It was in 2022 when Adrian Cole became the youngest CEO in New York City. The company had belonged to his parents, but the responsibility of managing it had been passed down to him. Despite his age, Adrian handled everything with remarkable confidence, and under his leadership, the business grew steadily.
But smooth roads never last long.
One of the oldest technology industries in New York—an empire managed for nearly thirty years by the formidable Luke Lancestor—soon became Adrian's biggest rival. The rivalry wasn't only about business.
Luke mocked him relentlessly.
Every board meeting, every conference, Luke would chuckle with that sly grin, throwing sharp remarks about Adrian's youth, his inexperience, his bold ideas. "A child leading a company? How amusing," Luke once said, his voice booming across the room, earning laughter from other executives.
And Adrian never forgot.
The irony was that Luke had once been his father's closest friend. But now, the old man had turned into the symbol of everything Adrian wanted to defeat. Still, deep down, Adrian didn't hate him. He called Luke his "rival" not out of bitterness but because it drove him, fueled his ambition, and pushed him harder to bring his company to the global stage.
What Adrian didn't know, however, was that the man he called a rival had a daughter—beautiful, untamed, and still in university.
Though Luke's company was based in New York, his family didn't live there. His wife was English, and so they stayed in England. Adrian had never seen them, never cared to know. His eyes were always on the old man across the negotiation table.
Time flew quickly. Four years passed.
Adrian remained at the helm, stronger and more confident than ever. But Luke Lancestor was no longer his rival—he had sold his company to an unknown billionaire.
Adrian smirked as he leaned back in his leather chair, reading the news on his phone.
"Well, that's it, old man. You've sold your company. And here I am, still standing strong, still managing mine." His voice was laced with triumph, though no one else was in the room to hear it.
The satisfaction didn't last long.
His phone vibrated. A familiar name appeared on the screen. His mother.
Adrian sighed before answering. "Good afternoon, Mom," he said lazily.
"Adrian, why can't you come home for a while?" her voice pressed, gentle yet commanding.
He glanced at the piles of documents and data flashing across his computer screen. With a resigned sigh, he grabbed his coat and car keys. "Yes, yes. I'll be there in an hour," he replied.
It wasn't that Adrian disliked visiting home. But every time he did, his mother had the same question waiting for him—Do you have a girlfriend yet?
An hour later, the deep hum of his luxury car echoed as he pulled into the driveway of his parents' villa. The signboard at the gate read: Cole-Louise Property.
"Mom, it's me, Adrian!" he called, knocking at the door.
The housemaid opened it with a polite bow. "Good afternoon, sir. Please, come in."
Adrian followed her inside, his steps carrying him toward the garden where his mother sat sipping tea, framed by a breathtaking view of the estate.
"Mom, aren't you happy? Your beloved son finally came home," Adrian teased, sliding into the chair across from her.
His mother glanced at him and smiled softly. "Wait for your father. He's in the office, finishing a call with a friend."
Moments later, laughter echoed from the hall. His father emerged, still chuckling as he clapped a hand on Adrian's shoulder.
"Well, look who's going to be married soon!" his father announced, voice booming with excitement.
Adrian froze. His eyes darted between his smiling parents. "Mom, Dad… what is this supposed to mean?" he asked, confusion hardening his tone.
His mother leaned forward, her smirk playful. "You're going to marry your father's old friend's daughter."
Adrian shot up from his chair, shock flooding his face. "What?! Mom, why didn't you discuss this with me first?"
"Why should we?" his mother countered with a laugh, exchanging a knowing glance with his father. "Our son always runs away from the topic of marriage. Now we're making the decision for you."
Adrian ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply before sinking back into his chair. "At least… tell me who she is," he muttered.
His heart whispered another thought. I hope it's Sarah. Sarah, the daughter of one of his father's close colleagues—a gentle girl he had met once before.
But his father's next words shattered that hope.
"Your bride-to-be is none other than Luke Lancestor's daughter."
The world around Adrian seemed to still. He stared blankly at his father, his mind reeling.
"What?!" His voice cracked in disbelief. "I don't believe this!"
Luke Lancestor. The man who mocked him in every meeting. The man he had called his rival for years. And now… his daughter was to become Adrian's wife.
It wasn't hatred he felt in that moment—it was disbelief, frustration, and a strange curiosity twisting inside him.
His rival's daughter. His future wife.
Adrian's lips parted, but no words came out.
For once, the confident CEO didn't know what to say.