My Neighbour Is My Cousin

Chapter 1: The Beautiful Lie

The leather chair in Leo’s office creaked as he leaned back, the city lights of the skyline reflecting off the glass desk like cold diamonds. At twenty-eight, Leo had everything—wealth, a burgeoning empire, and a reputation for being untouchable. But as his phone vibrated with a caller ID he couldn’t ignore, he felt like a trapped animal.

"Mother," he answered, his voice a smooth, practiced neutral.

"Leo, don't you 'Mother' me," the woman on the other end snapped. "Your father and I have reached our limit. The daughter of the Chen family is back from London. She is educated, beautiful, and comes from a lineage that matches ours. We have set a dinner for Friday. You will be there."

Leo closed his eyes, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I’m busy, Mother. The merger is—"

"The merger can wait. Your bloodline cannot," she interrupted. "If you don't show up, your father will begin the process of freezing the offshore accounts. We are tired of your excuses, Leo. Every girl we suggest, you find a flaw. Is it because you have no heart, or are you simply being difficult?"

"I'm not being difficult," Leo said, his voice dropping an octave. "I’m just... preoccupied."

"Preoccupied with work? Or with that ghost from your teenage years? Lily is gone, Leo. She’s been gone for years. It’s time to be an adult."

The mention of Lily sent a sharp, familiar pang through his chest. He didn't answer. He couldn't.

"Friday night. Seven o'clock. Don't be late," his mother commanded before hanging up.

Leo tossed the phone onto the desk. He needed time. He needed a way to make them stop without actually committing to a girl he didn't care about. He wasn't interested in the Chens, or the Parks, or any of the socialite daughters his parents paraded in front of him.

He stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. His gaze drifted down to the street level, then across to the neighboring estate—the property where his distant relatives lived.

The next morning, the air was crisp as Leo stepped out of his penthouse to head to his car. That’s when he saw him.

Mark.

Mark was younger, a college student in his early twenties, carrying a stack of textbooks toward a waiting taxi. He looked focused, his brow furrowed in that serious way he always had. They were cousins—distant enough that their families barely interacted outside of formal holidays, but close enough that the names were familiar.

Leo stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowing. Mark was an adult now. He was handsome in a quiet, unassuming way—the kind of look that parents trusted. More importantly, Mark was "safe." He was family, yet a stranger. He was a goal-oriented student who clearly didn't have time for drama.

A reckless, brilliant, and utterly selfish idea took root in Leo’s mind.

He pulled out his phone and hit the redial button for his mother.

"Leo? Have you changed your mind about the suit for Friday?"

"Cancel the dinner, Mother," Leo said, his voice steady as he watched Mark climb into the taxi.

"I told you, Leo, we aren't negotiating—"

"I’m dating someone," Leo lied. The words felt oily on his tongue, but he pushed forward. "I didn't want to say anything because he's family-adjacent, and I knew you’d react this way. But I’m in love. I’ve been seeing him for a while."

There was a deafening silence on the other end of the line.

"He?" his mother whispered, her voice trembling with shock. "Leo... what are you saying? And who... who is 'he'?"

Leo watched the taxi pull away, carrying an oblivious Mark toward the university.

"It’s Mark," Leo said firmly. "Mark from the neighboring estate. We’ve kept it quiet to respect the family, but if you’re going to force me into a marriage, I’d rather you know the truth. I love him. I’m not marrying a girl when my heart is already taken."

"Mark? Your... your cousin?" His mother sounded like she was gasping for air. "Leo, this is—this is a scandal! Does his mother know? Does he know you're telling me this?"

"He’s a bit shy about it," Leo lied effortlessly, walking toward his own black sedan. "He wanted to wait until he finished his semester to tell you. But I couldn't keep it in anymore. So, no more girls, Mother. I have my partner."

"I... I have to call your father," she stammered. "This changes everything. We need to talk to Mark’s parents. Oh my god, Leo... are you two serious? Are you... dating?"

"Deeply," Leo said, a cold smirk touching his lips as he climbed into the back of his car. "We’re very happy. Give us some space to figure out how to tell the rest of the world, okay?"

He hung up before she could protest.

Leo leaned his head back against the leather headrest and exhaled. He had bought himself at least six months of peace. His parents would be too busy reeling from the "gay" revelation and the "cousin" scandal to suggest any more brides.

He didn't feel guilty. In his mind, he was doing Mark a favor—Mark was just a name, a placeholder. He’d find a way to pay the kid off later if it ever got out.

But as his car drove past the university gates, Leo didn't see the storm he had just conjured. He didn't see Mark sitting in a lecture hall, his phone suddenly exploding with frantic texts from his own mother.

Leo thought he had bought time. Instead, he had just signed a contract with a ghost he couldn't control

Chapter 2: The Shattered Silence

The sun was streaming through the windows of the university library, but for Mark, the air felt suddenly cold. He had been staring at the same page of his Macroeconomics textbook for twenty minutes, his mind focused on his upcoming exams. He was a man of logic, of schedules, and of quiet ambitions. He didn't like surprises, and he certainly didn't like being the center of attention.

Then, his phone began to vibrate. Not just a single text, but a frantic, rhythmic buzzing that rattled against the wooden table.

Mother (12 missed calls)

Mother: Mark, answer me right now!

Mother: Is it true? Why would you hide this from us?

Mother: Your aunt called. She’s in tears. We are coming to your apartment. Stay there.

Mark felt a knot of cold dread form in his stomach. Is it true? What could possibly be true? He hadn't done anything. He lived a life so boring it was practically transparent. He attended his lectures, he worked out at the campus gym, and he spent his evenings studying.

He packed his bags with trembling hands, the whispers of other students feeling like needles against his skin, even though they couldn't possibly know what was happening. He rushed back to his small, off-campus apartment, his mind racing through every possible mistake he could have made. Did he fail a class? Was there an issue with his tuition?

When he turned the corner to his street, he saw his parents' car parked haphazardly at the curb. They were waiting by the door, their faces a mixture of confusion, hurt, and a strange, frantic energy.

"Mark!" his mother cried out the moment she saw him. She rushed forward, grabbing his shoulders as if checking to see if he was still the same person. "Why didn't you tell us? How long has this been going on?"

Mark stood frozen, his backpack strap digging into his shoulder. "Mom? What are you talking about? Tell you what?"

"Leo!" his father barked, stepping forward with a stern expression. "Leo told his parents this morning. He said you two are... that you’re together. That you’ve been dating in secret to avoid a family scandal. Is it true, Mark? Are you in love with your cousin?"

The world seemed to tilt on its axis. Mark’s breath hitched in his throat. He felt like he had been dropped into the middle of a movie he hadn't auditioned for.

"Leo?" Mark whispered, his voice cracking. "Leo... as in, the businessman? My cousin? I haven't spoken to him in three years, Dad. I haven't even seen him except for across the garden!"

"Don't lie to protect him!" his mother wailed, pulling out her phone to show a string of messages from Leo’s mother. "They said Leo was definitive. He told them he loves you. He told them he’s refusing to marry anyone else because of you. Mark, if this is true, the family... the neighbors... everyone will be talking! They’re already talking!"

Mark felt a wave of nausea. He leaned against the brick wall of his apartment building, his head spinning. Leo—the cold, arrogant, successful Leo—had used his name. He had taken Mark’s quiet, respectable life and thrown it into a bonfire just to escape a marriage.

"I'm going to talk to him," Mark said, his voice shaking with a sudden, sharp anger.

"Talk to him? Mark, stay here! We need to discuss how to handle the press, the family—"

"There is nothing to handle!" Mark shouted, a rare burst of temper flaring up. "He’s lying! I don't know why, and I don't know how he thinks he can get away with this, but I am going to find him right now."

He didn't wait for his parents to respond. He turned on his heel and began to walk. He didn't have a car, and his mind was too scattered to call a taxi. He just knew where Leo lived—the gleaming glass tower that stood like a monument to Leo’s ego at the edge of the financial district.

As he walked, his mind was a chaotic blur of images. He remembered the last time he saw Leo at a family funeral years ago. Leo had stood there in a perfectly tailored black suit, looking down at everyone as if they were insects. He hadn't even looked at Mark.

Why me? Mark thought, his stride breaking into a hurried run. Why would he pick me?

The city sounds faded into a dull roar. Mark felt the eyes of strangers on him, wondering if they already knew. In the age of social media, how long did a "family scandal" stay private? If Leo’s parents knew, the staff knew. If the staff knew, the city knew.

His reputation—the one thing he had worked so hard to build as a serious, dedicated student—was being dismantled by a man who probably didn't even remember Mark’s middle name.

By the time he reached the lobby of Leo’s corporate headquarters, Mark was out of breath, his face flushed with a mixture of exertion and fury. The lobby was all white marble and hushed whispers.

"I need to see Leo," Mark told the receptionist, his voice echoing in the vast space.

The woman looked up, her gaze scanning Mark’s disheveled appearance—his wrinkled shirt, his messy hair, the desperation in his eyes. "Do you have an appointment, sir? Mr. Leo is in a high-level meeting."

"Tell him Mark is here," he said, leaning over the desk. "Tell him the 'person he loves' is here to see him. Now."

The receptionist’s eyes widened. She clearly knew the rumor. The "secret lover" had arrived. She picked up the phone with trembling fingers, whispering frantically into the receiver.

A few minutes later, a security guard escorted Mark toward the private elevator. The ride up was silent, the numbers on the digital display climbing higher and higher, mirroring the rising pressure in Mark’s chest.

The doors opened to a private floor. The hallway was silent, carpeted in deep charcoal grey. At the end of the hall stood a set of double oak doors.

Mark didn't knock. He pushed them open with enough force that they slammed against the interior walls.

Leo was sitting behind his desk, a glass of amber liquid in his hand, looking perfectly calm. He didn't even look surprised. He just tilted his head, a ghost of a smirk playing on his lips.

"You're late, Mark," Leo said smoothly, as if they had been planning this meeting for weeks. "I expected you an hour ago."

Mark slammed his hands down on the edge of the mahogany desk, leaning in until he was inches from Leo’s face.

"What did you do?" Mark hissed, his voice trembling with a rage so hot it felt like it was burning his throat. "What the hell did you tell your parents, Leo? My mother is in hysterics! My father thinks I’ve been having a secret affair with my own cousin! Do you have any idea what you've done to my life?"

Leo set the glass down slowly. He stood up, his height intimidating, his presence filling the room. He walked around the desk, stopping just inches from Mark, his expensive cologne filling Mark’s senses.

"I bought myself time," Leo whispered, his voice devoid of any guilt. "And I bought you a role in the most important play of my life."

"I am not an actor!" Mark yelled, shoving Leo’s chest. Leo didn't move an inch; he was solid as a rock. "You go back. You call them. You tell them you lied. You tell them you’re a coward who couldn't face a marriage, so you used a college kid to hide behind. Tell them now!"

Leo reached out, his hand gripping Mark’s chin, forcing him to look up. His eyes were cold, calculating, and dangerously beautiful.

"I can't do that, Mark. If I take it back now, my father freezes everything. The business, the estate, the legacy—it all goes dark. I need one week. Just one week of you playing along until I can find a better exit strategy."

"No," Mark spat, pulling his face away. "I’m going to tell them the truth. I’m going to tell everyone that you’re a liar. I don't care about your money or your legacy. I care about my life!"

Leo’s expression shifted. The smirk vanished, replaced by a cold, sharp focus. "You think you have a choice? Look at your phone, Mark. The rumors are already on the university forums. 'The CEO and the Student.' If you deny it now, you look like a jilted lover or a liar. But if you stay... I can make it worth your while."

"I don't want your money!"

"Everyone wants something, Mark," Leo stepped closer, his shadow looming over the younger man. "You want to finish your degree without debt? You want a guaranteed position at any firm in the country? I can give you that. All you have to do is be mine for seven days."

Mark felt like he was suffocating. He looked at this man—this beautiful, monstrous man who had ruined his peace—and for the first time in his life, Mark felt a spark of something other than anger. It was fear. Fear because, despite the lies and the manipulation, he realized he was trapped in Leo’s orbit.

"I hate you," Mark whispered.

Leo smiled, and this time, it was a genuine, terrifying flash of white teeth. "Good. Hate is a much more convincing emotion than love. It’ll make the 'passion' look real."

Mark backed away, his heart hammering against his ribs. He had come here to end the lie, but as he looked into Leo’s eyes, he realized the lie was just beginning.