The days stretched on, and Adrian's patience was wearing thin. His parents wouldn't relent, their voices echoing through the grand halls of the estate with the same argument, over and over.
"This isn't about what you want, Adrian," his father said for what felt like the hundredth time, pacing in the study. "This is about family. Your place is here. We've given you time, but that time is over."
Adrian leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "You've said this already, Dad. If repeating it a dozen times hasn't changed my mind, what makes you think the thirteenth will?"
His mother's sigh was delicate but laced with frustration. "You're being selfish," she said, standing by the grand oak desk. "We've built everything for you and your siblings, and you want to throw it all away for… what? A little freedom?"
"Yes," Adrian snapped, his voice sharper than intended. "Freedom's worth more than all of this." He gestured to the ornate room around him, filled with priceless artifacts and suffocating expectations.
His father's glare deepened, but before he could speak, the sound of tires crunching on the gravel driveway cut through the tension. Adrian turned toward the window just as three sleek black cars pulled up, each one gleaming under the afternoon sun.
"They're here," his mother said, her voice soft but firm.
Adrian's heart sank. He didn't need to ask who—they were the only people who could make this situation even more unbearable.
Within minutes, the house felt smaller, suffocating under the weight of even more authority. His eldest brother was the first to enter, tall and imposing, his sharp features mirroring their father's. The second son followed, slightly shorter but no less commanding, his every move deliberate and calculated.
"Adrian," the eldest said, his voice cool and distant, as though they hadn't been apart for months.
"Eldest," Adrian replied flatly, refusing to play into their games.
The second son smirked, his eyes scanning Adrian from head to toe. "Still dressing like a college dropout, I see."
Adrian didn't bother responding, his annoyance bubbling under the surface.
Then she entered—Annalise, their younger sister, the only one who ever seemed to inject a semblance of warmth into the family dynamic. Her delicate features and bright eyes were offset by a quiet strength that Adrian had always admired.
"Adrian!" she said, breaking into a smile as she rushed to hug him.
"Hey, Anna," he said, hugging her back. For a moment, the weight on his shoulders felt lighter.
"Still causing trouble?" she teased, pulling back to study him.
"Always," he said, a faint grin tugging at his lips.
The reunion didn't last long. Soon, they were all seated in the grand dining room, the air heavy with unspoken tension. Their father, seated at the head of the table, looked over his children as though inspecting a battalion before battle.
"You're all here because it's time to solidify this family's future," he began, his voice calm but authoritative.
Adrian resisted the urge to roll his eyes. The eldest son nodded in agreement, while the second son leaned back in his chair, looking bored but attentive. Annalise, seated beside Adrian, glanced at him, her expression unreadable.
"The family business has grown beyond anything your grandfather could have dreamed," their father continued. "But with that growth comes challenges, and it's time each of you takes your place."
Adrian knew what was coming. It wasn't the first time his father had tried to rope him into this world, and it wouldn't be the last. But now, with his siblings here, the pressure was tenfold.
"We all have roles to play," his mother added, her tone softer but no less firm. "Adrian, you've had your time to explore the world outside these walls. But it's time to come home."
Adrian clenched his jaw, his gaze fixed on the table. Annalise reached under the table and squeezed his hand gently—a silent show of support.
"I'll think about it," he said, his voice low but defiant.
The eldest son raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. The second son smirked, as though he found Adrian's resistance amusing.
"Don't take too long," their father warned. "This family doesn't wait for anyone."
Adrian met his father's gaze, unflinching. "I never asked it to."
The table fell silent, tension crackling in the air. Annalise glanced between her brothers and their parents, her lips pressing into a thin line.
As the meeting came to an end, Adrian excused himself, retreating to the solitude of his room. He needed space to think, to plan. Because if he was going to survive this, he had to figure out how.