Chapter 418 Fire in the Crowd

Even with the university representative’s clarification, the crowd wasn’t fully convinced. Emergency approval or not–it was still an untested drug. How could she have dared to use it on someone?

Especially the older experts in the room–they stared at Sierra with disapproving eyes.

“She’s still too young,” someone murmured to Professor Martin. After all, Sierra was his student. Professor Martin was about to respond when Sierra’s voice rang out.

“It’s true I broke the rules. I’ve never tried to argue that. But if I had to do it all over again, I’d make the same choice. Because to me, a human life matters more.”

Silence fell over the entire hall.

“Well said!”

Mateo stood and started clapping. Since Johnathan couldn’t speak up, it fell to him. Sierra hadn’t done anything wrong–yet people insisted on hiding behind red tape.

Johnathan spoke up as well. “The outcome was a success. And honestly, maybe it’s time some of these rules were reexamined. Isn’t a life more important?”

“That’s right.”

Professor Martin rose too. “Our research wasn’t complete at the time–but that child was on the brink of death. Giving her the drug was a one-in-a-million chance. Not giving it meant zero. And Sierra was brave. If it failed, she would’ve been labeled a murderer. But even with that risk, she stepped forward. That’s the kind of spirit we should be learning from.”

As his words faded, the hall erupted into applause. Something within the academic crowd had shifted.

Sierra smiled without realizing it. Her eyes instinctively found Johnathan in the audience—he was already looking at her. They were separated by a stage and a crowd, but that one glance said everything.

Suddenly, Johnathan’s expression twisted in panic.

“Sierra, down!”

She didn’t hesitate. She dropped flat to the floor instantly–just as the sound of a bullet ripped through the air, followed by screams.

The packed auditorium of over a thousand people erupted into chaos. Everyone surged toward the exits.

“Sierra!”

Johnathan abandoned his wheelchair and forced himself toward the stage. But the crowd was a stampede–there was no getting through. Injured as he was, he was shoved and hit repeatedly, but he didn’t seem to feel any of it. He just kept fighting his way forward.

“Damn it!”

Mateo tried to push through as well, but it was no use. Even the bodyguards in hiding couldn’t reach the stage in time.

Johnathan made it there first–but Sierra was gone.

“Sierra?!”

His pupils contracted violently. For a moment, it felt like his heart had stopped.

Regret surged through him. He never should have agreed to this. He knew she was being targeted. He should’ve kept her safe.

No time to panic.

He forced himself to focus. Tracking. Yes, track her!

He turned to find Mateo–but just then, he heard a voice behind him.

“Johnathan!”

Sierra?

He spun around in disbelief–then felt a sharp pain at the base of his neck.

His world went black.

After hitting the ground, Sierra had immediately slipped into the crowd. She didn’t know who had fired, but in the confusion, staying hidden was the safest move. She ripped off her jacket, let down her hair, and blended in with the fleeing crowd.

She wasn’t worried about Johnathan’s safety. The shooter wasn’t after him.

Her top priority now was staying alive.

“Sierra? What are you doing here?”

Mateo, halfway through the panicked crowd, caught sight of someone familiar and rushed over–it was Sierra.

Seeing him, Sierra let out a breath. “I followed the crowd.”

“Johnathan went to find you. You didn’t see him?”

Mateo frowned.

Sierra shook her head. “As soon as I hit the ground, I slipped into the chaos.”

“Then we need to find him. If he can’t find you, he’ll lose it. He even ditched his wheelchair.”

Sierra’s heart tightened. With Mateo by her side, she felt more grounded, but hearing that only made her more anxious. Soon, Stone and the others joined them.

“What the hell happened? Who brought a gun in? How did security miss it?”

Maddox’s face was grim.

“We’ll deal with that later. First, we find Johnathan,” Stone ordered.

Sierra’s worry deepened. She’d never wanted to be a burden to Johnathan, but somehow, she’d dragged him into this. If she’d known he’d come after her, she wouldn’t have run.