Chapter 254: The Dragon and His Treasure

Jonathan took a quick shower, told Mateo and the others they’d be heading to the restaurant later, and then drove off to pick up Sierra. By the time he arrived, Sierra was already waiting downstairs, having just finished her research. But she wasn’t alone—she was surrounded by a crowd, mostly men, their eyes practically glowing as they looked at her.

Sierra was answering questions for her juniors, something that had started just a couple of days ago. It all began when she ran into two younger students at the cafeteria. They were discussing a chemistry reaction, but neither could figure it out. As she passed by, she overheard a bit of their conversation and casually shared her insight. That one moment turned into a habit.

Every day since, she’d run into students during meals or on her way in and out of campus, all asking for her help with unsolved problems. She never hesitated to share her thought process with them. What she didn’t realize was that her popularity at North Salem University was skyrocketing—not just because of her past reputation, but also because of her approachable personality. She never held back from sharing her knowledge. Even though she looked cold and distant, everyone who talked to her knew how kind she really was.

Jonathan’s lips pressed into a thin line as he watched her surrounded by people. Even though he had always known she was a hidden gem, bound to be noticed sooner or later, seeing Sierra become so popular still set off alarm bells in Jonathan’s mind. Right now, he felt like a dragon sitting on a pile of gold, paranoid that someone was going to swoop in and steal his treasure.

That thought made him step out of the car and walk toward them. “Excuse me,” Jonathan’s gentle voice rang out. The crowd froze for a second before barely suppressing their excitement and letting out quiet squeals. Jonathan glanced at them, smiling as he said, “Can we save the questions for another time? My girlfriend and I have a date right now.”

With that, he reached out and took Sierra’s hand—his meaning was clear. The group eagerly nodded, stammering, “O–of course, Mr. Yeager!” Jonathan gave them a polite smile before leading Sierra to the car.

Sierra had been watching him the whole time. She noticed that his smile never reached his eyes—what they saw just now was nothing more than one of the many masks he often wore. She gently pulled her hand away. Sensing her movement, Jonathan turned to say something, but Sierra spoke first.

“If you don’t feel like smiling, then don’t, Jonathan.”

Jonathan paused, then the corners of his lips lifted into a real smile. “Now I actually feel happy.” He chuckled. “Sierra, I feel so conflicted. On one hand, I’m glad that so many people like you—that you finally have friends. It makes me happy.” Then, he added, “But at the same time, seeing so many people admire you, I don’t want them looking at you at all. What should I do?” His tone was teasing, but the emotions underneath were raw and unfiltered.

Sierra’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. She didn’t shy away from his gaze. Instead, she met his eyes and asked, “Deep down, which feeling is stronger?”

The smile in Jonathan’s eyes faded slightly. He didn’t answer. Which feeling was stronger? Of course, it was the desire for her to only see him. But he didn’t want to be the one to hurt her. He looked away and gave a light laugh. “I must be out of it today. Let’s drop it. Mateo and the others are waiting.” With that, he started the car.

Sierra watched his side profile for a moment before speaking softly. “Everyone has a dark side. And Jonathan, I know you’re not as gentle as you pretend to be. I’ve told you before—when you’re with me, you don’t have to hide. Just be yourself.” She paused, then added, “I’ll accommodate you as much as I can.”

The tires screeched as Jonathan suddenly hit the brakes. His eyes darkened, his voice hoarse. “Sierra, do you even know what you’re saying? You’re going to make someone commit a crime.” Sierra reached out and touched the back of his tense hand, veins bulging beneath his skin. Then, slowly, she held his hand in hers. “I know exactly what I’m saying.”

Jonathan had many secrets. His personality had even more flaws. If she had never experienced everything they went through together, she would have never gotten involved with someone like him—she had always preferred simple, pure people. But she was a mess too. And in her darkest moments, it was Jonathan who stood by her side, guiding her out of the abyss one step at a time. If possible, she wanted to take his hand and lead him out of his own darkness too. But she had her limits. And somehow, deep inside, she knew—Jonathan would never hurt her.

“Jonathan,” she said softly, “just be honest with me from now on.”