♞

IT FELT LIKE IT was only yesterday when Max was a student council president in Westberg Academy. He remembered the time when his uncle Janus wanted to talk to him, and then he asked him to enroll in J.S High.

     Crème de la Crème were the only words that Janus had to show him just so he could say yes.

     Max never really thought of that elite group as something significant. He was rank one, but that was it. But little did he know that when his uncle showed him those words on a piece of paper, it would actually reveal his entire past.

     It was right in front of his face yet he was ignorant about it.

     Why did he enroll in J.S High? Why did he agree to help them?

     Those questions were left unanswered because Max had no answer to them.

     Max simply went with the flow. When he was given the responsibility, he just took them all with no second thought. The idea of becoming the voice of the people made him feel important. For a child growing up in the shadow of his family, this was a chance that he couldn't let go; a chance where everyone will know him as only Max.

     But his judgment became clouded and everything got heavy. The responsibilities that he took just for that mere purpose weren't enough anymore. He needed more reasons to continue helping J.S High. His entire world was crumbling, and his inheritance was taken away from him. In the back of his mind, he thought that he could just forget about J.S High and let go of his responsibilities there since he had more problems to face in his real life.

     That's why when he did what he did to Cj at the Great Hall, he didn't even think twice. "Why do I care if the students end up becoming afraid of me? It's not my responsibility to stand up for them anyway." Those were the words that Max thought to himself during those times.

     He didn't care anymore because he had no other reason to help J.S High. But after his conversation with Gavriil, he realized that he was wrong.

     J.S High wasn't just a means to make him feel important or needed, or even special. It wasn't his saving grace. J.S High was connected to him, and the people inside it were a part of his past.

     Unraveling his past meant he needed to help J.S High change for the better to make that happen. It was almost like someone wanted him to remember everything so it could be his reason as to why he needed to help the school.

     It was almost like an elaborate plan made by a man everyone refers to as the previous  Elites' president.

     "Leigh," a voice suddenly calls out, and Max instantly looks up and sees his butler, Étienne, staring at him through the rearview mirror.

     Max was wearing an all-black suit, and on his lap was a bouquet of Blue Daisies. Today was now November 2, which is All Souls day. As much as Max was occupied with taking back his rights to the company, Max hasn't forgotten to pay his respect for his mother.

     "Are you alright?" Étienne asks him.

     Max takes a deep breath and looks out of the window. His head was still occupied with what Gavriil told him yesterday. He couldn't believe that he was friends with him, especially Viktor, and the president that Krist has already mentioned to him before.

     It's strange since he remembers nothing. All he knows is that he's friends with Cindy because they met a couple of times at business summits, but nothing more.

      He was confused with the newfound information, but for some reason, it all made sense to him. The little details that he knows about Gavriil, the comforting feeling he has with Viktor, and the close relationship he has with Cindy. The only thing he couldn't remember at all was the president. Maybe if he sees him in person, it might unlock everything.

     "N-Nothing...I'm fine. Just nervous," Max lies, and Étienne doesn't say anything anymore.

     After a quiet drive to the cemetery, they finally arrive at Luna's monument. Étienne immediately heads out of the car and opens the door for Max as Max steps out.

     "Will you be coming with me?" Max asks his butler.

     Étienne respectfully bows his head and answers his master, "I'll pay my respects afterward. You can talk to her first."

     Max nods his head in understanding before heading inside.

     Inside was Luna's grave with the words Luna Lemieux engraved in gold, and in the middle was a large portrait of her. There were flowers surrounding the grave too. Some from Luna's friends, one large one was from her nephew Jean, and a bouquet of roses from her husband, Denzel.

     Max doesn't react to the bouquet and just kneels in front of the grave instead before putting his own bouquet down. He didn't want to cause any drama, especially not in front of his mother.

     "Good morning mother," Max greets, reaching out to touch her. "I apologize if I don't visit often. I'm just...really busy."

     The monument was completely silent as Max continues to stare at his mother's portrait. The woman in the picture had a sweet smile. She looked elegant and calm to the point where people who didn't know her enough would think that he's a calm woman, not knowing how much of a monster she truly was.

     "You must have heard," Max finally says. "I..." Before he even utters the next word, tears start falling from his eyes as his hands tremble. "I-I'm sorry mother. I failed you...I couldn't hold onto your company. I'm so sorry..."

     No one answers him, yet the silence was almost suffocating. Max wanted to cry even more, but then he remembered everything that he went through in the past couple of days. He has to be strong. He has to be stronger in order to protect what he loves.

     He realizes that he hasn't failed his mother yet, so with a stronger resolve, Max clenches his fist and immediately wipes his tears away. "But do not worry mother...I will take it back. I will do everything I can to take it back. I have people who believe in me, and I will definitely make things right."

     Max was saying those words to Luna, but deep down he was saying those things to himself as well. And when he said those words aloud, he couldn't help but smile at himself.

     Max doesn't say anything anymore and takes a seat on the floor. He enjoys the company of his mother for about ten more minutes before saying, "This might sound ridiculous, but I can't believe I had childhood friends. Why did you not mention any of this to me? Why can't I remember anything? Did something happen to me?"

     Of course, Luna still doesn't answer him, so Max continues, "Sadly we're not so close anymore. One of them turned mad and calls me a white uniform, the other one became too popular that I can't even meet up with her without getting into a dating scandal, and I can't even remember the name and the face of the third one," he says with a sad smile.

     He continues to stare at the portrait with a sad expression, but then a small smile appears when he remembered someone else.

     "But there is one boy who is trying his best to make things work again. He was cold before, but he's slowly warming up to me. I don't know but most of the time I get annoyed by him, but maybe that's just because I can't remember him clearly except for his warmth, his comfort, his scent, and every small detail that makes up of him," Max explains, a smile slowly escaping from his mouth.

     After talking about his old and new friends, his amazing protectors, and everything else that he was able to achieve, Max finally stands from the floor after thirty more minutes of nonstop talking. He didn't even notice the time.

     "Mother," he calls out one last time.

     "I was always afraid of you; scared that I might end up being like you, like a monster that others say you are..." Max says, touching his chest where a necklace was supposed to be. "But you only became one because of me. You turned into a monster in order to protect me."

     As the wind blows from out the window, Max stands straight and tells her, "I've always been unsure, but I'm ready now mother. I will take the Lemieux name, and I will take it all and make everyone know why our family is the strongest. This time...it's my turn to protect you. I promise."

...

Max walks down the steps and heads back to the car, Étienne waiting for him with the door open.

    "You can head inside now. Take your time, don't worry, I'll wait in the car," Max explains as he approaches Étienne.

     Étienne bows his head and thanks his master as Max heads inside the car. He then closes the door for him and heads inside the monument to pay his respects.

    While Max was waiting, he takes his phone out of his pocket and notices a message from his cousin Jean, saying that he should call him as soon as possible. So Max dials Jean's number, and with just one ring, the CEO of Sinclaire Corp. instantly answers the call.

     "Max, you finally called. How you holding up?" Jean immediately asks.

     Max adjusts from his seat and answers, "I'm doing alright. Actually, I'm better than I expected after the announcement I made to the press."

     "That's good to hear because I have news for you," Jean explains.

     "What news?"

     "Remember our last conversation? About the hidden stocks? Well, the Mills Tobacco Company will be having their 125th-anniversary party at one of our hotels on Saturday. Everyone in the Mills family will be there, as well as close friends and colleagues. It's the perfect time to meet up with Mr. Christopher Mills," Jean says, and Max couldn't help but hide the smile on his face as soon as he heard the news.

     "So does that mean you got me the invite?" Max then asks.

     "Well, that's actually the problem. The Sinclaire family was invited, but the invitation was directly addressed to your father," Jean explains. "Since the party is very exclusive, only two members of a family are allowed to come. Chairman Denzel already canceled his schedules for that party, so it's definite that he'd attend it. As for who he'll be coming with, I have a hunch that it might not be you."

     Max looks out the car window and takes a deep breath. "I'd say he'll invite Edith, but Edith isn't a Sinclaire yet and my father isn't stupid enough to invite her to such an important event. I'm sure he'll bring Marcus instead. Like what you said, it's the perfect time to meet Mr. Mills, and I'm sure father would want him to meet his new heir."

     "You think he'll want to come though?" Jean asks.

     Max pauses and stares at the word Lemieux written on his mother's monument before smiling at himself, "Well, he has to come. Who else would represent the Sinclaire family other than him?"

     "What do you mean? Isn't it better that you go instead?" Jean asks in confusion. He thought Max would use this opportunity to ask his brother for the invitation and go on his behalf, but it seems like that wasn't the case.

     "Don't worry, I'll get the invite myself. I know Mr. Christopher's son, and lucky for us, he currently won't be able to say no to me," Max explains, and Jean couldn't help but be impressed.

     "Well, that's good to know. If you find it convenient, I can give you a master list of all the expected families who will be attending the party too. I saw a few names, and they're people that you might know," Jean then tells him.

     "Alright, send them to me. It might be useful," Max answers as he fixes himself in his seat. As he looks back out the window, he sees Étienne walking toward the car after giving his respect to Luna.

     "Jean, thanks for telling me about this party, but we gotta go. Just send me the master list as soon as you can," Max tells him as Étienne enters the car and sits on the driver's seat.

     While Étienne was adjusting the rearview mirror, Jean chuckles at the end of the line and says, "I'm a CEO of a luxury hotel and casino, but I'm still getting orders from a seventeen-year-old."

     "I'm supposed to be the heir of the said luxury hotel and casino but look at where we are now," Max says back, making Jean laugh before ending the call.

     Max hides his phone again and looks at Étienne who was looking back at him through the rearview mirror. "Where to, master?" He asks, and Max smirks and answers him, "Do you happen to know where the Mills Tobacco Company is?"

     Étienne - who's known to be the best butler out there - doesn't even answer Max's question as he pulls back the hand break and starts driving off.

     While driving, Étienne looks back at his master through the rearview mirror and says, "You have not really mentioned your plans to me clearly, but I have a rough idea on what you're planning to do, and I can say that it would be quite dangerous."

     "I'm not going to do anything rash. I've had a few setbacks, but I've planned everything thoroughly. I won't back down so easily," Max answers before crossing his arms and looking at the trees from outside the car window.

     Étienne keeps quiet for a couple of seconds, thinking about the best thing to say to his master. "I'm not going to stop you. You're well aware that I have always been by your side even when we were looking for your mother's killer. Whether it's dangerous or not, I will follow you."

     Max takes a deep breath and looks back at Étienne with a small smile. "You've always been protective, just like Marcus."

     "It's my duty to be protective," Étienne then answers with no hint of hesitation.

     "That's right, you're part of the Butler's Association that's under the Lemieux Family, which means you know more about my past than I do," Max says, the smile now gone in his face.

     Étienne doesn't falter, but he grips on the steering wheel and asks, "What are you implying?"

     "There's a difference between protecting and hiding. I trust you Étienne, more than anyone, so I don't want you to hide things from me anymore. Do you understand?" Max says with a more serious expression this time.

     Étienne gulps, but after a quick second, he instantly made up his mind and says, "Alright, how may I be of service to you, master Leigh? What do you want to know?"

    Max takes a deep breath and loosens his necktie. "Everything that I don't remember about my past, I want you to recover them for me. Files, pictures, anything that will lead to what happened before, I want you to find them," he says before looking back at Étienne straight in the eye, "All of them."

- END -