CRAZY IN LOVE FOR YOU

Unexpected Bump: Xavier Meets Her!

XAVIER'S POV:

I don't understand why my family has to react so strongly to simple things. Even though I love them a lot, sometimes their actions make me angry. This was one of those times. If someone else were in their place, I might have reacted strongly if they treated me this way. Why should I give up everything when they were the ones who started everything with me? They wanted their gang leader to be in charge when I was around. It's ridiculous for someone else to lead me.

I'm Xavier Knight, the only son of Davies Knight, and I'm the best. People in college respect me, and those who don't are scared of me. Some jealous fools hate me for no reason and try to start fights, thinking they'll win. They're nothing compared to me, and in the end, they cry like kids. Disgusting. But no one gets me, so sometimes I have to use force to change their minds. It's different with my family; I have to control myself. My father is not someone you can easily challenge.

I want to become stronger and better than him someday and make him proud. People already call me his copy, but that's not enough. I need to change and improve a lot to truly match him and even surpass him one day. He only taught me one thing: to win at any cost, no matter who I'm up against.

"Someone seems to be in a really bad mood," I heard a very familiar voice say, sounding annoyed. I wasn't in the mood to deal with her, as I knew she would likely try to take advantage of the situation and make things worse.

"Not right now, Emily. I don't want to argue," I replied. Despite loving my younger sister and always looking out for her, I still enjoyed teasing her like an enemy, just as I'd been taught by my father. It's just good-spirited sibling rivalry.

"I'm not here to fight," she said, sitting beside me on the bed. I raised an eyebrow, looking at her, trying to figure out what mischievous plan she had in mind. Knowing her well, I was certain she was up to something naughty.

"Well, what do you want then?" I asked, hoping she'd explain her intentions. For the first time, I wasn't even in the mood to talk to anyone, especially after my father's recent announcement.

I can't believe he's making me leave the country, painting me as some kind of murderer when I haven't done anything like that. And to make things worse, my mother played a significant role in pressuring me to listen to him. She knows I always give in to her emotional manipulation, and her tears made it even harder to resist. I don't understand why these women have to handle things by resorting to these tactics, instead of just being straightforward.

"I understand you're furious about Dad's decision but try to see the positive side. A change in the environment can be revitalizing. And remember, if you want to become stronger, you need to master self-control first," she said. I looked at her with a blank expression, unsure whether she was speaking from her thoughts or if someone else had prompted her to say these things to change my perspective.

"That's not just me saying it. It's in my psychology book. Look," she even had the book with her, which I hadn't paid attention to until now. She went on to explain how she had thought of me immediately after reading it. Sometimes, I don't understand her fascination with delving into people's minds and all this psychology stuff. But I guess it's her life, and she's free to pursue whatever interests her.

"No wonder you came up with something like this. I was genuinely surprised for a moment, wondering how you suddenly became so wise," I teased her. She stood up, indicating that I had hit the mark with my comment.

"How dare you call me dumb?!" She almost shouted at me, grabbing a pillow to hit me with. But I swiftly grabbed it from her, preventing any retaliation. Before I could give her a taste of her own medicine, though, someone interrupted our little scuffle.

"What's happening here?" Dad's voice broke in, capturing both of our attention. She immediately let go of the pillow, trying to appear composed in front of our parents.

"Nothing. She was just checking if my pillows were in good condition," I quickly replied. Dad entered the room, and Emily had to leave as her friends had arrived. It was something I could never quite fathom – how she managed to maintain friendships for more than a few days, as I had no tolerance for the nonsense they often brought along. No one could make me bend to their will, no matter who they were.

"Your flight is in an hour," Dad informed me. I looked at him, uninterested, as I was already well aware of the schedule. My memory was quite reliable, especially when the information was relevant or interesting to me.

"I know you're upset, but I believe my son won't act like a little kid. You're mature enough to understand the situation, and I recognize that it's just your anger causing the trouble. So, I have a proposition for you," he said, redirecting my focus toward him. I was curious to know what he had to offer, even though I didn't immediately respond to his previous statement.

"What is it?" I inquired, my interest piqued. He began explaining something that fell right into my area of interest, and it genuinely excited me.

"So, I just have to graduate peacefully to prove my worth?" I asked, feeling reassured. I knew he wouldn't easily give me something as significant as that. To my surprise, he nodded, making things much better for me. However, I also understood that this solution wasn't the only way they could handle the situation. It was clear they were somewhat giving up on me, unable to deal with my strong personality.

"Sir, is there anything you need?" Just like that, after countless hugs from my mother and sister, I found myself seated in a business class seat on the plane. My dad had declined my request for a private jet, wanting to avoid drawing unnecessary attention. In response, I refused to hug him at the airport, aiming to maintain some semblance of equality. Even though he used his influence to try to make me comply, I wasn't going to give in easily.

"I'd prefer not to be disturbed; there will be consequences if you do," I said firmly, annoyed when someone tried to engage in unnecessary conversation. I cherished my solitude and peace.

"Wake me up when we land," I ordered Albert, who was accompanying me. My parents seemed to think I was a little kid who needed a butler to cater to my every need. In reality, Albert often protected others from me, rather than the other way around. He managed things flawlessly. I couldn't help but note his handsome looks and the air of mystery surrounding his age. He always looked a decade younger than he claimed to be.

His fighting skills and ability to handle multiple tasks were the main reasons I had kept him around for so long. He was a jack-of-all-trades kind of person, and that's why he remained with me. But sometimes, his fixation on perfection and rigid adherence to rules got on my nerves.

"I told you to call me when you land," my dad's behaviour surprised me. But deep down, I knew who was pulling the strings – my mother. She had had my father wrapped around her finger since day one. This was one aspect of my dad that I could never understand. I was sure I'd never be like him; I disliked people who seemed weak, and to me, females fell into that category – always overly dramatic and causing trouble.

"Seriously, what am I? A five-year-old who needs constant updates? Why send me to a foreign country if you're going to act like this?" I replied, not missing the chance to respond sarcastically. I was fully aware that they wouldn't be able to keep me away for long, and I'd likely return sooner than they expected.

"What the—" I exclaimed suddenly, as something soft bumped into me while I was engrossed in checking my watch and calculating the time difference between the two countries. Soon, I realized it was a girl. As I'd said, they could be quite problematic and clumsy. At first, she didn't even turn to look at me, but when I called out to her, she finally glanced in my direction. Unfortunately, her face was obscured by a massive bouquet. Who even liked something like that?

There was no way I was going to let someone who stepped on my favourite shoes without apologizing just walk away. How dare she make fun of me for being here like this? I berated her non-stop, and she made a hasty escape before I could consider her responsible for the mess she had caused. I called out to her before I could signal someone to stop her. She turned around once more, and I noticed she seemed to be in a hurry.

This time, I noticed her sun-kissed caramel hair flutter as she turned to face me. Her radiant eyes caught my attention, though they really shouldn't have. I felt my heart skip a beat at the sight of her face. The innocence on her features seemed almost surreal. But then reality hit me, and I vigorously shook my head, trying to dispel my thoughts. I couldn't believe I was even entertaining the idea of having a crush on someone who had irritated me by stepping on my shoe and managing to escape.

I'm known for my heartlessness and preference for perfection. Someone as clumsy and careless as her could never be my type. It must have been the jet lag messing with my mind or something because there's no way I would act so strangely otherwise.

"What's going on, Xavier? Why aren't you responding?" My father's voice broke through my thoughts. I realized I'd been on the phone with him just moments ago, but her appearance had momentarily wiped that memory away. For a brief moment, I wasn't even sure of who I was after seeing her face. There was this strange pull of attraction that had me fixated on her. Could someone be affected like this?

"Nothing. Someone bumped into me. I want to head to my place, so I'll get in touch later if I want to. Stop bothering me like this," I replied, aware that I couldn't find any peace in conversation when my mind was tangled in a web of thoughts revolving around her. Could it even be possible to react like this?

"Your car is ready, Master," Albert informed me. I instructed him to take my suitcase, and we made our way to my penthouse shortly after.