Chapter 22: Unwanted Kindness

Sierra had always hated noodles. She had eaten more than enough of them in the Coleman family. She was sick of them.

Eleanor’s face stiffened at her words, a flicker of embarrassment flashing across her features. Even Evan’s expression shifted slightly. They both remembered those years when their entire world had revolved around Denny. Who had cared about a child brought back halfway through?

“…I’m sorry, Sierra. I forgot.”

“Tell me what you like, and this time, I’ll remember.”

Eleanor’s voice was anxious, like she was finally realizing how little attention they had ever given Sierra.

“There’s no need. I’m not hungry.”

With that, Sierra walked away. Some things, once broken, could never be put back together.

She had a short class that morning. Grabbing two buns from the cafeteria, she went straight to the lecture hall. The moment she stepped inside, she felt it: the stares, the scrutiny, the whispers. People were watching her—assessing, probing, wary, cautious. She paused for a brief second, then walked straight to the front row. Few people sat at the front; she was the first to take a seat. As soon as she sat down, the murmuring around her grew louder.

“That’s her. She’s the oldest in our class. I heard she’s already twenty-one.”

“Seriously? Starting college that late?”

“She used to study here before, but she got in trouble and was locked up for three years.”

“No way. The school still let her in? That’s way too generous.”

“It’s true. She was in the literature department before. Upperclassmen still remember her.”

“Oh yeah, I heard about that. Wasn’t she some pathetic simp? Always chasing after Yaron? He was so annoyed but didn’t know how to reject her.”

“Yaron? You mean Dr. Tan? Oh god, she really aimed high. Everyone knows he’s into the campus belle.”

“They say she switched majors just to get close to him.”

“She really thinks school is a joke, huh? And this program? Good luck surviving the finals.”

Sierra heard everything. She didn’t even blink. Three years in prison had given her thicker skin than that. These petty rumors meant nothing to her; they barely registered. But when the professor walked in, she couldn’t stay indifferent anymore.

The whole class erupted.

“Holy crap! Am I seeing things? That’s Mr. Yeager!”

“No way! His classes are impossible to get into! He only teaches PhD students! How did we get this lucky?”

The handful of girls in the class had already lost their minds. But even the guys weren’t any calmer.

“Mr. Yeager is so hot. I think I just fainted.”

“If it’s Mr. Yeager, I’d consider it.”

Sierra stared at the man on the podium, equally surprised. Jonathan? Why was he teaching an undergrad course? Wasn’t this a waste of his time? Besides, she had checked the syllabus; the instructor listed wasn’t him.

Sensing her gaze, Jonathan glanced in her direction. The corners of his lips curled slightly. Behind her, someone gasped.

“Oh my god, he looked at me!”

“Shut up. He was looking at me.”

Sierra chuckled. She had always known Jonathan was popular, but she hadn’t expected this level of obsession. It was honestly ridiculous.

Once the initial excitement died down, Jonathan finally spoke. “Good morning, everyone. I’ll be teaching this course for the semester. I only have one rule—don’t fail.”

“Mr. Yeager, don’t worry! No one’s failing!” someone shouted eagerly.

Jonathan simply smiled. But once he began teaching, all those excited students quickly sobered up. Jonathan didn’t follow the textbook. He explained concepts in depth, linking them to broader theories, making connections most people struggled to understand. Whether or not students understood depended entirely on their own ability. Many were lost. But they knew this was a rare opportunity, so they scribbled notes furiously, hoping to make sense of it later.

Sierra, on the other hand, followed along effortlessly. The ideas he presented sparked something in her. The roadblock she had hit in her research suddenly had a new approach. She couldn’t wait to try it in the lab. The lecture flew by. Jonathan left, but the class was still buzzing, everyone wanting more. Even Sierra found herself looking forward to the next lesson. She had to admit—Jonathan’s teaching was leagues better than Evan’s.

That afternoon, after class, Sierra went to the hospital.

“Grandma.” Her voice was soft. Her grandmother was on the phone. The moment she saw Sierra, she quickly ended the call.

When the Flame of Love Fades