Chapter 355: I am Happy.. Really!!!!
Miles drove through the busy streets of Star Harbor much faster than usual.
The moment Ren had informed him that Clarissa was in the city and had gone to meet Chloe, he had not been able to sit still.
His thoughts raced the entire way.
Clarissa was not someone who acted without reason.
She carried the responsibility of the Phoenix Clan on her shoulders. Every word she spoke carried weight.
The car came to a stop in front of Soul Tower.
Miles stepped out immediately and entered the building with hurried footsteps.
It was not busy as it was Sunday, Employees greeted him as he passed, but he only returned quick nods before continuing toward the elevators.
...
Kate had just walked out of a meeting when she noticed him.
"Chairman?"
Miles looked at her.
"Where is Chloe?"
Kate blinked.
"She is in her office."
"She has a guest."
"Thank you."
Without waiting another second, Miles hurried toward Chloe’s office.
Kate watched him disappear around the corner.
She smiled helplessly.
"Sometimes Chairman worries about Chloe more than Chloe worries about herself."
...
Miles stopped outside the office door.
His raised hand hovered in the air.
He suddenly hesitated.
Perhaps he doesn’t know what comes next will change.
Before he could knock...
A calm voice came from inside.
"I know you are standing outside."
"Why don’t you come in?"
Clarissa.
Miles let out a small sigh before opening the door.
The office was quiet.
Clarissa was leaning lightly against Chloe’s desk, her arms folded as she faced the entrance.
Chloe stood a short distance away.
The moment Miles entered, both women turned toward him.
His eyes immediately searched Chloe.
"Chloe..."
"Are you alright?"
Before Chloe could answer, Clarissa smiled faintly.
"So..."
"The Young Master of the Phoenix Clan believes Clan Supreme would harm his fiancée?"
Miles finally relaxed after seeing Chloe completely unharmed.
He exhaled softly.
"You could have told me before coming ."
" Talked to me instead"
"Coming here."
Clarissa lowered her eyes for a moment.
"That is your fault."
"You know..."
"You won my Groom Selection Ceremony."
"And yet..."
"You are getting married to someone else."
Silence filled the room.
Chloe quietly lowered her head.
Miles spoke gently.
"I am marrying the woman I love."
Chloe slowly looked back at him.
Her eyes softened.
Miles continued.
"I told you many times, Clarissa."
"I could never fulfill that wish."
Clarissa smiled.
There was no bitterness in it.
Only nostalgia.
"When I first saw you..."
"In that arena..."
"I was still very young."
"Just like you."
"I did not understand love."
"I did not understand marriage."
"I simply knew my responsibilities."
"I believed everything the clan taught me."
She looked directly into Miles’ eyes.
"You were just as clueless."
A quiet laugh escaped her lips.
"Look at you now."
"You found your family."
"You found your home."
"You found the woman you love."
"You finally look..."
"...human."
Her smile slowly weakened.
"But..."
"I kept waiting."
"Even though..."
"I always knew..."
"You never looked at me that way."
Miles quietly whispered,
"Clarissa..."
"I..."
She immediately shook her head.
"What are you doing?"
"Trying to explain yourself?"
"You never needed to."
"In the Phoenix Clan..."
"We do not explain ourselves."
"We accept reality."
"Power decides everything."
She looked at him with admiration.
"You are the pride of our clan."
"You won the Clan Supreme Tournament."
"You refused the title..."
"And allowed me to carry your responsibilities inside the Five Clan Alliance."
Her voice became quieter.
"I am only afraid..."
"The longer I carry that responsibility..."
"The more my heart refuses to let go."
Miles lowered his eyes.
"I never wanted to hurt you."
"I always respected you."
Clarissa nodded.
"I know."
"You never hurt me."
"I was the one..."
"...who refused to wake up."
"You kept telling me to move forward."
"I simply listened too late."
Before anyone expected it...
Chloe suddenly stepped forward.
She wrapped both arms around Clarissa and hugged her tightly.
Clarissa froze.
Chloe’s voice trembled slightly.
"Clarissa..."
"I don’t think I am mature enough to truly understand what you are feeling."
"But..."
"Please don’t blame yourself."
"You did nothing wrong."
"You loved someone sincerely."
"There is nothing shameful about that."
Clarissa slowly closed her eyes.
A warm smile appeared.
"Thank you..."
Miles quietly watched them.
For perhaps the first time in his life...
He did not know what to say.
He had faced wars.
He had stood before death countless times.
Yet standing here...
Watching someone’s silent heartbreak...
Made him feel completely helpless.
Clarissa slowly looked over Chloe’s shoulder toward Miles.
Her expression became firm again.
"Lift your head."
"Young Master."
"The leader of the Ancient Warrior Order..."
"...should never bow his head."
She smiled.
"You chose well."
"You found someone..."
"...better than me."
She gently looked at Chloe.
"I only know martial arts."
"She doesn’t."
"But she doesn’t need to."
"Because she has you."
She nodded toward Miles.
"Protect her well."
Chloe slowly loosened the embrace.
Miles quietly spoke.
"I..."
"I am sorry."
Clarissa walked toward him.
She stopped right in front of him.
"Don’t be."
"I won’t remain sad forever."
"My responsibilities are far too great."
"I won’t even have time to stay heartbroken."
Miles slowly placed a hand on her shoulder.
Clarissa gently covered his hand with hers.
For the first time...
A single tear escaped her eye.
She smiled through it.
"You are really strong."
"Stronger than me."
After a moment she turned toward Chloe.
"Come here."
Chloe quietly stepped closer.
Clarissa embraced her once more.
"I am truly happy for both of you."
"I won’t be able to attend your wedding."
"So..."
"Let me congratulate you now."
"Congratulations."
Chloe could no longer hide the tears gathering in her eyes.
"Clarissa..."
Clarissa smiled warmly.
"I really am happy."
"This too..."
"...is part of life."
She looked between both of them.
"Will you promise me one thing?"
Miles nodded immediately.
"Tell me."
Clarissa looked at them with gentle eyes.
"If one day..."
"You have a child..."
"I wish that child would lead the Phoenix Clan."
"And..."
"I want to be the one who gives that child a name."
Silence followed.
Chloe answered first.
"I promise."
Miles turned toward Chloe.
She smiled softly.
Then she looked back at Clarissa.
"I heard..."
"You once saved his life."
"I owe you more than I can ever repay."
She slowly extended her hand.
"Will you be my friend?"
Clarissa looked at the offered hand for several seconds.
Then she smiled.
A genuine smile.
"Of course."
The two women shook hands.
Miles quietly smiled as well.
He felt one burden inside his heart finally become lighter.
He looked at Clarissa.
"I owe you much more than this."
"If you ever need my help..."
"For anything..."
Clarissa interrupted him with a small laugh.
"You are already doing enough for the Five Clan Alliance."
She looked away for a brief moment before speaking again.
"But..."
"Can you spend tomorrow with me?"
"I don’t really have many friends."
"I heard..."
"People in the outside world..."
"Spend time together."
"They laugh."
"They go out."
"They simply enjoy the day."
"I want to experience that once."
She glanced toward Chloe.
"You can come too."
Chloe smiled and gently shook her head.
"I think..."
"You two should spend the day together."
Clarissa’s eyes softened.
"Thank you."
She walked toward the door.
Just before leaving, she looked back at Chloe.
"Remember."
"I left you my contact information."
"If this man ever troubles you..."
"Call your Sister Clarissa."
"I’ll teach him a proper lesson."
She pointed toward Miles with complete seriousness.
"And..."
"Protect him from women."
"He is far too innocent."
Chloe could not help laughing through the tears still lingering in her eyes.
"I will."
"Take care..."
"Sister."
Clarissa smiled one last time.
Then she quietly walked out of the office.
The room became silent again.
Neither Miles nor Chloe spoke.
They simply stood there...
Watching the closed door.
Both of them stood there, each lost in their own thoughts.
Finally, Chloe looked at him and smiled gently.
"She is a good person."
Miles looked at her.
"We talked a lot before you came."
"She told me many things about you."
A small smile appeared on Chloe’s lips.
"I can completely understand why she fell for you."
She paused before lightly folding her arms.
"But seriously..."
"Why did you interrupt her Groom Selection Ceremony?"
Miles rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"I..."
"I didn’t even know it was a Groom Selection Ceremony."
"I was only following a target."
"I somehow ended up inside the arena."
Chloe stared at him for several seconds.
Then she burst into laughter.
"You are unbelievable."
"You accidentally won someone’s hand in marriage?"
Miles sighed helplessly.
"I found out only afterward."
"And by then..."
"It was already too late."
Chloe slowly shook her head.
"I feel bad for her."
"She is so understanding."
"So mature."
"There wasn’t even a trace of resentment in her."
Miles quietly nodded.
"I know."
"She always carried herself like that."
Chloe walked closer and gently adjusted the collar of his shirt.
"Take her around the city tomorrow."
"Show her places."
"I think she’ll be happy."
Miles looked uncertain.
"But..."
Chloe smiled before placing a finger against his chest.
"No buts."
"I trust her."
"I trust you."
Miles looked into her eyes.
"You only met her today."
"And you trust her already?"
Chloe nodded without hesitation.
"I do."
"Some people don’t need years to understand."
"You can feel what kind of person they are."
"I don’t think she wishes to take anything away from me."
"I think..."
"She just wants to let go peacefully."
Miles silently wrapped an arm around her waist.
"You still need to call me first if someone unexpected comes looking for you."
"I don’t want you dealing with these situations alone."
"And..."
"I’ll make sure something like today doesn’t happen again."
Chloe looked up with a playful smile.
"Oh?"
"Are there more sisters I should worry about?"
Miles blinked.
"I sincerely hope not."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Hey..."
"At least be honest."
Miles smiled helplessly.
"You want honesty?"
Before she could answer, he gently pulled her into his arms.
Chloe’s face instantly turned bright red.
"W... we are at work."
"So?"
"Someone might come inside."
Miles looked around the spacious office.
"Aren’t you also the boss here?"
She lightly hit his chest.
"You are impossible."
He laughed softly.
"I learned from the best."
"Who?"
"My fiancée."
Kate quietly walked past the hallway.
She caught a glimpse through the slightly open blinds.
A knowing smile spread across her face.
Without making a sound, she quietly walked away.
"Definitely not disturbing that."
...
Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
The Krause Family Mansion
Inside the grand study...
The elderly head of the Krause Family sat comfortably in his antique wooden chair.
Standing before him was a young woman in her early twenties.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Yet completely different from the cheerful young women her age.
Her golden brown hair was tied neatly behind her back.
She wore a simple cream colored dress without excessive jewelry.
Her head remained lowered respectfully.
This was Johanna Krause.
The granddaughter of the current family head.
The old man finally broke the silence.
"Johanna."
"Grandpa."
"How many times have I told you..."
"We do not maintain connections with traitors."
Johanna lowered her head further.
"But Grandpa..."
"If the transaction had succeeded..."
"It could have benefited our family."
The old man slowly closed his eyes.
After a long sigh, he asked quietly,
"Tell me something."
"If I die tomorrow..."
"Will you be able to manage the Conclave by yourself?"
Johanna’s eyes widened immediately.
"Grandpa..."
"Please don’t say such things."
"I still have so much to learn."
"The Conclave..."
"It is far beyond my abilities."
"Even if I tried..."
"I couldn’t shoulder that responsibility alone."
A gentle smile appeared on the old man’s face.
"Good."
"It is good that you understand your limits."
He looked toward the rain outside.
"It is time..."
"...to bring this to an end."
Johanna looked up in surprise.
"What do you mean?"
"I never wanted these family rules to become your chains."
"I wanted you..."
"...to live happily."
Her voice became anxious.
"But..."
"Your father and mother..."
"They wanted freedom."
"They wished to live ordinary lives."
"I could not protect them."
"So now..."
"I wish you to fulfill the dream they never could."
Tears slowly gathered in Johanna’s eyes.
"But if I leave..."
"Our family..."
"Our legacy..."
"What will happen to it?"
The old man gave a lonely smile.
"My dear..."
"The Krause Family has already reached the edge of decline."
"Most people simply cannot see it yet."
"My cousins."
"My relatives."
"They all left these cursed family rules one by one."
"They fear me."
"They call me evil."
His old eyes quietly met hers.
"Tell me honestly."
"Do you think I am evil?"
Johanna immediately shook her head.
"I don’t care what the world says."
"You are my grandfather."
"If this family truly reaches its end..."
"I will stay beside you until the very last day."
The old man’s tired eyes softened.
He slowly reached forward and gently patted her head.
"Thank you."
After a moment, his expression became serious once again.
"I have an important task for you this year."
Johanna straightened her posture.
"What is it?"
"Do you remember..."
"Light?"
Her eyes widened.
"You mean..."
"The young strategist who disappeared years ago?"
The old man nodded.
"Yes."
A rare smile appeared on his face.
"This year..."
"He is returning to the Conclave."
Johanna became curious.
"I have heard countless stories about him."
"They say even at twelve years old..."
"He shocked the entire underworld."
She looked at her grandfather.
"What do you want me to do?"
To be continued...