"Look at that. The janitor is still hanging around the hall on a night like this."The woman's voice was loud, sharp, and intentionally carried across the room for anyone nearby to hear. Rovan Miller did not turn around. He kept pushing his mop over the polished marble floor of the St. Jude's Prep grand hall. The sharp scent of lemon detergent still stung his nostrils. Crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling reflected light into every corner of the room, making even the smallest stain clear to see, including the spots on his worn gray uniform.A mother with platinum blonde hair, wearing an emerald green dress, stood near the entrance holding a glass of champagne. Beside her, two equally opulent women nodded along."You are so right, Victoria," the second woman chimed in. "Parents' Evening should strictly be for parents who are... appropriate. Not cleaning staff who are still wiping down the floor after the guests have already arrived.""I told the Headmaster last week," Victoria

Headmaster Arthur Caldwell was signing documents on the second floor when his phone vibrated violently on the wooden desk.He picked it up without thinking. The screen lit up. Official notifications from the foundation system appeared in sequence. The subject line was brief and impossible to mistake.[Change of Majority Ownership of the St. Jude’s Prep Foundation][New Majority Shareholder: Rovan Miller][Effective Immediately]Caldwell read it twice. Three times. His fingers trembled. He opened the attached certificate. Digital signatures, official seal, registration number he recognized. Everything was legitimate.He stood up so fast that his chair was knocked backward, slamming into the bookshelf. Documents scattered across his desk. He did not care. He bolted out of the room, taking the stairs two at a time, his breath already labored before he even reached the ground floor.In the hall, silence still hung in the air after Millie's shout. Victoria stood rigid. The mother with the

The London sky was still gray that morning when Rovan opened the apartment door.Millie was already ready near the table. Her school uniform was neat, her black shoes shiny, and the blue ribbon in her hair was tied tightly. She chewed on her toast while swinging her legs in the air."Dad, you're a little late," she said.Rovan tied his work shoes. "Not late. We still have time.""I slept well last night. But I still remember that blonde lady." Millie swallowed her toast. "If she comes back today, I'll tell Miss Eleanor.""No need. Leave adult matters to the adults."Millie nodded, then stood up. "Will you walk me to the gate, Dad?""Of course."They walked down the stairs together. The bus arrived right on time. On the way, Millie talked about her math lesson and a friend who was going to lend her colored pencils. Rovan listened, giving short answers, occasionally checking the phone in his pocket. There were no new messages from the system. Just the same balance and the neatly saved c

"Enough, Caldwell. We want an explanation today."Victoria Ashford's voice filled the Headmaster's office before the door could even close completely. Behind her stood three other parents: Mrs. Harrington, Mr. Pembroke, and a mother in a beige suit who had not been very vocal yesterday. They did not sit down. They stood in front of the large wooden desk, their faces equally tense.Caldwell set his pen down on an unfinished document. "Mrs. Ashford, I explained yesterday. The evaluations are coming from the foundation level.""And who controls the foundation now?" Victoria pressed. "Do not play games with us. Two teachers were fired in a single day. Several families receiving 'status review' letters. This is not normal procedure."Mrs. Harrington added, "My child was crying this morning because of rumors that he might be expelled. You owe us an explanation."Caldwell took a breath. His eyes briefly darted toward the window facing the hallway. In the distance, a figure in a gray uniform