The tension inside the car slowly eased.

Maxwell watched him for a second before smiling faintly.

"Your laugh is beautiful," he said casually. "Almost as beautiful as your face."

Adrian shook his head, still laughing.

But he said nothing.

After a while, Adrian finally looked at Maxwell again.

"Wait," he said slowly. "Was Matteo actually nearby?"

Maxwell blinked once before suddenly laughing.

"No," he admitted shamelessly. "That was just part of the drama."

Adrian stared at him.

Maxwell grinned proudly and leaned back against the seat.

"Honestly, almost everything I said in there was just to scare them enough to let us leave peacefully."

He lifted one shoulder casually.

"Sometimes you don’t really need violence. You need to know what to say and how to say it."

Adrian listened quietly.

Maxwell twirled the gun lightly in his hand before finally putting it away. "The gun helped, obviously," he added. "But mentioning Matteo and my father together? That was the real pressure point."

A smug smile appeared on his face. "I already knew your father wouldn’t want any trouble or war involving the Marcones. Especially not inside his own estate."

He glanced toward Adrian briefly. "So once I pushed hard enough, I knew he would eventually let us leave."

Adrian stared at him for a few seconds before shaking his head in disbelief.

"That was actually smart," he admitted softly.

Maxwell smirked proudly. "I know."

The tension in the car eased even more after that.

Not long later, the car finally arrived back at Adrian’s studio.

The moment the car stopped inside the parking lot, Maxwell opened the door immediately.

"I’m heading out," he said casually. "I still have other things to do."

Adrian nodded lightly.

"Alright."

Maxwell stepped out of the car and headed toward his own waiting vehicle parked nearby.

One of his bodyguards immediately opened the back door for him.

Before getting in, Maxwell turned back briefly toward Adrian.

"Try not to cry after I leave," he teased playfully.

Adrian rolled his eyes instantly.

"Get out of here."

Maxwell laughed softly before finally stepping into the backseat of the car.

The two of them exchanged a quick goodbye before Maxwell’s car finally drove away.

Meanwhile, Adrian turned around and slowly walked toward the elevator, taking it back up to the studio alone.

When he finally got back to the studio, the atmosphere felt quieter than before.

The emotional exhaustion from everything that had happened at his father’s estate still clung heavily to him, but somehow, underneath all the pain, there was also relief.

For the first time in his life.

He had finally stood up to his father and chosen himself.

Slowly, Adrian walked back into his office and dropped into his chair.

A few seconds later, he reached for his phone and texted Matteo.

Hey, babe. How’s it going over there?

Matteo’s reply came not long after.

Busy. I still have a few things to handle here, but I’ll be at your studio soon.

Adrian smiled faintly at the message.

Alright, baby.

After the conversation ended, Adrian leaned back in his chair quietly. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

The silence around him gave him too much time to think.

About his father.

About the argument.

About the things that had been said.

But strangely enough, instead of feeling broken, Adrian felt lighter. Like a weight he had carried for years had finally cracked apart.

After sitting quietly for a while, he reached for his phone.

It had been a long time since he spent proper time with Frank and Charles, and right now, he honestly didn’t want to sit alone thinking about everything that happened at the estate.

So he texted them.

Not long after, both of them replied almost immediately.

Frank was the one who suggested the location, a luxurious private lounge in the city known for its expensive atmosphere, live music, private rooms, and elite guests.

Normally, Adrian would’ve rejected something that extravagant without a second thought.

But tonight felt different.

Tonight, he simply wanted to breathe.

To sit somewhere far away from politics, family pressure, and painful conversations.

And maybe, for just a few hours, feel normal again.

Before leaving the studio, Adrian sent Matteo a quick message.

I’m going out to meet up with Frank and Charles. Don’t come to the studio when you’re done. I already sent you the location, just come pick me up there later.

Matteo’s reply came a minute later.

Alright, baby. Take care of yourself, okay?

A faint smile appeared on Adrian’s face.

Okay.

After that, Adrian finally left the studio.

Not long later, his car arrived at the location Frank had chosen earlier.

The lounge was beautiful, filled with warm lights, soft music, and the low sound of conversations drifting through the air. The entire place carried a rich, elegant atmosphere that immediately wrapped around anyone who stepped inside.

When Adrian stepped inside, he immediately spotted Frank already seated in one of the private sections.

Frank looked up instantly.

"Well, look who finally decided to socialize."

Adrian laughed softly as he walked over and sat beside him.

"It’s been a while."

"Too long," Frank corrected dramatically.

Not long after, Charles arrived too.

The moment he joined them, the three of them finally settled properly into the private booth.

A waiter soon arrived, and they ordered drinks along with a few expensive dishes and light snacks for the table.

As the conversation started flowing naturally, both Frank and Charles slowly began noticing something strange about Adrian.

He looked exhausted.

Pale even.

But somehow... lighter at the same time. Like someone who had gone through something painful but finally escaped it.

Frank narrowed his eyes slightly. "Okay," he said slowly. "What happened?"

Charles nodded immediately. "You literally called us out randomly. That alone is suspicious."

Frank pointed toward Adrian dramatically.

"And you’re not even rejecting expensive places. That’s how I know something serious happened."

Adrian smiled softly before finally leaning back against the seat.

Then slowly—

He started explaining everything.

The pressure and threat from his father.

The forced marriage.

The argument earlier at the estate.

How he finally stood in front of his father and rejected Iris completely.

And finally...

How Maxwell stepped in.

By the time Adrian finished explaining the entire situation, both Frank and Charles looked stunned.

"Wow," Frank muttered first. "That’s... a lot."

He shook his head slowly. "Your father seriously needs to stop trying to control your life."

Frank leaned forward slightly, frustration visible on his face. "I honestly don’t know who told him, or who gave him the idea, that he has the right to decide who you should spend your life with. Especially after everything that already happened between the two of you."

His voice hardened slightly. "He pushed you away for years, and now suddenly he wants to pull you back just to secure his political image? That doesn’t even make sense."

Adrian stayed quiet, listening.

Charles sighed softly before speaking too. "Honestly? Your father is selfish."

Adrian looked up at him.

Charles rested his arm against the table. "He’s only thinking about himself. If he had actually cared about your happiness, things between the two of you would never have gotten this bad."

He shook his head.

"You’re a grown man, Adrian. He shouldn’t be deciding who you should marry or spend your life with."

Adrian gave a small nod.

"And I made that clear to him today."

The table fell quiet for a few seconds after that.

Not long after, Frank stood up from his seat.

"I’m going to the restroom," he announced before walking away.

The moment Frank disappeared, silence settled briefly between Adrian and Charles.

Their drinks and food had already arrived by then.

Crystal glasses rested against the table while plates of expensive grilled steak, pasta, seafood, and wine sat untouched between them.

Charles took a slow sip from his drink before finally speaking again.

"There’s actually something I wanted to tell you."

Adrian looked at him.

Charles hesitated slightly before continuing.

"I didn’t want to say it over the phone."

Adrian frowned faintly.

"What is it?"

Charles leaned back slowly.

"Recently... Mark came to see me."