?"Tonight. We''ll meet him tonight."


    Those words made Maxen''s heart race, staring at Conrad nkly. The only answer Maxen could give was a nod in agreement. And with that being said, Maxen and Conrad left the c Mansion to meet this dangerous man who was a head of an international crime family.


    On the way to the meeting ce, Maxen remained silent. He was sitting beside Conrad in the backseat of the SUV, calming his breathing. When they were near, his thoughts halted as a hand squeezed his shoulder.


    Maxen turned his head in Conrad''s direction, only to see Conrad offer a subtle yet reassuring smile. Thetter didn''t need to say anything, as Maxen understood Conrad.


    [ I got you. ] — these were what Maxen saw in Conrad''s eyes, and the nervousness in his heart subsided.


    Conrad was with Maxen, and thus, there was nothing Maxen should be afraid of. Maxen''s stiff shoulder rxed, nodding at Conrad without a word. Thetter slowly retrieved his hand, leaning against the seat before facing the window.


    This wasn''t the first time Maxen would see this man who imed to be his father. After all, on Maxen''s birth certificate, his father''s name wasn''t recorded. Maxen peeled his eyes from Conrad to the window, thinking about the life he led growing up.


    Maxen didn''t have that much memory of his mother, as he was still a child when she perished. However, despite the limited memories he had of his mother, all Maxen could remember was her haggard face smiling at him while patting his head. His mother just looked tired and miserable, and the more he thought about it, the more he realized his mother protected him with everything she could.


    He didn''t want to acknowledge it before, or rather, he didn''t have enough energy to appreciate his mother. After all, life was hard. His mother died working herself to the bone to provide for her son, and getting abused by her brother, who always acted as if she owed him.


    She died… Ste died trying to give her son afortable life. She might''ve failed and Maxen had to suck up to the pitiful life and maltreatment of his uncle, but at least his mother tried.


    What about Maxen''s father?


    What did he do for Maxen?


    Maxen lived a horrible life when his mother died. When Ste was alive, at least, there was a person who would provide warmth to Maxen. But when she left this world, there was no good thing that happened to the young Maxen. His father didn''t show up in front of him.


    If Maxen would ask himself what his father had done for him so far, that was killing somebody and letting Maxen carry the guilt of a person''s death. That was all.


    Therefore, Maxen didn''t have any familial attachment to the people who were connected to him by blood. Maxen didn''t have a choice since he was born with such a family, but he was thankful that he now has a family who loved him just as genuinely.


    The c Family — Conrad, Cosette, Grandpa Marcel, Grandma Gretchen, and the people in the c Mansion… weren''t Maxen''s blood family, but they were the people who treated him as one. The life, the luxury, and the opportunities they had given him were just the bonus.<novelnext></novelnext>


    What made them Maxen''s family were their weing arms and genuine hearts.


    Maxen didn''t have to worry about this man who called himself Maxen''s father. Maxen now has family and friends who were true to him. There was nothing for Maxen to fear anymore. After all, he wasn''t the same old Maxen who was tempted to join a crime family since his life was hopeless.


    That was right.


    What truly scared him back then was that he might just take his father''s hand and just take the path of being a felon. He had nothing to lose back then. But now, Maxen has a lot of things to lose.


    "We''re here." Warren, Conrad''s assistant from the front seat, announced.


    ? Maxen''s train of thoughts halted, snapping his eyes at the establishment ahead. The SUV stopped at the driveway of a fancy country club. Looking back at Conrad, the two of them nodded.


    "The location is surrounded, sir," Warren continued, briefing the two of them before they leave the car. "We will monitor your heart rate, sir. If anything happens, the troop the general sent will take you out of the ce."


    "I see." Conrad rocked his head in understanding, gazing at Maxen. The two of them stared at each other and nodded before hitching outside the vehicle.


    The deal was that only Conrad and Maxen could enter. It was dangerous and none of them could understand why Conrad even agreed to such a deal. Even when the other person agreed that the military would surround the meeting ce and Conrad''s people, it was still dangerous.


    Men in suits heavily guarded the outside of the country club. Their tattoos were peeking out of their cors. Some even had them on their faces and in the back of their hands. Their aura was imposing, keeping their eyes on the two figures entering the establishment.


    Despite the sharp eyes on them, Conrad was unfazed. His gait was rxed as if he wasn''t walking in a ce full of dangerous and cruel felons. Meanwhile, although Maxen kept the same unfazed exterior, his chest was filled with mixed emotions.


    Snapping his eyes ahead, his nerves kept snapping, making his stomach turn. His heart was racing, not knowing the exact reason for it. Not that he was scared or anything of the sort. But perhaps the thought of this man and what nonsense he had to say made Maxen restless.


    Soon, Maxen and Conrad reached a door where a female receptionist led them. She stood on the side, keeping her hands in front of her as she bowed. The receptionist said nothing, but Conrad and Maxen faced the door.


    Conrad nced at Maxen for a moment, only to see Maxen nod. He assessed thetter for a moment to make sure Maxen was ready, and when he confirmed Maxen was determined, Conrad opened the door to meet an old friend who Conrad wanted to ask one question:


    Why?