Chapter 284 Truth

"Hey."

A simple word.

A simple gesture.

But to Alice, it was everything.

Her vision blurred.

Her chest tightened.

Her lips quivered.

Tears swelled up in her eyes—then overflowed.

In that instant, she couldn't hold back any longer.

Without hesitation, she rushed forward.

Her feet barely touched the ground as she threw herself into his arms.

And the moment she did—

She broke down.

At first, it was soft.

A few silent sobs, muffled against his chest.

But soon—

The dam shattered.

And the tears poured like a river in flood.

She clung to him, fingers digging into the fabric of his suit, as if afraid he would disappear again.

Max felt her shaking against him, her warmth pressing into his own.

His heart tightened.

He had expected anger.

He had expected resentment.

But instead—

She was crying.

Crying as if she had been waiting for this moment forever.

Slowly, his arms wrapped around her.

His grip tightened, his embrace firm, steady, and unshakable.

As if to reassure her—

That he was real.

That he was here.

That he was never going to disappear again.

"It's alright."

His voice was soft, calm—gentle.

A stark contrast to the overwhelming storm inside his heart.

His hand moved to her head, his fingers running through her hair as he soothed her trembling shoulders.

"Everything is going to be fine."

As they held each other—

Something clicked inside both of them.

For Max—

It was in the last four months of separation that he truly understood.

His feelings for Alice.

What she meant to him.

How empty his life had felt without her.

And now—

With her wrapped in his arms, her warmth against his chest—

There was no more doubt.

He couldn't lie to himself anymore.

And for Alice—

The moment she saw him, the moment she heard his voice again—

She realized just how hollow her world had been.

These past four months—

Every attempt to move forward, to forget, to act like everything was fine—

It had all been an illusion.

Because without Max, nothing had ever felt right.

***

Alice sniffled, wiping the last of her tears from her cheeks as she finally looked up at him.

Her eyes were red, swollen from crying, but in them, there was relief—a warmth that had been missing for so long.

And then, she whispered the words that had been buried deep inside her heart for months.

"I missed you so much."

Her voice was soft, but the weight behind it was immeasurable.

She had wanted to say it countless times before.

She had wanted to shout it to the world.

But only now—standing in front of him, touching him, knowing he was real—could she finally say it.

Max felt his chest tighten, his heart pounding in a way it never had before.

But instead of responding immediately, he smiled playfully and teased—

"You missed me?"

His tone was light, a small grin tugging at the corners of his lips.

Alice's nostrils flared slightly, and she pouted, her cheeks puffing up in frustration.

"Of course, I did!" She huffed, crossing her arms.

Even after four months apart, even after everything that had happened, he was still teasing her.

Just like before.

And for a brief moment, it felt as if nothing had changed.

Max chuckled, his grip tightening on her hands.

"Alright, alright." His voice softened.

His eyes met hers.

"I missed you too. I missed you so much."

There was no teasing this time.

Only raw honesty.

And Alice felt it.

Her face reddened slightly, but she didn't look away.

She held his gaze, her fingers tightening slightly around his.

But then—

Her smile faded.

Her expression turned serious.

A shadow of uncertainty passed through her eyes.

And then—

She asked the question that had been haunting her for months.

"What happened between you and Mother?"

Max's breath hitched.

His grip on her hands subtly tightened.

He had known this was coming.

He had expected it.

And yet—

Hearing her say it out loud made it feel so much heavier.

Alice looked at Max right in th eye.

Her expression was complex, conflicted—

She loved her mother, but she also trusted Max.

She wanted to believe in both.

But the truth wouldn't let her.

There was a fracture between them now—

One that needed to be acknowledged.

Max let out a slow, deep sigh.

He looked away for a moment, gathering his thoughts, trying to find the right words.

How could he explain this?

Even he didn't fully understand why Aurelia wanted him dead.

Was it simply revenge for what his sister had done?

Something deeper that he hadn't seen yet?

But there was one thing he did know.

Or was she protecting the Phoenix Order, doing what she had been ordered to do by the Young Monarch?

Or…

Was there something else?

Something deeper that he hadn't seen yet?

But there was one thing he did know.

If he was going to tell Alice anything, he had to come completely clean.

No more hiding.

No more secrets.

She deserved the truth.

All of it.

And that was exactly what he was going to give her.

Max's voice was steady, but beneath it, there was a weight he had carried for too long.

"I don't know the specifics, but I can understand at least one reason why she did all that."

Alice's eyes softened, searching his face for an answer.

"What?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Max took a slow breath, then—

He looked away.

A rare moment of hesitation.

A moment where the truth weighed heavier than ever.

And then—

He finally spoke the words.

The words he had kept buried for so long.

"I… I am Max Voidwalker."

His voice trembled slightly.

"Freya Voidwalker is my big sister."

Alice's entire world tilted.

She staggered back, her breath hitching as the words crashed into her like a tidal wave.

Her eyes widened in disbelief, hands flying to her mouth as if to physically stop herself from gasping.

Max… Voidwalker?

Her mind reeled, trying to connect the pieces that had never seemed to fit before.

Freya Voidwalker.

The traitor.

The one who destroyed her family's trust, who betrayed the Phoenix Order—the woman her entire guild swore to apprehend.

And Max…

He was her brother?

The realization was too much.

For a moment, she felt her legs weaken, her heart thundering in her chest.

But then—

A new thought struck her.

A thought that cut through the chaos in her mind.

And just like that—

She stopped.

Her breathing calmed.

Her heartbeat slowed.

Slowly—

She looked at him again.

And as she did, something inside her settled.

The shock faded.

The fear vanished.

And all that remained—

Was her answer.

She shook her head.

A small movement.

Firm. Unwavering.

Then she stepped forward again, reaching out.

Her fingers wrapped around his hands, gripping them tightly.

"It doesn't matter."

Her voice was soft but absolute.

Her eyes locked onto his, shining with conviction.

"It doesn't matter, Max. You are you. She is she. I can't blame you for what she did. And even if I wanted to—I wouldn't."

Max's breath hitched.

His eyes widened, emotions swirling inside him.

He had been prepared for the worst.

Prepared for Alice to push him away.

To call him a liar, a traitor—just like his sister.

To look at him with the same hatred that burned in her mother's eyes.

But instead—

She held his hands.

She chose to trust him.

She chose him.

Max exhaled deeply, his shoulders relaxing as a small smile formed on his lips.

"Thank you."

His voice was quiet, but full of meaning.

"Thank you for understanding me."

He let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head.

"I was scared for a moment."

Alice's lips curved into a small smile as she nodded.

"Idiot." She muttered playfully.

A brief moment of silence settled between them.

A silence that felt peaceful, yet heavy.

And then—

Alice's eyes lowered slightly, her grip on his hands tightening.

Her voice came out quieter this time.

"So… you'll never return to the guild?"

It was a question laced with emotion.