Chapter 28

Golden rays of morning sun filtered through the wide glass panels, casting a warm glow across the long, polished oak dining table. The air carried the faint aroma of brewed coffee and freshly baked bread as the staff moved briskly, setting breakfast.

Justin stepped into the room in a fresh black shirt and dark jeans, his usual composed demeanor intact but his eyes quietly scanning. Across the room, Mr. Wayne sat at the head of the table, reading glasses perched low on his nose, a cup of tea steaming beside him.

Ms. Becky, the stern yet always efficient head maid, stood nearby, arms crossed.

Skylar sat to the left of her grandfather, dressed in a simple beige blouse and dark jeans, sipping her tea in silence. Her expression was neutral, though her eyes occasionally flicked toward Justin. Stephanie sat beside her, chin resting on her palm, avoiding eye contact, her messy bun betraying she’d just rolled out of bed.

“Ah, good morning,” Mr. Wayne said without looking up, flipping the page of a newspaper. “You’re up early, Justin.”

“Old habits,” Justin replied, sliding into the empty seat across from the girls.

Skylar raised a brow but said nothing. Stephanie peeked at him, then quickly looked away when he noticed.

Mr. Wayne finally folded the paper and gave him a look. “I’ve made arrangements. You’ll be joining the girls at college starting next week. Everything’s been settled. You’ll be living in the dormitory—not far from them, of course. It's important you blend in, not hover.”

“Understood,” Justin said, nodding.

“Your class schedule and ID will be delivered later today,” Ms. Becky added, glancing at her clipboard. “I took the liberty of selecting electives that would not raise suspicion.”

“Appreciated,” Justin said, calmly reaching for toast.

There was a pause as the silence settled. Then Skylar finally spoke, her voice cool. “Don’t think this makes you one of us. You’re just there to do a job.”

Justin gave a dry smile. “That’s the plan.”

Stephanie looked between them, nervous tension simmering. “At least try to not cause a scene on the first day,” she murmured, poking at her scrambled eggs.

“Can’t promise,” Justin replied with a casual shrug.

Mr. Wayne raised his cup again. “Good. Then we’re clear. Eat well—college starts soon, and things may get... interesting.”

----

The campus was alive with energy. The buzz of students catching up after the break filled the air, blending with the faint rhythm of music blasting from someone’s speaker. Late summer sunlight spilled across the manicured lawns and glinted off the wide glass entrance to the academic building.

Justin walked through the doors with a relaxed gait, hands in his jacket pockets, dark eyes scanning the hallway with quiet detachment. A low hum of voices, lockers slamming shut, and the click of heels echoed all around him. He looked like just another college guy—if you ignored the precise way he moved, like a predator masking itself among sheep.

“Wait—no way… Justin?!”

He stopped.

A familiar voice.