Chapter 232: Professor??

The night had already settled over Star Harbor.

Streetlights painted the quiet roads in warm amber light while the distant sound of waves echoed softly from the harbor.

At the edge of a quiet residential block a silver sedan rolled slowly into a driveway.

Olivia Pierce stepped out of the car.

She looked exactly like what she had been pretending to be all day.

An exhausted university professor returning home after a long day of lectures.

Her hair slightly messy.

Her shoulder bag hanging loosely at her side.

She stretched her neck once before walking toward the front door.

St. Patrick’s University had been unusually busy that day.

Students.

Meetings.

Papers.

At least that was the life she had been pretending to live.

She unlocked the door and stepped inside.

The house was quiet.

She reached toward the wall and flipped the switch.

Lights filled the hallway.

But the moment she turned toward the living room something moved.

A flash of metal cut through the air.

A knife.

It flew straight toward her chest.

Without hesitation Olivia’s body reacted.

Her hand snapped upward.

The blade stopped in her palm with perfect precision.

She blinked once.

Surprised.

Then a calm voice came from the living room.

“Nice reflexes.”

Olivia slowly looked forward.

And froze.

Miles Sterling sat comfortably on her couch.

One leg crossed over the other.

He was casually petting her cat Noodle, who seemed completely relaxed in his lap.

On the table beside him rested a familiar object.

A black mask.

Olivia stared at the scene for several seconds.

Her eyes moved slowly from the mask to Miles.

In that moment she understood everything.

She had been exposed.

Miles had discovered that she was the masked woman who had been secretly protecting his family while he was away.

Miles raised his hand slightly.

“Professor.”

His tone remained calm.

“Can I ask you a question?”

Olivia exhaled slowly.

The tension drained from her shoulders.

She placed her bag and the knife she had caught onto the nearby table.

“How did you find out?”

Her voice carried genuine curiosity.

“I hid my tracks very carefully.”

Miles smiled faintly.

“Well.”

“Do you remember when I told you that I was an alumni of St. Patrick’s University?”

Olivia nodded slowly.

Miles leaned back slightly.

“There is something I forgot to mention.”

Olivia thought for a moment.

Then realization struck her suddenly.

Her eyes widened.

“You own the university.”

Miles smiled quietly.

Olivia sighed and shook her head.

“I was warned.”

She walked further into the room.

“That Star Harbor is your territory.”

“There is nothing here that can remain hidden from you.”

She glanced toward the kitchen casually.

“So.”

“What should I serve my guest?”

“Tea?”

“Coffee?”

Miles shook his head slightly.

“That will not be necessary.”

“I only have a few questions.”

Olivia folded her arms.

“I do not know if I am allowed to answer them.”

Miles’ expression remained calm.

“I understand.”

Then his voice became slightly colder.

“But I am getting tired.”

“If I do not get answers…”

“…I will have to extract them.”

Olivia swallowed quietly.

Miles continued.

“I have two questions.”

“Answer them truthfully.”

His eyes locked onto hers.

“I will know if you lie.”

He paused briefly.

“I understand you are here because someone asked you to be here.”

Olivia remained silent.

Miles spoke again.

“First question.”

“The package you placed in my car today.”

“Do you know what is inside?”

Olivia made a small expression of confusion.

Miles lifted an eyebrow.

“I know it was you.”

He gestured toward the hallway.

“The hood you were wearing is hanging right there.”

Olivia glanced at it.

Then she looked back at him.

“I do not know what was inside.”

Miles studied her face carefully.

Her heartbeat.

Her breathing.

Her eyes.

She was telling the truth.

Miles slowly reached inside his jacket and pulled out the picture frame.

“Come here.”

Olivia walked closer cautiously.

Miles held up the photograph.

“Look at this picture.”

His voice lowered.

“Who are they?”

Olivia leaned closer.

The moment her eyes landed on the photograph her entire expression changed.

Shock spread across her face instantly.

Miles noticed immediately.

Olivia looked back at him.

“The man in the picture.”

Her voice was quiet.

“Who is he?”

Miles frowned slightly.

“He is my grandfather.”

“In his younger days.”

Olivia’s eyes widened further.

“What?”

Miles was confused now.

“What do you mean?”

Olivia shook her head slowly.

So many questions suddenly flooded her mind.

“I…”

“I do not know anything about the man.”

Her eyes returned to the photograph.

“But I know the woman beside him.”

Her voice trembled slightly.

“She is…”

Before she could finish her phone suddenly rang.

The sound cut through the silence.

Olivia immediately answered.

“Grandma.”

Miles watched her closely.

From the other side a calm voice spoke.

“Give him the phone.”

Olivia blinked in surprise.

“How do you…”

The voice repeated calmly.

“Hand the phone to him.”

Olivia hesitated for a moment.

Then she held the phone toward Miles.

“She wants to speak with you.”

Miles took the phone.

“Hello.”

The old woman’s voice spoke immediately.

“I know you have many questions.”

“I want to answer them personally.”

“My granddaughter knows nothing.”

“She only followed my orders.”

Miles frowned slightly.

“Who are you?”

The woman chuckled softly.

“You can say I am an old relative.”

“I will reach Star Harbor in two days.”

“Then you will have your answers.”

Miles leaned against the couch.

“You are not making this easy.”

The woman replied calmly.

“I understand.”

“But you can wait two more days.”

Miles sighed.

Then he glanced at Olivia.

“Since she helped protect my family…”

“I will let this pass.”

He spoke into the phone again.

“But I expect you to meet me in two days.”

His voice turned firm.

“If you know me well…”

“…then you also know this.”

“You may come to Star Harbor by your own choice.”

“But you will not leave without my decision.”

The call ended.

Miles handed the phone back to Olivia.

“I am leaving.”

“She will be here in two days.”

He walked toward the door.

“You stay here in Star Harbor.”

His voice turned cold.

“Do not even think about running.”

Olivia nodded quietly.

“Okay.”

Miles paused near the door.

“Relax.”

“I will not ask you more questions tonight.”

He opened the door.

Then suddenly stopped.

“Oh.”

He glanced back at her.

“There is cheesecake in your fridge.”

“Hope asked me to bring some for you.”

“Enjoy.”

Then he walked out of the house.

The door closed quietly behind him.

Olivia stood there staring at it.

Her heart was still racing.

After a few moments her breathing slowly calmed.

She muttered under her breath.

“Grandma almost got me killed.”

Then a small smile appeared on her face.

“He was actually pretty cool.”

Her eyes suddenly shifted toward the kitchen.

And another memory returned.

A few days earlier at Pearl Villa she had been talking with Hope about cheesecake.

Hope had promised she would send some.

Olivia walked to the fridge and opened it.

Inside was a small cake box.

She pulled it out eagerly.

Grabbing a spoon she sat down at the table and opened the box.

Her stressful day suddenly felt much better.

…..

Miles stepped out of Olivia’s house into the quiet night.

The street was calm, lit only by a few scattered lamps and the faint glow of distant buildings. The sea breeze moved gently through the neighborhood, carrying the cool scent of salt and night air.

Near the curb Monica leaned against the car, arms folded, waiting.

She straightened as Miles approached.

“So,” she said casually, opening the passenger door. “What was that about?”

Miles slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine.

For a moment he did not answer.

Then he spoke slowly.

“I think she is connected too.”

Monica turned her head toward him.

“Connected?”

Miles nodded while pulling the car onto the road.

“Everything is somehow linked.”

He glanced ahead thoughtfully.

“Basil.”

“Thea.”

“Olivia.”

“And the person on the phone.”

Monica frowned slightly.

“Could she be your grandmother?”

Miles shook his head lightly.

“Mom said my grandmother passed away when my father was young.”

He sighed quietly.

“So I do not know.”

He kept driving while the city lights passed by outside.

“But none of this answers anything.”

His voice carried quiet frustration.

“Is my grandfather dead?”

“Is he alive?”

“Should I even care anymore?”

Monica listened silently.

Miles continued.

“She said she will come to Star Harbor in two days.”

Monica tilted her head.

“Did she sound dangerous?”

Miles shook his head again.

“Not at all.”

He gave a faint smile.

“We will find out soon enough.”

The car turned into the quiet residential road where Pearl Villa stood.

Within minutes the gates appeared ahead.

The car slowed and rolled inside the property.

Miles glanced toward the house.

“Mom and Dad are still at the Atelier, right?”

Monica nodded.

“Yes.”

“The restaurant is fully reserved every evening now.”

Miles smiled faintly.

“Maybe I should ask Mom to open a new branch.”

Monica laughed softly.

“I think she will refuse.”

Miles shrugged.

“I will leave that decision to her.”

Monica nodded.

“Fair enough.”

They stepped out of the car and began walking toward the house.

Suddenly a loud voice echoed across the yard.

“Do not run barefoot!”

“Come here!”

A house helper was chasing after a small boy across the garden.

Asher ran wildly across the lawn, laughing loudly while trying to escape.

Miles raised an eyebrow.

“Asher.”

The boy froze instantly when he heard the voice.

He turned around slowly.

Miles walked toward him calmly.

“Do not trouble the staff.”

“We should respect our elders.”

“I told you that before, right?”

Asher looked down guiltily.

Then he walked over.

“Big bro…”

“I am sorry.”

“I will listen to her.”

Miles sighed but smiled slightly.

He bent down and lifted Asher into his arms.

“Why are you running barefoot?”

Asher shrugged.

“I was running from Hope.”

Miles narrowed his eyes slightly.

“What did you do?”

Asher protested immediately.

“Nothing!”

“I was just playing with her!”

They entered the house together.

Inside the hallway Hope was waiting with her arms folded.

Her expression looked serious.

“Big bro.”

“Put him down.”

“He broke my teddy.”

Monica burst into laughter behind them.

Miles raised an eyebrow.

He gently placed Asher on the floor.

“It is on your bed.”

“Did you check?”

Hope blinked in surprise.

Then she ran upstairs quickly.

Asher looked relieved.

Monica shook her head, still laughing.

….

Meanwhile somewhere else in Star Harbor the atmosphere was very different.

Inside a dimly lit bar several men gathered around a pool table.

The sound of balls colliding echoed through the room.

Empty glasses and bottles covered the nearby table.

One man leaned against the cue stick while speaking quietly.

“So.”

“Will they find out?”

Another man took a sip from his drink and smirked.

“By the time they discover anything…”

“…it will already be too late.”

He chuckled.

“The court will shut their operations in Star Harbor.”

Another man laughed loudly.

“I cannot believe defeating ACE Finance would be this easy.”

The men raised their glasses together.

“Cheers.”

Laughter echoed through the bar as their quiet conspiracy continued.

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