As soon as Daniel disappears into the crowd, Sam relaxes, setting his empty tray aside and leaning back to gaze at the stars.

  “He’s annoying and nosy, but dealing with his father and brother must be tough.” Johan takes a bite of his sandwich.

  “They’re strict?” I ask.

  “They’re a traditional family, known for being ruthless and always getting what they want.

  To prevent their power and properties from being divided and instead accumulate more wealth, the eldest son always inherits everything. Daniel was always considered a backup.

  A guarantee for his father that there would always be an heir. But when he decided not to follow in his father’s footsteps and pursued engineering instead, it only deepened the disappointment — disappointment that had already been growing simply because he was the second son.

  The eldest was already seen as perfect because he was exactly like their father, making Daniel irrelevant to his father’s interests.

  And his brother has always seen him as nothing more than a threat that needs to be controlled.

  Let’s just say fraternity isn’t a priority in his family — competition was always encouraged.”

  “I didn’t know that kind of thing actually happened in rich families,” Ella comments.

  “I have a younger brother, and we don’t fight. I handle contracts and relations, and he takes care of accounting. Honestly, I think it’s a good thing to share the burdens of leadership.

  But I do see a problem looming with my grandkids. I already have seven, and we’re trying to figure out how to keep the peace.”

  “I imagine it only gets worse the more money is involved. My uncle passed away, and even that was complicated,” Ella considers, looking at me. I nod in agreement.

  “My family would probably kill each other if I left them my inheritance now,” Jess says.

  “At least we only have Zoe — she won’t have to fight with anyone.” Wally ruffles his daughter’s hair.

  “I assume yours would go to your parents?” Johan asks me.

  “I haven’t given much thought to my own death, let alone my inheritance, but I suppose so. I doubt there’d be much argument about it. What about you, Sam? I imagine you have a lot to leave behind.”

  “Just the royalties alone would be a fortune for a lifetime,” Johan remarks.

  “I’ve already donated a few houses to the caretakers of my properties — none of them would be left without a home. As for the properties themselves, I suppose they’d go to the government.

  I don’t have any family to fight over my inheritance. The worst that could happen is governments fighting over different properties. Could that happen?”

  “No distant relatives alive?” Ella asks.

  “No.”

  Zoe hugs him, eyes filled with sympathy. “Then I’m your family at heart! You can leave everything to me.”

  Sam bursts out laughing while the girl’s parents look horrified.

  “Well, since you asked so nicely, of course,” Sam jokes. “Shall I be your uncle?”

  “What a clever girl — I like her,” Johan chuckles.

  “No, my older brother.”

  “But I’m older than your parents.”

  “Then you’re my dad’s older brother.”

  “So that means you would be his niece, just like he said in the beginning,” I explain to Zoe, who nods in agreement.

  “Now that you’re my uncle, can I ask you something?”

  Ella covers her face with her hand, dreading the question.

  “What would that be?” Sam tilts his head.

  “Can I go with you to the race? My Uncle JJ doesn’t want to go, but I do.” The little manipulator blinks her big, adorable puppy-dog eyes.

  “No! Absolutely not — you have school,” Wally scolds.

  “If I get good grades, I could sneak away. Just like Sam said he did.”

  “Wow, sorry for being a bad influence. School is important — it’s not just about grades; it teaches you how to understand the world so that adulthood isn’t so difficult.”

  “It’s dangerous — you can’t go. That’s one of the reasons your uncle isn’t going,” Ella insists, standing up as Zoe’s eyes start welling up with tears.

  Great. Every time I say no, it’s like I’m carving ‘coward’ into my forehead. But saying yes? That’s career suicide.

  Zoe pouts, tugging at the hem of her dress. “But Uncle Sam will protect me.”

  If Sam were American, I’d be worried he just accidentally enlisted my four-year-old niece in the army.

  “I won’t even take up as much space as Furioso. I promise I’ll behave,” Zoe pleads, looking up at Sam, who opens his mouth, unsure how to respond.

  Recovering from his initial surprise, Sam adjusts his shirt. “Zoe, you need to go to school — with teachers who know how to handle kids and by staying with your parents. There’s no way you can come.”

  “Dad, let’s go with him.”

  “You have school, I have work, and we’re not leaving your mom alone, right? You know she can’t abandon her patients for too long.”

  “It’s just that your size would take up all the space. Let’s take the truck,” Zoe suggests.

  “The truck is competing with another team. You’d barely even see Sam. You can go as a tourist later,” Johan offers. “That way, your mom and dad can come too.”

  “Going later as a tourist isn’t the same as being there first,” the little rascal fires back, using the exact argument he had used against me.

  “I already said no. And it’s still no.” Wally stands up, unwavering, while Zoe falls silent, her huge puppy-dog eyes staring up at him. “It’s getting late — I think this tantrum is just because you’re tired. Let’s go inside, I’ll put you to bed.”

  “No, let me stay a little longer.” She grabs onto Sam’s arm.

  “If you read a bedtime story, I’ll come with you,” Sam suggests.

  “Really? Yes!” Her eyes instantly light up, her mood shifting in an instant.

  Wally’s jaw shifts forward as he crosses his arms. He is clearly jealous as he watches them walk ahead.

  “Alright, fine, let’s go,” he grumbles.

  “My husband loves playing the villain,” Ella sighs. “Apparently, Sam only has success with… women.”

  “Wally is leaving Team Sam for a very different reason than I did,” I mutter.

  Not that I mind.

  “Johan, doesn’t he have any family? I thought he had a father,” Ella asks, a mix of curiosity and concern in her voice.

  Johan exhales, setting his cup down. “He did. But his father passed away shortly after Sam started college before I even met him. He was the only family Sam had left.

  Sam was born when his father was already over sixty, and his grandparents had already passed. His father died in his late seventies after spending his last years in a nursing home due to Alzheimer’s.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  His mother died in an accident when he was still a baby. She was visiting her parents when a leak caused an explosion, killing everyone in the house.”

  “When you said he was like a son to you…”

  “I wasn’t lying. I just didn’t adopt him because he was already an adult.”

  “Well, at least he has you. And honestly, I think he genuinely enjoys being alone. He likes the silence, doesn’t he?” I ask, noticing Ella’s sympathetic look.

  “Not always because he wants to be,” my cousin rebukes me with her eyes.

  “He does have Daniel, though. Even if he’s a stalker and his rival, he seems to care about him. He’s alone too, just in a different way,” Jess points out. “I’d probably be lonely too if I didn’t have my best friends, who used to be my rivals. And now I have JJ. I never really could count on my blood family.”

  “When you get married and have kids, you’ll have them too. They’re hard to raise, but they might become your best companions,” Johan says, gathering the empty wrappers.

  “I hope Sam finds someone one day and builds a family — not just to have someone to leave his inheritance to. The government already has enough money, and he pays plenty of taxes.” He chuckles.

  “But he’s not exactly helping in that department. Family, friendships, romance — Sam never opens up.

  He’s always handled everything alone, hates relying on others, and has built walls so high they’re nearly impenetrable. That’s why I was surprised he even talked to you all.” Johan says.

  “It wasn’t for lack of effort on his part to end the conversations,” I say. “If the goal is to find someone for him to start a family with, then it’s certainly not an easy task.”

  I help him set the table. “Ella talked to him, and out of politeness, he replied. With Wally, he only spoke when necessary. With me? He just outright ignored me — or stared me down, hoping I’d shut up. Whoever ends up with him will need the patience of a saint.”

  “He’s a gentleman and kind, and when I got to talk to him more, I realized he’s actually fun. When he’s not surrounded by people and feels comfortable, he’s this hilarious, lively kind of crazy,” Ella says with a compassionate smile at Johan.

  “For some women, just knowing he has money is already half the battle. And if he’s as quiet and work-focused as JJ said, even better. She might not even notice he’s around, since he loves to travel so much,” Jess suggests to Johan. “It won’t be that hard to find someone if you look in the right places.”

  “I think he’s hoping to find a real partner for Sam, not just some gold digger,” Ella replies.

  Jess smiles knowingly. “Ah, well, that’s a whole different level. That would actually require some effort on his part — which, from what I can tell, he’s not too keen on making.”

  “What do you mean? His chivalry alone should be appealing. If you overlook his radiant personality, that should be enough,” I say as I get up to take out the trash.

  “If you gave him a chance and got to know him better, you might be surprised,” Johan tilts his head, slipping into his usual negotiating tone.

  “His quiet, mysterious nature, mixed with a touch of chivalry — some women must find that attractive, right?” Ella asks.

  Johan smirks. “Even when Sam doesn’t want them to — he attracts all kinds of people, and he hates it. It’s hilarious. I love dragging him to bars — or better yet, anywhere with a dance floor — just to watch it happen. Did you know Sam dances really well?”

  I stare at him, dumbfounded. “No way. You’re messing with me. Sam? The human statue?”

  “Try your luck,” Johan challenges.

  “You really think he’d be curious enough to take on this project?” Jess teases, amused by Johan’s persistence.

  “It doesn’t hurt to sweeten the deal.”

  “You know this isn’t a good option for him. He wouldn’t willingly sign up for suffering and humiliation when he can just take on roles that pay him millions, right next to the comfort of his home.”

  “Being perfect. Being himself. No real challenge,” Johan raises an eyebrow. “Exactly. Which is why I do think he might go for it. He’s not satisfied with just that. His desire to reinvent himself isn’t a passing whim — it’s ambition.”

  Silence lingers for a few seconds.

  I can’t deny it.

  Then Jess breaks it with a laugh. “Yeah, sure,” she says, dripping with condescension.

  Johan exhales quietly, like he’s picking his words carefully. He glances at me, then at Ella, gauging the situation before speaking.

  “So… from what you told me, you’re driving back to Sydney, right?”

  “Yes, school break is almost over,” Ella replies, but I can tell her answer is too smooth, too rehearsed. She’s not a good actress. They planned this conversation. Why?

  “The main office is there too. We’re heading back to Sydney as well.” I don’t like where Johan is going with this.

  “Then we can still see each other when we’re back home,” Ella tilts her head with a smile.

  Johan leans in slightly, flashing that calculated businessman’s smile. “Dynamics already has transport trucks for the vehicles. If you’d like, we can take yours too, and you can enjoy the trip in the comfort of the truck. That way, you can really explore nature — this time with the right vehicle.”

  “That sounds wonderful. But we wouldn’t even know what route to take to fully enjoy this... magnificent nature. We only have the GPS roads. Any tips?”

  “You’d better ask Sam about that. He already has a full itinerary of the best scenic and adventure routes. As usual, he’s not going with the other employees.”

  “He’s not? He also knows a lot about the truck and how to get out of tricky situations — we’ve seen that firsthand. Do you think he’d be willing to guide us?”

  No fucking way. I don’t want this. And I seriously doubt he’d agree. He obviously prefers going solo.

  Johan presses his lips together in thought, but I can tell the concern is just another calculated move. “If you show interest in the adventure, concern for your safety, and, most importantly, how beneficial it would be for Zoe’s education and learning experience, there’s a good chance he’ll agree.”

  Son of a bitch.

  “I bet he’s in a hurry to get to headquarters. He won’t want to waste time with us.”

  But I won’t turn down the truck. That actually sounds more interesting than a regular car.

  “Why do you think he’s retiring? He’s not in a rush. He loves taking his time, enjoying the ride. Traveling with him is exhausting, but there’s no better tour guide.”

  Oh, a fantastic tour guide. A guy I can’t even have dinner with without him pulling a knife on me the second I get too close. So friendly.

  “If you’re going through the wilderness, you should go with him. But if you’re sticking to the highway, it doesn’t matter. Just come back to me in one piece,” Jess says, hugging me.

  Sweetheart, don’t you get it? Being around Sam might lower my chances of dying to nature, but it dramatically increases the odds of him finishing the job himself.

  “I can see how these past few days have helped my husband. I think this trip could help Wally too.” Ella says.

  Right. My sanity — possibly my life — in exchange for Wally’s well-being.

  But really, what could he do to me? That smug, scrawny little bastard is good for nothing except pissing me off and throwing empty threats. Nothing serious.

  However, I already know how easy it would be to knock him down. Even with a knife, he doesn’t know how to use it properly.

  Like a chihuahua, thinking he can take me. Bark, bark, bark… but he’d probably go flying with one good kick.

  I wouldn’t do it unless necessary, of course, but intimidation? That could work. I bet that’d shut him up.

  “If that’s what’s best for everyone, we can plan it once Wally and Sam get back.”

  Johan nods, pleased with the little battle I just let him win without much of a fight. Meanwhile, my cousin is grinning so hard she looks like she’s about to burst. Worth it.

  As I walk back to the hotel, surrounded by Jess’s security team, I hear one of the last performances of the night kicking off.

  “You really picked up some weird friends this time,” she comments. “A nerd, a stalker, and an old man determined to ruin your career.”

  “Jess… he wasn’t entirely wrong when he said this isn’t just a passing desire for me.”

  “You can’t seriously be considering his project.”

  “Not this project. But I am going to take something on. And it won’t be like the roles I’ve done before.”

  “What, then?”

  “I don’t know yet.”

  “If you just sit around waiting, it’ll never happen. You know it’s a bad idea to take long breaks from the screen, especially now, when your career is at its peak.”

  “I know. I’ll still take on roles like before, but I won’t stop looking for something that challenges me.”

  “I don’t see the point, but I’ll support you.” She wraps her arms around mine, squeezing my bicep. “I love you, baby,” she whispers in my ear.

  “Love you too, doll.” I take the chance to kiss her cheek, already close.

  As we walk, I hear murmurs from onlookers, their eyes trailing us from behind the wall of security. The festival crowd shifts like water around us, never getting too close.

  She always has so many guards.

  I don’t like being hounded by fans and paparazzi either, but I do like interacting with people.

  Being surrounded by security all the time makes me feel safe — yet also more isolated. More vulnerable. Their constant scanning, always looking for a threat, puts me on edge.

  Like an island waiting for a storm it can’t escape. Like glass straining under pressure, one crack away from breaking.

  A false sense of peace. A vulnerability disguised as an unbreakable wall.

  I don’t like it.

  It makes me fear people — maybe even the ones I shouldn’t.

  And now Johan wants me to spend days trapped in a truck with Sam, traversing the wilderness. No security team. No escape. Just me and the human statue with a knife and a grudge.

  The thought sends a chill through me that has nothing to do with the night air. But beneath that anxiety is something else — a strange, electric curiosity. The same feeling I get before stepping into a challenging role.

  I can’t accept it. Jess is right, we both know it's career suicide.

  But maybe that electricity is what Johan saw in me. The desire to confront what makes me uncomfortable. To tear down walls — both Sam's hatred for me and my own fears.

  I glance back at the festival grounds, where somewhere Sam is probably reading Zoe a bedtime story with that permanent scowl on his face. The contradiction of the man is maddening.

  And soon we'll be sharing a road trip, with no one else except Wally, Ella, Zoe and me. Sam won’t have any other option, nowhere to run from the conversation, nowhere to hide our true selves. No matter how many rude walls he sets up.

  The thought should terrify me more than it does. But the truth is, I’m too curious to understand how Sam — and his contradictory behavior — or better yet, maybe I can finally get some clue about why he dislikes me so much.

  Not that everyone has to like me, but he admitted he has no reason. That drives me crazy. He’s just one person, no one important to me, but it’s like trying to decipher an unfinished script without knowing the character's motivation..

  And I’ve always prided myself on reading people, on understanding the narrative beneath their actions. It’s what makes me good at what I do.

  Sam is the first character I ca’t seem to understand. A role I can’t quite inhabit.