Episode 3 – The Fortress of Secrets
The evening sun painted the skyline gold as Kelvin's sleek black car rolled up the winding road that led to his estate. From a distance, the mansion looked less like a home and more like a palace carved out of light and steel. Surrounded by acres of manicured gardens and layers of invisible defenses, it was widely known as the most secure private residence in the country—perhaps even the world.
No ordinary visitor could approach it. The first and only gate was a towering arc of polished metal, humming faintly with embedded scanners. It was said that this scanner could detect even the smallest fragment of disease in a person's bloodstream, a tiny mutation in a cell, or a concealed foreign device hidden within flesh. No virus, no secret implant, no disguise could fool Kelvin's technology. Rumors whispered that the President himself had once offered Kelvin thirty-three trillion to replicate this system for the presidential residence. Kelvin refused, not out of arrogance, but principle.
"It is mine," he had said when pressed. "If everyone owns the same key, then no home is safe. Even machines—no matter how advanced—can be broken if given to too many hands."
And so the fortress remained uniquely his. Beyond the first gate lay three additional layers of scanning and verification before anyone could even reach the mansion doors. To breach them was to attempt the impossible.
The car eased to a stop in front of the sprawling mansion. Its facade was a fusion of modern brilliance and dreamlike beauty—walls of glass and marble rising into the heavens, lit by soft cascading lights that made it glow like a star. Inside the grounds, humanoid robots moved with quiet precision, their lifelike motions so perfect that one could mistake them for human servants. Few outside Kelvin's circle even knew such advanced models existed.
Yet, despite this army of artificial attendants, two people in the house were truly family: Madam Anita, Purity's kindhearted nanny, and Mr. Andrew, Kelvin's ever-loyal personal assistant. To the outside world, Kelvin was cold, unreachable, almost mechanical in his detachment. But those within these walls knew a different man—warm, protective, and quietly affectionate.
The car doors opened. Madam Anita stepped forward gracefully, bowing slightly as she held the handle for Kelvin. Andrew mirrored the gesture on the other side, opening the door for Purity.
"Welcome home, sir. Welcome home, young miss," Anita said warmly.
Kelvin nodded, his deep voice steady. "Take Purity to her room, Anita. Let her rest a little and then prepare dinner." He turned to his daughter, his stern features softening. "Daughter, after dinner, think carefully about the school you wish to attend. We will decide tonight."
Purity smiled, her eyes bright. "Yes, Father. Thank you." She slipped her small hand into Anita's and followed her up the stairs, disappearing into the mansion's glowing halls.
Left in the driveway, Kelvin turned to Andrew. "What's new? Did anyone seek me while I was away with Purity?" His tone shifted into the cool, commanding cadence that made even the most powerful men hesitate.
Andrew walked beside him as they entered the house. "No, sir. But a call came from Butech Global Company. They're requesting collaboration. They asked specifically for your opinion."
Kelvin raised an eyebrow, intrigued but cautious. "Collaboration? Are they speaking of buying shares in my company?"
"No, sir," Andrew replied carefully. "From what I've gathered, Butech Global has been in steady decline. Their stocks are at their lowest in history. Investors are pulling out. The company is… desperate."
Kelvin paused mid-step, his sharp mind already calculating. "So, they want me to rescue them."
"Yes, sir. That seems to be their intention."
Kelvin's eyes darkened with thought. "Andrew, I am not interested in charity. But weakness is an opportunity. Reach out to them discreetly. Offer to buy their company outright. If they refuse, let it end there. My daughter is my priority now. Make sure they understand that."
"Yes, sir," Andrew said, nodding briskly. "Shall I bring you coffee?"
Kelvin waved him off. "No. I need a bath before dinner. And afterward, time with Purity." He strode toward his private wing of the mansion, the conversation already closed in his mind.
The household gathered later in the grand dining hall, as they often did. Though Kelvin could have dined alone with Purity, he had long ago chosen to share meals with Anita and Andrew as well. To him, family was not defined by blood alone but by loyalty and trust. Around this table, they were one family.
Dinner was lively in its quiet way. Anita fussed gently over Purity, ensuring her plate was filled. Andrew updated Kelvin on minor details from the day. And Purity herself, though silent for the most part, glowed with the lingering pride of her triumph at the schools.
Afterward, in the sitting room, father and daughter settled into the soft embrace of the couches. Kelvin studied her, his eyes unusually gentle. "Purity, tell me. After all you experienced today, which school do you wish to attend?"
Purity took a breath, recalling each headmaster, each test, each subtle display of arrogance or doubt. Then her lips curved into a thoughtful smile. "Father, I would like to attend Starlight Institute."
Kelvin leaned back slightly, curious. "Why Starlight?"
"Because of Headmaster Marcus," Purity answered without hesitation. "He had a welcoming aura, and his kindness felt genuine. I also noticed that the teachers and staff there carried themselves differently—they were disciplined, serious, but not pretending like the others. Their security was top-notch, their classrooms bright and alive. It felt real, Father. Not like a mask. I believe that's the place for me."
Silence followed for a moment. Kelvin's lips curved slowly into a rare smile. "You have thought carefully, my daughter. That is wisdom beyond your years. Very well. I will make the necessary arrangements and payments. The school will send your resumption date soon."
Purity's face lit with joy. "Thank you, Father!" She leaned against him, her heart swelling with a mixture of pride and gratitude.
Kelvin rested a hand on her hair, his thoughts quieter and heavier than his expression showed. She is brilliant, discerning, and pure… yet the world will not see her as I do. They will seek to use her, to polish their crowns with her light. But as long as I live, no harm will touch her.
At last, Kelvin rose, his figure casting a long shadow across the room. "Go to sleep, Purity. I have some work to do in my office."
"Good night, Daddy," she said softly, her voice tinged with the innocence of her age. She kissed his hand before heading upstairs with Anita close behind.
Kelvin lingered in the quiet living room for a moment, listening to her footsteps fade. Then, with a steady breath, he turned toward his office.
The world outside was watching, hungry and suspicious. But here, within the fortress he had built, secrets and promises lay hidden.
And Kelvin knew one truth above all: this was not just a mansion. It was a shield, a sanctuary, and the heart of his daughter's existence.