A Surprising Twist of Fates (Sierra and Theo)

Sierra's face brightened with excitement, and her hands trembled slightly as she held her phone.

"Thank you, Ms. Anderson! I'll be at campus on time tomorrow."

"Good."

Jemima ended the call with a gentle smile. However, as she looked up, her expression shifted when she saw Janice stepping into the living room.

"Janice, weren't you at your piano practice?"

Instead of answering, Janice scowled. "Mom, were you just on the phone with Sierra?"

Jemima's smile faded a little as she nodded.

Janice's expression darkened instantly. Frustrated, she threw her bag onto the couch and sat down with a huff.

"Mom, didn't you say you wouldn't teach Sierra again unless she made it to the top three in the Marisol Cup finals? She's only passed the preliminaries—why are you letting her come back to school already?"

"I said I would guide her, not that I've fully agreed to teach her again."

"That's the same thing!" Janice snapped, her brows furrowing. "Guidance, teaching—there's no difference! You're playing favorites! You were furious when she let you down before, but now she's back, and you forgive her just like that? I don't get it! Why are you always so good to her?"

Her voice dripped with jealousy and resentment as her hands clenched into fists.

Jemima sighed softly as she observed her daughter's anger. "Sierra has been away from school for three years. I'm only helping her for a few days so she can perform at her best."

"But in the end, you've already forgiven her. Whether she meets your expectations or not, you'll still forgive her," Janice said bitterly.

"I just don't understand—I'm your real daughter! But you treat Sierra as if she matters more than me! Am I not good enough for you?"

Jemima's expression hardened. "Janice, I have given both you and Sierra the same level of attention and training. I don't favor one over the other."

"But I'm your real daughter! How can you treat an outsider the same way you treat me?" Janice's voice rose, laced with frustration and a hint of grievance. "Fine! Then, I'll win this year's Marisol Cup. I'll prove to you once and for all that I'm better than Sierra!"

With that, she grabbed her bag, turned on her heels, and stormed out.

"Janice!"

Jemima called after her, but the girl didn't stop. As she watched her daughter's retreating figure, a flicker of sadness passed through her eyes.

Sigh.

She let out a long, weary breath.

Janice was just like her father-competitive and unwilling to lose.

When she was younger, piano hadn't been her passion. She was always restless, unable to sit still long enough to practice.

Whenever Jemima urged her to play, she would either fake an illness or sneak out.

Eventually, Jemima stopped forcing her and let her pursue her interests, but Sierra was different. She had been born for the piano. She had the talent, the patience, and, most importantly, the passion for it.

Back then, Jemima had seen Sierra as her protégé, the student she wanted to pass everything down to—the rising star of the piano world.

Janice, however, had never taken kindly to it.

She constantly interrupted Sierra's lessons, either disrupting class on purpose or playing petty tricks-hiding Sierra's piano bench before a performance or even sabotaging the instrument itself, only to turn around and blame Sierra for it.noveldrama