The next day, Adrian attended all his classes with his usual air of calm precision. He answered questions thoughtfully, took meticulous notes, and kept interactions polite and measured. To an outsider, he was the model student: attentive, composed, and completely unassuming.
But his mind was far from idle. Every gesture from classmates, every word from the teachers, every fleeting glance in the hallways was cataloged and dissected. Every detail was a clue, every interaction a thread to pull. Nothing escaped his attention.
By the end of the day, Adrian stepped into the sleek waiting car outside, the engine purring like a predator poised to strike. No sooner had he settled into the leather seat than his phone buzzed. A familiar name flashed on the screen.
He answered casually.
"Hello?"
"Adrian," came a smooth, almost teasing voice. "I have a proposition for you."
He raised a brow. "Go on."
"I want you to join the student council," Adriana said, her tone intoxicatingly persuasive. "Think about it. Influence, protection, recognition… power without having to fight for it. You'd be unstoppable if you stood beside me."
Adrian's smirk was faint, controlled. "I refuse."
He knew exactly what she was doing. This was not an offer—it was a trap, a test. Joining would mean becoming her pawn, giving her control without earning it. The temptation to claim easy influence burned briefly in his mind, but he pushed it down. Power gained without struggle was meaningless.
Adriana's laugh was soft, almost cruel. "I knew you'd say that, brother. It's a shame… your journey has to end here."
Adrian's mind raced. Why now? Why make the offer?
He analyzed every possibility, weighing the implications:
She wanted to neutralize potential threats quietly.
She aimed to eliminate competitors for her presidency.
She sought to manipulate Adrian into submission—if she could, she would gain control of him, and by extension, anyone who might challenge her.
A sharp grin spread across Adrian's face. She wants me out of her way. She wants me expelled.
"Bring it on, sis," he said under his breath.
The following day, after being dropped off by his driver, Adrian walked the path to class with deliberate calm. The air was crisp, the morning sun casting long shadows across the academy's manicured lawns. He was almost halfway to the main building when movement ahead caught his attention.
Malakai Giovanni.
The moment Adrian's eyes met Malakai's, he could sense the simmering aggression. The Giovanni heir was known for his quick temper and brutal honesty, and today he was clearly looking for a confrontation. Adrian's pace didn't falter. He walked straight toward Malakai, confident, unflinching.
"You." Malakai's voice was low, dangerous. "We need to talk."
Aria, appearing seemingly from nowhere, moved to intercept, positioning herself between the two men. "Malakai, don't—"
Adrian stopped, letting his gaze slide over Aria briefly before returning to Malakai. "Don't waste your breath, Aria. This is between him and me."
Malakai's jaw tightened. "You think you can just walk around—"
"I think," Adrian interrupted smoothly, tilting his head slightly, "that stopping someone because of their sister is… childish." His tone was calm, almost mocking, but carefully measured. "Honestly, it's embarrassing. A grown man being dictated by a woman's presence? It's pathetic."
Malakai blinked, confusion flickering in his eyes. Adrian could see it—the doubt creeping in. Good, he thought. Make him question himself before he even raises a fist.
"Listen," Malakai growled, taking a step forward. "You don't—"
Adrian smiled faintly, his voice dropping to a whisper that somehow carried over the small crowd gathering. "You want to fight? Go ahead. But remember—this isn't about strength. It's about perception. One wrong move, and everyone here will see who's really weak."
Malakai's fists clenched, his body taut with barely restrained fury. Adrian took a slow step closer, deliberately reducing the space between them, his voice softening to an almost conspiratorial tone.
"Imagine what it looks like to everyone else… Giovanni, being stopped by his sister. Do you really want to be seen as controlled? As… small? Or worse—affectionately protective?"
Malakai froze for a heartbeat, uncertainty clouding his features. His confidence wavered under Adrian's precise manipulation.
Then the air seemed to shift. Adriana appeared, silent and imposing, as if summoned by the tension itself. Her eyes locked onto the two men, her aura of authority slicing through the crowd like a blade.
"Stop." Her voice was ice and steel combined. "Both of you."
Adrian's lips curved in a small, subtle grin. Everything was going exactly as planned. The presence of the student council president was inevitable; the moment had been carefully orchestrated, and now she had walked right into his setup.
He bowed slightly, theatrically. "It was my fault, Ms. President. I'll try to be—"
"That's enough," Adriana cut him off. "No need for further explanation. Leave. I'll handle it from here. But let this be a warning. The next time something like this happens, it won't end well—for either of you."
Adrian let the words sink into the crowd's consciousness, cementing his image as the obedient, controlled younger sibling. In reality, he had masterminded every step, creating the perfect scenario to cement his position without lifting a finger in violence.
As he moved away, he caught a glimpse of Malakai's confused, simmering expression. The seed of doubt had been planted, the first cracks in the Giovanni heir's confidence already forming.
During lunch, Adrian sat alone on a bench under the academy's sprawling oak trees. His fingers tapped lightly against the table as he reviewed the morning's events.
Now that I've planted myself, he thought, it's time to rise academically. Time to stand out. To become the golden boy this school cannot ignore.
He wasn't aiming to enter the student council as a nobody. That would appear as nepotism—a handout. No, he would earn his place, rising from the shadows, proving himself as indispensable, respected, and feared.
The next day, during class, the teacher handed out academy-issued devices. Adrian's eyes flicked to the glowing screens, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw the message:
Exams starting next month.
A cold, satisfied smile spread across Adrian's face. The path had opened. The stage was set. And Adrian Veyra was ready to take it all.