Chapter 17 – A New Path

The heavy silence inside the black luxury car made the atmosphere tense. Nathan sat beside Lucien in the back seat, his fingers tapping restlessly against his knee. Outside, the streets of his home country passed by in a blur. It had been months since he last stepped foot here, yet now he was returning—not as a son of the Cole family, but as a man who had carved his own path.

Lucien, as always, remained calm. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, treating every detail as something worth analyzing. Even though this was Nathan's home, Lucien never let his guard down.

Finally, the car entered the estate of Cole Mansion—a massive property surrounded by high walls and security checkpoints. As the vehicle slowed to a stop, Nathan exhaled.

"Here we go," he muttered.

Lucien simply nodded.

Waiting at the entrance was Denis Cole. Unlike his usual authoritative posture, there was something casual about how he stood, hands in his pockets, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.

Nathan stepped out first, his gaze locking with his father's.

"You looked like a beast out there," Denis finally spoke. "That final sequence was something else."

Nathan scoffed. "So, you actually stayed and watched?"

Denis raised an eyebrow. "You think I'd waste my time coming all the way there just to leave early? I saw everything." He paused, his smirk widening. "Including the part where you almost collapsed from adrenaline rush. Real dramatic."

Nathan clicked his tongue in annoyance, but there was no real hostility in his expression.

Denis then shifted his gaze to Lucien. "And you," he said, his tone sharp but intrigued, "I assume you kept my son alive well enough?"

Lucien met his gaze without flinching. "That was the deal, wasn't it?"

Denis chuckled. "That's right. And from what I've seen, you did a damn good job."

---

The dining hall was grand as always, but tonight, the tension was different. Nathan and Lucien sat at the long table, with Denis at the head. The food was exquisite, but Nathan barely touched his plate.

Denis sipped his wine before speaking. "You fought well, Nathan. But tell me—what did you learn from that match?"

Nathan sighed. "That I still have limits."

Denis tilted his head. "And?"

Nathan frowned. He hated when his father did this—pushing him to think beyond the obvious. After a moment, he muttered, "That I need to control myself better. If I relied too much on adrenaline, I could've lost control."

Denis smiled slightly. "Good. You're thinking." He leaned forward. "And what about your opponent?"

Nathan hesitated, then admitted, "Adrian was strong. He was skilled, tactical. But he was predictable when he got desperate."

Denis nodded approvingly. "A good analysis. And what did you take from that?"

Nathan exhaled. "That power alone isn't enough. You need to keep your mind sharp."

Denis smirked. "Finally, you're learning."

Lucien, sitting quietly, observed the exchange with mild interest. He had already understood this lesson long ago, but it was different seeing Nathan learn it in his own way.

After a moment, Denis turned his attention to Lucien. "And you," he said, "what do you think of my son's performance?"

Lucien met his gaze evenly. "He has potential."

Denis chuckled. "Is that all?"

Lucien took a sip of water before replying. "He has the mindset to win. He just needs to refine it."

Denis nodded in amusement. "Smart answer."

Nathan rolled his eyes. "You two can stop analyzing me now."

Denis merely smirked and took another sip of his drink.

---

Later that night, Nathan found himself in his father's private study. The room was lined with bookshelves, old maps, and artifacts from past generations. Denis leaned against his desk, arms crossed.

"You understand why you're here, don't you?" Denis said.

Nathan scoffed. "Because you dragged me back?"

Denis shook his head. "Because you finally proved you're ready to make your own decision."

Nathan frowned slightly.

Denis continued, "You've spent years running from your responsibilities. But today, you fought not just for yourself, but for your own belief. That tells me you're not a boy anymore."

Nathan remained silent.

Denis poured himself a glass of whiskey. "So, I'm giving you a choice." He turned, his gaze serious.

"You can stay and train under me. I'll make you stronger than you've ever imagined." He took a sip before adding, "Or… you can walk your own path."

Nathan narrowed his eyes. "And what's the catch?"

Denis smirked. "If you choose to leave, you do so as a man—not as the son of the Cole family."

Nathan tensed. He knew what that meant. No more family protection. No more privileges.

Just himself.

For a long moment, there was silence. Then—Nathan clenched his fists and looked his father straight in the eyes.

"I choose to walk my own path."

Denis studied him carefully, then… he chuckled.

"That's my boy."

Nathan blinked. "Wait… you're not mad?"

Denis shrugged. "I would've been disappointed if you just bent to my will. But instead, you proved you're willing to fight for yourself. That's what matters."

Nathan felt a strange sense of relief.

Denis then turned to Lucien. "And I assume you'll be sticking with him?"

Lucien gave a slight nod. "That was the plan."

Denis exhaled. "Good."

Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Wait… you're fine with that?"

Denis smirked. "Of course. After all—" He met Lucien's gaze. "I trust him more than I trust you."

Nathan scoffed in annoyance.

Lucien, however, simply accepted the words with his usual unreadable expression.

Denis smirked. "Now go. Your path is waiting."

---

The next morning, Nathan and Lucien stood outside the mansion, their luggage beside them. The sun was rising, casting long shadows across the grand estate.

Nathan took a deep breath. "This is it."

Lucien glanced at him. "Regrets?"

Nathan shook his head. "No. Just… thinking."

Denis stood at the entrance, arms crossed. He watched them with an expression Nathan couldn't quite read.

"You're free to go," Denis finally said. Then, after a pause, he added, "As long as Lucien stays with you."

Nathan frowned. "Why?"

Denis smirked. "Because as much as I trust your strength… I trust his judgment more."

Nathan scoffed. "Wow. Thanks for the vote of confidence."

Lucien remained silent but understood the meaning behind Denis' words.

As the car arrived to take them to the airport, Nathan turned to Lucien.

"So," he said, stretching his arms, "what's next?"

Lucien glanced at him, then gave a small, rare smirk.

"We'll see."

And with that, they stepped forward—leaving behind their past and stepping into the unknown.

---

End of Chapter 17.