of them.
Chase noticed her red eyes and tight expression. Without a word, he reached into his bag and pulled
out a small box.
“I figured you’d be upset after talking to them. So I stopped by your favorite bakery and got you a strawberry shortcake.”
Sierra glanced at the box, then at him.
“I don’t like strawberry cake anymore.”
She climbed into the car.
Back then, she’d pretended to love strawberry cake because her parents always bought it for
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Maddie.
She thought maybe just maybe if she liked the same things, they’d love her too.
But she was wrong,
No cake in the world could buy her a place in their hearts.
Chase stood there, stunned for a moment, then gave the box to a passing kid before getting into the driver’s seat.
He kept glancing at the rearview mirror.
In the back seat, Sierra leaned her head against the window, eyes heavy with exhaustion.
Outside the glass, the scenery blurred into a stream of motion.
One by one, memories of her past flashed through her mind.
She was done with Westhaven.
And done with the girl she used to be.
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