His Accidental Obsession

CHAPTER ONE

ADRAINS POV

“Marry her or lose everything.”

Father’s words from weeks ago still echoed in my ears, a suffocating sentence that felt more like a noose tightening around my neck.

It didn’t matter that I had zero interest in Bianca Vale, the woman my family had handpicked for me. I hadn’t even known she existed until a few weeks ago. It didn’t matter that our so-called engagement was nothing more than a calculated power move between two business empires.

All that mattered was that Wolfe Enterprises demanded it.

I rolled the crystal whiskey glass between my fingers, watching the amber liquid swirl under the dim glow of my office lights. The space around me reeked of luxury, dark mahogany walls, shelves lined with business books, limited-edition scotch, and floor-to-ceiling windows that framed the glittering city skyline. It was the empire I was born into, the legacy I had been trained to uphold since childhood. Born with a silver spoon? More like a leash disguised as an inheritance.

I exhaled sharply.

This should have been easy. Marrying Bianca was just another transaction… a necessary move to solidify my control over the Wolfe empire. I never believed in fairy tales or soulmates. Love was nothing more than a luxury, a weakness men like me couldn’t afford. I had spent my entire life proving myself worthy of my father’s legacy, and now, with one final step, I was on the brink of securing everything I had ever worked for.

So why did it feel like I was suffocating?

I needed a break. A distraction. Something to take this weight off my chest before I go through with this sham of a marriage.

A sharp knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.

Lucian stood at the entrance, a sly grin on his face, holding a ticket in one hand and a suitcase in the other.

I raised a brow. “What the hell is this?”

“A solution to that ridiculous scowl on your face,” he said, striding over and slamming the ticket onto my desk.

I leaned forward, picking it up with a sigh. “And what exactly am I looking at?”

“A one-way ticket to Brookhaven. It is a small town with no paparazzi and no business moguls breathing down your neck. Just quiet. Exactly what you need to loosen up before your grand wedding to the Vales.”

I scoffed, tossing the ticket back on the desk. “What kind of joke is this, Luc? I don’t have time for silly jokes like this right now.”

Lucian groaned, raking a hand through his dark hair. “Adrian, you just got engaged, and instead of celebrating or at least pretending to be happy, you’ve locked yourself in your office, drowning in whiskey like some tragic old man. Look, I get it. You don’t want this marriage, but you do know what’s at stake.”

My jaw was clenched. Of course, I knew.

He exhaled, shaking his head. “I’m not here to give you another lecture. I’m here to tell you to stop being so damn miserable and breathe before this whole thing drives you insane. Take a week off. No board meetings, no Bianca, no wedding talk. Just get the hell out of here for a while. I will be here to cover up for you.”

I leaned back in my chair, staring at him. How did he always seem to know what I needed before I even admitted it to myself?

He smirked as if reading my thoughts. “I know, I know. What would you do without me?”

I let out a low chuckle, standing up to embrace him. “Thanks, man.”

He pushed me off with a playful scowl. “Yeah, yeah, don’t get all emotional on me. Just take your brooding ass downstairs. You have thirty minutes before your flight, the driver’s waiting, and I’ve already packed your stuff.” He nudged the suitcase forward.

I smirked, ruffling his hair just to annoy him, one of the perks of being taller.

“Hey! Cut that out,” he grumbled, swatting my hand away.

“You’re the best,” I said, grabbing the suitcase and ticket.

“Damn right, I am. Now go before I change my mind.”

I didn’t hesitate.

With one last glance at my office, I turned on my heel and made my way downstairs.

I had no idea that a simple trip to Brookhaven would change my life forever.

~ ~ ~

The rhythm of the street band seeped into my bones and pulsated through the ground beneath my feet as I tapped along to the beat. The harmony of the street band wove through the cool evening air, making me feel strangely intoxicated.

Three days. Three whole days in Brookhaven, and it felt like an alternate universe. A far cry from the high-rises and stiff formality of my usual life, this town was something else. It was modest, serene, and untouched by the ruthless chaos I was used to. The people here smiled, genuinely smiled, without a hidden agenda lurking behind their eyes. They weren’t trying to impress, manipulate, or demand anything from me.

For the first time in a long while, I felt… free.

I had ditched my usual designer suits and expensive fashion pieces, trading them for something simple like jeans, a plain tee, and sneakers that felt comfortable. The people here weren’t walking around in thousand-dollar loafers or obsessing over name brands. They dressed for comfort, not for show, and for once, so did I. To my surprise, I blended in effortlessly. No stares, no whispers, no one recognizing my name. Just me, living like an.… average man.

Ditching the five-star hotel Lucian had booked for me had been the best decision I’d made. Instead, I opted for a modest inn with no concierge hovering around or a forced ‘Sir, would you like your usual?’ every damn second. No board meetings. No father breathing down my neck. No fiancée I barely knew was waiting for me to play my role in the perfect business merger. Just me.

Tonight, I wandered the streets, indulging in greasy street food that was probably a health hazard but tasted like heaven. The neon lights blinked lazily, illuminating the cobbled streets as the night air cooled my skin. Life felt simpler here. Peaceful.

Then, my phone buzzed.

I sighed, already regretting answering, when I saw the incoming group call. My so-called best friends.

The moment I picked up, my screen was flooded with mischievous grins.

“That’s the groom-to-beee!!!” Adams hollered.

The others cheered like idiots, their voices loud enough to startle a passerby.

I rolled my eyes. “What do you guys want?”

Carlos smirked. “C’mon, man, that’s not how you greet your best man.”

Lucas, my cousin and supposed best friend, snickered. “You wish. Best man? When I’m right here?”

They started bickering, and I pinched the bridge of my nose, already feeling a headache forming.

“Is this seriously why you called?” I asked, exasperated.

Carlos feigned hurt. “Well, it seems Mr. Brood doesn’t appreciate our call.”

Adams chimed in. “If anyone should be annoyed here, it’s us! You disappeared without letting us throw you a proper engagement after-party.”

An engagement party. Right!. Because the pre-engagement party wasn’t enough?

“But we did…”

“No, no, no,” Carlos interrupted. “It’s absurd! You should be here, living the best of your final bachelor days, not stuck in some poor-ass town.”

Poor town that gives me peace.

“You guys…”

Lucas cut me off. “Relax. Adrian needed this break. He’s going through a lot.”

Carlos scoffed. “No, what he needs is to be ramming some chick. That’ll fix him up real quick.”

Adams cheered in agreement and I clenched my jaw to keep me from flinging my phone into the street.

“Are you two even…”

Lucas smirked. “That’s true. How’s the ladies over there?”

I exhaled sharply. “Don’t you all have better things to do with your time?”

Adams grinned. “What kind of friends would we be if we let you sulk over there?”

“But I wasn’t even complaining,” I muttered.

Carlos rubbed his hands together. “Forget it. We’re sending you an engagement gift tonight. Straight to your room.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Engagement gift?”

“Have fun tonight!” they all chorused before the call disconnected.

Wait.

Wait, what the f**k?

Engagement gift? In my room?

Adams and Carlos weren’t supposed to know where I was.

My jaw tightened.

Fuck you, Lucas.