Adrian stared at him for a few seconds before bursting into shocked laughter.

"Wow," he muttered. "I thought Matteo was the craziest person in your family, but I think you might actually be worse."

Maxwell looked proud instead of offended.

"What can I say?" he replied casually. "I like them both."

Adrian shook his head in disbelief.

"You seriously want both of them at the same time?"

"Yes."

Maxwell leaned back comfortably in the chair.

"I tried convincing myself to focus on only one of them, but no matter what I do, I end up liking them equally."

Adrian stared at him.

"That’s insane."

"Maybe," Maxwell admitted carelessly. "But it’s the truth."

Then Adrian suddenly frowned slightly.

"Would your father even allow something like that?"

Maxwell’s expression barely changed.

"That’s none of his business."

Adrian blinked.

Maxwell leaned forward slightly.

"My father is strict, yes. Very strict. But he’s not the kind of man who controls every decision in his children’s lives."

His tone stayed calm. "If I sit him down and explain my reasons properly, he’ll listen. He might judge me, he might hate the idea, but at the end of the day, he’ll give in."

Then his voice hardened slightly. "And honestly, I don’t think anyone has the right to decide my happiness for me."

Those words hit Adrian harder than expected.

Maxwell continued talking, completely unaware of the effect his words were having.

"Why should someone else decide who I spend my forever with? Why should another person choose what makes me happy?"

Adrian suddenly went silent.

His father’s face flashed through his mind instantly.

The forced marriage.

The pressure.

The constant control.

Slowly, Adrian stood up from his chair.

Maxwell frowned immediately.

"Where are you going?"

Adrian grabbed his phone quickly. "I need to go somewhere."

His voice sounded rushed now.

He immediately called his driver.

"Get the car ready."

Maxwell’s expression changed instantly.

Something about Adrian’s sudden behavior made him suspicious immediately.

And then realization hit him.

He’s going to his father.

The moment Adrian turned away, Maxwell quickly pulled out his phone and texted Matteo.

Adrian suddenly wants to leave the studio. I think he’s going to his father’s place because of our conversation. What should I do?

Matteo’s reply came almost immediately.

Insist on following him. Don’t let him go alone.

Maxwell looked up immediately.

Before Adrian could walk out of the office completely, Maxwell stood up. "If you’re going somewhere, then I’m coming with you."

Adrian shook his head immediately. "You don’t need to come."

Maxwell folded his arms.

"Alright then," Maxwell said as he stood up. "I should probably head to Matteo’s office since you’re leaving anyway. I’m done here for the day."

Adrian stopped instantly.

He already knew that if Maxwell went to Matteo’s office, Matteo would definitely ask about him. And if Matteo found out where he was really going, he would be disappointed.

After a few seconds, Adrian sighed heavily.

"Fine," he muttered. "Come on then."

And together, the two of them left the office at the same time.

By the time they got outside the building, Adrian’s driver already had the car waiting.

Even though Matteo had dropped him off earlier, Adrian always told his driver to bring the car to the studio whenever he came in, in case he needed to visit clients or travel somewhere unexpectedly.

Adrian and Maxwell quickly got into the car.

"Take me to my father’s estate," Adrian ordered immediately.

The driver nodded. "Yes, sir."

Without wasting another second, the car pulled away from the studio.

While Adrian was speaking with one of the drivers, Maxwell quietly pulled out his phone and sent Matteo a quick message.

Adrian is truly going to his father’s estate.

Matteo replied almost immediately.

Alright. If anything goes wrong, inform me immediately.

Okay, bro, Maxwell replied before quietly slipping his phone back into his pocket.

The drive to Adrian’s father’s estate was longer than usual.

The entire time, Adrian stayed quiet in the backseat, his gaze fixed outside the window while Maxwell occasionally glanced at him, already sensing the tension building inside him.

Eventually, the car finally pulled through the large gates of the estate.

A few guards immediately recognized Adrian and allowed the car inside without question.

The moment they stepped into the main house, one of the staff members greeted them respectfully before informing Adrian that his father was currently busy and unavailable.

"You’ll have to wait, sir," the man said carefully. "He’s in the middle of an important meeting."

Adrian nodded quietly.

So he waited.

Maxwell sat beside him in silence for a while before eventually leaning slightly closer.

"Your own father needs an appointment before seeing you?" he whispered under his breath in disbelief.

Adrian didn’t answer.

Nearly an hour passed before footsteps were finally heard approaching the sitting room.

Adrian’s father walked in calmly, adjusting the sleeve of his expensive suit as his cold eyes landed first on Adrian.

Then on Maxwell.

His brows furrowed slightly.

"Adrian," he said. "Why are you here unexpectedly?"

Then his gaze shifted toward Maxwell again.

"And who is this?" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Adrian immediately stood up.

"I’m sorry for showing up without informing you first," Adrian said respectfully. "But I needed to talk to you about something important. I didn’t think it could wait."

His father studied him carefully for a few quiet seconds before finally nodding once.

"Fine."

Then he gestured slightly toward Maxwell.

"And him?"

"A friend," Adrian answered calmly. "You don’t need to worry about him."

His father looked unconvinced but said nothing more about it.

"Sit down," he ordered calmly. "Now tell me why you’re here."

The three of them sat.

Adrian took a slow breath.

Then finally, he looked directly at his father.

"I won’t waste your time," he began quietly. "I came here because I’ve finally made up my mind."

His father remained silent.

Adrian’s hands tightened slightly together before he forced the words out.

"I don’t want the marriage with Iris."

The room instantly went still.

Maxwell quietly leaned back into the sofa, watching the tension rise immediately.

Adrian continued before his father could interrupt.

"I came here to ask you to cancel whatever plans you already made with Iris’s family because I’m not going to marry her."

His father’s expression darkened instantly.

"What did you just say?"

Adrian swallowed once but didn’t back down this time.

"I don’t love Iris," he said honestly. "And I don’t want to marry someone just because it benefits politics or business."

His father stared at him coldly.

"You came all the way here to tell me this nonsense?"

"It’s not nonsense," Adrian replied quietly. "It’s my life."

His father let out a cold laugh.

"Your life?" he repeated mockingly. "Since when did you suddenly start making decisions for yourself?"

Adrian’s jaw tightened.

"I’m serious, Father."

"And I’m serious too," his father replied sharply. "This marriage is important."

"For you," Adrian said immediately.

The room fell silent again.

His father’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

"What exactly has Matteo been putting into your head lately?"

"This has nothing to do with Matteo," Adrian answered quickly. "And don’t let’s start with him, because after what you did to him the last time he came here, this conversation will end badly."

He took a breath before continuing.

"But I’m not here because of Matteo. He doesn’t need anyone fighting for him."

Adrian held his father’s gaze firmly. "I’m here for myself. I don’t want Iris, and this is my decision."

"No," his father said coldly. "This is rebellion."

Adrian slowly shook his head.

"No. This is the first time I’m actually being honest about what I want."

His father stood up slowly from his seat.

"And what exactly do you want?" he asked darkly.

Adrian looked directly at him.

"I want the right to choose who I spend my life with."

His father’s eyes narrowed immediately.

"So you’re saying you want a life with a criminal?"

The moment those words left his mouth, Adrian’s expression...