Chapter 1 : First Encounter with Lucas Schwab

The scorching summer sun was relentless.

The lush trees lining the road cast shadows, providing shade for many students walking underneath.

Among them, one young man stood out. He was tall, with an outstanding presence.

A blue and white striped jacket was casually draped over his shoulders, giving him a laid-back and carefree look.

"William, let''s go play basketball at the gym," Terrence Smith said, patting William Warburg on the shoulder.

"No."

The unexpected answer left Terrence stunned for a few seconds, then he seemed to realize something.

Terrence looked at William with a gossipy expression and teased, "Did Doris agree to go out with you?"

William rolled his eyes at Terrence, clearly annoyed by the question.

"If you''re not rushing to a date, then why are you turning me down?"

William glanced at him sideways, "My dad''s coming back today."

Terrence suddenly understood and patted William on the shoulder, "Alright, William, I''ll head out first. Let''s hang out next time."

As soon as William left the school gate, he saw his family''s butler from a distance.

He got into the car and watched the scenery pass by, feeling a slight sense of melancholy.

Since moving to the school dormitory, he hadn''t been home for a long time.

The car drove into a French-style detached villa that occupied half a hillside. Passing through the fountain in the center of the yard, they arrived at the main hall.

Bodyguards in uniform black suits lined up on both sides of the entrance.

The butler walked ahead and opened the door for William.

On the misty blue sofa sat an elderly man with graying hair.

He leaned on a cane, his cloudy eyes sharp: "Wear your school uniform properly. A student should look like a student."

William replied, "It''s hot, and it''s stifling."

The old man gave him a disappointed look, wanting to scold him further.

At that moment, a young man descended the stairs.

The sound of his leather shoes on the wooden floor instantly drew their attention, and the young man paused.

When their eyes met, William was momentarily stunned. The man before him was breathtakingly handsome.

The young man was tall and slender, dressed in a lake-blue suit with a striped shirt underneath.

He had one hand in his suit pocket, exuding elegance with a touch of leisure.

His forehead was full, and his features were sharp and strikingly handsome.

"William, let me introduce you. This is your stepmother."

The old man''s words were like a thunderclap in William''s ears. He asked in disbelief, "What did you say?"

The old man coughed lightly, "Lucas, this is my only son, William."

"Hello, Lucas Schwab."

A long, slender hand was extended in front of him.

William did not shake it. He looked up at the young man who was several centimeters taller than him, feeling a sense of discomfort.

Lucas withdrew his hand expressionlessly.

There was a moment of awkwardness, and the old man tried to smooth things over, "Lucas, William is a bit shy. Don''t take it personally."

"You know I''m shy, yet you bring strangers into the house," William said coldly, showing no respect.

The old man''s smile froze, and he said sternly, "William!!!"

"Someone almost my age, and you want me to call him stepmother? What a joke," William sneered.

Mr. Warburg glared at William and shouted, "You brat, do you have any respect for your father?"

William wanted to say more, but seeing Mr. Warburg''s livid face, he held back.

"Mr. Warburg, it''s okay if William doesn''t want to. Everything takes time to get used to," Lucas said.

Lucas''s words only fueled William''s anger, "Who the hell gave you permission to call me William? How dare you."

Facing William''s exasperation, Lucas appeared calm and collected: "How much face I have depends on how much face Mr. Warburg has. Tell me, how much face do I have?"

"Hah," William was almost amused by his anger. He snorted coldly, "Without The Warburg Family, what are you?"

"Sorry, but what you say doesn''t count."

Lucas''s words precisely provoked William.

He grabbed Lucas by the collar, furious, "Get out of here."

With a "plop," a button fell onto the marble floor.

Lucas''s bronze chest was exposed to the air, and his shirt, under William''s violent tugging, was crumpled into a mess.

Lucas''s face turned completely cold, and even his mocking smile disappeared without a trace.

Seeing this, Mr. Warburg hurriedly shouted angrily, "You little brat, let go of him."

William turned a deaf ear.

"Someone, pull the young master away."

At Mr. Warburg''s command, four or five well-trained bodyguards in black immediately rushed in.

"Young master, excuse us," said one of the bodyguards, grabbing one of William''s arms and pulling him away.

"Let go of me, let go of me..." William struggled fiercely, but he was no match for the two burly men.

Lucas''s expression softened a bit as he tidied up his disheveled shirt.

Seeing Mr. Warburg protecting Lucas so much, William''s heart turned cold.

He stopped struggling and said coldly, "Seth, this family can have either him or me. You choose."

"You brat, what nonsense are you talking about?" Mr. Warburg picked up his cane and struck him.

With a "thud," William fell to his knees. His brain froze for a second, and the sharp pain from his kneecap activated his nerves.

With the bodyguard''s hand pressing on his shoulder, William couldn''t straighten up and bent over in pain.

And right in front of him was Lucas, kneeling in front of him in such a humiliating manner, like a dog with its tail between its legs, admitting his mistake.

And his father stood beside Lucas, having become the biggest accomplice.

The anger filling his chest dissipated, and William, like a deflated balloon, hung his head, looking pitiful.

Mr. Warburg felt a pang in his heart, frowned, and scolded the bodyguards, "What are you standing there for? Help the young master up."

Mr. Warburg blamed them for being too rough, and the bodyguards immediately let go.

With the pressure on his shoulder gone, William pushed away the bodyguards and walked straight out.

"William, where are you going?" Mr. Warburg asked anxiously.

"None of your business," William replied coldly.

Mr. Warburg signaled to the bodyguards with his eyes, and seven or eight of them immediately followed, trailing behind William like little tails.

William twisted and turned but couldn''t shake them off, like a sticky plaster.

There were also guards at the door, so he couldn''t get out. William wandered aimlessly, like a headless fly.

The large villa felt like a huge, luxurious cage, imprisoning him and making him feel extremely oppressed.