Louise felt his face burning. The sheer audacity of the boy—Albert—blowing him a kiss after literally falling on top of him was too much. Ignoring the flutter in his chest, Louise turned to Stove with a stiff, professional frown.
"Excuse me, Uncle Stove," Louise said, his voice clipped. "Please, just give me the keys. I don't have much time, and I'm already running late for my first day."
Before Stove could even react, Louise snatched the keys from his hand and strode toward his designated room. Aunt Lilly exchanged a worried look with Martin before hurrying after him.
"He's... he's just a bit stressed about his new position," Martin explained quickly, offering an apologetic smile. "Don't think poorly of him." He then turned and scrambled to catch up with the others.
Left in the hallway with his father, Albert's eyes were wide, shining with an unfamiliar spark. "Dad... are they the family of Rowan's friend?"
"Yes," Stove nodded. "He's here for your University. Before he—"
"What? My University?" Albert interrupted, his face lighting up with a massive grin.
"Yes, Albert, but—"
Smack!
Albert planted a loud, happy kiss on his father's cheek. "You're the best, Dad!" he shouted, spinning around and bolting back into his room.
Stove stood in the hallway, blinking in confusion. "Why is he so happy all of a sudden? Is he actually excited about a new faculty member? Since when does he care about his teachers?" He shrugged, deciding not to overthink it. "Mr. Louise! Please join us for breakfast once you're ready!" he called out.
"And Albert! You too! Don't be late!"
"Got it, Dad!" Albert yelled back from behind his closed door.
Inside his room, Albert was a whirlwind of motion. He began tearing through his wardrobe, throwing shirts and jackets onto the bed in a frantic heap.
"Yes! Finally!" he whispered to himself, his heart racing. "So many people have proposed to me, so many girls and guys chasing me, and I turned them all down because I never found my type. My friends were convinced I'd die single... but just look at today!"
He caught his reflection in the mirror, a smug, lovestruck grin on his face.
"I'm going to tell the whole campus. I've found him. I've finally found my type!" He paused, tapping his chin. "How old is he? He doesn't look like a final-year student... maybe a freshman? He looks so young and ethereal. If he's eighteen and I'm twenty-one... wow. A perfect match."
He groaned, looking at the mess on his floor. "Why do I have nothing to wear?!"
Suddenly, the door swung open. "Albert! Are you losing your mind?"
A woman stepped in, staring in horror at the pile of clothes. "Why are you throwing your outfits around like this?"
"Aunt Noah, I can't find anything amazing enough!" Albert turned to her, looking truly distressed.
"Have you forgotten that the Principal already sent a complaint to your father?" Noah sighed, walking over to the table and setting down a neatly pressed set of clothes. "You're the top academic student in the University, yet you show up looking like a rebel. I ironed your uniform myself today. You are going to be disciplined. Wear this."
"Aunt, no—"
"I have too much work to do to argue with you! You're always causing trouble," she scolded playfully before heading out.
Albert stared at the stiff, formal uniform on the table. "Haaa... Why? Why today of all days? I need to look breathtaking, and I'm stuck in this?!"
He grumbled, but with the image of Louise's pale face and messy hair stuck in his mind, he started getting ready. He didn't know it yet, but the "freshman" he was trying to impress was about to be the one standing at the front of his lecture hall.
Albert flew down the stairs, his tie half-done and his energy radiating through the dining hall. His father was already dressed for the office, finishing his breakfast while Noah served the table.
Albert leaned down and planted a quick kiss on his mother's cheek. "Mom, where's that boy?"
Rosy looked up from her wheelchair, blinking. "Which boy, dear?"
"The beautiful one. The one with the sunglasses. Rowan's friend," Albert said, his eyes scanning the room.
"Oh, Louise? He's a very punctual young man," Noah smiled. "He already left for the university. Unlike you, he understands the value of time."
"He's gone already?" Albert's heart sank, then immediately kicked into high gear. "I have to go!" He snatched his bag from the sofa.
"Albert! Your breakfast!" his mother called out.
"I'll eat at the campus, Mom! Love you!" He dashed out the door before anyone could stop him.
Noah sighed, crossing her arms. "Sir, I think you need to be stricter with your son. He's becoming far too naughty."
Stove chuckled, standing up and grabbing his briefcase. "Aunt Noah, he's young. Let him have his fire while he can. I'm late too—Honey, I'll see you tonight" Stove said to Rosy.
Outside, Albert hopped onto his massive, high-powered motorbike. The engine roared to life with a predatory growl. As he swung out of the gate, he spotted three figures on the sidewalk. Louise was staring at his phone, looking tense, while Martin and Lilly hovered over him anxiously.
"Hey! Need a lift?" Albert called out, pulling up beside them.
"Oh, Albert! Good timing," Martin said, looking relieved. "Are you heading to the University too?"
"Yes, Uncle. It's my campus," Albert said, his gaze sliding toward Louise.
"Perfect! Louise needs to get there, but the taxi is taking forever. Can you take him?"
"Uncle, no," Louise protested immediately, looking at the intimidating bike. "The cab will be here any minute."
"Louise..." Albert repeated the name, his voice low and tasting every syllable. A smirk played on his lips. "It's a beautiful name. Come on, jump on. It's already late, and you don't want to be late on your very first day."
Lilly checked her watch. "He's right, Louise. Go on! Tomorrow we'll find a better way, but for today, just go!"
With a frustrated sigh, Louise took the helmet Albert handed him. He pulled it on, hiding his blushing face.
"Hold on tight," Albert warned, his grin widening.
"I'm fine," Louise muttered, keeping his hands on the seat behind him.
Albert didn't argue. He just kicked the bike into gear and surged forward with a sudden, powerful jerk. Startled, Louise let out a small gasp and instinctively wrapped his arms tightly around Albert's waist, pressing his chest against the younger man's back.
Albert's smirk was visible even through his helmet as they sped off toward the University.
Back at the house, Stove and Rosy watched them disappear.
"Don't they look amazing together?" Rosy said softly, a romantic glint in her eyes. "Louise might be a little older, but the chemistry is there."
"They do," Stove agreed.
"My son is bisexual, Stove," Rosy continued, her mind already racing. "He graduates next year. If the parents agree, they could be a perfect match. Can you imagine them married?"
The color drained from Martin's face. "Marry your son?" he whispered, his voice trembling. "My Louise? No... no, that can't happen. I'm sorry, but that's impossible. Please, tell me you're joking."
Martin didn't wait for an answer; he turned and hurried back into the house, looking like he'd seen a ghost.
Lilly stayed behind, looking deeply uncomfortable. "I'm so sorry. It's just... Louise's father is my husband's step-brother. He is an extremely strict man. He would never allow a marriage like that. Please, don't mind Martin."
"In this generation?" Rosy asked, stunned. "People still control their children like that?"
"For our family... for the Stones... it is the only way we know. I'm sorry," Lilly whispered before retreating inside.
The garden went silent. Rosy gripped the armrests of her wheelchair, her eyes wide with a sudden, terrifying realization. "Stove... Stove, what did she say? Where did they come from?"
Stove's expression had turned stone-cold. "She said... Riveria City."
The name hit them like a physical blow.
"Oh God," Stove breathed. "The Stone family of Riveria? The ones who..."
"Could they be those Stones?" Rosy's voice was a terrified whimper. "Stove, if they are... our Albert... he's in danger."
"Don't worry, Rosy," Stove said, though his own hands were shaking as he reached for his car door. "I'm sure it's a different family. Nothing is going to happen to our son. I won't let it."
He turned and shouted toward the house, "Aunt Noah! Get out here! Take Rosy inside!"
As Noah hurried to help Rosy, Stove climbed into his Jeep, his mind racing. The Stone family... if that boy belongs to Roman Stone.