Robert Fischer was a man who carried the weight of two worlds—the billion-dollar empire he ran and the rebellious teenage son he raised alone. His ex-wife had walked away when Ethan was barely a month old, leaving Robert to juggle boardrooms and bedtime stories, balance sheets and broken rules. And Ethan, true to form, had found yet another way to test the limits of his elite academy’s patience.

When Robert stepped into the familiar office, he was met with the unimpressed stare of Headmaster Smith. Beside him sat a woman—poised, with a sharp, assessing gaze. The new teacher, he assumed. Meanwhile, Ethan sat slouched in his chair, wearing an expression of practiced innocence that Robert knew was anything but.

Exhaling quietly, Robert adjusted his cuffs and offered a smooth, practiced smile.

“Good afternoon, Headmaster Smith, I don’t know what Ethan has done this time, but I sincerely apologize… again. I’m sure the donation I was about to make to the academy will help ease the situation.”