Chapter 157: A Bad Feeling

It had previously been some distance between Evan and Jonathan, but after this, he would have reached the same level as Jonathan. From then on, when people in the industry talked about geniuses, it would no longer be just Jonathan's name. Evan had earned his own place among them.

The Xander family was thrilled. Franklin patted his shoulder with satisfaction, “You did a great job!” He could already foresee the sensation this announcement would cause. Once it was made public, Xander Group’s stock would surely hit the limit up, and he would have the leverage he needed to negotiate with the shareholders.

“Evan, you’re amazing!” Denise praised him, her eyes filled with admiration and respect. Evan gave a restrained smile. Naturally, he was pleased. Looking at his obedient younger sister, he felt a bit emotional. As expected, a sister like this was thoughtful and considerate. Unlike Sierra, who was covered in thorns and always pricked people.

He believed that, after this, Sierra probably wouldn’t revere Jonathan like a deity anymore. When the time came, he hoped she could sit down and talk things through calmly. He had already thought it through; so long as she recognized her mistakes, he and the family would surely treat her well.

As Evan had expected, the moment the report was released, it caused an immediate sensation. At first, the buzz remained within the industry, but by the next day, the entire field had taken notice. Because this was a breakthrough, an extraordinary feat. Countless media outlets focused on the matter, and Evan prepared himself for interviews. On the day of the interview, he even put on a newly tailored suit.

“The reporters might not only ask about the report. They could bring up Sean and Sierra too. Just be prepared,” Bradley reminded him. “Don’t worry, Bradley,” Evan replied. Evan wasn’t the type who only knew research. He understood social dealings as well. He wasn’t as smooth as Bradley, but he was more than capable of handling trouble. Bradley nodded.

To show its importance, the interview was conducted live. Besides Evan, his professor and Yaron would also be present. Initially, Evan hadn’t planned on including Yaron, but after some thought, he decided to bring him along. Sierra’s words had reminded him. After all, the initial idea for the project hadn’t been his. Even though Yaron wasn’t involved in the later research, he was the one who had provided the original inspiration. Since Sierra knew, perhaps others did too. He couldn’t take that risk.

During the interview, some reporters asked tricky questions. As expected, a few brought up past Xander Group scandals and Sean’s affairs, but Evan deflected them all with ease. Everything was going perfectly until the press conference was about to end. That was when he suddenly saw Sierra. For some reason, a strange tension crept into his heart. He had a bad feeling that something was about to happen.

Sierra stood among the crowd, looked straight at him, and raised her voice. “Mr. Evan, you claim that your research was entirely your own and that you didn’t plagiarize anyone. Is that correct?” Evan’s expression changed. This time, he was truly furious with Sierra; he could tolerate her antics in private, but not in public. The Nader family members were also present at today’s press conference, and at this moment, their expressions darkened. Sensing a scandal, the reporters perked up, their faces lighting with interest. No one had expected a seemingly routine live interview to take such a sharp turn. And the one causing the stir was Evan’s own sister.

Sierra had recently gained some fame herself. The media was no stranger to her, nor to her identity. Some reporters couldn’t resist jumping in immediately. “Mr. Evan, what does Ms. Nader mean?” Ivan’s face darkened, but he remained composed. However, Yaron’s eyes flickered slightly. Evan glanced at the reporter, then turned to Sierra and said, “I already told you before. This research was guided by my professor and conducted by me. As for the initial inspiration, it came from my junior.” He spoke, nodding toward Yaron before addressing the press. “His name is listed as an assistant in my report. He is Yaron Tucker, my junior and the one who provided the original idea.”

“Oh?” Sierra let out a soft laugh. She didn’t even know what to say about Evan. He actually believed Yaron so blindly. “Well, have you ever asked Yaron if that idea was truly his own!”