Chapter 452 The Bloodline Question

The hour was silent for a long while before the door finally opened. It was his uncle, Chandler.

Seeing Johnathan standing there, covered in snow, Chandler’s expression shifted—complicated and unreadable. After a moment, he sighed.

"Come in."

He stepped aside to let Johnathan through.

Johnathan brushed the snow from his coat and stepped into the house.

It was a typical house with a garden. What surprised him was that only his uncle and grandfather lived here. Not even a single housekeeper.

Chandler poured him a glass of water and said, “Keep your voice down. Don’t wake your grandfather.”

“Why did you move out here?”

Johnathan didn’t bother asking why they hadn’t told him.

But he couldn’t hide his surprise. The town was so remote—he never would’ve guessed they’d ended up here if he hadn’t gotten the address from someone.

Chandler adjusted his glasses and replied, “There’s a hot spring here. It’s good for your grandfather’s health. That’s why we settled down.”

Johnathan glanced at Chandler, not sure if he believed it or not.

He didn’t say anything more. The room fell silent again, the air thick and uncomfortable.

Chandler shifted, clearly uneasy. He gave a small cough and asked, “How did you find us?”

“I went to the address I’ve been sending things to every year.”

Johnathan’s voice was flat.

Chandler’s face changed. Realization hit—and maybe even a flash of regret. He looked like he was kicking himself for not making sure the address stayed hidden.

Johnathan noticed but didn’t react. He’d known for a long time that his uncle and grandfather didn’t want him around. He’d stopped caring.

Chandler seemed to realize how obvious he was being. He stole a glance at Johnathan and only relaxed a little when he saw no trace of anger on his nephew’s face.

The silence stretched again. But this time, Johnathan broke it first.

“I came today to ask you something.”

Chandler’s expression shifted, but he still answered, “What is it?”

“My mother and father: What really happened between them?”

Johnathan asked directly.

Chandler’s face darkened. “Your father’s the one who knows that best. Why are you asking me?”

Johnathan gave a small, bitter smile.

“Sometimes I wonder if I’m really your nephew. Otherwise, how could you be this cold? And Grandfather, too. It’s like the moment my mother died, we stopped having anything to do with each other. So what—am I not even part of the Yaeger family?”

Chandler’s face went pale. Panic flickered in his eyes.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t know anything about any of that! It’s late. Go get some rest. I’ll get a room ready for you.”

He stood, ready to flee—but Johnathan stopped him.

“Who was my mother?”

The question hit like a thunderclap. Chandler visibly flinched. After a long pause, he finally said, “I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

With that, he shoved past Johnathan and disappeared into the guest room.

But Johnathan wasn’t doing much better himself.

Those words had been part speculation, part test. And now… they seemed dangerously close to the truth.

What a joke.

The woman he’d loved most in the world—his mother—might not even have been his biological mother.

Then who was?

A face suddenly flashed through Johnathan’s mind. He froze.

No. That couldn’t be right.

He shook his head, almost violently.

No… that’s impossible.

Even for someone like Johnathan, the thought was too much to accept.

Right now, he just wanted Sierra.

It was late, far past bedtime, but he still couldn’t stop himself from calling her.

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

Her voice was full of concern and tension—but no trace of annoyance.

Johnathan didn’t say anything. He just wanted to hear her voice.

The silence scared Sierra. She sat straight up in bed.

“Hello? Professor Yaeger? Johnathan, can you hear me?”

“…Yeah.”

He finally replied. His voice was hoarse—so hoarse that Sierra immediately picked up on it. She jumped out of bed, put him on speakerphone, and started getting dressed while booking a plane ticket at the same time.

Even though Johnathan hadn’t said anything, she knew—something big had happened.