Rebirth Into My Second Chance

I tossed a towel to Richard, and he casually wiped himself off, flashing a bright smile.

"Look, I'm all good, right? I always keep my promises," he said, spinning around to show he was in fine fettle. "Hungry?" I lobbed a bagel his way.

He took a few bites. "Starving. I could go for some meat. Let's grab a steak when we get home."

I couldn't help but smile. "Max, that's short for Maximilian, right?"

Richard stopped chewing and looked past me. That's when I knew Max had shown up.

Footsteps sounded behind me, and Richard bolted. "I don't know anything. I swear!"ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

I turned, eager for Max's explanation, but he just approached against the light, handing me a lunchbox.

"So, I need to eat well to keep up with all those surgeries, huh?" I said, trying to lighten the mood.

He just hummed in agreement. His eyes had lost their earlier warmth, becoming indifferent again. He wasn't going to explain, and I wouldn't ask. After all, if he had intended to tell me, he wouldn't have let his driver mention that Max was just the Hilton family's physician. And even if he was Maximilian, it was not like he owed me an explanation. Our relationship had always been strictly professional.

Clutching the lunchbox, I realized the warm meal inside must have been flown in from Silverlake City by the Hilton family. Only someone of Maximilian's stature could pull off such a feat. Max watched me start to eat and turned to leave the tent.

Richard sneaked back in. "Why the tears?"

I shook my head, puzzled by my reaction.

Richard pressed, "He didn't explain?"

"Why would he?" I defended Max. "To someone as insignificant as me?"

"Or maybe you never asked?" Richard said, biting into a piece of meat. "Do you think you're

insignificant to him? Do you know

who provided the rescue fond

the plane when you were missing?"

I froze.

He sighed, "Max nearly turned Crestview Metropolis upside down the day you disappeared."

It felt like a punch to the gut.

Richard asked again, "Wondering why he didn't come himself?"

I looked up, waiting for his answer.

Richard looked at me and said, "He said, rather than spending all his energy on rescuing you, you'd prefer he saved those suffering people."

"Max knows you better than I do, and I've been your family for 20 years."

My breath caught. The Max I knew was a man without borders, ready to save anyone in need, leaving judgments to the law and state.

From him, I learned to love the world, seek out suffering, and try alleviating it rather than dwell on my emotional pains.

"Sorry, I only found out about Max's

real identity while I was in jail. I saw him by your side when I got out. He didn't tell you, and I didn't dare to But seeing how worried he was when you disappeared, I knew he cared. I think he started working at the hospital just for you."

I suddenly lost my appetite. Max came for me.

Without realizing it, I went to the medical tent, where surgeries were underway, and Max had long since immersed himself in his work.