A Surprising Twist of Fates (Sierra and Theo)

Once he finished tending to her wounds, Theo took out a pair of brand-new cotton slippers and gently placed them on Sierra's feet.

One side of the slipper had a plush star, and the other a soft, fuzzy moon.

Sierra's eyes lit up as she looked at them. "Uncle Theo, these slippers are so cute."noveldrama

Her eyes sparkled like a crescent moon, catching the soft glow of the night. Theo watched her quietly, a faint, nearly imperceptible smile playing at the corners of his lips.

"I saw them and immediately thought of you."

His voice carried through the night, imbued with the crisp chill of late autumn-low and husky, as if it could settle deep into one's soul.

A ripple of emotion stirred in Sierra's chest, breaking the calm. "Thank you," she whispered.

"In the future, don't force yourself to wear shoes that don't fit."

Theo's dark gaze lingered on her, his words carrying an unspoken message. Before she could respond, he wiped his hands with a wet tissue and moved to the driver's seat.

Sierra turned to him, her expression earnest. "Uncle Theo, thank you for today."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Theo murmured as he turned to look at her, his eyes flickering with a hint of unspoken frustration.

She froze, realizing he was asking why she hadn't told him about Benson forcing her into marriage. Under his intense gaze, she instinctively lowered her voice.

"I didn't want to trouble you," she murmured.

"Did you not want to trouble me, or were you afraid I'd propose to you in public instead?" Theo leaned in, his dark, unwavering gaze fixed on her, analyzing every flicker of her reaction.

Feeling the weight of his stare, Sierra grew uneasy. She lowered her head, biting her lip lightly.

"So, you'd rather marry Benson than me? Guess I wasted my time coming here today."

Theo's cool voice lingered in her ears, carrying a trace of mocking amusement. Sierra immediately shook her head, eager to clarify, "No, that's not it! I only went because I had no choice-I don't want to marry him."

"Then, do you want to marry me?" he asked as he closed the distance between them.

Sierra's heart skipped a beat. She lifted her gaze to meet his eyes, the depth of his stare making her ears burn with a rush of heat.

"Uncle Theo... I don't want to get married," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath as she cautiously watched his reaction.

A brief shadow flickered in Theo's eyes as he spoke in a low, measured tone, "If I hadn't heard the news and arrived in time today, you would already be engaged to Benson. But I can't always rush to your side like I did today.

"My father may have canceled the engagement, but Benson isn't someone who gives up easily. When I left, he told me himself—no matter what, he'll make you his wife."

Sierra paled at his words, her fingers instinctively tightening around the fabric of her dress.

Indeed, Benson wouldn't back down so easily, and William would never stop using Vera to control her.

Her only way out was to marry Theo.

Taking a deep breath, she met his gaze. "Uncle Theo, if you were to marry me... would there be any benefit to you?"

Theo was momentarily taken aback, as if he hadn't expected the question. Noticing his reaction, Sierra quickly clarified, "I know you don't feel the same way, and I don't want to be in your debt over something so big.

"Marrying you might solve many of my problems, but I'm not sure it would help you at all. Marriage is a serious commitment-I don't want to take advantage of you without giving something back."

Theo gazed at her focused expression, a smile tugging at his lips. A slight, almost imperceptible gleam of amusement flickered in his dark eyes.