Chapter 173: Manson.
Henry’s car rolled up just as the final bell rang across the Princeton campus. The sun was already dipping into the horizon, painting the Gothic buildings in soft amber hues. Students streamed out of lecture halls, buzzing with chatter and plans for the weekend. But Lukas and Lana, as usual, stood out.
Brilliant and composed, the two of them walked side by side, papers neatly tucked under their arms. Lana wore a navy coat over her cream blouse, while Lukas had on a casual sweater and dark slacks, as effortless as ever. They had just wrapped up their advanced economics seminar, where both of them had dominated the discussion. Professors admired their insight, and peers looked to them with a mix of envy and respect.
A silver Mercedes SUV pulled up near the main gate, and the windows rolled down to reveal Henry in his signature polo shirt, sunglasses pushed up over his cap. He gave them a wide grin.
"Luke! Lana! Get in, we’ve got a fortress to storm," he said with a laugh.
Lukas smirked, helping Lana into the back seat before sliding in himself. "You better not be exaggerating, Coach."
"You know me, when do I ever exaggerate?" Henry replied, pulling away from campus. "But really, this one’s something else. You remember that this costs $20 million"
Lana grinned. "So it’s happening today? I can’t believe it."
"We planned it, remember?" Lukas said, giving her a knowing look. "Coach made the arrangements."
"Still," Lana said, practically bouncing in her seat, "seeing it in person is a whole other thing."
Henry laughed. "It better live up to the hype. And Luke, let’s not pretend like you’re not half the reason this place is on the market again. You’re a buyer with bite."
Lukas nodded with an easy grin. "It’s not just about owning a mansion. I want something that reflects who I am now. Something secure. Long-term."
It took about thirty minutes to reach the gated estate. The roads wound through forested hills until they stopped in front of black iron gates tall enough to intimidate royalty. A guard stepped out from a security booth and waved them through after checking credentials.