Chapter 408 Not Ready Yet

Facing Dora’s pure, expectant eyes, Sierra couldn’t bring herself to answer.

She wanted to nod, but reality reminded her not to act on impulse. Her voice was slightly hoarse as she said, “Dora, I don’t know if you’ll be able to see me every day. I’ll try my best. Maybe we can keep video calling, like before.”

She couldn’t even look Dora in the eyes while saying it, for fear she’d cave and promise something she couldn’t keep.

Dora was the kind of child who took every word seriously.

And Sierra knew she couldn’t give her the care she deserved, not just because of her workload, but because there was real danger now. That organization might still be watching. She didn’t want Dora to be in harm’s way again.

“I’m sorry, Dora,” she whispered, her voice catching.

But Dora didn’t seem bothered at all. “That’s okay! Video calls are great too. Can you tell me a story every day? I think that’s something I can do!”

Sierra forced a smile.

“If I ever have something come up, I’ll tell you in advance, okay?”

“Okay!”

Dora agreed without complaint. She was easily satisfied.

After playing with Sierra for a while, she left under escort, glancing back at Sierra again and again, her lips pressed together in quiet reluctance.

That moment nearly broke Sierra’s resolve. She felt the sudden impulse to call Dora back, to keep her.

But just as she moved, Johnathan reached out and grabbed her hand.

“Sierra. Stay calm.”

Sierra watched as Dora disappeared down the hallway and couldn’t help but ask, “Mr. Yaeger… can’t we really keep her?”

“Sierra,” Johnathan said quietly, “raising a child isn’t easy. Are you really ready for that?”

Before she could respond, he continued, “I’m not ready.”

Whatever courage she had built up instantly dissolved.

She and Johnathan were a unit. She couldn’t make this kind of decision on her own. And she had to admit, she wasn’t ready to be someone’s mother. She didn’t even know if she could be one. She didn’t know if she could give Dora the home she deserved.

Seeing her crestfallen, Johnathan softened his tone. “Sierra, there are so many people in this world who need help. We can’t save them all. But Dora… we can help her in other ways. We can fund her, give her a good home. But that doesn’t mean we have to be responsible for the rest of her life.”

Chapter 408 Not Ready Yet

“She’s not Dickson. You understand that, right?”

Sierra nodded slowly. She did understand. And those were the same worries that had kept her from making a decision.

She let out a sigh. “I know. That’s what I’ve been thinking about too. I’ll give it more thought.”

For now, they left the topic there, both quietly aligned in their uncertainty.

The days flew by after that. Sierra juggled preparations for her upcoming academic presentation, looked after Johnathan, and still tried to spend time with Dora. It was a whirlwind.

Soon, the day of the academic exchange arrived.

Johnathan, ignoring Sierra’s objections, insisted on showing up in a wheelchair.

“Mr. Yaeger, you are so stubborn,” Sierra muttered helplessly.

She knew there was no stopping him, so she asked Mateo and the others to keep a close eye on him.

Sierra arrived earlier than usual that morning. The campus was lined with welcome banners.

The exchange was being held in the main conference hall of the Biochemistry Building, a venue capable of hosting over a thousand people.

This was one of the most prestigious academic events in the field, attended not only by students from various countries, but by some of the brightest minds in the industry. Johnathan’s presence, despite being in a wheelchair, didn’t seem out of place at all.

As host institution, university leadership stood at the gates to greet arriving guests. Professor Martin was among them, proudly standing at their side. He had considered pulling Sierra into the greeting committee, but knowing her temperament, he thought better of it. If she threw a fit, he’d be the one left cleaning up.

Today, Professor Martin was practically glowing. Everyone in the field knew that both Johnathan and Sierra, two of the brightest scientific talents, had come from his mentorship.

After the betrayal by Finn, this was the first time Professor Martin stood tall again. He looked years younger.

Sierra, standing beside Johnathan, couldn’t help but smile at the sight. She felt grounded.

Since arriving at North Salem University, Professor Martin had taught her so much. He had believed in her and given her full freedom to pursue her ideas. Her success owed just as much to his support as to her own ability.

“There you are, Sierra—come with us!”

Autumn burst in like a whirlwind and then turned to Johnathan. “Mr. Yaeger, we’re borrowing her for a while!”

Without waiting for a response, she grabbed Sierra and whisked her away.