Chapter 152

Lucas POV

I was sitting in my old room, staring at the email notification from a popular university hockey team.

This was probably the eighth email I had gotten from a college team ever since the championship game just a few days ago.

As usual, the email started off the same way.

"Lucas, we attended the Dragon versus Titan championship game and were impressed with not only your sportsmanship, but your skill as a excellent hockey player..."

The rest of the email detailed their interest in having me join their team. They continued on saying that they wanted to discuss the offer in person and potential scholarships this could give me.

It was an incredible opportunity, one that I had always dreamed of. But I couldn't entertain it, not with my father's conditions hanging over my head.

Even if a school was to offer me a full ride scholarship, my father wouldn't care because he can afford the tuition. Plus, my father only cared about Hawking University and ever since I saw their scout at the championship, they hadn't reached out to me yet.

So, I did what I had been doing lately with all the hockey offers that had been flooding my inbox since the Dragons' championship victory – I deleted the email.

As the familiar sense of disappointment washed over me, I clicked off my computer and turned around in my seat.

I glanced around my room. It wasn't the room I had grown up in, but the one I had moved back to when my father and I made the deal to have me involved in the family business again.

I missed my real bedroom, the one in Grandma Jo's house. I missed the comfort of its warmth and of all the memories shared in those walls. I missed Grandma Jo's cooking and her homey presence.

But most of all, I missed Shana. I missed having her near me. I missed us spending time together. I missed seeing her face every morning and night.

She had become such a special vital part of my day, I hadn't even noticed how difficult it would be to live without her just down the hall.

My father's house was big and quiet... always so quiet. It felt more like a museum than an actual house.

Most of the time, I just locked myself in my room to shelter myself from the silence. I don't know how my father could live in such a dreary and depressing place like this. No wonder he was always in a terrible mood.

I wondered how he ever found any sort of joy in his life. What else was there to live for if you didn't experience some sort of happiness?

I couldn't even remember the last time my father had been truly happy.

I mean, business deals made him happy. Money and status made him happy. But, was that really enough?

Didn't he ever crave companionship or friendship?

He lived a lonely life... the only family he really had was me. Maybe that was why he was trying so hard before to get me back under his control. Without me, he truly had nobody...

The thought made me shiver, and I couldn't help but feel slightly sorry for him. But he had done this to himself. I shouldn't feel any sympathy for the man he's become.

Shana would tell me the same thing.

Suddenly missing her and needing to talk to her, I reached for my phone to send her a message.

Just as I was about to unlock my phone, the door to my bedroom was flung open. Startled, I jumped back and my father stormed in.

I thought it was weird that he'd appear as I was just thinking about him. I also found it annoying that he just barged into my room without knocking first.

Kendrick Busch had always been a force to be reckoned with, and even though he was my father, his presence filled the room with an air of authority that I'd never felt from anyone else before.

"Lucas," he said, his voice stern and commanding.

"Dad..." I replied, not sure what else he was going to say.

He stared at me for a beat before declaring, "I've made some changes to the will."

"The will?" I blinked in surprise, not sure what to make of this. "Your will?"

"Yes," Kendrick confirmed, his eyes locking onto mine. "I've removed your cousin, Edwin, as the heir."

The weight of his words settled over me. My father had already told me he was going to change the will back, but I didn't think it would be so soon. I'd only been staying at his house for two days now.

My cousin, Edwin, had always been the fallback option in my father's eyes, but I never thought he would go so far as to officially remove him.

I wondered why he was doing this and letting me know... Did he think telling me would convince me to remain loyal to him? Did he want me to think he trusted me?

At the same time, I couldn't help but wonder how my cousin had taken the news, but I didn't dare ask.

I hardly knew Edwin. We had met once... back when I was thirteen. I wasn't even sure where he lived.

My father moved closer to me, still keeping his hand on the door knob as a glint shined in his eyes. "Now, Lucas, without other distractions in your way, you can focus more on attending meetings. You have a bright and long future ahead of you in the Busch family business."

I sighed, realizing that there was no point in arguing with my father. "Yes, sir. Will I sit in for the next meeting?"

My father nodded. "Yes, it's a very busy week. I have a meeting tomorrow at four in the morning with some clients overseas, you'll need to wake up early for that."

I couldn't do anything else but nod my head. He had his way of getting what he wanted, and in the Busch family, the family business always came first. Especially in his eyes.

My father, still wearing a calculating and composed expression, continued, "Have you spoken to Victoria lately?"

I nodded, wondering why he was asking about my relationship with the woman he had always wanted me to marry. Did he think I had lied about my promise? Did he think we weren't actually friendly with one another?

"When do you plan to propose?" Kendrick asked abruptly, his tone indicating that he had something in mind. "The sooner the better. We need to get things moving quickly. I have a lot of plans for the both of you, including an engagement party."

My mind raced as I considered his question. My father was known for his manipulative nature, and I had no doubt that he already had something up his sleeve.

I wondered if Victoria had mentioned anything to her parents yet, but I felt like she would've let me know. The two of us haven't talked since we agreed on the deal.

"I'll propose soon," I replied, the words felt wrong coming out of my mouth. "Just let me know when you want to arrange the engagement ceremony."