Lucas woke up earlier than usual the next morning.
For a moment, he stared at the ceiling, trying to remember where he was.
Then the enormous chandelier above his bed reminded him.
"…Right," he muttered.
"I'm still rich."
Lucas stretched lazily and sat up.
The soft morning light filtered through the massive windows of his bedroom, illuminating the elegant furniture and polished wooden floors.
Even after several days, he still hadn't completely gotten used to this lifestyle.
In his previous life, waking up meant hearing traffic outside his tiny apartment.
Here, the only sounds were birds and the quiet movements of servants somewhere in the mansion.
Lucas stood up and walked toward the window.
The Carter estate stretched endlessly outside.
Gardens, fountains, and perfectly arranged paths covered the massive property.
Lucas leaned against the glass and sighed.
"Honestly… this life isn't bad."
The only problem was the story.
Specifically, the protagonist.
Adrian Carter.
Lucas rubbed his temples.
"Why does he keep staring at me like that?"
Adrian's constant curiosity was starting to make him nervous.
In the original novel, Adrian rarely paid attention to the villain heir unless they were arguing.
But now Adrian seemed… interested.
Too interested.
Lucas shook his head.
"Maybe I'm overthinking it."
After all, Adrian had always been intelligent.
It was natural that he noticed when someone's behavior changed.
Lucas turned away from the window.
"Whatever."
He walked toward the wardrobe and opened it.
Inside were rows of expensive suits.
Lucas stared at them.
"…I miss hoodies."
Still, he chose a simple black suit and got dressed.
If he was going to the Carter Group again today, he might as well look the part.
Twenty minutes later, Lucas walked into the dining room.
Victor Carter was already sitting at the table, reading a financial report.
Adrian sat across from him.
Lucas stopped at the doorway.
"…Of course he's here again."
Adrian looked up immediately.
Their eyes met for a brief second.
Lucas casually walked to his seat.
"Morning."
Victor didn't look up from the report.
"Good morning."
Adrian simply nodded.
Lucas grabbed a piece of toast and started eating.
The atmosphere at the table was calm but slightly tense.
After a moment, Victor finally spoke.
"You'll both come to the company again today."
Lucas swallowed.
"Both?"
Victor folded the document and looked at them.
"Adrian will begin participating in several departments."
Lucas blinked.
"Oh."
So it was starting already.
In the original novel, Adrian slowly gained influence inside the Carter Group by working in different divisions.
Lucas took another bite of toast.
"Good for him."
Victor studied Lucas carefully.
"You seem unusually supportive."
Lucas shrugged.
"Should I not be?"
Victor didn't answer immediately.
But Adrian suddenly spoke.
"He's not competing."
Victor turned his gaze toward him.
"What do you mean?"
Adrian's eyes remained on Lucas.
"He said yesterday that he isn't interested in the company."
Lucas sighed.
"You didn't have to repeat that."
Victor leaned back slightly.
"And is that true?"
Lucas nodded.
"Yeah."
Victor's expression hardened slightly.
"You are the heir of this family."
Lucas met his gaze calmly.
"And I'm still learning."
Victor remained silent for a moment.
Then he simply said,
"You will both go to the company."
Lucas nodded.
"Alright."
The conversation ended there.
But Lucas could feel Adrian's eyes on him again.
Lucas turned toward him.
"…What?"
Adrian looked completely calm.
"Nothing."
Lucas rolled his eyes slightly.
Breakfast ended soon after.
A black car waited outside the mansion.
Victor left first for an earlier meeting, leaving Lucas and Adrian to ride together.
Lucas stared at the car.
"You're coming with me?"
Adrian opened the door.
"We're going to the same place."
Lucas sighed and got inside.
The ride began in silence.
The city streets passed by outside the windows.
Lucas leaned back against the seat.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Then Adrian suddenly said,
"You're very calm."
Lucas glanced at him.
"About what?"
"Everything."
Lucas shrugged.
"Maybe I'm just a calm person."
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"You weren't before."
Lucas laughed softly.
"People change."
Adrian watched him carefully.
"That's what my father said yesterday."
Lucas looked out the window.
"Maybe he's right."
Another silence followed.
But Adrian didn't stop watching him.
Finally Lucas sighed.
"You're doing it again."
Adrian tilted his head slightly.
"Doing what?"
"Staring."
Adrian didn't deny it.
"I'm observing."
Lucas groaned.
"I'm not a science experiment."
Adrian's lips almost curved slightly.
"I'm trying to understand you."
Lucas turned toward him.
"Why?"
Adrian answered simply.
"Because you're different."
Lucas crossed his arms.
"That's not a crime."
Adrian shook his head.
"No."
But his gaze remained sharp.
"It's suspicious."
Lucas laughed.
"You think I'm plotting something?"
Adrian didn't respond.
Which was basically the same as saying yes.
Lucas leaned back again.
"You're overthinking it."
Adrian continued watching him.
Lucas finally turned to face him again.
"Alright."
Adrian waited.
Lucas spread his hands.
"What do you want me to say?"
Adrian thought for a moment.
Then he asked quietly,
"Who are you?"
Lucas blinked.
"…What?"
Adrian's eyes were serious.
"You look like Lucas Carter."
Lucas felt a sudden chill.
"But you don't act like him."
Lucas forced a laugh.
"That's a strange question."
Adrian didn't move.
Lucas continued casually,
"Maybe you never really knew me."
Adrian studied his face.
"…Maybe."
Lucas looked out the window again.
Inside, his heart was beating slightly faster.
That was too close.
Adrian was already suspecting something strange.
Lucas needed to be more careful.
Fortunately, the car soon arrived at the Carter Group building.
Lucas stepped out quickly.
"Alright."
He stretched his arms slightly.
"Another day in the corporate world."
Adrian followed him out of the car.
Lucas walked toward the entrance.
But just as they stepped inside the lobby, a woman approached them.
She wore a professional suit and carried a tablet.
"Good morning, Young Master."
Lucas nodded.
"Morning."
She turned toward Adrian.
"You must be Mr. Adrian Carter."
Adrian nodded slightly.
"I'm Sarah Kim, executive assistant to the investment director."
She handed them both a document.
"Today's department schedule."
Lucas glanced at the paper.
His eyes widened slightly.
"…You're serious?"
Adrian looked at his copy.
"Different departments."
Sarah nodded.
"Master Carter requested that both of you observe different divisions today."
Lucas sighed.
"Of course he did."
Adrian glanced at him.
"Problem?"
Lucas folded the paper.
"No."
But internally he was slightly disappointed.
Spending the day in separate departments meant he could finally avoid Adrian's constant questions.
Sarah continued speaking.
"Your department today is the media division, Young Master."
Lucas blinked.
"Media?"
"Yes."
Lucas shrugged.
"Sounds interesting."
Adrian looked at his own schedule.
"Finance."
Lucas smirked slightly.
"Good luck with that."
Adrian ignored the comment.
Sarah gestured toward the elevators.
"I'll escort you both to your floors."
A few minutes later, Lucas stepped out onto the media department floor.
The atmosphere here was very different from the investment division.
People were discussing marketing strategies, advertisements, and public relations.
Lucas looked around curiously.
"Not bad."
This environment felt more relaxed.
He leaned against a desk and watched the employees working.
Maybe today would actually be peaceful.
No Adrian watching him.
No awkward conversations.
Just a simple day observing the company.
Lucas smiled slightly.
"For once… things might go smoothly."
Unfortunately…
He was very wrong.
Because somewhere else in the building, Adrian Carter stood inside the finance department.
But instead of reviewing reports…
He was staring at his phone.
On the screen was a photo.
A photo of Lucas Carter.
Adrian studied the image thoughtfully.
Then he muttered quietly to himself.
"…You're hiding something."
And Adrian Carter had always been very good at uncovering secrets.