When the Flame of Love Fades (Sierra) novel Chapter 287

When the Flame of Love Fades

Chapter 287 Who He Really Is

Finished

Noticing that 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.

“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.”