Part 28
A few months passed, bringing a rare period of peace and quiet to the Johnson household.
Project Genesis was running smoothly under Maya's watchful eye, allowing Marcus to finally take a step back from the front lines.
Today was an important day, but it had nothing to do with stock markets or hostile takeovers.
It was the annual science fair at Zoe’s highly exclusive, prestigious elementary school.
Marcus walked into the massive, echoing gymnasium, immediately overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the event.
These weren't baking soda volcanoes; these were robotics displays, AI language models, and drone flight demonstrations funded by billionaire parents.
He spotted Zoe near the back of the gym, standing proudly next to her humble, colorful display board.
She hadn't built a robot or coded an app; she had grown a complex, interdependent terrarium ecosystem.
Marcus smiled, walking over and crouching down to examine the intricate layers of soil, moss, and tiny insects.
"It's beautiful, Zoe," he said, genuinely impressed by the meticulous care she had taken.
"Thanks, Daddy! It shows how everything needs everything else to survive," she explained happily.
Before Marcus could reply, a sharp, condescending voice interrupted them from the next table over.
"Well, isn't that... quaint," the voice drawled.
Marcus stood up, turning to see Eleanor Vance, a notorious socialite and wife of the venture capitalist he had dismissed in the park months ago.
She was gesturing dismissively at Zoe's terrarium while standing next to her own son's massive, commercially purchased robotic arm.
"I suppose not everyone has the vision for modern technology," Eleanor chuckled, her tone dripping with passive aggression.
Marcus felt a protective instinct flare up instantly, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the woman.
He could buy her husband's firm with pocket change, but he refused to stoop to her level of petty arrogance.
May you like
He looked down at Zoe, waiting to see how she would handle the situation.
He wanted her to be strong, but he was ready to unleash hell if a single tear formed in her eyes.
