Chapter 447

Theodore gave a faint hum of acknowledgment.

Father and son stood together, their features strikingly similar.

He brushed Irene's hand aside and strode out.

Passing Sebastian, he paused briefly, reaching out to pat his son's shoulder.

Irene stared blankly at the scene.

She watched this excessively calm father and son.

A sudden realization dawned, her pupils contracting sharply.

"Sebastian! You knew all along, didn't you?!"

She rushed forward, grabbing his arm, her voice trembling. "You knew the whole time?!"

Sebastian nodded. "Yes."

"Since when?"

"From the very beginning."

"Hahaha..." Irene laughed until tears streamed down her face. "So you both knew... Only I was kept in the dark!"

"My husband! My son! Conspiring to deceive me!"

"Mom, wrongdoing always has consequences. Dad gave you chances."

"You're saying I deserved this?!"

"...If that's how you choose to see it, then yes."

"..."

Theodore went to the Atlante residence himself.

He informed the elderly couple of the decision regarding Irene.

Isaac remained silent for a long time before finally sighing deeply. "...Perhaps it's for the best."

Florence's expression was calm. "From now on, Erika is Erika, and Sebastian is Sebastian. To us, they have no connection whatsoever."

"...Understood." Theodore had anticipated this.

But he still wanted to ask: What about me?

What am I to you?

The words reached his lips, but he swallowed them back.

Florence saw him to the door.

Theodore couldn't help glancing inside.

"Emilia isn't here. Don't look." The old woman's voice was gentle yet distant.

Theodore smiled bitterly and averted his gaze.

A flicker of pity crossed Florence's eyes, quickly replaced by composure. "Theodore, you're a good man, but you and Emilia... this is how it must be. Blame fate for playing its cruel joke."

"Fortunately, she hasn't suffered too much these past twenty years, thanks to David's care."

"After spending time with him, we are very satisfied with David as our son-in-law. You..." The old woman paused.

"...should let go. Deep affection and obsession are two different things. We don't want you trapped in the past, nor do we want... Emilia and David's peaceful life now to be disturbed."

"Do you—understand me?"

This final sentence was the true point.

The favoritism and protectiveness were so evident, even extending to David Sullivan now.

Theodore's smile was bitter. "You have my word."

He might have entertained thoughts, but...

Emilia had endured so much hardship. Finally reunited with her family, how could he bear to disrupt it?

Let it be...

Nighttime. A bar.

Sebastian wasn't surprised to see Theodore there.

He was the one who had recommended this place.

Sebastian sat opposite him. "Care for a drink?"

Theodore smiled, pouring him a drink. "It's been a while since we had a proper talk, son."

Sebastian glanced around at their surroundings. "This doesn't qualify as 'proper'."

"Haha..." Theodore laughed heartily. "Improper it is, then."

Sebastian: "..."

"You spent New Year's Eve with the Atlantes. Sophia was there too, I assume?"

Sebastian frowned. "Of course she was. I posted it. Didn't you see?"

"Don't be so guarded. You're my son. You think I can't see right through you?"

Sebastian's expression shifted slightly.

He seemed surprised his father had seen through him so easily.

"Tell me, why can't we father and son seem to get past those mother and daughter?"

Sebastian: "..."

"Is it in our genes? If so, that's just..." Theodore swirled his glass, letting out a short, bitter laugh. "...fucked up."

"Isn't it?" Sebastian's lips curved in self-mockery.

"Done pretending?"

Sebastian: "..."

Theodore offered advice, speaking from experience. "As someone who's been there, let me tell you: cut your losses early. Don't wait until you're in too deep and destroy yourself."

"Your experience can stay with you. It's not exactly a success story."

"..." Theodore was rendered speechless.

Neither father nor son was drunk as they left the bar one after the other.

"Really not coming home?" Sebastian asked.

"No."

"...Fine. When you have time, have your assistant send a message to Mom. Don't let things get too strained. It looks bad."

Theodore raised an eyebrow. "Bad for whom?"

"For me. For you. For the Valdemar Group. For everyone."

"Not doing it." Theodore turned away, raising his cigarette in a slight wave. "I'm off."

Sebastian sighed.

He had tried. Let it be.

...

Sophia Sullivan was completely unaware of the turmoil between the Valdemar and Atlante families.

She had long returned to campus and immersed herself in her studies.

Her life was a strict routine between classroom and laboratory, leaving her constantly busy.

The Transcendence Lab had another paper published in a Nature sub-journal, Nature Biotechnology.

It was like a massive rock thrown into still water, creating towering waves.

The faculty and university administration were utterly stunned.

Dean's Office—

"Nature sub-journal? Didn't they publish one last semester?"

"This is a new one!"

"...What?" The Dean's teacup trembled violently in his hand.

The Vice Dean took a deep breath. "Sophia Sullivan's team has published another paper in a Nature sub-journal. The quality and efficiency are on par with established research teams..."

Moreover, they only had three people!

Even with the newly added Caleb, it was only four!

The Dean's hand shook, spilling hot tea across his desk.

Clutching at a final shred of hope, he asked, "Which sub-journal?"

There were many Nature sub-journals, with varying standards.

The Vice Dean replied, "Nature Biotechnology again."

Crash—

The teacup fell to the floor.

That last sliver of hope was utterly shattered.

...

President's Office—

Xiao Ninghan was silent for a full three minutes before slowly looking up, murmuring in a daze, "Nature Biotechnology... again..."

The Vice President opened his mouth, struggling to find his voice for a moment. "...Their field is a perfect match. It gives them an advantage for acceptance..."

He trailed off, unable to continue the weak justification himself.

There were so many students in the same field across the country. Not every one of them got accepted, did they?

It wasn't entirely without reason.

Nature Biotechnology focused heavily on computational biology, with a particular preference for algorithms and modeling.

Sophia Sullivan's team's research direction hit the bullseye perfectly.

Right now, it also felt like it was hitting Xiao Ninghan right between the eyes.