By the time Lucas returned to the Carter mansion, the sun was already beginning to set.
The golden evening light stretched across the massive estate, casting long shadows over the perfectly trimmed gardens.
Lucas stepped out of the car and looked around the familiar grounds.
Only yesterday, this place had been nothing more than a setting in a novel.
Now it was his home.
Or at least, the home of the body he was occupying.
Lucas sighed as he walked toward the mansion entrance.
Today had been exhausting.
He had expected learning about the Carter Group to be boring.
Instead, it had turned into an entire day of unexpected encounters with Adrian.
Lucas rubbed the back of his neck.
"That guy is everywhere."
He pushed open the doors and entered the mansion.
The inside was calm and quiet.
Servants moved around the hallways efficiently, preparing dinner and cleaning various rooms.
One of them immediately approached him.
"Young Master, dinner will be ready shortly."
Lucas nodded.
"Alright."
He started walking upstairs.
But halfway up the staircase, he suddenly stopped.
A familiar voice was coming from the living room.
"…the investment division will finalize the report tomorrow."
Lucas frowned slightly.
Adrian.
Lucas quietly walked toward the doorway and peeked inside.
Victor Carter sat in one of the large chairs, reviewing documents.
Across from him sat Adrian.
They were discussing something seriously.
Lucas leaned against the wall outside the room.
He hadn't intended to eavesdrop.
But curiosity got the better of him.
"…the market trends suggest a strong opportunity," Adrian continued calmly.
Victor nodded slightly.
"You're confident in this analysis?"
"Yes."
Victor studied him for a moment.
"You've only been observing the company for a short time."
Adrian didn't seem intimidated.
"I've been studying the reports for months."
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
Of course he has.
In the original novel, Adrian was practically a genius when it came to business strategy.
Victor leaned back slightly.
"…impressive."
Lucas blinked.
It was rare to hear Victor Carter compliment anyone.
Adrian simply nodded.
"I'll prepare a more detailed proposal tomorrow."
Victor closed the file.
"Good."
There was a brief silence.
Then Victor asked something unexpected.
"What do you think of Lucas today?"
Lucas froze.
Wait.
They were talking about him?
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
Lucas leaned slightly closer to the doorway.
Victor continued.
"You were both at the company today."
Adrian's voice finally responded.
"He was quiet."
Lucas almost scoffed.
That was a very simple summary of the day.
Victor seemed thoughtful.
"That's unusual."
"Yes."
Lucas could almost hear Adrian's faint amusement.
Victor continued.
"In the past, Lucas showed little interest in the company."
Adrian said calmly,
"He still doesn't."
Lucas blinked.
Hey, that's not wrong… but still.
Victor hummed quietly.
"Then why did he come today without complaint?"
Adrian didn't respond right away.
Lucas leaned forward slightly, curious about the answer.
Finally Adrian said,
"…I'm not sure."
Lucas exhaled quietly.
At least Adrian hadn't said anything suspicious.
Victor stood up.
"People change."
Adrian's voice sounded neutral.
"Perhaps."
Victor walked toward the window.
"Lucas has potential."
Lucas nearly choked on air.
Potential?
That was definitely not something Victor Carter had ever said about the villain heir in the original story.
Adrian didn't comment.
Victor continued speaking.
"He simply lacks discipline."
Lucas frowned.
That sounds more accurate.
Victor turned back toward Adrian.
"If he begins taking things seriously, he could become a capable successor."
Lucas felt slightly uncomfortable hearing that.
Because that was exactly what he didn't want.
Victor walked toward the door.
Lucas quickly stepped away from the entrance before he could be seen.
He casually walked down the hallway as Victor left the room.
A few seconds later, Adrian also stepped out.
Lucas pretended to examine a painting on the wall.
Adrian noticed him immediately.
"…Listening to private conversations?"
Lucas turned around.
"Relax."
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"You were standing outside the door."
Lucas shrugged.
"I was passing by."
Adrian didn't look convinced.
But he didn't argue either.
Instead, he walked beside Lucas down the hallway.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Adrian suddenly said,
"My father thinks you have potential."
Lucas blinked.
"You heard that?"
"I was inside the room."
Lucas rubbed his forehead.
"Right."
Adrian glanced at him.
"You don't look happy about it."
Lucas sighed.
"Should I be?"
Adrian studied his expression.
"Most people would be pleased."
Lucas shook his head.
"Most people aren't me."
Adrian stopped walking.
Lucas noticed and turned around.
"What?"
Adrian looked at him carefully.
"You really don't want the company."
Lucas shrugged.
"Like I said earlier."
Adrian was silent for a moment.
Then he asked quietly,
"Why?"
Lucas hesitated.
How could he explain that he already knew the future?
That the company would eventually belong to Adrian anyway?
That fighting for it would only lead to disaster?
He couldn't say any of that.
So Lucas gave a simple answer.
"Because I don't need it."
Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You're the heir of the Carter family."
"Exactly."
Lucas smiled slightly.
"I already have everything I need."
Adrian looked at him for a long moment.
Then he said something unexpected.
"That's not true."
Lucas frowned.
"What?"
Adrian's voice remained calm.
"You don't have control."
Lucas crossed his arms.
"And you do?"
Adrian didn't deny it.
"I will."
The confidence in his voice was unmistakable.
Lucas sighed.
"Good for you."
Adrian continued watching him.
"You're not angry."
Lucas laughed.
"Why would I be?"
Adrian stepped slightly closer.
"In the past, you hated losing to me."
Lucas shrugged again.
"That was before."
Adrian's gaze sharpened.
"Before what?"
Lucas felt cornered.
Adrian's questions were becoming more direct.
It felt like he was slowly peeling away layers of a mystery.
Lucas forced a casual tone.
"Before I realized something."
Adrian waited.
Lucas smiled faintly.
"Life is easier when you stop fighting battles you can't win."
Adrian was silent.
Lucas added jokingly,
"You should try it sometime."
Adrian didn't smile.
Instead, he said quietly,
"I never lose."
Lucas chuckled.
"That's very confident."
Adrian's expression didn't change.
"It's the truth."
Lucas suddenly realized something.
Adrian wasn't talking about the company.
He was talking about everything.
Every competition.
Every challenge.
Every person who stood against him.
Lucas felt a strange chill.
Because in the original novel…
Adrian Carter really did win almost every time.
Lucas stepped back slightly.
"Well, good luck with that."
He turned and started walking away.
But Adrian's voice stopped him again.
"Lucas."
Lucas sighed.
"What now?"
Adrian asked quietly,
"If you truly don't want the company…"
Lucas waited.
Adrian finished the sentence.
"…then what are you planning?"
Lucas thought for a moment.
Then he answered honestly.
"Nothing."
Adrian frowned slightly.
Lucas continued.
"I'm just living my life."
Adrian studied him carefully.
Lucas could practically see the gears turning in his mind again.
Finally Adrian said,
"…that's impossible."
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
Adrian looked directly at him.
"Because people like you always have plans."
Lucas laughed.
"You're giving me too much credit."
Adrian didn't respond.
But his eyes still held that same intense curiosity.
Lucas eventually waved his hand dismissively.
"Relax, Adrian."
He walked past him toward the stairs.
"I'm not your enemy anymore."
Adrian didn't reply.
Lucas continued climbing the staircase.
But as he disappeared down the hallway, Adrian remained standing in the same spot.
His gaze followed Lucas's retreating figure.
Something about today's conversation bothered him.
The Lucas Carter he knew…
Was arrogant.
Impulsive.
Aggressive.
But the Lucas standing in front of him now felt completely different.
Calm.
Careful.
And strangely… honest.
Adrian narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…What happened to you?"
Because one thing was certain.
Lucas Carter had changed.
And Adrian Carter intended to find out why.