Stella ‘s POV
Before I could respond, we heard the front door open and close. Eric immediately tensed, his posture straightening as footsteps approached the living room.
Adam appeared in the doorway, his expression unreadable as always.
"Why are you home so early?" Eric asked, his voice taking on a defensive edge.
Adam ignored the question, his green eyes sweeping over the room before settling on his cousin. "The family tutor will arrive tomorrow. You'll be studying in the guest house from now on."
Eric jumped to his feet. "What? No way! I have to train for the world championship!"
"And the SAT is in May," Adam replied coolly. "Will the world end by then? Or will the championship disappear?" His voice took on a sharper edge. "Do you want to be the only Lancaster with just a high school diploma, Eric?"
"I'm competing for our country, you old fossil!" Eric shot back, his face flushing with anger. "You don't understand anything about esports! Stella was supportive of my professional career, unlike you!"
I winced as Eric dragged me into their argument. Adam's gaze flickered to me briefly before returning to his cousin.
"Your parents entrusted you to my care," Adam stated firmly. "If you don't study, you don't eat."
With that ultimatum delivered, Adam turned and headed upstairs, leaving a seething Eric behind. After a moment's hesitation, I decided to follow Adam, hoping to mediate the situation.
"Adam, wait," I called out, hurrying up the stairs after him.
He paused in the second-floor hallway, turning to face me. "What is it?"
"That's your cousin," I said quietly, glancing back to make sure Eric couldn't hear us. "Not giving him food isn't right. He's seventeen – that's a crucial age for physical development."
"He won't starve to death after three days without food," Adam replied dismissively.
"Adam," I persisted, "he's just a teenager. What good is it if he grows physically but not mentally?"
Adam's expression remained impassive. "Exactly my point. What's the use of just growing taller without developing his intellect?"
I sighed, trying a different approach. "Let me talk to him. Maybe I can convince him to take his studies more seriously."
"No need," Adam said firmly. "Leave him be."
Before I could argue further, Adam took my hand and pulled me toward his study. He closed the door behind us, the sound of the lock clicking into place echoing in the quiet room.
"Adam, what are you—"
My question was cut short as he pressed his lips against mine, one hand sliding to the small of my back while the other cradled my face. The kiss was surprisingly gentle, his touch almost reverent.
When he finally pulled away, a rare smile played at the corners of his mouth. "Congratulations, Mrs. Lancaster. The youngest ever recipient of the YEAR Visual Gold Award."
I blinked up at him in surprise. "You... know about that?"
A flicker of something – possibly guilt – crossed his features. "I asked Cyril."
"Let me go," I said, pushing lightly against his chest. "Your cousin is still downstairs!"
"He's not a child," Adam replied, his arms remaining firmly around my waist. "He understands."
I rolled my eyes, though I couldn't suppress the warmth spreading through me at his proximity. "I should get back to work. I still need to finish the anniversary speech for my alma mater."
He leaned in for another kiss, and this time I didn't resist. For all his flaws – and Eric had enumerated quite a few – there was an undeniable magnetism to Adam Lancaster that I couldn't seem to escape. Or perhaps, if I was being honest with myself, didn't want to escape.
Half an hour later, I finally made my way back downstairs and found Eric still sprawled on the sofa, though his expression was considerably darker than before.
"That didn't take long," he remarked sarcastically as I entered the living room.
I felt heat rush to my cheeks. "I was trying to convince your cousin."
"Sure you were," Eric replied, his tone making it clear he didn't believe me. "And was he... persuaded?"
"I'm working on it," I said vaguely, taking a seat across from him. "Eric, why did you take a year off? You just won the national championship – it seems like an odd time to step away."
His expression clouded over. "It wasn't because of the SAT. It was because Adam threatened to buy our team and run it into the ground if I didn't take a break!"
I blinked in surprise. That sounds like something Adam would do.
"The SAT is in May, still six months away," I reasoned. "You're only seventeen, so taking half a year off won't significantly impact your career. I checked – your team's current mid-laner has a wrist injury, but it's not serious. He's planning to retire next year for family reasons, so whether you join now or later doesn't make much difference."
Eric looked at me with newfound respect. "You know about esports?"
"I did some research," I admitted. "Since we're going to be living together for a while, I thought I should understand what you're passionate about."
"You're much nicer than Adam," Eric sighed, slumping further into the couch.
"If you agree with my assessment, why not spend six months preparing for the SAT?" I suggested. "Once the test is over, you can apply to colleges and then request a gap year. That way, you won't have to sacrifice either."
Eric snorted. "That would work if I could actually get into college. My SAT score is under 1050."
I stared at him in disbelief. "Out of... 2250?"
"Yeah," he confirmed glumly. "I bombed it last time."
No wonder Adam is so insistent on the tutoring.
"Damn it! I'm just stupid, okay?" Eric suddenly exploded, throwing his hands up in frustration. "I want to pass too! If teachers won't give me the grades, what am I supposed to do?!"
His outburst caught me off guard. I'd been quietly watching him sulk for the past fifteen minutes, wondering what was going through his mind.
"Eric," I said gently, moving to sit across from him, "the world's top esports champion can't possibly have a bad brain. That's just not how it works."
Eric's green eyes—so similar to Adam's yet so much more expressive—flashed with a mix of anger and something deeper. Hurt, maybe.
"You don't know anything," he muttered, slumping further into the couch. "That bastard Adam was reciting Shakespeare when he was three. You know what I was doing at three? I couldn't even properly pronounce 'grandmother'!"
He ran his hands through his hair in frustration. "My entire childhood was spent feeling like an idiot next to him. That's my childhood trauma right there!"
Wow. I knew Adam was brilliant, but reciting Shakespeare at three? That's a bit terrifying.
"Who are you calling a bastard?"
Adam's cool voice cut through the room. I turned to see him standing at the bottom of the stairs, his expression unreadable as always.
Eric completely ignored him, instead turning to me with renewed interest. "By the way, Ms.Stella, how did you do on your SAT?"
"I didn't take the SAT," I replied honestly.
Eric's face lit up with hope. "Really? See, Adam? Even Stella didn't—"
"I was accepted early to an Ivy League university during my sophomore year of high school," I added quickly, watching the hope drain from Eric's face.
Maybe I should have kept that to myself.
Eric's shoulders slumped in utter defeat. Goodbye! I don't deserve to be in this mansion! I could practically read the thought on his expressive face.
Later that evening, I watched from the window as Adam arranged for Eric to be moved to the guest house. A tutor had already been hired—supposedly the best in the country—and would arrive tomorrow morning. Two security guards stood nearby, clearly there to ensure Eric didn't try to escape during the night.
Adam's treating his own cousin like a prisoner. Poor kid just wants to play his games.