Labs through a holding corporation.
At nineteen, we secured our first government contract.
At twenty, we developed fraud-detection software used by several major banks.
By twenty-two, Asteron controlled subsidiaries across cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and financial technology.
My parents knew none of it.
They thought I freelanced.
I never corrected them.
That morning, Vanessa wheeled a silver suitcase toward the front door while Mom adjusted her expensive scarf.
“You understand, right?” Vanessa asked sweetly. “Europe was booked months ago.”
“My graduation date was announced last year.”
Mom sighed.
“Don’t
