Chapter 18 - First Day Back After changing into his school uniform, Max followed the route on his phone, heading toward the school.It was about a fifteen-minute walk, so still close for him. He could've called a cab, but he wanted the time to think. There was too much swirling in his head after everything he'd learned... and what he'd just discovered. So he's going by a fake name at school, Max thought. Well, technically, a fake family name. That means he doesn't want anyone to know he's a Stern. But why? If he's being bullied, wouldn't revealing his last name change everything? People would back off, maybe even suck up to him. The Stern family basically owns half the world. Anyone with a brain would think twice about messing with someone tied to that kind of power. He could understand hiding things from his relatives—especially after meeting them. Most of them seemed ready to use anything they could to get ahead. And as for his grandfather? Yeah. To someone like Dennis Stern, struggling would probably be seen as weakness—proof you didn't deserve the family name. But then... why not use the money? Why choose to live like this if he didn't have to? The more Max thought about it, the more frustrated he got. He kept scratching his head—trying not to ruin the hair he'd actually put effort into styling. Before he realized it, he'd arrived. In front of him stood the school gates, sliding open. Orange walls surrounded the campus, and beyond them, a wide field stretched out toward the main building. Then there was the school itself— And just seeing it gave Max yet another surprise. I seriously need to stop getting surprised, he thought, sighing. But this keeps happening... Why the heck is a member of the Stern family going to a public school? 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦 There wasn't a hint of judgment behind the thought. Max had gone to public school himself. But someone from the Stern family? It didn't add up. Private schools weren't just about better facilities—they were about connections, status, and prestige. In the business world, that stuff mattered. A lot. And even if his grandfather refused to pay for it, Max had access to more than enough money to cover tuition. He could've handled it through his allowance without anyone blinking an eye. None of this makes sense, Max thought, clenching his jaw. Every choice this kid made... there's something behind it. He didn't do any of this because he wanted to. Now I really want to know—what the hell was going on in his life? And why was he carrying it all alone? —— Stepping inside, Max wandered the halls, and quickly realized he had no clue where his tutor class was supposed to be. He paused mid-step, staring blankly at the unfamiliar hallway. Maybe I should've messaged Aron after all, he thought, exhaling through his nose Thankfully, a teacher had spotted Max wandering the hallway—registration was already starting—and quickly pointed him to the right classroom. When he stepped inside, the male teacher at the front gestured for him to come over. "Just stand here for a second," the teacher said. Then he turned to the class. "Alright, everyone. Quiet down." The room settled... kind of. The noise dropped, but the vibe was clear—these students didn't exactly respect the guy in charge. Max glanced around the room, already sizing things up. Considering the school's location, he'd expected a few troublemakers, but this? This was next level. Not a single student had their uniform on properly. Ties were either missing or lazily dangling halfway down their chests. Shirts were untucked. The girls wore skirts hiked so high it was like they were trying to make a statement with every step. There were maybe three, four kids total who actually looked like they were here to study. The rest? Delinquents. This place wasn't what Max had expected at all. Guess I might fit in more than I thought, he mused, folding his arms loosely. "As you all know, Max here's been out sick the last few days," the teacher announced. "He's still not feeling 100%, so I expect everyone to treat him a little nicer than usual, alright?" The class responded with a few lazy groans—nothing enthusiastic, but no one pushed back either. "Max, go ahead and take your seat—back row, far right, next to Sam," the teacher said, already heading for the door. "I just need to grab a few things before we get started." As Max walked down the aisle, he glanced at the students watching him. A few faces were too focused on him, grinning with thinly veiled amusement. He caught some low snickers as he passed by. So that's how it is, Max thought. They're not saying much now, but they're watching. He finally reached the back of the room and slid into his seat next to Sam. The guy was bigger than most of the other students—broad frame, buzzed hair, and a surprisingly warm smile. "Max, good to see you back," Sam said, turning slightly in his chair. "Yeah," Max replied with a small smile. "It's good to be back." "I hope things are okay now," Sam added, his tone more genuine than most. So... he did have friends here, Max thought, eyeing him. This guy doesn't seem like a bully. A big friendly giant type, maybe. Before he could say anything else, another voice cut through the room. "Hey, Max—aren't you gonna say hi to me?" When Max turned his head, he saw a square-faced student with jet-black hair and a sharp nose walking straight toward him. There was a swagger in his step—calculated and confident. The students behind him are watching everything, Max noticed. Is he the top dog in this class or something? The guy definitely had that cocky, self-important vibe. Alright... first day back. Play it smart, Max told himself. No sudden moves. Without warning, the student snatched a book off Sam's desk and casually started tapping it against Max's head. "What's with this ridiculous hairstyle?" he said, smirking. "You think you've changed or something? Is that why you didn't greet me today?" He leaned in closer. "Looks like I haven't trained my little pet properly." Then—whack. He smacked the book against Max's head. Again. And again—harder with each word. "I guess..." whack "I need to make you..." whack "Remember your lesson." whack With that, he finally pulled the book back and stared down at Max like he was waiting for a reaction. "Remember, when you walk in every day, you say, 'Good morning, Master Ko.'" Max's jaw clenched. Master Ko. His heart thumped hard in his chest. That's one of the names from the video... One of the people who pushed Max this far. So this guy's on the list. Looks like I've found one of the reasons the real Max cracked. He didn't show it—but inside, he was already taking notes. Yeah... I'm definitely going to keep an eye on him. I need to play along... if I'm going to find out the truth. Max forced the words out through gritted teeth. "Good morning... Master Ko." Just saying it made his stomach twist. "Better," Ko smirked, clearly satisfied. "You'd better be a good pet, Max—if you want a peaceful life at this school." With that, Ko turned and strutted back to his seat like he owned the place. Max didn't move. He just sat there, jaw clenched and fists balled so tight his knuckles had gone white. I have to blend in, he reminded himself. There are more names on that list. I need to figure out why Max's life was like this—why he ended up so broken. But no matter how many times he told himself to stay calm... He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep the anger from boiling over, the White Tiger wasn't used to getting treated like this.