Chapter 289: Turning Point

“You didn’t know? She’s been going to the Astrophysics Institute these past few days,” Autumn said, deafly surprised.

Johnathan smiled politely. “She mentioned it once. I didn’t realize she was already over there.”

“Sorry to bother you.”

He turned to leave, then suddenly looked back at Autumn.

“Sierra mentioned your parents had some trouble a while ago. Is everything resolved now?”

“It is. Thank you for asking,” Autumn replied, pleasantly surprised that someone like Mr. Yaeger had remembered something so minor.

“Good.”

Johnathan nodded with a smile, but the second he turned away, his face fell.

He was sure Sierra had never told him about going to the Astrophysics Institute. He knew about the potential collaboration, but he didn’t know she was already involved. He had suspected she was avoiding him. At first, he thought he was imagining things—but now it was clear. She really was avoiding him.

He didn’t drive over right away. Instead, he sat in the car for a long time, thinking. He was smart. It didn’t take much to figure out the root of the problem. It wasn’t just the Zach family. It was his attitude. Sierra seemed indifferent on the surface, but she had a warm, kind heart. She had never been treated with much care herself, yet still managed to care deeply for others. So what he said that day must have made her uncomfortable.

Johnathan pressed his lips together and let out a long breath before finally starting the engine.

At the institute, after working alongside Draven for a few days, Sierra finally understood what he meant back then. He might look refined on the surface, but once he got into work mode, he became a complete maniac—utterly ruthless, a total research machine. It was borderline terrifying. Even Azure, the most obsessed with research in the entire group, couldn’t keep up. Draven didn’t care about anyone’s reputation. He roasted everyone equally. The only time he held back even slightly was with Sierra, but even then, the sarcasm didn’t stop. Outside of work, though, he went back to being the easygoing version Sierra was used to.

She handed him a milk tea and said, “Now I finally get what you meant.”

Honestly, the people working under him had nerves of steel.

Draven chuckled. “Your Professor Martin’s way too soft. If you ended up under me… tsk tsk. You have any idea how much potential you’ve got? I could push every bit of it out of you.”

“Thanks, but I’ll pass.”

Sierra shut that down immediately. She liked research—but not that much.

While they were talking, Draven’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen, his expression shifting slightly.

“It’s Johnathan.”

As he answered, he signaled for someone to open the gate. Even with access, Johnathan would only be allowed to park in the courtyard. Going upstairs was out of the question.

“Come on, he’s waiting.”

Draven stood up and glanced at her. “You two didn’t fight, did you?”

“No.”

Sierra’s tone was calm.

Draven raised an eyebrow but didn’t press it.

They headed down to the parking lot. When they reached the car, Draven smirked.

“I’ve been working here for ages, and this is the first time you’ve ever come to see me.”

“What’s there to see?”

Johnathan snorted. “You really think that highly of yourself?”

But when he turned to Sierra, the mockery vanished. His tone softened immediately.

“Sierra, all done?”

With Draven standing there, Sierra couldn’t say much. She simply answered, “Just finished. I’ll grab my things and head out.”

“Alright. I’ll wait.”

He watched her walk back into the building before his face darkened again.

Draven noticed and couldn’t help asking, “Still not fixed things yet?”

“If you’ve got nothing useful to say, then shut it.”

Johnathan’s voice was ice-cold.

Draven didn’t take it personally. He just asked, “Do you even know what the problem is?”

“…Roughly.” It was extremely sharp. It didn’t take long for him to figure it out.

“So what are you going to do about it? Change yourself?”

“If that’s what she wants, I can change.”

Johnathan’s voice was quiet, but firm.

Draven had only asked casually. He hadn’t expected that answer. He sat up a little straighter.

“You’re serious?”

He had thought Johnathan would pretend to go along with it—say the right things while secretly doing whatever he wanted.

Johnathan stared at the lab building for a long time before answering.

“She gave me everything she had. If I just brush that off… what does that make me?”

Draven didn’t even think before replying.

“Isn’t that what you already are?”