Chapter 19: A Genius Move and a Twist
Chapter 19: A Genius Move and a Twist
The Cross Residence, nestled in the heart of Sundrift City, glowed like a lantern in the night—grand, stately, and refined. Its lights shone like a celebration, casting a golden hue across the sprawling courtyard and giving the place the air of a luxury retreat.
Bodyguards in crisp black suits patrolled with military precision, their steps sharp, their eyes vigilant.
Davison ascended the gleaming ebony staircase, running his fingers along the intricately carved handrails. Every inch of the mansion whispered of quiet wealth. No vulgar displays—just elegant details soaked in centuries of class.
Draven had never been one for shallow luxury. He despised flashy, soulless Western-style architecture. Instead, the mansion was a blend—its base level boasting soaring Western ceilings for grandeur, but the upper floor embraced Cheshian elegance, dignified and solid.
In the hushed corridor, Davison stopped before a large oak door. He knocked softly. A moment later, a deep voice called out, “Enter.”
Inside the study, Draven and Luke were seated on a carved rosewood sofa, reviewing several open folders. The desk before them was heavy and polished to perfection. Luke was mid-pour, gently tilting a porcelain teapot as he served his uncle tea.
The aroma of oolong drifted through the air.
Davison stepped in. “Mr. Draven, Mr. Luke.”
Luke looked up and immediately noticed the odd glint in Davison’s eyes—like he was holding back a smirk.
“What is it?” Luke asked, raising a brow.
Davison hesitated, but couldn’t hide his amusement. “Our guy was discovered.”
“Discovered?” Luke echoed, stunned.
He and Draven exchanged a glance.
Davison nodded. “Yes. She noticed she was being followed when she stepped outside earlier.”
Luke blinked, still processing. “Impossible…”
Draven’s expression darkened.
They had handpicked skilled men—stealth experts trained for high-level surveillance. Yet they’d been spotted by a teenage girl?
“She didn’t just notice him,” Davison added with a chuckle. “From what I heard… she frightened him.”
Draven raised a brow.
Luke nearly burst into laughter but swallowed it when he glanced at Draven. He masked it with a cough and muttered, “She’s truly sharp.”
Though surprised, Luke wasn’t entirely shocked. Elira Kane had shown remarkable intuition and composure. It wasn’t out of character for her to sniff out even a trained tail.
“To prevent unnecessary trouble,” Davison continued, “our man revealed his identity and said he was sent to protect her.”
Draven’s fingers tapped lightly on the desk. “And what did she say?”
Davison hesitated, lips twitching. His gaze flicked toward Luke, unsure whether to repeat her words.
Luke leaned forward, curious. “Did she mention me?”
His heart gave a small skip. He’d never met anyone quite like her—someone so unpredictable, so grounded, yet full of fire. He wanted to know what impression he’d left.
“Yes,” Davison finally said. “She looked our guy in the eye and said—and I quote—‘So all the Cross family’s money goes into hiring bodyguards, huh?’”
There was a beat of silence.
Luke blinked. “…What?”
Even Draven looked intrigued.
Luke sat back, trying to decipher the statement. “Is that sarcasm?”
Draven turned to him with a raised brow. “How much did you give her?”
“150 thousand,” Luke answered plainly.
Draven nodded as if confirming his suspicions. “Then it makes sense. She was mocking you—for being stingy.”
Luke went quiet.
“It’s not like I was being cheap,” he muttered. “She’s still a high schooler. I didn’t want to scare her off by handing over too much.”
Draven said nothing, but the look on his face said otherwise.
Turning to Davison, he asked, “Did she ask for money?”
“No,” Davison replied. “Not a word. She didn’t even hint at it.”
Draven and Luke exchanged another glance.
Her refusal to exploit the opportunity only raised their respect for her.
“She’s sharp,” Luke said softly, almost to himself.
Davison cleared his throat. “So, should we continue our protection detail? Now that she knows…”
He trailed off, mildly embarrassed. Their top man had been seen—by a student.
Luke didn’t hesitate. “Yes. Absolutely. She’s intelligent, but she doesn’t know martial arts. She still needs protection.”
Then, realizing he was being too direct in front of his uncle, he looked at Draven for confirmation.
Draven gave a subtle nod.
Davison understood and stepped back, though something about Elira’s presence made him uneasy. As if she might not need anyone’s protection at all.
Luke, meanwhile, found himself regretting not going to Sundrift City personally this morning. He could’ve spoken to her face-to-face.
As Draven’s gaze rested on him again, Luke pulled himself back from his thoughts and added casually, “She really is something special.”
Draven remained silent, but his thoughts stirred.
Yes, she was far from ordinary.
Her cool confidence… her decisive, almost independent energy…
She reminded him of someone. A brilliant assassin who had once vanished beneath the waves, never to return. But Elira was just a schoolgirl. There was no logical comparison.
Still, that feeling lingered.
—
Back at the Kane household, Frank stood in front of Elira’s room, clutching a notebook.
“Hey sis… can you help me solve this?” he asked, offering the math problem.
Elira took it, her brow arching as she scanned the page. “Where did you get this?”
“The head of Paragon University and several professors came up with it,” Frank explained. “They couldn’t solve it, so they posted it online.”
He paused before adding, “They said if anyone solves it, they’ll get direct admission to the university. No entrance exams. And adults? They can pick any job they want there.”
Elira flipped the notebook open again.
The problem was complex—layers of interlocking logic and obscure formulas. But something about it excited her.
“I tried it many times,” Frank confessed, scratching his head. “Even Flynn couldn’t figure it out. He’s considered a genius.”
Flynn had even shared his first steps of a solution last month. But he hadn’t moved forward since then. Everyone had assumed the problem was unsolvable.
Frank’s eyes sparkled. “But… if anyone could do it…”
She smiled slightly.
“Give me half an hour.”
“Half an—what?”
Frank blinked. Did he hear that right?
Half an hour? Not a month? Not a year?
He stared at her closed door.
Inside, Elira sat down at her desk, pen in hand. She flipped through a few textbooks, cross-referenced notes, and scribbled down patterns.
Frank remained glued to the hallway, pacing in tiny circles, his ears straining for any sound.
He checked his watch every two minutes.
The only noise was the faint rustle of pages being turned from behind the door.
Time passed slowly.
Then suddenly, the door clicked open.
Elira stood there, cool and calm, holding the notebook.
Before she could say anything, Frank’s voice jumped out: “Did you solve it?”
Without a word, Elira handed him the notebook.
His eyes scanned the paper.
And then…
His jaw dropped.