"Marcus, this is too much—"
"It was my grandfather's." He interrupted. "When he came to America from Shanghai, he had only three things: this raincoat, a family photo, and this pen. He said this pen helped him get his first job because the employer saw his good handwriting." Marcus's voice softened. "He said to pass it on to 'someone who changes the world.' I think you qualify."
Lily gripped the pen, feeling her throat tighten. "Thank you." was all she could say.
The rain was easing. They walked near the Washington Square Arch, where a temporary lottery booth was surrounded by a few people.
"Graduation Day Lottery!" The vendor was a spry old woman. "Try your luck, dear? Extra high odds today, I promise."
Marcus pulled out his wallet: "Come on, graduation tradition. My treat."
"That's a scam—"
"Just once." Marcus had already bought two tickets, handing her one. "Scratch it."
Lily shook her head but took the coin. She scratched off the silver coating, revealing the numbers below.
03-17-22-45-51-12
"You have to match all numbers to win." she said, looking at the winning numbers chart nearby. Her eyes scanned the first line—
03-17-22-45-51-12
An exact match.
She blinked, looked again.
Still a match.
"Marcus." Her voice sounded strange, as if from far away.
"Hmm?"
"I think... I'm seeing things. Check for me." She handed him the ticket.
Marcus took it, comparing it to the chart. His expression froze.
"Lily." He said slowly. "You just won..."
He calculated, fingers trembling slightly. "The jackpot. The current jackpot. If no one else shares it..."
The old vendor woman leaned over, glanced at the ticket, and gasped: "Holy Mother! Dear, you've won $85 million!"
The crowd around them began to gather. Exclamations. Phone cameras raised. Flashbulbs.
Lily's world suddenly became extremely sharp and extremely blurry. She heard her own heartbeat like a drum, felt Marcus grip her arm, heard the old woman shouting something about a claims office.
The rain had completely stopped. Sunlight broke through the clouds, shining on the wet asphalt, reflecting a blinding glare.
$85 million.
The number echoed in her mind like church bells.
All problems could be solved. Her father's debts. Her loans. Bloom's startup funds. Move out of the roach-infested apartment. Eat lunches without looking at the price. Can...
Can stop running.
"Lily?" Marcus shook her. "You okay? You need to sit down?"
She looked at his concerned face and suddenly laughed—a deep, unrestrained laugh from the gut, laughing until tears streamed down.
"I'm fine." She wiped her tears, taking a deep breath. "I've never been better."
Sunlight shone on her damp graduation gown, the dark blue fabric beginning to steam faintly.
In that moment, she stood atop the world.
What she didn't know was that on the rooftop of a building across the square, a dark figure stood silently watching.
Kyle Night raised a specially designed monocular—its lenses filtered UV light, allowing him brief observation even in midday sun. He adjusted the focus; Lily's smiling face filled the viewfinder.
In the sunlight, she did look as his grandfather said: warm, vivid, with an indomitable light.
He lowered the monocular, his fingers unconsciously brushing his shirt hem. Concealed there was a small badge, the moon and thorns pattern faintly warm in the daylight.
"Found you." He murmured, his words scattered by the wind.
But then, he frowned. He saw the commotion at the lottery booth, the vendor's excited expression, the raised phones.
Human world luck. The favor of money.
His lips pressed into a cold, hard line. Would money change her? Would the girl willing to give her all for a stranger be remolded into someone else by $85 million?
He turned away from the roof's edge, shadows naturally wrapping around his form.
Observe. That was his task now.
He needed to know who Lily Thorne was—not just the one who helped an old man in the rain, not just the one struggling after bankruptcy.
He needed to see who she would become after being anointed by money.