Chapter 338: Growing Up!!
Four Years Ago
Night, Eiffel Tower, Paris
The second floor of the Eiffel Tower overlooked a sea of golden lights.
The city below was still awake.
Cars flowed through the streets like glowing rivers.
The distant laughter of tourists blended with soft music drifting through the evening air.
Above them...
The stars quietly watched over Paris.
Ghost stood beside Chloe.
The breeze gently moved a few strands of her hair across her face.
He looked at her without saying anything.
His eyes were unusually calm tonight.
Chloe noticed his gaze and smiled.
"What are you looking at?"
Ghost answered honestly.
"You know..."
"You are my first love, right?"
Chloe giggled.
"You already told me that."
"I remember."
Ghost scratched the back of his head.
"I don’t really know these things."
"While Marcel was arranging this date for us..."
"I kept wondering."
He looked toward the city lights below.
"If I am too young for all this."
Chloe tilted her head.
"You are nineteen."
"Aren’t we adults now?"
Ghost nodded slowly.
"We are."
"But..."
"I don’t think a normal teenager would be like me."
He laughed awkwardly.
"Everyone says becoming an adult changes everything."
"But I don’t feel different."
"I still feel the same."
"I feel like I lack the common sense adults are supposed to have."
Chloe held her forehead dramatically.
"That is such a scholarly thing to say."
She laughed softly.
"Marcel was right."
"He said you spend too much time studying."
She looked into his eyes.
"Books can teach knowledge."
"But they cannot give experience."
"So don’t think too much."
"You’ll be alright."
"We’ll be alright."
Her smile became warmer.
"And besides..."
"I like you exactly the way you are."
She gently poked his shoulder.
"Maybe you think you haven’t grown up yet."
"But believe me..."
"You are more mature than many adults I have met."
Ghost blinked.
"Am I?"
She nodded confidently.
"Yes."
Then she lightly tapped his shoulder again.
The gesture was playful.
Almost as if she were encouraging an awkward teenager.
Ghost smiled.
He slowly stepped closer.
"So..."
"What is something a grown up like me should do?"
The distance between them disappeared.
Their faces drew closer.
So close that they could hear each other’s breathing.
Chloe’s heartbeat instantly quickened.
Her cheeks became bright red.
She hurriedly leaned back.
"Umm..."
Ghost could not help smiling.
"Looks like we still need to grow up."
"Hmm?"
Chloe lowered her face, trying to hide her embarrassment.
"Umm..."
"I’m sorry."
Ghost gently lifted both hands.
His palms softly cupped her cheeks.
His voice became almost a whisper.
"Why are you so cute?"
Chloe’s face turned even redder.
"Don’t tease me."
He smiled but did not let go immediately.
Instead he looked into her eyes.
"Do you ever think about the future?"
Chloe’s expression softened.
She nodded.
"To be honest..."
"I dream about it all the time."
She looked beyond the railing toward the endless city.
"You might think I am being silly."
"But..."
"I cannot imagine going back anymore."
"My future..."
She smiled shyly.
"I only see it with you."
"I imagine us living together."
"Like a married couple."
"A small home."
"Cooking together."
"Shopping together."
"Arguing over little things."
"Growing old together."
"A simple life."
She laughed quietly.
"Those ordinary things somehow became my biggest dreams."
Ghost listened silently.
Then a mischievous smile appeared.
"I was actually talking about career plans."
For a second...
Chloe froze.
Then she realized what he had done.
"You..."
She lightly punched his chest.
"You are such a tease and a moment killer."
Ghost laughed.
The sound was genuine.
Rare.
Then he slowly looked upward.
Past the tower.
Past the lights.
Toward the night sky.
His smile gradually faded.
Hidden beneath that calm face...
Questions quietly filled his heart.
Could someone like him ever give her that ordinary life?
Would his hands ever become clean enough to hold her forever?
Would fate allow him to fulfill every dream she had just spoken aloud?
Chloe noticed his silence.
"What are you thinking about?"
Ghost kept looking upward.
"Do you know..."
"The city lights pollute the night sky."
"They hide most of the stars."
Chloe looked up as well.
"Really?"
He nodded.
"The real sky is much more beautiful."
"There are places where you can see thousands of stars."
"So many that the whole sky shines."
He smiled gently.
"I promise..."
"One day..."
"I’ll take you to a place where the stars are truly beautiful."
Chloe looked at him.
Without hesitation she smiled.
"I’ll wait for that day."
She slipped her fingers between his.
Holding his hand tightly.
"I think..."
"We’ll figure everything out with time."
"So don’t worry so much about the future."
"Let’s enjoy the present."
Her words quietly settled inside his heart.
The worries.
The doubts.
The uncertainty.
They all became lighter.
Not because they disappeared.
But because someone had chosen to carry tomorrow with him.
Ghost felt peaceful.
Chloe gently squeezed his hand.
"Kai."
"Yes?"
She looked straight into his eyes.
"Thank you..."
"For coming into my life."
She smiled with complete faith.
"I know..."
"Every dream I have with you..."
"Will come true."
Ghost never answered.
He simply smiled.
A quiet smile.
One that carried a promise only he could hear.
Perhaps they still had countless things to learn.
Perhaps neither of them truly understood what adulthood meant.
Perhaps they were still two young hearts learning how to love.
But beneath the stars...
At the city that people called the City of Love...
Their destinies had already become one.
Even if the road ahead was filled with storms...
That night remained the beginning of the future they both believed in.
....
Present
Morning sunlight quietly slipped through the curtains of Pearl Villa.
For the first time in many days...
Miles slept a little longer than usual.
The previous night’s operation had finally ended.
One burden after another had been lifted from his shoulders.
He slowly opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling for a few moments.
The room was unusually peaceful.
No emergency calls.
No operation briefings.
No reports waiting for him.
He reached for his phone on the bedside table.
After scrolling through a few messages, he smiled faintly and pressed a contact.
The call connected after only two rings.
Louis answered with a weak but cheerful voice.
"So..."
"At the end, the hero saved the day again?"
Miles chuckled.
"You good?"
Louis laughed.
"I am all good."
"Thanks to you."
"The hospital staff is treating me like a little child though."
He sighed dramatically.
"Honestly..."
"I thought I would die without seeing my granddaughter again."
"And without seeing her future."
Miles leaned comfortably against the headboard.
"What else do you want to see, old man?"
Louis laughed.
"Human beings never stop dreaming."
"They are never satisfied."
"Even after seeing Chloe happy..."
"I keep wishing for more."
He smiled warmly.
"Maybe..."
"I want to see her get married."
Miles suddenly coughed.
His ears became slightly warm.
"Well..."
"There is something I want to ask you."
Louis immediately noticed the unusual tone.
"Is there really something that you don’t already know?"
Miles smiled.
"It is not about what I know."
Louis became serious.
"Go ahead."
"Ask me."
Miles took a slow breath.
"I want your permission..."
"To officially call you Grandpa."
Silence filled the call.
For several long seconds...
Neither of them spoke.
Louis quietly lowered his head.
His eyes gradually became moist.
When he finally spoke...
His voice carried emotions he could no longer hide.
"You boy..."
"Isn’t it a little late to ask that?"
A soft chuckle escaped him.
"You should have started calling me Grandpa a long time ago."
Another brief silence followed.
"I wish both of you..."
"Every happiness that life can offer."
Miles smiled.
His heart felt unexpectedly warm.
"Thank you so much..."
"Grandpa."
Louis closed his eyes with satisfaction.
"All the best, son."
The call quietly ended.
Miles looked at the dark screen for a moment before smiling again.
Then he searched for another contact.
The phone rang.
Alice answered almost immediately.
"Chairman?"
"Good morning."
Miles smiled politely.
"I hope I am not disturbing you, Miss Alice."
"Not at all, Chairman."
"How can I help you?"
A playful smile appeared on her face.
"Wait..."
"Is Chloe upset with you?"
Miles rubbed his forehead helplessly.
"Actually..."
"Now that Chloe is back..."
"I believe there is work waiting for her."
"But..."
"Can I borrow her for two more days?"
Alice blinked.
Then she burst into laughter.
"What are you even saying, Mr. Sterling?"
"I’ll handle everything here."
"You can have her all you want."
She intentionally paused.
"For even more than two days."
Miles could only smile awkwardly.
"Thank you so much, Miss Alice."
"My pleasure."
The call ended.
Alice slowly lowered her phone.
A mischievous smile spread across her face.
"Is this..."
"What I think it is?"
...
Miles looked at his contacts again.
This time...
His heartbeat became noticeably faster.
He pressed the call button.
Only one ring.
Then her familiar voice reached him.
"So?"
"Mr. Superhero finally finished saving the world and remembered me?"
Miles instantly smiled.
"Uh..."
"I am really sorry."
"I didn’t mean to upset you."
Chloe could no longer hold back.
She laughed brightly.
"I was just kidding."
"Good morning, Miles."
Miles quietly released the breath he had been holding.
"You scared me."
He smiled.
"How about..."
"I make it up to you?"
"Make it up?"
"I’ve planned a date."
Chloe’s eyes widened.
"Really?"
"When?"
"Today."
There was a short silence.
Then...
"Okay."
"I just have to ask Lissy first."
"There is still some pending work I need to finish."
Miles smiled proudly.
"I already took care of that."
"She said..."
"I can have you."
Chloe blinked.
"Have me?"
"What exactly does she mean?"
Miles laughed.
"She means..."
"You are coming on the date."
Chloe covered her mouth while laughing.
"So..."
"You were really worried that I was angry."
"You even talked to Lissy before calling me."
She teased him.
"Are you scared of me or something..."
"Mr. Chairman?"
Miles pretended to sound offended.
"Scared?"
"Me?"
Chloe laughed even harder.
"Will you come pick me up?"
"Yes."
She became excited.
"Hmm..."
"But you should have told me earlier."
"I really wanted to wear a nice dress for our date."
"I have to buy one."
Miles answered immediately.
"Then let’s begin the date with shopping."
Her face instantly lit up.
"Great idea."
"But..."
"You are paying."
"As punishment."
Miles laughed.
"Even if it is the most expensive dress in the store..."
"I’ll buy it for you."
Chloe shook her head while smiling.
"Don’t worry."
"I am not that expensive to maintain."
She spoke gently.
"Even if you weren’t the chairman of a big company..."
"I would still have done everything possible to get you back."
Miles’ smile became softer.
"I know."
Chloe nodded even though he could not see her.
"Then shopping it is."
"Oh my God..."
"I am already so excited."
The call finally ended.
Miles quietly stared at the phone for a few seconds.
Then he slowly stood up.
His gaze drifted toward the small package resting on the nightstand.
He walked over.
Carefully picked it up.
A beautifully crafted small jewelry box rested in his hands.
He gently brushed his thumb across its smooth surface.
A warm smile slowly appeared on his face.
"Looks like..."
"I finally understand what growing up feels like, Chloe. I was really incomplete without you and your dreams"