Adrian Whitlock was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, the youngest son of one of the wealthiest and most influential families in the state. His father, Maximilian Whitlock, is a powerful CEO and a household name in finance, often touted as a "self-made" billionaire (though Adrian knows better). Adrian’s mother, Eleanor, passed away when he was only eight, leaving him with hazy memories of her. Her death left a significant void in Adrian's life, one that neither his father’s cold attempts at parenting nor the luxury around him could fill.
Growing up, Adrian was sent to the finest private schools, but his lack of academic drive frustrated his teachers and father alike. Though he wasn’t dumb—far from it—he preferred to rely on his natural charm and cunning rather than hard work. If there was a shortcut to success, Adrian would find it, whether it was cozying up to the right teachers or leveraging his family’s name to get what he wanted. By the time he reached high school, Adrian had cultivated a reputation as the golden boy who could do no wrong, at least in public.
Adrian’s father had high expectations for him to follow in the family’s footsteps, whether it was excelling in business or making a name for himself in politics. Adrian, however, wanted none of it. The pressure to uphold t