Kai was twenty-three now.
Old enough to leave. Old enough to live on his own. Old enough to build a life that had nothing to do with Adrian.
But he was still here.
In the same house. Walking the same halls. Sitting at the same table.
Nothing had changed.
And that was the problem.
---
Kai adjusted the cuff of his shirt as he walked down the stairs. He was already dressed for work, clean and sharp in a dark suit. His movements were calm, controlled, like always.
From the outside, everything about him looked perfect.
Inside was a different story.
He stepped into the dining area and immediately noticed Adrian wasn't alone.
Elena was there again.
She sat across from Adrian, relaxed, like she belonged. She was laughing about something, her voice soft but confident.
Kai stopped for a second before continuing like nothing was wrong.
"Good morning," he said.
Adrian looked up first. "You're early."
"I have a meeting," Kai replied.
His eyes briefly moved to Elena. "Miss Laurent."
She smiled. "Still so formal."
"I prefer it."
He took his seat.
The tension was quiet but there.
Adrian noticed it. He always did. He just never said anything.
"Are you joining us?" Elena asked.
"I'm already here."
She let out a small laugh. "You haven't changed."
Kai didn't respond.
Breakfast started, but Kai barely touched his food. His attention wasn't on the table. It was on the small things.
The way Elena spoke like she knew Adrian well. The way Adrian didn't stop her. The way they looked comfortable together.
It annoyed him more than it should.
"Eat," Adrian said without looking up.
Kai paused. "I will."
"You said that before."
Kai picked up his fork. "Then I guess I mean it this time."
Elena glanced between them, noticing the tone.
"You two argue like this often?" she asked.
"It's not an argument," Adrian said calmly.
Kai gave a small smile. "Of course it isn't."
Elena leaned slightly forward. "It sounds like one."
"It's just how we talk," Kai said.
Adrian finally looked at him, his expression unreadable.
"Don't be rude," Adrian added.
Kai's smile didn't change. "I'm not."
Another quiet shift.
Elena watched carefully now.
"Anyway," she said, changing the subject, "Adrian, about tonight—"
"I remember," Adrian said.
Kai's hand tightened slightly around his fork.
"Tonight?" he asked casually.
Elena smiled. "Dinner. You should come too."
"No."
The answer came immediately.
Adrian frowned slightly. "You don't even know what it is."
"I'm not interested."
"It's just dinner," Elena added.
"I said no."
Silence.
Adrian set his fork down. "Kai."
"Yes?"
"Fix your attitude."
Kai leaned back slightly in his chair. "My attitude is fine."
"It isn't."
Kai let out a quiet breath. "Then I'll work on it."
But there was no apology in his voice.
Adrian stared at him for a moment longer before looking away.
"Be ready by seven," Adrian told Elena.
"Of course."
Kai stood up. "I have to go."
"You barely ate," Adrian said.
"I'm not hungry."
"Sit down."
Kai stopped.
Slowly turned back.
"I said I have to go."
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then Adrian spoke again, calmer this time. "Fine."
Kai didn't say anything else. He walked out.
---
The drive to work didn't help.
If anything, it made things worse.
Kai sat in the back seat, looking out the window as the city passed by. His mind wasn't on work, or meetings, or anything important.
It was on Adrian.
On Elena.
On the word dinner.
He hated the idea of them going out together.
He hated how normal it sounded.
He hated how little control he had over it.
"Sir?" the driver called.
Kai blinked. "What?"
"We're here."
Kai nodded and stepped out.
The building in front of him was one of Adrian's companies. And now, it was also his responsibility.
Kai had worked his way up over the years. Not because he needed to, but because he wanted to stand on equal ground.
He didn't want to be just someone Adrian helped.
He wanted to be someone Adrian couldn't ignore.
---
By the time he reached his office, his expression was back to normal.
Cold. Calm. Untouchable.
"Good morning, sir," his assistant greeted.
"Morning. Schedule."
"You have a meeting in twenty minutes, and—"
"Move it to later."
She hesitated. "Sir, it's important—"
"I said move it."
"…Yes, sir."
Kai walked into his office and closed the door.
The silence hit him immediately.
He loosened his tie slightly and ran a hand through his hair.
This wasn't like him.
He didn't lose control like this.
He didn't get distracted.
But lately…
Everything was starting to slip.
---
His phone buzzed.
He looked at it.
Adrian.
Kai stared at the name for a second before answering.
"Yes?"
"Where are you?"
"At work."
"You left without finishing breakfast."
Kai leaned back in his chair. "You called me for that?"
A pause.
Then Adrian spoke again. "Come home early."
Kai frowned slightly. "Why?"
"Just come."
The line went dead.
Kai stared at his phone.
That was it.
No explanation.
No reason.
Just a command.
And the worst part?
He was going to listen.
---
Kai arrived home earlier than usual.
The house was quiet.
No Elena.
Good.
He walked inside, loosening his tie as he moved toward the living room.
Adrian was there.
Sitting on the couch, going through some documents.
"You're back," Adrian said without looking up.
"You told me to come."
"Sit."
Kai sat across from him this time.
Not beside him.
Not like before.
Adrian noticed.
He always noticed.
"How was work?"
"Fine."
"You rescheduled your meeting."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "You're keeping track now?"
"I always have."
Kai let out a small breath. "It wasn't important."
Adrian set the papers aside and looked at him properly now.
"It was."
Kai met his gaze. "Then I'll handle it tomorrow."
"That's not the point."
"Then what is?"
The question came out sharper than intended.
Adrian didn't react immediately.
Then he said, "You've been off lately."
Kai's expression didn't change. "Have I?"
"Yes."
Kai leaned forward slightly. "And what do you think the reason is?"
Adrian studied him. "That's what I'm asking you."
Kai let out a quiet laugh. "You already know."
"I don't."
"You do."
Silence.
The tension between them grew.
Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly. "Say it clearly."
Kai held his gaze.
"You want me to?"
"Yes."
Kai stood up slowly.
Walked closer.
Stopped right in front of him.
"You brought her into this house."
Adrian didn't move. "Elena?"
"Who else?"
"She's not a problem."
"She is."
"Why?"
Kai's jaw tightened.
"Don't ask questions you already know the answer to."
Adrian stood up now.
They were close.
Too close.
"I don't," Adrian said.
Kai let out a breath. "Then that's your problem."
Adrian's voice dropped slightly. "Watch your tone."
Kai laughed quietly. "There it is."
"What?"
"That tone. Like you're still talking to a kid."
"You're acting like one."
That hit.
But Kai didn't step back.
"I'm not a kid anymore."
"I can see that," Adrian said.
"Then stop treating me like one."
"I'm not."
"You are."
Silence again.
Heavy this time.
Adrian looked at him differently now.
More carefully.
Like he was trying to understand something.
"You're overreacting," Adrian said finally.
Kai's expression went cold.
"Am I?"
"Yes."
Kai nodded slowly. "Then keep thinking that."
He turned to leave.
"Kai."
He stopped.
"What do you want?"
The question made him pause.
For a second.
Just a second.
Then he answered without turning back.
"…Nothing."
Lie.
They both knew it.
But neither of them said anything.
---
That night, Kai stayed in his room.
He didn't come down for dinner.
He didn't check if Adrian left.
He didn't want to know.
Because if he saw them together again…
He didn't know what he would do.
---
Around 10 PM, there was a knock on his door.
Kai didn't answer.
The door opened anyway.
Adrian.
Of course.
"You didn't eat," Adrian said.
"I'm not hungry."
"You said that this morning too."
Kai didn't respond.
Adrian stepped inside.
Closed the door.
"You're avoiding me."
Kai let out a quiet breath. "I'm not."
"You are."
Kai turned to look at him. "And if I am?"
"Why?"
There it was again.
That question.
Kai stared at him for a long moment.
Then laughed softly.
"You really don't get it."
"Then explain it."
Kai shook his head. "No."
"Why not?"
"Because it won't change anything."
Adrian stepped closer. "Try me."
Kai's chest tightened slightly.
He looked away.
Then back at him.
Their eyes met.
And for the first time—
Kai didn't hide it completely.
"You want to know why?" he said quietly.
"Yes."
Kai took a step closer.
Now they were standing too close.
Closer than they should be.
"Because I don't like seeing you with her."
Adrian frowned. "That's not a reason."
"It is for me."
"Kai—"
"I'm not finished."
Adrian went silent.
Kai continued, his voice lower now.
"I don't like the way she talks to you. I don't like the way she looks at you. I don't like the way you let her."
Adrian's expression changed slightly.
"You're being unreasonable."
"Maybe."
"Then fix it."
Kai smiled faintly. "I don't want to."
That made Adrian pause.
"Why?"
Kai held his gaze.
Because this time—
He wasn't going to run.
"Because I don't want anyone else near you."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Adrian didn't move.
Didn't speak.
For once…
He didn't have an answer.
Kai's voice dropped even more.
"I'm not a kid anymore."
The words felt different this time.
He meant them.
---
Adrian finally spoke.
"…Kai."
But even he didn't know what to say next.
And that was the problem.