At my older sister’s order, two bodyguards came over and violently tore Max’s clothes off.
I immediately grabbed Max. “No! What you’re doing is no different from killing him!” Victor lifted his chin. “A servant who dares to hit his master deserves death! Just like your dead dog—he should’ve died long ago!”
“Drag the second young master away,” Victor smirked, looping his arm around my sister. “Why not throw Alan out, too? He’s not really part of the Grant family anyway.” My sister tapped Victor’s forehead fondly. “Stop talking nonsense!” The bodyguard yanked me aside and hurled Max outside.
I tried to run to him, but the bodyguard pinned me down, holding me in place.
“Sister, please, let Max in. He’ll freeze to death!” My sister didn’t move.
I looked at my parents; they turned away and walked upstairs.
Watching Max’s lips grow purple from the cold, I immediately knelt before Victor.
“Brother, I was wrong. Please, let Max in!” Victor smiled faintly. “How about this—you bow three times, then slap yourself a hundred times, and I’ll let that little wretch in.”
I instantly knelt and bowed. After three bows, I slapped myself hard.
My sister grabbed my wrist. “Is a servant worth all this?!”
“Please, Sister, just let Max in.”
My sister sighed in disappointment and released my wrist.
I had no choice but to keep slapping myself.
“Ninety-nine… one hundred.” After the hundredth slap, blood filled my mouth.
“Brother, I slapped myself a hundred times. Will you let Max in now?”
“You didn’t hit hard enough. I’m not satisfied. Hit harder—until I’m pleased!”
I glanced back. Max had already collapsed in the snow, nearly swallowed by the blizzard.
I stood up in fury. “You were toying with me! You never intended to save him!”
“I gave you a chance. You’re the reason he died.”
“I’ll kill you!” But before I could reach Victor, the bodyguards seized me from behind.
My sister glared at me. “You’ve caused enough trouble. Stop it. Even if we let Max in now, he wouldn’t survive.”
Despair washed over me.
“Sister… can I go outside to say goodbye?” She waved a hand, and the bodyguards stepped back.
I rushed out and wrapped my coat around Max’s frozen body.
With his final breath, he whispered, “Don’t cry… I’m just heading back now.” The moment Max died, a system prompt echoed in my mind.
“Congratulations, host, for surviving ten years in the apocalypse. You may now choose death to leave the apocalypse and receive a system reward of one billion.”
“If you die, the fortress and endless resources you created will vanish. Do you confirm your choice to die and leave?”
“Confirm.” I covered Max’s body with snow; he still wore my coat.
Thinking of him returning to our world—a place with spring, blossoms, and changing seasons—eased my grief a little.
Aunt Lila had already set out a hot dinner.
“Second Young Master, wash up and eat.” Victor said smugly, “Dad said he’s not allowed dinner tonight.” Mom came downstairs and gasped when she saw my face, swollen like a pig’s head. “Alan, what happened to your face?”
