- [chapter 1] Alexander Maria Lee :)
It's past 2:am in the beautiful city of New York and it's raining heavily too. Alexander Lee, a handsome 25y/old, and only surviving heir to the 2nd biggest South Korean pharmaceutical company, owned by Mr Lee So Mun, a politician who is running for a Senate seat.
After the death of his mother and younger brother when he was twelve, Alex was sent to New York City to study Business Management at Greenfield University. Alex's father, mr Lee, is a strict perfectionist who doesn't tolerate a single mistake, rumors had it once that Alex was adopted, because of how strict his father was with him, coupled with the fact that he witnessed his mom and younger brother's death too, that eventually effected his mental health which caused him nightmares that even tho he went for therapy, his condition didn't improve much. With time, he learned to manage it. He had been doing great until this night, the night to the day of his graduation, and for some reason, this night seems to be the most horrifying. He had gone to bed early so he can wake up early too since it was his graduation, but 30 minutes into his sleep, he started sweating heavily, kicking and crunching to his bedsheets, he kept mouthing
"Mom, No.. please don't go"
he struggled a couple times more and then finally woke up breathing heavily, like he just did a 42.195km race. He hurriedly turned on his bedside light and quickly reached out for a bottle of water on the edge of his bed, he took a few gulps then took a couple deep breaths, few seconds later he opened his drawer and took out a container of sleeping pills, he took his usual prescribed dose and then laid back on his bed, but even after a couple hours he couldn't fall asleep again so he just laid there staring at the Cosmic design on his ceiling.
Mr Maxwell Morris:)
It's morning, and Alex's assistant came to wake him up. mr Maxwell Morris is a middle aged man, around his late 40s, he and mr Lee had met in NYC where they were both studying and eventually became friends, after graduation, mr Max couldn't find a job so mr Lee offered him a job at his then rising company which he accepted, they both came back to Seoul,(South Korea) and he started working as mr Lee's Assistant. He later got promoted to taking care of mrs Maria Lee, the late wife of mr Lee and mother of Alex and jihun, Alex's younger brother. So after their death, mr Lee decided to send him to look after Alex while he studied, in NYC.
"young master..!!" mr Max called out 3 times knocking on Alex's door "it's past 9:am sir, you're going to be late for your graduating party" he continued, still knocking,
"Coming..!!"
Alex replied, stretching on his bed. Few minutes later He came out of his room all dressed up, his eyes puffy, with dark circles underneath them.
Mr Max noticed.
"Still can't sleep..??" he asked, his voice calm but observant
"Mmm..!!"
Alex replied stuffing food into his mouth,
"are the pills not working..?? Should I get you a new one..??" Mr Max continued
"no don't, don't bother, the pills are okay, it's just me.. I'll be fine..!!"
Alex replied sounding a little bit irritated. He finished his food and they both headed out to the Parking lot, Alex's driver held out the car door for him to get in and then they all drove off to his school.
The rain had slowed to a thin drizzle by the time they arrived at Greenfield University, but the sky remained heavy and gray, as if mirroring Alex's mood. The campus was alive, students in gowns laughing, parents hugging, cameras flashing everywhere. It was supposed to be a day of celebration.
Alex stepped out of the car, adjusting the collar of his tailored navy suit. Applause and cheers echoed around him, yet it all felt distant, muffled, like he was standing underwater.
"Smile a little, young master," Mr. Max said quietly as they walked toward the main hall. "People are watching."
Alex ignored him and kept walking, lips twitching upward just enough to pass as a smile.
Hard work. Survival. Endurance. Those were the words that defined his life, not happiness.
Inside the auditorium, rows of graduates filled the seats. Alex took his place among them, his posture straight, expression composed. From the outside, he looked perfect, wealthy, intelligent, untouchable. Inside, his chest felt tight, his heartbeat uneven.
As the dean began his speech, Alex's eyes drifted upward to the massive screen showing images from the past four years, freshmen orientations, late-night study groups, shared laughter.
Then it happened.
One image flashed on the screen, a candid photo of students standing in the rain, laughing under umbrellas.
His breath hitched.
Rain.
Screams.
Twisted metal.
His mother's perfume mixed with blood.
His brother's small hand slipping from his grasp.
Alex's fingers clenched around the armrest.
No. Not now.
The applause around him grew louder, but inside his head, everything was shattering
"Mom.." he whispered under his breath.
His vision blurred, his ears ringing. His heart raced violently, each beat slamming against his ribs like it wanted to escape. He felt the familiar terror creeping up, cold, relentless.
Suddenly, a hand rested gently on his shoulder.
"Hey.., you good."
A voice came from the side.
"Breathe," he continued.
Alex swallowed hard.
One.
Two.
Three.
Slowly, painfully, the room came back into focus. The screen changed. The rain disappeared. The memories retreated, but not completely. They never fully did.
"You okay?" Moon asked, eyes searching his face.
Alex nodded convincingly.
"I'm fine," he murmured. "Just tired, Thanks."
The ceremony continued.
When Alex's name was finally called, Alexander Maria Lee, the applause was thunderous. He walked across the stage with steady steps, shook hands, accepted his degree.
Cameras flashing from everywhere.
Somewhere in Seoul, his father was watching, studying his image.
The perfect son.
The flawless heir. Just like wanted.
As Alex held the certificate in his hands, he felt no pride, only a strange emptiness.
This wasn't an ending.
It felt like the calm before something far more unsettling.
And for reasons he couldn't explain, he couldn't shake the feeling that this night, this graduation, was only the beginning of a storm much worse than the one that had kept him awake the night before.