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Chapter 1 - Homecoming

"Your father has remarried," a bitter thought whispered in Adrian's mind, sharp as glass. And you've got a stepbrother. He could almost hear the mocking chuckle behind the words, taunting him. His jaw tightened. I will never...ever...embrace him as family. And no one-no one-will replace my mother.

The jet hummed beneath him, slicing through the evening sky. Adrian leaned back, calm, waiting.

The plane touched down smoothly. He stepped onto the staircase, humid air clinging to him. Five black cars waited below, engines idling, bodyguards flanking them like statues.

"Welcome back, boss," one said, nodding as Adrian approached.

He moved toward the middle car, the one reserved for him. The door opened, a bodyguard stepping aside, hands alert. He slid inside smoothly, seating himself in the leather, feeling the quiet authority settle over him. The convoy moved, tires humming on asphalt, the other cars flanking his like a protective wall.

The estate gates came into view, the lanterns casting long shadows across the driveway. Beyond them, a crowd had gathered; journalists, cameras flashing, voices pressing behind metal barricades. Bodyguards moved immediately, forming a tight perimeter, guiding the convoy through with practiced precision.

Adrian sat back in the middle car, calm, eyes sharp. The questions were already flying.

"Is it true...Mega Company and Ironfang Enterprises are joining?" one reporter called, voice straining over the murmurs.

"Have you come to marry your betrothed childhood sweetheart, Celeste Johnson?" another shouted, swinging a camera toward the car. 

Adriana's jaw tightened. He said nothing, letting the bodyguards handle the space, moving smoothly to keep the path clear. Flashbulbs popped, voices shouted, but he remained composed, a predator in the midst of chaos.

The convoy rolled to a halt in front of the mansion. The doors opened, and Adrian stepped out, flanked by his guards. The journalists' questions faded behind the controlled barrier of metal and discipline.

At the doorway, his father waited, arms open and beside him, Eva; the woman he noticed was his father's new wife stood poised.

Adrian stepped forward. His father opened his arms.

"Welcome back, my son," he said warmly, pulling him into a brief hug. Adrian returned it curtly, controlled, then stepped back.

"Eva," his father said, turning toward the woman, "this is my son, Adrian. The one I've been telling you about."

Eva extended a hand toward Adrian, a polite gesture but he didn't take it.

"I don't touch with strangers," he said evenly, eyes sharp.

Eva's hand hovered for a moment before she withdrew it, a faint trace of surprise in her expression. His father noticed the tension immediately and cleared his throat.

"You've arrived on time," he said, voice steady. "Dinner is ready."

...

The dining room was quiet expect for the soft clatter of silverware and the subdued murmurs of the servants moving efficiently between tables, placing dishes with practiced precision. Adrian sat beside his father, who occupied the head of the table, while Eva maintained perfect posture across from them, a faint irritation lingering in her expression.

Her eyes flicked to the clock on the wall. "Ash is late," she said, her voice carrying a sharp edge. "He promised to come early tonight, to have dinner with us...for Adrian's homecoming."

Adrian's father lifted a hand, calm. "Maybe he's loaded with schoolwork, as usual," he replied, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Then he turned to Adrian, his tone shifting, formal but firm. "By the way, your wedding date has already been fixed with the Johnson family. It will be held within one week."

Adrian's jaw tightened. He picked up his fork, eyes on the food, voice low but controlled. "I see."

Adrian pushed back slightly from the table. "Excuse me," he said evenly. "I want to go and take a rest."

His father raised an eyebrow. "But you haven't eaten yet even a bite."

Adrian's lips pressed into a thin line, his voice calm and controlled. "I'm not hungry," he said, standing. His gaze swept over Eva briefly before he moved toward the staircase, each step measured, deliberate.

...

Adrian stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist, water dripping from his hair and shoulders. Another towel rubbed through his damp hair, muscles tense but controlled.

If marrying Celeste Johnson would make the Mega Company a partner with Ironfang Enterprises, to strengthen it, to solidify my father's legacy...let it be. Yet the thought of letting it happen, of being bound by someone else's plans, left a bitter taste.

Adrian froze as he heard the door being nudged. Who dares at my door? Curiosity prickled at him. He reached for the knob and pushed it open.

A body collided with his, and they toppled to the floor. The towel around his waist slipped, exposing him briefly.

A sharp, intoxicating scent hit his nose, sudden and overwhelming. His heart rate spiked, muscles tensing instinctively.

The boy on him was delicate, almost fragile in appearance, with soft features and an oddly feminine grace that contrasted with the tension in the moment. Adrian's body reacted instantly, drawn, senses alive, thoughts blank.

From downstairs, Eva's voice carried up the stairs, straddling the quiet moment. "Don't think I didn't see you sneaking. Come down and give me an explanation why are you late, Ash?"

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