The graduation ceremony went smoothly, awarding students who earned their achievements through hard work — some through the unimaginable amount of their donations. Cosette, Maxen, Remo, and Luke stayed throughout the ceremony until it ended, waiting for Asher outside the hall to congratte him.


    "Can I go?" Luke scratched the back of his head, watching Cosette tiptoe to search for Asher. Thetter looked back at him, tilting her head to the side.


    "Why?" she asked. "Don''t you feelfortable?"


    "Do I look like someone who isfortable?" he sassed, almost rolling his eyes as he shoved his hand inside his pockets. "Don''t get me wrong. It''s not that I don''t want to congratte my brother, but he already saw me and I think that''s enough."


    "But isn''t it better to congratte him? He already saw you, after all. Why not stay longer for a bit?"


    "Are you pretending, Cozie?" Luke asked out of pure curiosity. "I am a runaway child, remember? And I want to keep it that way. It''s not like my brother is the only person here, but also my dad is. What if he drags me back to our house?"


    Remo rocked his head in agreement while Maxen just stayed silent, darting his eyes between Cosette and Luke. Maxen was still wearing the hairband with antennas that had Cosette''s face on it while Cosette was wearing the one with Asher''s face. The two stood out and the lights on their hairbands could be seen from a mile away.


    Cosette frowned, keeping her gaze on Luke. She didn''t want him to go so they could congratte Asher together, but at the same time, she didn''t want to force Luke. She was already d she didn''t have to drag Luke here since thetter also wanted toe.


    "Well… if that is what you want. What else can I do, right?" Her tone was dejected, sighing.


    Seeing her gloomy mood, Luke ran his tongue across his cheek. His rtionship with her might be a love-and-hate one, but he cared for Cosette more than one couldprehend.


    "Then, I''ll see you in the parking —" Luke couldn''t even finish his sentence when he caught two familiar figuresing out of the hall. Without thinking twice, Luke jumped back, hiding in the nearest hiding spot he could and that was a tree.


    The venue where the graduation was held was still within the Academy grounds. Aside from the massive quad, the Academy was surrounded by greenery. Thus, the presence of the tree was because the outside of the hall was a vastndscape.


    Seeing Luke''s abrupt reaction, Cosette''s brows rose. She slowly turned her head in the direction where she saw Luke look, only to catch Asher and Maynard walking out of the hall. Many people were exiting the hall, but Asher and Maynard stood out.


    Cosette was about to raise a hand to catch their attention before she paused, gazing at Maxen, who was standing beside her. Thetter didn''t have any reaction, standing still as if he didn''t mind anything.


    "Oh, Cozie!" before she could say anything, Cosette heard Maynard''s enthusiastic voice from the distance. When she looked into Maynard''s attention, her face nearly contorted at the bright aura Maynard was emanating.


    Surely, Maynard looked intimidating when he was wearing a poker face, and if you don''t know him. But Maynard was almost theplete opposite of Conrad, who was suffering from facial paralysis.


    Maynard waved giddily like a kid, ignoring the eyes that his jolly personality garnered. As if he was the one who graduated, he walked faster — almost jogging — until he was standing before Cosette, Maxen, and Remo. Asher walked slower and took some time to reach their vantage point.


    "Uncle Maynard." Cosette smiled awkwardly while Maynard grinned back at her. ''It always feels weird whenever I''m in front of him. It feels like I am facing an older version of Luke.''<novelnext></novelnext>


    "Great to see you again, Mister Quinn." Maxen lowered his head, greeting Maynard politely. Thetter nced at Maxen and instantly remembered him as the kid Conrad took in.


    Maynard and Maxen only met once if the former''s memory served. And that one time was a coincidence. Although Maynard heard many things about Maxen, he didn''t have that much impression of the kid aside from the fact that thetter looked more like Conrad''s son. They both carry the same air of nonchnce.


    "Hehe. Great to see you doing good." Maynard just nodded at Maxen before shifting his attention to his favorite not-blood-rted niece. "I am d you were able to attend Asher''s graduation, Cozie. I thought you hate him."


    "Pardon?"


    "You too, Luke. No need to hide, my son. I''ve already seen you back inside." Maynard''s grin stretched wider, ncing at the tree where he caught his silly son hiding. "Don''t worry. I won''t drag you back home, but don''t forget, my house is always open whenever you want toe home."


    His face brightened up, watching Lukee out from behind the tree. He almostughed upon seeing the frown stered on Luke''s face before his eyes softened.


    "Oh, how I missed my youngest!" Maynard nted his fist on his hips, sighing whilst shaking his head. "Come here, son. Embrace your father, who missed you day and night."


    "Ew!" Luke scrunched his face in dismay, looking at his yful father as thetter opened his arms. "This is why I don''t want toe home. You don''t stop teasing me!"


    Maynardughed. "Oh,e on, son. I am not teasing you! I''m being sincere!"


    Cosette awkwardly nced at Maxen before moving her gaze to Remo. As soon as her eyesnded on Remo, Cosette instantly caught the horror and surprise dominating Remo''s face.


    ''Yes, Remo, I know.'' Cosette mentally nodded, understanding the expression Remo was showing. ''They''re more like twins. It can be quite a disaster.''


    "Excuse me, Cozie." Maynard shed Cosette a kind smile until his eyes were squinting. "I''m d to see you here and support Asher at his graduation. I''ll give you guys some privacy while I shower my youngest with love."


    "Uhm… thanks?" Cosette replied awkwardly, making Maynard''s grin stretch wider. Thetter then cast Maxen and Remo a quick look before marching away to his youngest. However, the youngest froze in horror upon seeing his father approaching. Before Luke could even think, he already ran away while Maynard chased after him.


    "That…" Remo muttered to himself, watching the father and son run around like maniacs. "... is unexpected."


    "Perhaps, for you, but I don''t think that''s the case for us."


    Suddenly, Remo heard this familiar voice he heard just previously through the microphone. He turned his head and immediately saw Asher stand before the three of them, smiling.