Ultimate Cash System-Chapter 172: Philanthropy explained.

Lukas grinned. "Your secret’s safe with me."

Then Henry paused, the mood shifting. "Also... Lukas, look. I’m not trying to be your dad or anything, but... Annie and Bella? They’re good girls. That should be enough, no?"

Lukas leaned back in his chair. "Why do I feel like there’s a story behind this?"

Henry laughed dryly. "Let’s just say I was once young, stupid, and thought having more meant having better. Turns out, more often meant more headache."

Lukas nodded quietly.

"I got Lucy now," Henry continued. "Three years old. Sharp as a tack. Already calls me out when I forget to brush my teeth or put my socks on inside out. You talked with her once, remember? She picked up the phone when you called."

Lukas smiled. "Yeah, I remember. She said her name was Lucy. She was mad that I didn’t bring her chocolate myself."

Henry laughed warmly. "She still hasn’t let that go. Keeps reminding me that you owe her. So next time you drop by, better come with a bag full of sweets, or she’ll throw a tantrum."

"I’ll bring enough to open a candy shop," Lukas joked.

Henry smiled. "Good man. Anyway, I just wanted to say that. Don’t burn yourself out, alright? You’re doing a lot, and it’s working. Just... don’t lose yourself in it."

"Thanks, Henry," Lukas said sincerely. "Means a lot."

"Alright. I’ll see you tomorrow. Twelve sharp. Mansion Day."

"Looking forward to it," Lukas replied.

After the call ended, Henry leaned back in his seat, still parked under the shade. He looked out toward the road and smiled faintly.

"Dumb kid’s got a good heart," he mumbled to himself, then shifted the gear and drove off toward home. Where little Lucy was probably waiting, arms crossed, with her next chocolate demand already rehearsed.

Just after Henry drove off in his new Mercedes, still humming the soft engine sound, Lukas stayed back with Lana for a few more moments. The breeze was light, rustling the trees on campus as students trickled across the courtyard.

Lana nudged Lukas playfully. "Your coach is kind of cool. Didn’t know Princeton guys drove around like that."

Lukas smirked. "Yeah, he’s something. Just don’t let him catch you saying that. He’ll never let it go."

Lana chuckled and looked at him, her pink hair catching the sun. "So, mansion day tomorrow, huh? Must be nice."

"You should tag along. Might be fun," Lukas offered casually.

"Maybe," she said with a little shrug. "But only if there’s free food."

Just then, a blacked-out Mercedes SUV purred up to the curb. Jay stepped out of the driver’s seat, polo sharp, his shades gleaming, and gave Lukas a small, respectful nod. "Boss," he greeted smoothly.

Roy, leaning out from the back seat, added with a grin, "Sir, your car awaits. Let’s roll."

Lukas turned to Lana. "Well, that’s my ride. See you in class tomorrow?"

Lana smiled. "Yeah. Don’t forget you owe me lunch next time."

"Deal," Lukas said.

He gave her a wave and jogged toward the SUV. As he hopped inside, Jay looked at him through the rearview mirror. "Is that the pink-haired girl? She’s cute."

Lukas buckled in and leaned back. "Don’t start."

Roy laughed as they pulled away from campus. "Philly suite or training first?"

"Philly. I need a shower and a nap," Lukas replied.

And with that, the car rolled onto the highway, headed toward the sleek comfort of Lukas’s Philadelphia suite, the sun dipping lower behind them.

Lukas leaned back against the soft velvet couch of his Philadelphia suite, his body finally able to relax after the whirlwind of meetings, church visits, and campus interactions. The lights were dimmed, the curtains half drawn, letting in the golden hue of the setting sun that kissed the skyline through the expansive windows. Room service had just left, the scent of hot garlic butter steak still wafting in the air.

He had just finished a modest meal, not much but enough to take the edge off—a ribeye steak, mashed potatoes, and a fresh salad. He sipped from a chilled glass of sparkling water and leaned his head back, trying to gather his thoughts. The warmth of the room and the silence were slowly lulling him toward a nap when the concierge rang the suite’s internal phone.

"Sir, two ladies have arrived to see you. They say their names are Annie and Bella," the receptionist said respectfully.

Lukas raised an eyebrow, then smiled. "Send them up, please." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

It hadn’t been long since he saw them, but with everything going on—his financial juggling, real estate hunts, and school responsibilities—it felt like a week had passed.

Within minutes, the doorbell rang. Lukas opened the suite door himself, and there they stood—Bella looking as dazzling as ever, her chic New York attire blending luxury and trend, and Annie, softer and more delicate, with her usual warm, gentle smile. But today, Annie looked a little pale, and she clutched her belly lightly.

"Are you okay?" Lukas asked immediately, guiding them inside.

Annie gave a tired nod and leaned against him. "Just a bit sick."

Bella helped her sit down, her voice carrying a touch of concern. "It’s the pregnancy. She hasn’t been feeling great today."

Lukas looked at them both, then sighed deeply.

"You two really thought it was a good idea to just pop over to New York all of a sudden? What if something happened on the way? Annie’s barely a month in and already moving around like this?"

Annie lowered her head, mumbling, "We just wanted to see you."

Lukas softened instantly, kneeling gently in front of her and brushing her hair back. "I get it. I do. But next time, call me first. I’ll come to you. You don’t need to move around like this."

Bella nodded, a little embarrassed. "Sorry, Luke. It won’t happen again."

He smiled and kissed Annie’s hand softly. "You’re carrying our baby. That means you take zero risks. Got it?"

Annie nodded, her eyes misty. "Got it."

Lukas poured warm tea for Annie, wrapped her in a blanket, and let her rest in the master bed, while Bella made herself comfortable by the window. For the first time in days, Lukas didn’t think about bank accounts, houses, or campus.

He was just there—for Annie. For their future.

The next morning, after a peaceful night together, Lukas stood by the window as Jay and Roy arrived at the suite in one of his two black Mercedes sedans. He handed Annie her light jacket and gently helped her and Bella down to the lobby.

"You both take it easy today, alright?" Lukas said as he kissed Annie’s forehead.

Jay held the door open while Roy placed their bags in the trunk. "Don’t worry, sir. We’ll get them home safe," Roy assured him.

"Thanks, boys."

The girls waved goodbye as the Mercedes pulled away. Lukas stood watching for a moment before turning to Jay, who had stayed behind.

"Let’s head to campus."

"Yes, sir."

With the other Mercedes ready and waiting, Lukas climbed in, his mind already shifting gears from warmth and family to the business of the day ahead.

The cold air of early December bit at his cheeks as he stepped from the Mercedes into the sea of students gathered for week twelve’s lectures. Jay and Roy were already parked, waiting just beyond the main entrance, their eyes scanning the crowds with patient vigilance.

Inside the stone-clad building, the first class was Economics of Markets, taught by Dr. Kershaw—a professor as sharp as his eponymous suit. Lukas slipped into an unusual seat near the front; across the aisle, Lana offered him a reassuring nod. He pulled out his notebook and pen, but as Dr. Kershaw began writing complex supply–demand shifts on the board, Lukas’s thoughts drifted for a moment—thinking of Annie’s gentle smile and Bella’s quiet strength.

Then came an unexpected twist. From the back of the room rose a single, pointed question:

"Mr. Martin, given your recent donation and sudden wealth, how do you justify market fairness when private capital distorts public goods?"

The room fell silent. All eyes turned to Lukas. It was voiced by a student he’d never seen—a tall figure in a dark hoodie, eyes serious behind wire-rimmed glasses. The challenge hung in the air like frost.

Lukas paused, heart racing. This wasn’t a routine question. It was a test. Slowly, he straightened, locked eyes with the questioner, and replied with measured confidence:

"Private capital can indeed skew access, but strategic philanthropy—like my donation—aims to correct for those gaps, reinvesting in public infrastructure that benefits everyone equitably."

A murmur rippled through the hall. Dr. Kershaw raised an impressed brow. "Well stated, Mr. Martin. Perhaps you’ll contribute to our next policy seminar."

After class, as students filed out, the mysterious questioner approached. Lukas recognized the determined spark in their eyes.

"I’m Arlo Chen," they said quietly, extending a hand. "I study political economy. I’d like to collaborate on a paper I am researching—if you’re interested in making a real impact."

Lukas met the offer with a thoughtful smile. "Let’s talk. Lunch?"

Arlo nodded. "Tomorrow, after class."

Lukas gathered his notes and stepped into the crisp air, where Jay and Roy stood ready. The campus no longer felt like a series of lectures—it was a new arena for influence and ideas.

And Lukas walked on, not just as a student or a benefactor, but as someone ready for the next challenge that awaited him.

Next, Henry called him to confirm the mansion visit because the owner himself is coming to the house from Dubai.