Chapter 352: Warmth and Thunder!!
The rain poured relentlessly over Star Harbor.
Heavy drops danced across the windshield as Miles drove through the evening traffic. Beyond the clouds, the setting sun struggled to leave behind streaks of warm orange light, painting the wet roads with shimmering reflections before disappearing completely.
The city slowly faded behind him.
A few minutes later, his car rolled into the underground parking area of Pearl Villa.
The engine fell silent.
Miles leaned back for a brief moment before letting out a quiet breath.
"Home..."
Just saying the word in his heart made him smile.
He stepped out of the car, grabbed his coat, and walked toward the private staircase that connected the underground garage directly to the villa.
The moment he opened the door upstairs, a wave of warmth greeted him.
The rich aroma of melted cheese mixed with freshly fried food drifted through the house.
There was also the comforting scent of herbs, butter, baked bread, and something sweet that reminded him of home more than anything else.
Miles closed his eyes for a second.
The last rain of the monsoon.
The smell of home.
The voices of family.
For a brief moment, everything felt perfect.
As he stepped into the living room, cheerful laughter echoed through the villa.
He looked up.
His footsteps stopped.
"Chloe?"
Chloe immediately turned around.
Her eyes widened in surprise.
"Whe... when did you come?"
Miles smiled warmly.
"Just now."
His gaze wandered between her and the twins.
"So..."
"What a surprise."
"I didn’t know you were here."
Chloe smiled sheepishly while brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Well..."
"I finished all my pending work."
"I was getting really bored."
"I thought about calling you..."
"But then I remembered you were probably busy."
She looked toward the kitchen.
"And then Mom called me."
"She said she was making monsoon snacks."
"And since it’s the last rainfall of the season..."
"I absolutely shouldn’t miss it."
Miles laughed softly.
"That does sound like Mom."
Before he could walk any farther...
Hope suddenly folded her tiny arms.
"Asher..."
"I think Big Bro forgot about us."
Asher nodded dramatically.
"You’re right."
"He doesn’t even talk to us like before."
Chloe couldn’t hold back her laughter.
"Big Bro..."
"You’re so bad."
Miles blinked.
"Hey."
"You two."
"When did I stop talking to you?"
Asher burst into laughter.
"Big Bro, just admit it."
"Sister Chloe told us everything about you."
Hope immediately covered her mouth with both hands, trying to stop herself from laughing.
Her shoulders trembled anyway.
Miles looked at Chloe.
"You’ve been forming alliances already?"
Chloe looked away innocently.
"I didn’t say anything..."
"I only answered a few questions."
Hope nodded proudly.
"Exactly."
"Asher and I investigated."
Miles placed a hand over his forehead.
"So that’s what happened."
"I underestimated both of you."
He looked at the twins with exaggerated disappointment.
"You two are growing up much faster than I imagined."
"Where are my little soldiers?"
Asher proudly folded his arms behind his back.
"I’m a lieutenant now."
Miles widened his eyes dramatically.
"What?"
"You got promoted?"
He turned toward Hope.
"What about my baby sister?"
Hope lifted her chin proudly.
"Hmph."
"Sister Chloe is the best."
Miles slowly lowered his shoulders.
"I’m heartbroken."
Daniel’s laughter echoed across the room.
"Alright."
"Stop teasing your brother."
Asher grinned.
"We’re only joking."
"Big Bro is still the best."
Before Miles could answer...
Hope ran across the room.
She jumped straight toward him.
Miles caught her effortlessly, lifting her into his arms.
She giggled while wrapping both arms around his neck.
Miles gently pinched her cheek.
"You little troublemaker."
He looked at both twins before asking,
"Tell me honestly."
"Do you really want Chloe to live with us?"
Hope answered without even thinking.
"Yes."
"Very much."
Asher nodded repeatedly.
"Please."
Miles looked toward Chloe.
She was already blushing.
"Asher?"
The little boy clasped his hands together dramatically.
"Please Big Bro."
"Marry her quickly."
Daniel laughed so loudly that he nearly leaned against the sofa.
Miles looked back toward Chloe.
"Did you hear that?"
Chloe hid half of her face behind her hair before speaking softly.
"I..."
"I can’t wait to move here either."
Hope instantly jumped out of Miles’ arms and hurried toward Chloe.
She grabbed Chloe’s hand excitedly.
"Big Sister Chloe..."
"Can I call you Sister in Law now?"
Chloe’s cheeks turned bright red.
She gently ruffled Hope’s soft hair.
"You can call me anything you want."
Asher immediately objected.
"Sister in Law is too long."
"I’ll just call you Big Sis."
Chloe smiled brightly.
"I like that."
Miles quietly watched the three of them.
His heart felt strangely warm.
It almost looked...
As if they had always been together.
As if Chloe had always belonged here.
His eyes slowly shifted toward Daniel.
Only then did he notice the flour covering Daniel’s apron.
White powder had somehow reached his sleeves, shoulders, and even his hair.
Miles blinked.
"Father..."
"What’s with that messy apron?"
Daniel looked down before scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
"Oh..."
"This?"
"I was helping your mother cook."
"But..."
"I accidentally dropped the entire flour container."
"So..."
"She kindly escorted me out of the kitchen."
Miles stared at him.
"You got kicked out?"
Daniel sighed dramatically.
"I wasn’t appreciated."
From somewhere inside the kitchen, Elena’s voice immediately answered,
"I can still hear you."
"You are banned until dinner is ready."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Asher sniffed the air dramatically.
"I can smell chicken wings."
Hope closed her eyes.
"I smell fries."
She suddenly gasped.
"And something really cheesy."
"Mama is making something yummy."
Miles smiled.
"I can’t wait."
Chloe looked toward the kitchen entrance.
"Come on."
"Let’s go help Mom."
Hope immediately grabbed Chloe’s hand.
"Let’s go!"
The two girls hurried toward the kitchen together.
Hope’s cheerful voice disappeared inside almost instantly.
"Asher!"
"Hurry!"
Asher ran after them.
"I’m coming."
Their laughter echoed through the villa.
Miles quietly removed his jacket and folded it over the arm of a nearby chair.
Daniel walked over and stood beside him.
For a few seconds...
Both father and son simply watched the kitchen.
Warm light spilled into the hallway.
The smell of fresh food continued filling the house.
Daniel smiled quietly.
"This house is going to become even livelier."
"You’ll have a wonderful wife."
"And someday..."
"You’ll build a family of your own."
Miles rubbed the back of his neck.
"Father..."
"Let’s take things one step at a time."
Daniel nodded.
"Of course."
"I’m not old enough to become Grandpa yet."
He paused before grinning.
"Although..."
"If Dion has children first..."
"I might lose the race."
Miles laughed.
"I just hope his children don’t inherit his personality."
Daniel laughed even harder.
"Oh, they’ll definitely inherit something."
"And then Flora will have her hands full."
The two men continued laughing together.
Outside, the rain gently tapped against the windows.
Inside Pearl Villa...
Home had never felt warmer.
....
Midnight.
The Miller Residence stood silently beneath the stormy sky of Star Harbor.
Rain crashed relentlessly against the tall glass windows while flashes of lightning illuminated the mansion for brief moments before darkness swallowed everything again.
Thunder echoed across the city.
Inside the luxurious study, only a dim table lamp remained lit.
Several expensive bottles of liquor were scattered across the desk.
Orville Miller, now in his late fifties, sat alone with a glass in his hand.
His face was twisted with frustration.
His phone had not stopped ringing throughout the evening.
Investors were withdrawing.
Partners were cutting ties.
Even long standing allies had suddenly become difficult to reach.
He slammed the glass onto the table.
"How dare they go against me."
"They don’t know who I am."
"I have the backing of powerful families."
"So what if a few people leave?"
"I’ll make every single one of them regret it."
His eyes burned with resentment.
"They’ll all come crawling back."
"Really?"
A calm voice drifted into the room.
It came from the direction of the window.
Orville froze.
Before he could react...
A deafening clap of thunder exploded across the sky.
The lights instantly went out.
The entire mansion sank into darkness.
Only the rain outside continued beating against the glass.
Orville’s breathing became uneven.
"Who..."
"Who’s there?"
He immediately stood up.
His instincts took over as he hurried toward the nightstand where his pistol was hidden.
Just as his fingers were about to reach it...
A powerful shove struck his shoulder.
His body stumbled backward.
A cold voice spoke beside him.
"Don’t bother."
"There is no one who can help you."
"Your security team is already unconscious."
"No one is coming."
Orville staggered several steps before barely keeping himself upright.
His heartbeat pounded inside his chest.
Another voice echoed from the opposite side of the room.
"Oh."
"Getting scared already?"
Orville slowly turned.
At that exact moment...
A brilliant bolt of lightning split the night sky.
For a single heartbeat...
The entire room became bright.
His pupils contracted.
A hooded figure sat casually on the wide window frame.
One leg rested over the other.
His posture was relaxed.
As though he were simply visiting an old acquaintance.
Darkness returned.
Orville’s voice trembled.
"W... who are you?"
The hooded man slowly stepped down from the window.
His boots landed softly on the wooden floor.
Each step echoed through the silent room.
He walked forward without any hurry.
"Old man Orville."
"Do you want to lose your mustache again?"
Orville’s entire body stiffened.
His eyes widened in horror.
That sentence...
Only one person....
His lips trembled uncontrollably.
"G..."
"Gho..."
"Ghost..."
The hooded man smiled faintly beneath the shadow.
"You remember me."
"That makes things easier."
Orville unconsciously stepped backward.
His legs had already begun shaking.
"W..."
"What do you want?"
Ghost stopped only a few feet away.
His voice remained frighteningly calm.
"Your life."
Orville almost collapsed.
"N..."
"No..."
"Don’t come any closer."
"I..."
"I have the backing of the young Miss of the Krause family."
"Does Graveyard want to lose its place at the Conclave?"
Ghost looked at him without the slightest change in expression.
"Do you think Graveyard is afraid of the Krause family?"
He took another slow step forward.
"Do you think they can protect you?"
He glanced around the silent mansion.
"Then where are they?"
Another flash of lightning illuminated his hood.
Ghost smiled.
"Let’s see who reaches you first."
"My knife..."
"Or the Krause family."
Orville’s breathing became heavier.
His voice cracked.
"D... don’t come closer..."
Before he could retreat another step...
A familiar voice sounded directly behind him.
"Leader."
"Is this the one who has been troubling you?"
"He looks like he already wet his pants."
Orville’s entire body froze.
His neck turned stiffly.
Standing behind him was Ren.
Without him noticing.
Without making a sound.
He had already blocked the only exit.
Ghost slowly continued walking toward them.
Ren looked at Orville with obvious disappointment.
"Leader."
"Let me handle him."
"No need to dirty your hands."
Orville’s last courage disappeared.
His knees gave out.
He collapsed onto the floor.
Both hands pressed together as he looked up desperately.
"Please..."
"Don’t kill me."
"I can do anything."
"I have valuable information."
"I know many secrets."
"I’ll tell you everything."
Ghost remained silent.
Orville hurriedly continued.
"There is..."
"There is something big about to happen."
"The WEB..."
"The WEB is preparing something huge."
Ghost’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"The WEB?"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Now you’ve caught my interest."
He glanced toward the antique clock hanging on the wall.
Its hands quietly crossed midnight.
Ghost looked at Ren.
"Ren."
Ren immediately straightened.
"Leader."
Ghost’s voice remained calm.
"Squeeze every secret out of his brain."
"Every single one."
"With proof."
Ren nodded.
"Understood."
Ghost continued.
"And make sure the Ainsley family gets their vineyard back."
Ren’s smile slowly widened.
"Don’t worry, Leader."
"I’ll drain everything out of him."
Ghost turned toward the window.
One final sentence escaped his lips.
"And don’t kill him."
"Leave him alive."
Ren blinked.
For a brief second, confusion crossed his face.
Then...
A knowing smile slowly appeared.
"I understand, Leader."
Ghost quietly disappeared into the darkness beyond the rain.
Only Orville remained behind.
Still kneeling.
Still trembling.
As Ren slowly stepped toward him with a smile that made the storm outside seem far less frightening.