Chapter 218: You Are Coming To Our House

Words : 1053 Updated : Sep 25th, 2025

Chapter 218: You Are Coming To Our House The dean didn’t answer right away. She looked at Ardis, her eyes calm but thoughtful. Then she leaned back slightly in her chair, one hand resting lightly on the desk. "You were right," she said quietly. "Originally, I wouldn’t have chosen you." Ardis didn’t speak. But her posture shifted, just a little. Not tense. Just attentive. The dean glanced up. "Not because I doubted you," she said. "But because I didn’t want to ask more from someone who’s already carried more than most." That made Ardis pause. The tension in her shoulders came back—not harsh, just a quiet flicker, like something personal had been touched. "You’ve always been strong," the dean went on. "Even after your parents passed. You didn’t let it swallow you. You didn’t drift. You just kept going." Ardis didn’t flinch. But she didn’t move either. "I thought giving you space was what you needed," the dean said. "And maybe it was. But space can turn into distance. And distance... into silence." Her voice didn’t change. It wasn’t dramatic. But it was honest. "And I may act like I’m fine with how things are, but I’m not. I’ve been worried for a long time." Ardis finally looked up. "You think he’ll change that?" The dean nodded, slowly. "I think he’ll shift the stillness. Not all at once. Maybe not even deliberately. But there’s something about him. Something grounded." She looked at her niece carefully now. "You said it yourself. He’s still, but not hollow. He’s strong, but doesn’t boast. People gather around him because they want to, not because he asks them to, and that kind of person doesn’t come along often." Ardis took a breath. "And you think I need someone like that in my orbit." "I think you deserve someone like that in your life," the dean said quietly. "Not for status. Not for strategy. Just... because it might help you remember how to let people in again." Another pause. "I’m not saying you need to change. But I think you’ve been living on the edge of your life for too long. Never stepping forward and just holding position. Always watching. Always ready. Never asking for anything." The wind outside caught on one of the open panels, brushing a quiet sound through the room. It wasn’t cold. Just cool enough to make the moment feel real again. "I won’t force it," the dean said. "But you asked me why I chose you. That’s why." Ardis didn’t respond. But the look in her eyes softened a little. Not much. Just a shade. Like the frost at the corner of a window beginning to melt when the sun touches it. After a few moments, she nodded. "I’ll meet him again properly when the new semester starts," she said. The dean leaned back in her chair with a small exhale, as if something heavy had just lifted. "I will make sure that he meets you as soon as possible. Do what you feel is right." "I will." Then Ardis turned and left the office, her footsteps steady but less sharp than before. The door clicked quietly behind her. And the room fell into stillness once more. — At the same time. Outside the auditorium, just past the last row of security checkpoints, Ethan walked quietly beside Evelyn and Everly. The soft echo of footsteps trailed behind them as students and staff began filtering out of the auditorium. The lights overhead had dimmed slightly now that the ceremony was over, leaving a calmer, more muted glow across the polished floors. Some students lingered near the entry, their voices low, casting glances in Ethan’s direction but never saying anything loud enough to reach him. Whispers came and went, but none of them stuck. No one tried to approach. They didn’t have to. The mood said enough. The three of them didn’t speak for a while. Not because there was tension. Just because the quiet felt natural after everything. Eventually, Everly tilted her head toward him and nudged his shoulder lightly. "So," she said, voice soft, "you’re officially a university student now." Evelyn smiled faintly beside her, then added, "And apparently the only one who walked off stage without saying more than ten words." Ethan gave a small shrug. "Didn’t think I needed to." "Fair enough," Everly said with a grin. They walked past a set of thick, glass-paneled doors that opened into a wide corridor leading toward the exit. Along the walls were large banners from the main universities around the world, each one proudly displaying its insignia. Ethan barely glanced at them. He wasn’t thinking about the rankings anymore. Just the silence. The quiet that followed the noise. It felt good. They passed a reception alcove where a few attendants were clearing away used tablets and info panels. One of them glanced up but quickly lowered her head in quiet respect. The hallway opened out toward the covered bridge leading to the plaza. Just before stepping onto the bridge, Evelyn slowed her pace and turned slightly toward Ethan. "By the way," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, "dinner tonight is happening at our place." Ethan glanced at her. "Your estate?" "Mm," she nodded. "The staff already started prepping." Everly looked toward the sky through the arching glass ceiling. The sun was setting now, spilling soft gold over the courtyard tiles. "We figured it would be easier that way," she said. "You probably want a bit of quiet after everything." Ethan raised a brow. "And Lilith? The others?" "They’re... not home," Evelyn said. Everly scratched the back of her neck. "Yeah. Left a note. Said they were handling something urgent. Didn’t say what." Ethan blinked. "All of them?" Evelyn nodded once. "It seemed like it was planned. But they didn’t want to say much." Everly leaned in with a small smirk. "So for tonight, it’s just us." "And our mom," Evelyn replied. They stepped onto the bridge now, high above the lower courtyards. Below, students were leaving in groups, waving to friends, and chatting about offers. It felt like the end of something, but also the start of something else. Ethan didn’t say anything for a moment. But then he gave a faint smile. "Alright," he said. "That sounds good."

Chapter 218: You Are Coming To Our House

Comments (0)