Chapter 412: A Chance!!!
"Yumm."
Chloe closed her eyes for a second as she took another bite.
"This savoury crepe is amazing."
Miles looked across the small table.
Chloe immediately lifted her fork.
"Have a bite."
Miles leaned slightly forward.
"Aaa."
Chloe laughed.
"Seriously?"
He opened his mouth anyway.
She shared a bite with him.
Miles chewed for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Okay."
Chloe waited.
Miles smiled.
"It’s really good."
"See?"
Chloe looked extremely pleased with herself.
Miles reached for his coffee.
But after a few seconds, he noticed something.
Chloe was staring at him.
Not at the food.
Not at the crowded restaurant.
Just him.
Miles slowly lowered the cup.
"What?"
Chloe’s expression softened.
"I suddenly remembered Paris."
Miles smiled.
"Those memories?"
She nodded.
"Unbelievable, right?"
Miles leaned back.
"Very."
Chloe looked toward the window.
"So much happened since then."
Then she smiled faintly.
"Sailing on a dreamboat."
Miles stared at her.
Chloe looked back.
"What?"
"Nothing."
He smiled.
"You sound happy."
"I am."
The breakfast place was already packed.
It was one of those small but famous spots that had gained popularity through food blogs, short videos, and local recommendations.
Tables were close together.
People came and left constantly.
The aroma of fresh batter, grilled vegetables, eggs, sauces, coffee, and warm bread filled the room.
But somehow...
The food wasn’t the only thing attracting attention.
From the moment Miles and Chloe entered, whispers had started.
Mostly among younger customers.
A group of teenage girls sitting two tables away had already looked toward them at least six times.
Two college aged boys near the counter kept glancing over.
Even the waitress had nearly forgotten part of their order while trying to communicate in English.
Chloe noticed another whisper from the side.
She leaned slightly toward Miles.
"I wonder what they’re saying."
Miles casually took another sip.
"They’re saying my wife is very pretty."
Chloe immediately smiled.
"And?"
Miles looked innocent.
"And we make a cute couple."
Chloe narrowed her eyes.
"Hmm?"
Miles looked back at her.
"What?"
She leaned closer.
"Do you understand Mandarin?"
Miles smiled.
"Yes."
Chloe stared.
"Of course you do."
Miles laughed.
She immediately pointed toward the counter.
"Then why didn’t you speak Mandarin with the waitress?"
Miles looked toward the young woman serving another table.
"She was struggling so much."
Chloe continued.
"You could have made things easier for her."
Miles smiled.
"We’re already attracting too much attention."
"So?"
"If I suddenly start speaking fluent Mandarin..."
He glanced around.
"...we’ll attract more."
Chloe sighed.
"How convenient."
Miles raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"So why did you hide it?"
"Hide what?"
Chloe leaned forward.
"There is no way they’re only saying that your wife is pretty."
Miles coughed lightly.
Chloe’s grin widened.
"They’re definitely complimenting my husband too."
Miles scratched the back of his head.
"Ahh..."
"That."
Chloe waited.
Miles looked away.
"I think I’ll leave those comments untranslated."
"Why?"
Miles smiled proudly.
"Let me enjoy being proud that I have a pretty wife."
Chloe stared at him.
Then slowly grinned.
"What’s that?"
Miles immediately became cautious.
"What?"
"Some kind of fetish?"
Miles coughed.
Harder this time.
Chloe burst into laughter.
"Chloe."
She covered her mouth.
"What?"
Miles stared at her.
Chloe smiled sweetly.
"You’re really a dreamboat."
Miles shook his head.
"Hehe."
He looked toward her plate.
"Done?"
Chloe checked the last few bites.
Then nodded.
"Yes."
Miles stood.
"Let’s go to the Forbidden City."
Chloe adjusted her dress.
Miles walked toward the counter and settled the bill.
When he returned, Chloe immediately asked,
"Did you tip her well?"
Miles blinked.
"No."
Chloe looked surprised.
"You didn’t?"
"I didn’t want to embarrass her."
Chloe frowned.
"There isn’t a tipping culture?"
"Not really."
Miles nodded.
"It’s generally discouraged."
Chloe thought about it.
Then grabbed his arm.
"That’s actually a pretty good culture."
Miles smiled.
"Yeah."
They walked outside.
A black car was already waiting.
Chloe stopped.
She looked toward the road.
Then at Miles.
"We’re not walking?"
"We could."
"Is it far?"
Miles looked down.
Specifically...
At her shoes.
Chloe followed his gaze.
He smiled.
"But my pretty wife decided to wear heels today."
Chloe immediately covered her mouth.
"Oh."
The driver opened the rear door.
Chloe said absolutely nothing.
She quietly entered.
Miles laughed and followed from the other side.
Once the car started moving...
Miles looked toward her.
"What?"
Chloe stared outside.
Miles waited.
She finally said,
"I think by the end of this trip..."
"...I’m going to be very spoiled."
Miles smiled.
"Do you dislike it?"
"No."
She answered far too quickly.
Miles laughed.
Chloe continued,
"Mom spoils me too."
"Father has started bringing snacks for me."
She looked amused.
"Just like Hope and Asher."
Miles chuckled.
"Lucky you."
Chloe slowly looked toward him.
"What?"
"Nothing."
She narrowed her eyes.
Then suddenly asked,
"What do you even consider a snack?"
Miles thought.
"Protein bar?"
Chloe stared at him.
Miles smiled.
"They’re pretty good."
"Right."
Chloe nodded dramatically.
"Of course."
Then she looked at him from head to toe.
"But you’re going to miss your workouts during this trip."
Miles’ smile disappeared.
He sighed.
Chloe’s eyes immediately lit up.
"Oh?"
She leaned closer.
"Regretting the honeymoon already?"
Miles looked at her seriously.
"Yes."
Chloe froze.
"What?"
Miles broke into laughter.
"Kidding."
Chloe hit his arm.
"Mean."
The car continued toward the heart of Beijing.
...
Citadel.
Republic of Haven.
President Maxwell sat behind his desk.
A secure virtual call filled the large screen in front of him.
The Prime Minister of Norway appeared on the other side.
He looked exhausted.
And very uncomfortable.
Maxwell rested both hands on the desk.
"So..."
He spoke slowly.
"You’re saying the Norwegian government has nothing to do with any of this?"
The Prime Minister immediately nodded.
"Yes."
"Horizon Biotech is a private entity."
Maxwell remained expressionless.
The Prime Minister continued,
"Internationally recognized."
"Privately managed."
"Although the company originally began in Norway..."
He hesitated.
"...its international corporate registration is centered in New York."
Maxwell raised an eyebrow.
"So you’re saying the United States has something to do with it?"
The Prime Minister’s face immediately changed.
"No."
He leaned forward.
"That is not what I’m saying."
Maxwell stared at him.
"Because what happened in Haven was not ordinary corporate activity."
His voice became harder.
"Infiltrating government departments."
"Buying officials."
"Spying."
"Compromising national security."
The Prime Minister’s forehead had already begun sweating.
"I am not accusing anyone, Mr. President."
He spoke quickly.
"Norway and Haven have always maintained good relations."
"Why would we hurt an ally?"
"And why would we damage ourselves?"
He shook his head.
"The Norwegian government does not control Horizon Biotech."
"It never did."
Maxwell remained silent.
The Prime Minister continued,
"I request that you do not make this matter public yet."
His voice became more desperate.
"If this turns into an international accusation..."
"We could lose allies."
"Trade."
"Investments."
"Trust."
Maxwell leaned back.
"One condition."
The Prime Minister stopped.
"What condition?"
Maxwell looked directly at him.
"Shut Horizon Biotech down."
Silence.
The Prime Minister stared.
"Completely."
"In Norway."
His face went pale.
"But..."
Maxwell’s expression changed instantly.
Cold.
"Think twice before finishing that sentence, Mr. Prime Minister."
The man stopped.
Maxwell continued,
"Haven does not tolerate this."
"Either Horizon stays protected in Norway..."
He paused.
"...or Norway continues living peacefully in a very cruel world."
The Prime Minister swallowed.
Maxwell added,
"I heard your government has an important agreement coming with the UAE."
The Prime Minister’s expression changed.
Maxwell continued,
"I don’t want innocent Norwegian citizens paying for the choices of corrupt people."
"I don’t want their jobs destroyed."
"I don’t want their cost of living rising because politicians decided to protect one corporation."
He leaned closer.
"But you have a problem."
The Prime Minister remained silent.
Maxwell tapped the report on his desk.
"We detained more than two hundred people connected to espionage."
"Officials."
"Government staff."
"Political intermediaries."
"Security personnel."
"And nearly every trail leads back to Horizon Biotech."
He stared directly at the screen.
"So..."
"If Norway truly has nothing to do with these people..."
"Prove it."
The Prime Minister wiped his forehead.
Silence stretched for several seconds.
Then finally...
"Okay."
Maxwell waited.
The Prime Minister lowered his head slightly.
"I accept the condition."
Maxwell’s expression relaxed.
"I appreciate that."
Then he added,
"And remember something."
The Prime Minister looked up.
"You are the leader of your people."
"Not the caretaker of a corporation."
The call ended.
The screen went dark.
Maxwell stared at it for several seconds.
Then muttered,
"Ugly bastard."
His secretary almost coughed.
Maxwell leaned back.
"What else do you expect from a puppet leader?"
The secretary carefully replied,
"Perhaps we should reveal everything publicly."
Maxwell looked toward him.
"Not yet."
The secretary waited.
Maxwell continued,
"It will hurt innocent people."
"Trade restrictions."
"Foreign withdrawal."
"Currency pressure."
"Inflation."
He sighed.
"Normal families will pay before the politicians do."
The secretary nodded.
"So you’re giving Norway one final chance."
"Exactly."
Maxwell looked toward the window.
"Especially before the UN Secretary General appears publicly."
The secretary understood.
"If Norway abandons Horizon first..."
"It doesn’t lose international trust completely."
Maxwell nodded.
"People are smart."
He looked back toward the blank screen.
"Norway needs leadership that isn’t controlled by insane corporate interests."
The secretary smiled faintly.
Then after a moment...
"It’s been days since I’ve seen you this relaxed."
Maxwell looked toward him.
"Really?"
"Yes."
The President leaned back.
"Thanks to Miles."
The secretary smiled.
Maxwell continued,
"My decision to give him the title of Honorary General was right."
He looked down at several reports.
"His methods..."
He paused.
"...aren’t always ethical."
The secretary almost laughed.
"That’s one way to put it."
Maxwell smiled.
"But he would never knowingly do something that harms Haven."
His expression became thoughtful.
"The Sterlings have always been like that."
The secretary listened.
"Throughout history..."
"They cared about their people first."
"The old Sterling family became one of the pillars behind this nation’s development."
"Industry."
"Trade."
"Infrastructure."
"Employment."
Maxwell smiled faintly.
"And Miles Sterling..."
He looked toward the city beyond the window.
"...is the real prince of this land."
The secretary raised an eyebrow.
Maxwell suddenly laughed.
"If I had a daughter his age..."
The secretary already knew where this was going.
"...I’d have married her to him."
The secretary covered a smile.
"But my daughter is too young."
Maxwell sighed dramatically.
"I should have had my daughter before my son."
The secretary finally laughed.
"I doubt Miles would’ve agreed."
Maxwell looked toward him.
Then smiled.
"You’re right."
He shook his head.
"That kid hates politicians."
Then he remembered something.
"My son is one lucky brat."
The secretary raised an eyebrow.
"Nicholas?"
"He gets someone like Miles as a friend."
Maxwell sighed.
"Where is he anyway?"
The secretary checked something on his tablet.
"Playing games."
Maxwell stared.
"Games?"
"Online."
"With his friends."
Maxwell closed his eyes.
"Good for nothing."
The secretary smiled.
...
Chen Auction House.
Beijing.
The office on the upper floor overlooked a large portion of the auction complex.
Employees moved between storage sections below.
Several high value lots had already begun arriving for the upcoming event.
Inside the office...
A man stood near the desk.
His expression showed clear disbelief.
"Are you sure it’s him?"
The employee in front of him nodded.
"Yes, Mr. Chen."
The man’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"And he’s not alone."
Mr. Chen looked interested.
"Not alone?"
"There is a woman with him."
A smile immediately appeared.
"A woman?"
"Yes."
The employee continued,
"They were seen having breakfast in the city this morning."
Mr. Chen leaned back.
"Together?"
"Yes."
"It looked like..."
The employee hesitated.
"...they were a couple."
Mr. Chen smiled.
Then shook his head slightly.
"So he’s not here for business."
The employee waited.
Mr. Chen thought for a moment.
"If they were having breakfast nearby..."
He tapped one finger against the desk.
"...their hotel probably isn’t far."
He looked toward the employee.
"Find out where he’s staying."
The employee nodded.
"Understood."
Mr. Chen continued,
"I’ll meet my old friend personally."
The employee bowed slightly.
Then left the office.
The door had barely closed when another opened.
A woman entered.
She looked toward her husband curiously.
"What is it?"
Mr. Chen turned.
"Something good."
She approached him.
"Good?"
He smiled.
"An old friend is in Beijing."
She stepped closer.
"You have a lot of old friends."
"Not like this one."
That caught her attention.
She gently straightened his tie.
"Must be an important friend."
Chen looked down at her.
"Why?"
"Because it’s rare to see you this excited."
He laughed softly.
Then his expression became more thoughtful.
"I owe him."
She stopped adjusting the tie.
"A debt?"
"Yes."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Money?"
Mr. Chen shook his head.
"Nothing monetary."
She waited.
He looked toward the window.
"It’s more like..."
"A debt of life."
Her expression changed.
She studied him for a few seconds.
Then smiled.
"Invite him."
Mr. Chen looked toward her.
"I’ll be happy to cook dinner."
His smile immediately returned.
"Thank you, dear."
Then he added,
"He’ll probably bring his plus one."
Her smile widened.
"Even better."
She stepped away.
"Two guests are more interesting than one."
Mr. Chen chuckled.
Then she suddenly remembered something.
"Oh."
"What?"
She looked toward the auction catalog on his desk.
"Father called earlier."
Mr. Chen’s expression changed slightly.
"What did he say?"
She picked up the catalog.
"He said..."
"If we manage to sell the important items in this auction at a good price..."
She looked toward him.
"...he’ll reconsider your position in the family."
Chen remained silent.
His wife watched him carefully.
There was old tension hidden there.
Old expectations.
Old judgments.
Things neither of them needed to say aloud anymore.
She gently touched his hand.
"This auction matters."
Chen looked at her.
Then smiled.
"Everything will be alright."
She squeezed his fingers.
"I know."
Outside the office...
Employees continued preparing the auction.
Rare objects moved under heavy security.
Buyers were being contacted.
Invitations were being confirmed.
And somewhere in Beijing...
An old friend Chen had never expected to see again was spending his morning sightseeing with his wife.