Chapter 344: A promise under the starlight!!
Under the endless canopy of stars, on the soft grass covering the quiet hill, two people lay side by side.
Neither of them spoke for a while.
Their fingers remained intertwined.
The engagement ring resting on Chloe’s finger reflected tiny specks of starlight whenever she moved her hand.
The breeze carried the scent of pine trees and fresh earth.
It was peaceful.
The kind of peace Miles had searched for his entire life.
He looked upward at the countless stars.
"Do you think I am dramatic?"
Chloe turned her head toward him.
A smile immediately appeared on her face.
"You are."
"A big one."
Miles looked at her with mock disbelief.
"Really?"
She giggled.
"No."
"There is nothing dramatic about telling the person you love what your heart has carried for years."
She slowly stretched out one hand.
"Give me your hand."
Miles quietly moved his hand toward her.
Instead of simply holding it, Chloe gently wrapped both of her hands around it.
Her fingers slowly traced the rough skin covering his palm.
The calluses.
The scars.
Hands that had carried far too much for someone so young.
Her expression softened.
"It must have been so hard for you."
Miles looked at the night sky again.
"I don’t regret it."
"Everything I did at the end, it was to avenge my father."
"My grandparents."
"And to protect the people I love."
"I don’t regret any of it."
Chloe nodded gently.
"You even avenged my mother."
"You never asked for anything in return."
She squeezed his hand a little tighter.
"If one day..."
"You ever face legal trouble..."
"I’ll ask Grandpa to help."
Miles laughed quietly.
"That old man certainly has influence."
"But don’t worry."
"Nothing will happen."
"I worked directly under the President of Haven."
"There are no official records connecting Miles Sterling to any of my past."
"My name is completely clean."
Chloe’s eyes sparkled.
"That sounds so cool."
"A spy."
"An undercover operative."
"A superhero."
She smiled proudly.
"I really found my dream husband."
Miles turned toward her.
"Husband?"
Chloe blinked innocently.
"Yes?"
"So..."
"When are we getting married?"
Miles chuckled.
"Is there anything you want to do before our wedding?"
Chloe became thoughtful.
"There is."
"I want to visit the cemetery in Paris."
"I want to see Mama and Papa."
"I want their blessings."
Miles nodded immediately.
"I’ll go with you."
"There isn’t another option."
Chloe smiled.
"There isn’t."
Both of them laughed softly.
The silence returned.
This time it felt even warmer.
"It was a heavy day."
Chloe whispered.
Miles slowly reached over and gently brushed a few loose strands of hair away from her forehead.
"Are you tired?"
She yawned.
"I could sleep right here."
Miles laughed.
"Alice was right."
"You really are a sleepyhead."
"You slept through almost the whole drive."
Chloe shrugged without shame.
"What can I do?"
"I’m just a poor little girl."
"And..."
"I’m lazy."
Miles nodded seriously.
"I agree."
Chloe immediately reached over.
She pinched both his cheeks.
"You don’t have to agree with everything I say."
Miles laughed through squished cheeks.
"What are you..."
"My mom?"
Chloe released him and smiled.
"Your mother..."
"She really is the perfect mother."
Miles looked toward the stars again.
"Do you want to call her Mom?"
Chloe smiled shyly.
"The next time I see her..."
"I’ll call her that."
Miles smiled warmly.
"She’ll be very happy."
Chloe remained quiet for a few moments.
Then her voice became softer.
"Can you promise me something?"
Miles turned toward her.
"You can ask me anything."
She looked into his eyes.
"I don’t want us to live separately after we get married."
"I want us all to live together."
"You."
"Your parents."
"Hope."
"Asher."
"And me."
"I want to become part of that family too."
"It feels..."
"So warm."
Miles quietly lifted one hand and gently cupped her cheek.
"I promise."
His voice carried absolute certainty.
"Thank you."
Chloe blinked.
"For what?"
"For understanding me..."
"Without me having to explain."
Her eyes slowly became moist again.
Without another word, she rolled onto her side and carefully rested against him.
Her head settled comfortably over his chest.
She could hear his steady heartbeat.
It was strangely calming.
After a long silence she asked quietly,
"Do you think..."
"I’ll become a good wife?"
Miles smiled.
Both his arms slowly wrapped around her.
Holding her gently.
Holding her safely.
"I believe you ."
"So don’t doubt yourself."
"My family..."
"And I..."
"We’ll always accept you."
"Even when you cannot believe in yourself."
Chloe closed her eyes.
His heartbeat answered every fear she still carried.
After a while she looked upward again.
"How far is Star Harbor?"
Miles glanced toward the road below the hill.
"About an hour."
"Maybe a little less."
He smiled.
"Are you hungry?"
Chloe thought seriously.
"I don’t know."
"I don’t really feel like eating."
She giggled.
"Today was too sweet."
"I think it had too many calories."
Miles laughed.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
She laughed with him.
"I don’t know."
"I was trying to sound poetic."
Miles gently held her chin.
Tilting her face toward his.
Their eyes met once more beneath the stars.
His smile slowly became playful.
"Then..."
"How about we burn some calories?"
Chloe’s cheeks instantly became bright red.
"You..."
She lightly punched his shoulder.
"Bad boy."
She quickly buried her face against his chest again.
Miles laughed.
"I was only joking."
"Liar."
Her muffled voice came from against his shirt.
After a while Miles looked around the beautiful hill.
"We should come here often."
"I’ll build a small wooden cabin."
Chloe lifted her head immediately.
"Then let’s bring everyone too."
"Hope and Asher would absolutely love this place."
Miles sighed dramatically.
"Of course."
"They’ll probably claim the cabin before we even get inside."
Chloe laughed.
Miles slowly sat up before offering his hand.
"Come on."
"Let’s go."
"I asked Mom to cook dinner."
Chloe’s eyes brightened.
"We’re going back to Atelier?"
"Now you’re making me hungry."
Miles shook his head.
"Home."
"You’ve never really come home before."
Chloe froze.
Then she suddenly sat upright.
Both hands hurriedly fixed her hair.
She smoothed her dress.
"Oh no."
"You should have told me earlier."
"My hair must be a mess."
"I need to comb it before we get there."
Miles couldn’t stop laughing.
She looked at him with an embarrassed pout.
"What’s so funny?"
"We’re going to be late."
Miles stood beside her and smiled warmly.
"Mom isn’t going to scold you."
Chloe smiled back.
"I know."
Then she quietly slipped her hand into his once again.
And together...
They began walking back beneath the endless stars, toward the family that was waiting to welcome her home.
...
About an hour later, the car slowly turned through the familiar roads leading toward Pearl Villa.
The evening had settled completely.
Warm lights glowed from the villa, making it look peaceful against the quiet night.
As the gates opened automatically, Chloe looked out through the window with quiet amazement.
"So..."
"You live here?"
Miles smiled while steering the car toward the entrance.
"What?"
"Didn’t the princess like it?"
He pretended to think for a moment.
"Oh..."
"I almost forgot."
"The house where you grew up was much bigger than this."
Chloe immediately looked at him.
"At least..."
"You don’t have to live under constant surveillance anymore."
"You can walk through your own front door."
"You don’t have to hide."
She smiled softly.
"Do you really think I care about how big a house is?"
Miles laughed.
"I was only teasing."
"I know."
She laughed with him.
"I know you were."
The car came to a gentle stop.
Miles walked around and opened her door as he always did.
Chloe accepted his hand with a smile before stepping out.
The night breeze greeted them.
Miles walked to the front door and pressed the doorbell.
A few seconds later...
The door opened.
Elena appeared with her usual warm smile.
"You’re back."
Her eyes immediately wandered past Miles.
Almost as though she was searching for someone.
Miles noticed.
He stepped slightly to one side.
"Looking for her?"
Chloe shyly stepped into view.
For a brief moment...
Elena simply looked at her.
Then...
Her eyes naturally fell upon Chloe’s left hand.
The engagement ring sparkled softly beneath the lights.
Elena looked back at Miles.
Pride filled her eyes.
She smiled.
"Congratulations, son."
"I am so happy."
Chloe’s cheeks turned pink.
She looked at Elena.
Then spoke the word she had been rehearsing in her heart ever since leaving the hill.
"Hello..."
"Mom."
Elena froze.
Her eyes instantly sparkled.
The smile on her face grew even brighter.
"So..."
"You finally called me Mom."
Without waiting another second, she gently held Chloe’s hand.
"There is no standing outside."
"Come inside, dear."
She lovingly guided Chloe into the villa as though welcoming her daughter home.
Miles stood behind them.
Watching both women disappear inside together.
A peaceful smile slowly appeared on his face.
For the first time...
Home truly felt complete.
...
Thousands of kilometers away.
London.
Connor Mansion.
The elegant drawing room was quiet except for the soft sound of the television playing in the background.
Nora Connor sat comfortably with a cup of tea resting beside her.
Her phone suddenly vibrated.
She picked it up.
A message appeared on the screen.
Nora smiled so warmly that her eyes became gentle.
"It’s so nice..."
"...to be young."
A voice came from behind her.
"It’s rare to see you smile like that, Mother."
Nora looked over her shoulder.
A tall man had just entered the room.
She smiled.
"I smiled just like this..."
"...when you proposed to your wife too, Calum."
Calum laughed as he sat opposite her.
"So..."
"Who proposed this time?"
"Miles."
Nora answered proudly.
Calum nodded with interest.
"So he did."
Nora looked at the message again.
"Time passes far too quickly."
"It feels like only yesterday..."
"...that Edward and I were running around together."
Her eyes became distant.
"I still miss him."
Calum smiled gently.
"I miss Cousin Edward too."
He leaned back in his chair.
"Listening to your stories..."
"I really want to meet his son now."
Nora chuckled.
"Aren’t you busy enough raising your own children?"
Calum smiled.
"They are growing up."
"They don’t cause nearly as much trouble anymore."
"Zoe is finally getting a little peace."
Nora looked around.
"So..."
"Where is Zoe?"
"In another board meeting."
Calum sighed.
"You know how much of a workaholic she is."
Nora smiled proudly.
"She is a woman leading a business."
"It takes far more effort for women to prove themselves."
"I’m happy..."
"...that you always stood beside her."
Calum laughed.
"Perhaps I inherited that from Father."
Nora raised an eyebrow.
"You think your old man simply handed this empire to me?"
"I fought for every inch of it."
"I know, Mother."
Calum smiled.
"And I have always admired that."
Nora sipped her tea.
"So."
"What brings you here today?"
Calum’s smile faded.
"It’s Miller Corporation."
"They’re becoming aggressive."
"This time..."
"They have support from a major German company."
Nora quietly placed her cup down.
"Haven never lets me enjoy retirement, does it?"
Calum sighed.
"So..."
"What do you think?"
"How should we handle this?"
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"To be honest..."
"I’m getting tired."
"I don’t like watching Zoe carry so much pressure."
"We have children now."
"Sometimes..."
"I feel like retiring already."
Nora laughed softly.
"If your mother solves every problem for you..."
"What will you do after I’m gone?"
Calum immediately frowned.
"Please don’t say things like that."
Nora smiled reassuringly.
"Then stop making me sound old."
She thought for a few moments.
"Take the flight to Star Harbor."
"Meet Miles."
Calum blinked.
"Miles?"
"He has some unfinished history with Miller Corporation."
"He’ll understand the situation."
Calum looked surprised.
"He has connections with them?"
Nora slowly nodded.
"Yes."
"But..."
"They aren’t pleasant ones."
Calum stood.
"Understood."
"I’ll leave tomorrow."
Nora suddenly remembered something.
"Oh."
"Wait."
"Buy presents before you leave."
"For the two little ones."
"Give them to Miles."
Calum looked genuinely confused.
"He just got engaged."
"He already has two children?"
Nora stared at him.
Then laughed.
"Are you truly my son?"
"I’m talking about Hope and Asher."
"His younger siblings."
Calum scratched his head awkwardly.
"Right..."
"I remembered."
Nora shook her head while smiling.
"I wonder how someone like you manages an international company."
Calum laughed helplessly.
"I ask myself the same question."
He walked toward the door.
"Thank you, Mother."
"I should get going."
Nora looked toward the gardens outside.
"What?"
"You aren’t even going to greet your father?"
"He’s outside."
"Taking care of his plants again."
Calum smiled helplessly.
"I think I’ll leave him alone."
"If I stay there too long..."
"I’ll start getting jealous."
Nora couldn’t help laughing as she watched her son leave.