The Billionaire’s Fight For Redemption (Noah and Sierra) novel Chapter 369

“Here,” she says softly, holding it where Sierra can see. “This is her.”

Sierra’s eyes settle on the screen, and for the first time since she woke up, she truly focuses. For a second there I think I see tears forming in her eyes, but it’s gone the moment she blinks.

Aunt Ivy begins to speak, her voice soft but filled with so much hope.

“She was so tiny, but so perfect," she says. “She has your eye and your lips, and she reminds me so much of you when you were just a newborn."

I watch Sierra carefully. Her expression doesn’t change much, but her breathing does. Just slightly.

“She held onto my finger so tightly like she didn’t want to let go," her mom continues, her voice breaking. “The nurse said that she was strong even with everything she went through… That she was a survivor. A little miracle.”

I swallow hard and step closer and add quietly. “She did the same to me. You wouldn’t think it, looking at how small she is, but her grip was strong… she’s a fighter.”

Sierra keeps staring at the phone, silent and still, but present. When her mom finally lowers it, the room falls quiet again and for a moment, no one says anything… Then Sierra speaks. Her voice is soft, so soft it almost doesn’t sound like her.

“What’s her name?”

The question hits me so hard that I have to suck in a breath.

Aunt Ivy freezes for a second before answering gently, “We… we didn’t name her. We were waiting for you.”

Sierra doesn’t respond. Instead, she turns her head back toward the ceiling, and just like that, she’s gone again. The small connection we had slips through our fingers like it was never there, and my chest tightens as I watch the emptiness return to her expression just as quickly as it left.

A knock sounds at the door, but Sierra doesn’t even flinch. I glance at her one last time before walking over and opening it. I freeze when I see who is on the other side.

“Adrian?”

Relief washes over me almost instantly. For a moment, I feel a desperate and fragile hope. Maybe he can reach her. Maybe he can bring her back to us.

“Look who’s here, Si,” I say, forcing a bit of brightness into my voice as I step aside. “It’s Adrian.”

I expected so much. I expected a smile. Expected that she’d at least turn to look at him, but once again, there’s nothing. Not even a glance.

He leaves, and I close the door softly behind him before turning back toward the room.

Sierra is asleep again or maybe she just closed her eyes. At this point, I can’t even tell the difference.

“Lilly,” Aunt Ivy calls softly and I turn to look at her.

Something in her expression has changed. It’s heavier now, almost like she has resigned herself to what is happening

“We might need to get her help. This isn’t normal," she says quietly.

I don’t argue. I can’t. Because deep down, I know she’s right.

I’ve seen this before when she was hurting because of Noah, but back then it wasn’t as bad as now. My best friend has shut herself from the rest of the world. Numbed herself to the emotions she’s feeling and that terrifies me.

We need to get her help before it’s too late.