Gabriel''s POV

"Dad?"

I didn''t bother looking up as I stirred the pot, letting the aroma rise and fill the kitchen. "I''m here," I called out.

I heard Adrian''s footsteps draw closer. He stopped at the kitchen threshold, and the silence that followed stretched just long enough to make me smirk without turning around.

"Wait-are you cooking?" he asked, disbeliefcing his voice. "Dad, I''m shocked. You haven''t cooked in... what, years?"

I finally turned to face him, wiping my hand on the kitchen towel slung over my shoulder.

"Gretchen told me earlier she had a personal errand to run and would be back by noon." I offered a casual shrug, reaching for thedle and giving the pot another stir. "I was hungry and couldn''t wait that long."

I could feel the lie burning on the tip of my tongue.

Truth was, I wasn''t hungry. Eating was thest thing on my mind.

The food I was cooking-it was for iressa. I wanted her to have something warm when she woke up, something to ease the aftermath of the fever. She didn''t need to know that. And I didn''t need Adrian questioning why I cared enough to do it.

I hadn''t expected him to walk in just as I was scrambling to get everything ready. "Right," Adrian muttered, clearly unconvinced. He reached into his bag and pulled out a ck file, handing it to me. "The contract you asked for. I got it back."

"Oh. Yeah. The contract." I took it and ced it absentmindedly on the counter beside me, right next to the chopping board.

It was thest thing on my mind. Honestly, I hadn''t thought about that damn contract all morning.

Adrian eyed me, suspicion lining his face as his brow creased. His gaze lingered on the way I''d casually dropped the file onto the counter. "I thought you said the contract was urgent." His arms folded slowly across his chest, watching me like I was hiding something.

I nced at the envelope, then back at him, before offering the calmest response I could muster, one that wouldn''t pique his suspicion further. "It is important. But with contracts like these, you can''t just rush through them. I need to go over the fine print again. Thoroughly."

Adrian seemed to ept that, though I could tell he wasn''t entirely convinced. He didn''t press the matter further, which I appreciated.

"So," he continued, his eyes ncing over his shoulder down the hallway. "Where''s iressa?"

"In her room,” I replied, intentionally avoiding his gaze as I stirred the soup a little more. I didn''t look up, not even when I felt him shift-hovering there in the corner, watching.

"She... um... forgot to close her windows, I guess. The storm was heavy, and the wind and cold got to her... so... she came down with a high fever."

Another fabrication. My brain barely kept up with how easily the falsehoods rolled off my tongue.

Adrian''s face softened, concern shing across his features. "Oh, man. I had no idea. I should go check on her."

"Let her rest for a bit." I reached out, cing a hand on his arm before he could move. "I checked on her earlier-she''s probably still asleep."

He looked at me, eyes wide. "Wait... you stayed with her?"

I didn''t respond right away.

For a moment, I contemted telling him everythingying the truth bare about iressa and me. But I knew this wasn''t the right time. That kind of confession needed toe from her, not me.

I shrugged, keeping my tone casual. "You literally threatened me in a message to look after her. I figured I didn''t have much of a choice."

Adrian let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head. "That''s right. Thanks, Dad." A

small smile tugged at his lips. "Still, I should go check on her."

I raised a hand before he could take a step. "You can do thatter. For now... sit. We need to talk."

He paused, brows knitting. "Talk about what?"

"Your future."

He groaned softly, running a hand through his hair. "Dad, not this again."

His shoulders slumped, the weariness of thest few days weighing visibly on him.

"Yesterday was a mess. You sent me out for that contract, I got caught in a literal storm, and I still had to check in at the restaurant. I barely slept. I really don''t have the energy for another one of your future-nning speeches right now. Can we not do this today?"

He was already turning to leave.

I dragged a hand down my face, trying to breathe through the irritation brewing in my chest. It didn''t work.

"Adrian. Get back here."

He stopped in his tracks.

"We''re talking about this now." My voice cut through the room, firm enough that he turned to face me. "Your future isn''t going to wait until you''re in the mood. It''s time to stop living like an overgrown boy and start acting like a man."

He walked toward me, standing just in front.

“Sit,” Imanded, locking eyes with him, my tone leaving no room for argument.

With a reluctant sigh, he dropped onto the stool by the kitchen ind. "Dad, I know where this is going. You want me to join Storm Innovations. Be the golden boy. Fit into this perfect little mold you''ve carved out. But I''m not that guy. I never was."

I stared at him, anger fueling inside me. I was fed up with Adrian''s excuses. He had no drive, no ambition. Just a string of half-hearted efforts that went nowhere.

"Don''t talk to me about passion,

Adrian," I snapped. "I''ve poured millions into every so-called ''dream

you''ve chased. Every venture you

swore was your calling. And what did you do? You either abandoned them or ran each one into the ground. So no. I''m done being the investor in your failed dreams. That ends now."

Adrian''s voice softened. "Dad...

you''re right about everything. You''ve helped me out over the years, and me

get why you''re upset that none of the businesses have paid off. But...

have a little more faith. Give me one

more chance. Help me save the restaurant. I mean it this time. I

won''t screw it up."

"That will never happen.” I fixed him with a cold stare, my jaw tightening. “Not a

dime. I''m making this abundantly clear."

His shoulders slumped. "So, what now? What am I supposed to do?"

"I''m giving you a way out, an opportunity most would kill for, but I''m doing all of this because you''re my only child. The only person L

should be preparing to take ne

over

Storm Innovations. Thatpany isn''t just a job-it''s a legacy. It would be your legacy, and that of your children when I''m gone."

Heughed bitterly, shaking his head. "Dad,e on. We both know you''re not going anywhere anytime soon." He gestured toward me, scanning my appearance. “Look at you. You don''t even look your age."

He smirked, adding with a yful tone, “I mean, I know I''m more handsome than

you, but you''re still pretty damn good-looking. There are girls my age who would be into you, you know. Honestly, you could give a lot of guys my age a run for their money."

"Adrian, I''m being serious." My voice was hard. "This is no time for jokes."

He shrugged, his grin widening. "I''m serious too, Dad. You''re running thepany just fine. Let''s just keep doing it that way, and when the timees... then I can step into your ce."

I took a step forward, not holding back my anger anymore, letting it all out. "You must have lost your Godforsaken mind if you think I''ll hand over my life''s work to someone who hasn''t even lifted a finger to understand how it runs. So you can what? Let it crash and burn like your businesses? Never."

Adrian raised his hands, trying to calm me. "Dad, just give me time. I''m not saying no-I''m saying let me decide. Let me figure it out."

"You have until tomorrow," I bit out. "Make your decision. Either youe work at Storm Innovations, or I make other arrangements."

He paled. "What other arrangements...? Dad-don''t tell me—"

My eyes locked with his, letting him feel the severity of my words. "If you think I''m leaving everything to you, you''re dead wrong. If you don''t step up, I''ll give it all away. Every share. Every asset. Every dime. I''ll sign it all over to charity. At least then it won''t be wasted."

His face twisted with disbelief and frustration. "You''d... give away your entire fortune?"

"Yes," I said, my voice cold. "Because my own son refuses to step up, to be responsible. Why the hell should I leave it to him? It''s better it goes to people who need it than to someone who refuses to earn his ce, who thinks he''s entitled to

it just because he shares my name."

He opened his mouth to object, but I cut him off.

"I don''t make empty threats," I warned, my tone t. "You''re dismissed."

"Dad, please-you can''t be for real."

I turned my back and walked away.