CHAPTER 186: NEW YEAR. (1/2)

The days passed slowly yet steadily as Lukas settled back into the comfortable rhythm of his life at the suite in Philadelphia. His mornings began with early stretches, the glow of the sunrise slipping through the floor-length glass panels. He’d tug on a hoodie, pull his cap low, and head to the gym inside the luxury high-rise. The air smelled of iron and eucalyptus. He worked out hard—sweat dripping, music blaring in his ears—focusing his mind and sculpting his body with intensity that mirrored his discipline.

Breakfast was always a feast of lean meats, poached eggs, grilled tomatoes, and fruits—prepared by the suite’s personal chef under strict dietary requests. Afterward, he changed into a fitted blazer or a smart hoodie-and-jeans combo before heading out for classes at Princeton, a thirty-minute commute made smoother by Roy’s driving.

At the university, Lukas was always focused. He might be running a tech empire on the side, but he didn’t allow himself to slack off in education. Professors, peers, and even administrators had learned to see him not just as a student, but as the rising star he truly was.

Back at the Facebook office, located just a block from the suite in Philadelphia’s business district, work was ramping up. Custom servers were humming in the new building. Engineers were testing backend code. Yaho was in her element, coordinating between Tokyo hires and stateside staff. Lana kept the financial streams in control, and even the old staff from the original Facebook setup was working harmoniously in the other wing.

Facebook’s launch date loomed closer. The halls buzzed with tension and caffeine. Lukas was there for every major meeting, every test run.

In the evenings, he’d return to the suite, where Annie and Bella waited. Their presence grounded him. The trio often watched movies, had hot pot together, or talked long into the night. Annie loved interior magazines, and Bella browsed furniture design catalogs as their mansion’s customized pieces were being crafted in New York. The rooms would be designed to perfection.

Lukas was beginning to settle into the tempo of this final stretch. There was peace in routine. Every morning felt like a reward. He woke before sunrise, walked to the gym alone with nothing but his thoughts, and returned drenched in sweat, victorious over his body. The suite staff grew accustomed to his presence—his quiet routines, his exact coffee preferences, and his habit of staring out at the skyline for minutes before diving into work.

The custom furniture from New York was taking longer than expected. Lukas didn’t mind. He didn’t want a rushed job; he wanted a palace—not just a mansion—for Annie and Bella to call home. Both girls stayed with him, rarely leaving his side. They cooked together sometimes. Annie loved preparing Korean comfort food, while Bella learned to bake cookies that filled the suite with warmth.

News from home had shaken him slightly—his mother’s health had kept her in the hospital. The doctors had been firm: no flights till after January. She would be safe, but not home for the holidays. Lukas visited her through calls. They spoke gently. He missed her. She, in return, smiled at his growth and worried about his stress.

Work, of course, didn’t slow down. Yaho was managing operations flawlessly. New engineers from Tokyo were still arriving, and the Philadelphia building was almost fully operational. The tech stack had become something out of a Silicon Valley dream.

Yet in all this, Lukas didn’t lose sight of the small things. His walks with Bella. His chess matches with Annie. His late-night reading by the window, sipping warm cocoa and letting himself rest.

As the new year approached, so did a sense of culmination. The suite began to reflect the changing season. Fireplaces crackled, cinnamon sticks scented the halls, and Lukas bought a small Christmas tree at Bella’s insistence.

Each morning, he stood in the penthouse gym, looking out across Philadelphia’s skyline. He didn’t just see the city—he saw his own story rising with it. Facebook was more than a startup now. It was an idea ready to explode into the world. Investors were hovering. The Phillies contract was hanging in suspense. MLB wanted him back—but his time was slipping into a new role: builder, founder, leader.

Annie and Bella had become more than friends. They were family. They decorated the tree together. Wrapped presents. Even planned a small celebration in the suite with a few close colleagues.

Classes wound down for the semester. The office quieted only slightly. But Lukas’s mind didn’t slow. Every night before bed, he stood on the balcony. The winter air was sharp in his lungs. His eyes scanning the distance.

"One more month," he’d whisper to himself. "Just one more push."

Because when January came, so would Facebook. And the world would never be the same again.

The final hours of December crept in, frosting the windows of the grand Philadelphia suite where Lukas had chosen to slow life down. The sky outside was streaked with pearly white clouds, and the buzz of the city below was dimmed beneath a heavy quilt of snow. Inside, warmth pulsed through the modern heating vents, and soft golden lights shimmered off marbled floors and walnut furniture.

Annie was nestled on the couch in a fuzzy blanket, her cheeks pink from excitement and cocoa. Bella had been busy decorating the suite all morning, having found a tiny Christmas tree from a nearby boutique. She dressed it with white and silver ornaments while humming a soft tune. Lukas, still in his gym joggers and hoodie, carried in a tray of fresh fruit, meat cuts, and warm sourdough bread.

"I thought you two might want to eat something other than sugar," he joked, setting it down on the coffee table.

Bella grinned. "We earned it! We’ve been working hard on making this suite feel like home."

Annie nodded solemnly. "Bella made this place so warm. I’m proud of our tiny tree." She glanced toward the balcony, where the snow was now drifting down gently.