Just as Max drifted into deep sleep, a sudden knock on the door jolted him awake.
Disoriented, he blinked and glanced around the room, momentarily confused. Then reality settled back in—he was still in the Marvel universe, not his old world.
Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself.
From beyond the door, Lily's voice called out, "Master Max, Mr. Victor is here."
He instinctively wanted to respond, "Yes, I—" but caught himself mid-sentence.
Straightening his posture, he remembered that he was no longer just a carefree young man or an employee; he was now the head of the Knight family.
"Send him in," he said in a composed tone.
Old habits die hard, he pondered with a rueful smile, standing briefly to adjust his appearance.
His eyes flicked to the clock on the wall—it was 12:30 p.m.
He had slept for over two hours. It seemed his body needed more rest than he realised, no doubt a consequence of both the emotional toll of recent events and the integration of memories from his past life and this one.
Max still wasn't entirely certain about the nature of his existence—whether the original Max Knight had truly died and he had taken over…or if he had always been Max Knight, with his old life's memories only now surfacing.
But whatever the truth, he wasn't one to dwell on guilt or pointless introspection. This life was his now, and he intended to make the most of it.
Before he could spiral further into thought, a gentle knock interrupted him.
A deep, steady voice followed: "Max, may I come in?"
Max exhaled, composing himself. "Yes, Uncle Victor. Please, come in."
The door opened, revealing a man in his early fifties.
Victor Hensley was every bit the picture of a seasoned lawyer—impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, his refined yet approachable demeanour complemented by a sharp gaze that seemed to take in everything.
His composed expression suggested he had seen all manner of situations in his career, yet his eyes carried the weight of familiarity and respect.
Victor's narrowed gaze briefly assessed Max, as though measuring him.
Within moments, his features softened into an approving stare, and he moved closer. The two men shook hands firmly—a silent acknowledgment of their shared history.
"Thank you for coming, Uncle," Max said with a polite smile. Victor was more than just a lawyer; he had been a trusted confidant of the family for years.
"It's my obligation as the family's legal counsel," Victor replied in a steady, professional tone.
His words were perfectly balanced—neither overly deferential nor presumptuous, reflecting his years of experience.
Max chuckled lightly, sensing the formal air Victor was trying to maintain.
"Come now, Uncle Victor," he teased. "No need to be so formal. We've known each other far too long for that. You've been with this family longer than I've been alive!"
Victor's lips quirked into a faint smile, and he let out a quiet, genuine laugh.
"Haha... I see you've inherited your father's charm, Max. I admit, I wasn't sure how you'd approach things, but it's good to see you haven't changed entirely."
Max smiled at the subtle compliment.
As Victor relaxed, the atmosphere in the room shifted from stiff professionalism to one of mutual respect and warmth—a dynamic Max knew he'd need to maintain if he wanted to honour his father's legacy while forging his path.
Victor, on the other hand, had decided not to set high expectations in the beginning.
He'd seen it happen before—young people often let newfound authority go to their heads, which could be detrimental to relationships and long-term decision-making.
With this in mind, he had opted for a formal approach—not only to gauge Max's maturity but also to see how the new head of the Knight household was handling his role.
To his surprise, however, Max carried himself with a calm confidence that reminded him of Arthur Knight.
Both father and son had the ability to put others at ease, striking a balance between professionalism and familiarity without appearing calculating or overly guarded.
"Let's take our seats," Max said, gesturing for Victor to sit before taking his place as well.
Before their conversation could begin, a knock echoed through the room.
Max acknowledged, and Lily, the housemaid, walked in carrying a tray with tea and refreshments.
She poured a cup for each of them, placed the tray on the table, and quietly exited to avoid further disruption.
Max and Victor picked up their cups, taking small sips to ease their throats in preparation for what they both knew would likely be a long discussion about the family's inheritance.
As he drank, Max's thoughts briefly wandered to Victor Hensley.
The man had been the Knight family's trusted legal advisor for decades and a close friend of Arthur Knight.
With over 25 years of experience, Victor was no ordinary lawyer—he was sharp, seasoned, and pragmatic, not the type to bleed wealthy clients dry without offering value in return.
Victor was more than just a professional ally.
He was a cousin of Max's late mother, making him family in more ways than one. This dual role—as both a relative and legal advisor—had cemented his place as one of the family's most trusted figures.
Still, Max knew that family ties could only go so far in professional matters.
It was time to approach things with focus and clarity. Arthur had trusted Victor with intricate legal preparations, and now Max needed to see how those plans would unfold.
Setting his cup back on the table, Max turned his gaze to Victor.
His tone was steady and direct.
"Let's get to it—how are things progressing with the inheritance? Any complications I should be aware of?"
He chose to cut straight to the point, bypassing unnecessary pleasantries. Small talk could wait until after the important matters were handled.
From Victor's expression—a mix of approval and determination—Max could tell his directness was appreciated.
The older man had always preferred keeping professional matters professional and saving personal chatter for when the real work was done.
….
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