Chapter 14: Otherwise what...?
The sun crept up quietly over the horizon as a new day began. After the brief visit to the hospital the day before, normalcy returned to the house—at least on the surface. For Miles, the next Chapter of his life started not with weapons or missions, but with textbooks and lecture halls.
Today, he would step into St. Patrick’s University, not just as a student, but as Celina Wraithbourne’s silent guardian—his role hidden behind casual smiles and lecture notes.
The morning routine moved like clockwork. Miles woke early, worked out, took a cold shower, and helped get the twins ready for school. He tied Hope’s shoes while Asher scrambled to zip his backpack. Elena had breakfast ready by the time they all gathered at the table—a simple, warm spread like always. There was a certain peace to it, the kind Miles had never known growing up.
After dropping the twins off at school, he returned home to change.
The outfit was something Elena had helped pick out during their shopping trip. She didn’t know the full story behind why Miles needed to go to college, but she did know enough to make one thing clear: "You’re not wearing anything sloppy. You’re not just any boy out there, you’re my son."
So, Miles chose something modest and clean. A pair of dark slim-fit jeans, a cream-colored t-shirt, and a forest green flannel worn open over it. Nothing flashy, but everything fit just right. White sneakers—simple but fresh. His backpack looked like any other student’s, though its contents were far more precise. The outfit gave him the kind of look that blended in: mature, presentable, and completely unremarkable—exactly what he needed to be.
Elena walked with him to the door, adjusting the edge of his flannel out of habit. "You sure you don’t need me to drop you off?"
"I’ll take the bus," Miles replied with a calm nod.
She smiled and gently touched his arm. "Well, good luck today. And don’t get into trouble."
Miles gave her a small grin. "No promises."
He stepped out, headphones tucked in his pocket, and walked down the lane under a soft blue sky. Just another college student boarding the public transport. Just another young man heading to class.