When the Flame of Love Fades

Chapter 287: Who He Really Is

Noticing Sierra still hadn’t shaken off her mood, Johnathan invited Mateo, Maddox, and the busy Draven to join them for a meal. With Mateo around, the atmosphere was always a bit more relaxed.

There was a time when Johnathan felt uncomfortable seeing Sierra talk to Mateo so much. But today, he was actually hoping she’d talk to him more. He even made a point of stepping out with Maddox for a smoke, deliberately leaving the space to Draven, Mateo, and Sierra.

“What happened?” Draven adjusted his glasses as he asked. From the moment he arrived, he could sense something off—specifically between Sierra and Johnathan. The usual closeness between them was gone, replaced by a subtle distance.

Mateo’s expression shifted. He didn’t answer Draven but turned to Sierra.

“Ma’am, I’ll do my best to smooth things over. Our company oversees plenty of subsidiaries—we can arrange some positions. The Treno family, the Haynes family… even Draven’s family could help. You don’t need to worry.”

But Sierra wasn’t concerned about that. What troubled her was something none of them could see. She looked at Mateo and Draven and asked, “Has he always been like this? Or… which version of him is the real one?”

Mateo and Draven exchanged a look, clearly unsure how to respond.

“Don’t you think there’s a disconnect?”

Draven seemed to get what she meant. He said tactfully, “He’s been like this since Madam Treno passed. Back then, his temper was volatile. His father beat him more than once. Eventually, his father made him ‘refine his character’—basically, act the part that came with his position.”

Sierra started to understand. It wasn’t just control—it was forced change. Johnathan couldn’t take it, so he ran. But at the same time, he’d internalized his father’s words: you act according to your role. And so he kept chasing extremes, trying to balance both worlds.

“So what is he really like?” Sierra asked quietly. “I don’t even know anymore.”

Mateo and Draven didn’t know how to answer. The truth was, Johnathan’s personality shifted constantly—even they didn’t fully understand him. Sometimes, he was easygoing. Other times, impossibly stubborn.

“We can’t give you a clear answer,” Mateo finally said. “But there’s one thing I know for sure—he’s genuine when it comes to you. I’ve never seen him like this before.”

“That’s right,” Draven agreed. “He might be obsessive, and yeah, he’s done his share of questionable things. But being with someone? This is a first. He’s like a wild animal—territorial to the core. You must’ve noticed. We’ve known him for years, and he’s never let us into his home. To him, that space is completely off-limits. But he let you in. Even let Huang Yao in. You have no idea how shocked we were when we found out.”

“Is that so?” Sierra gave a soft laugh. “I see.”

She understood what they were trying to say. But she couldn’t explain what was really going through her head. She just nodded.

“I get it.”

“As for the Zach Group layoffs, you guys handle it how you see fit. I don’t understand that world, and there’s no need to change anything because of me.”

She didn’t think she was special. At first, she thought she and Johnathan—and maybe even Mateo—saw things the same way. But today, she realized that wasn’t true. Whether it was Johnathan or Mateo, none of them seemed to think that letting so many people go—impacting countless families—was a big deal. They were born into foreign lands. No matter how polite they seemed, they couldn’t truly understand the anxiety of ordinary people. And there was no point in forcing things just for her sake. A life built on compromise wasn’t really a life.

Mateo didn’t pick up on the weight behind her words, but something about them made him uneasy. He quickly said, “We’re happy to do it, really. If someone’s talented, we’ll bring them on. And besides, the government gives support for solving employment issues. It’s not as serious as it sounds. Don’t worry.”

Sierra nodded and let the subject drop, switching to talk with Draven about research. She had visited Draven’s lab recently, and there were plans forming for a collaboration. Since it involved work at the national level, it wasn’t something a student like her could handle alone. Most of the negotiation was happening through her advisor.