+15 BONUS
Chapter 1038
Sierra pinched herself hard, and tears started streaming down her face.
Zada jumped. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying all of a sudden? Don’t cry! Just tell me what happened.”
Through her sobs, Sierra whispered, “I messed up last night.”
“What did you do?” Zada asked quickly.
Sierra sniffled. “I was staying at Halsey’s place. Last night, I went to her room to find her, but instead, I walked in on Mr. Lane taking a shower. He grabbed a shampoo bottle and threw it at me–hit me right in the head.”
Zada’s eyes went wide. “Wait. Halsey’s fiancé hit you?”
“It was my fault,” Sierra said quickly. “I shouldn’t have gone looking for her so late. He thought I was doing something else. It was a misunderstanding.”
“Then just explain it,” Zada said.
Sierra shook her head. “I don’t think Halsey believes me. She thinks I went into her room on purpose… She probably thought I was trying to get close to Mr. Lane. Zada, you’ve got to believe me. I’d never do that. Yeah, my family doesn’t have much, but that doesn’t mean I have no self–respect.”
Zada took her hand, her voice steady. “Of course, I believe you. You saved me before! I know you’re not that kind of girl. And honestly, Halsey doesn’t seem like the type to think the worst of people.”
“But she left me in the hospital alone,” Sierra said, her voice breaking again. “She didn’t visit or even call. My head hurts so badly now, and now she’s looking at me as if I’m some kind of problem. It’s killing me.”
Sierra started crying harder.
Zada frowned. “That’s messed up! Halsey’s being way too petty. Yeah, her fiancé’s amazing, but come on! We’re not trying to steal him. Just because your family’s complicated, it doesn’t mean she gets to treat you like that. Besides, you got hurt because of her fiancé.”
Sierra’s heart leapt with joy at Zada’s words, but on the outside, she stayed pitiful, sniffling.
“Thanks for taking my side. I barely have any friends… If I lost you too, I don’t know how I’d go on. I might as well just die.”
Zada pulled her into a hug. “Don’t you dare say that! We’re gonna live, both of us. We’ll always be there for
each other.”
Sierra nodded. “Okay.”
She pressed a hand to her bandaged forehead. “Ugh, it hurts so much. The doctor said it might leave a
1/3
Chapter 1038
+15 BONUS
scar. I’ll end up looking like a monster.”
Zada’s heart squeezed. “No way. A scar? Don’t freak out. When you’re better, I’ll go with you to a clinic. We’ll fix it, and you’ll look amazing again.”
Sierra nodded. “Okay. But what about Halsey?”
“Don’t worry about her,” Zada said firmly. “Here’s what we’ll do. Once you’re out of the hospital, you can stay at my place. In the meantime, I’ll go talk to Halsey. Figure out what’s going on.”
Sierra’s eyes softened. “Thank you. But please, don’t fight with her because of me.”
Zada nodded. “I won’t. Promise.”
An hour later, Zada arrived at Anteoch University. She found Halsey in class, sitting at her desk with a pencil in hand, sketching out a design draft.
Sliding into the seat beside her, Zada said, “Hey, Halsey.”
Halsey looked up. “Oh, hey, Zada.”
Zada leaned in. “What’s going on between you and Sierra?”
Halsey’s hand paused mid–sketch. “Sierra told you?”
Zada nodded. “Yeah. I went to see her at the hospital. I signed her out and brought her back to my place.”