Chapter 414: Fame!!!
The ice cream arrived a moment later.
One cup of butterscotch was placed in front of Miles.
Another cup of chocolate was handed to Chloe.
She took a small spoonful immediately.
Her eyes brightened.
"This is actually really good."
Miles smiled.
"Told you."
Mr. Chen stood nearby, watching the two of them with an amused expression.
Miles finally looked toward him.
"So?"
Chen raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"You went through the trouble of tracking me down."
Miles took another bite of ice cream.
"What is it?"
Chen smiled.
"Nothing."
Miles stared at him.
Chen chuckled.
"I genuinely just wanted to see an old friend."
His eyes moved over Miles slowly.
"You know..."
"When I first heard that you retired..."
He paused.
"I thought maybe you lost an arm."
Miles raised an eyebrow.
"Or a leg."
Chloe immediately covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing.
Chen continued seriously,
"Maybe both."
Miles stared.
Chen smiled.
"People like you don’t usually retire because they suddenly decide to grow flowers."
Miles sighed.
"Your concern is touching."
Chen laughed.
"But look at you now."
His eyes moved toward Miles’ face.
"You’ve grown into a handsome young man."
Then toward Chloe.
"And you’re married to a lovely woman."
Chloe smiled politely.
Chen suddenly narrowed his eyes.
"Don’t tell me..."
Miles knew what was coming.
"...you fell in love during one of your operations."
Chloe immediately lifted one hand over her mouth.
Her eyes moved toward Miles.
Miles sighed.
Then nodded.
"Yes."
Chen stared for a second.
Then started laughing.
"I knew it."
Miles looked toward Chloe.
"It was years ago."
His voice softened slightly.
"I live normally now."
Chen listened.
Miles continued,
"I have a normal career."
Chloe gave him a look at the word normal.
Miles ignored it.
"I have a home."
He looked toward Chloe.
"A place to return to."
Chen’s smile slowly faded into something warmer.
"The things you said you’d never have."
Miles became quiet.
Chen remembered the younger version of him too clearly.
A boy who moved through countries without belonging to any of them.
Someone who could disappear overnight.
Someone who spoke about home as if it belonged to another kind of person.
Chen nodded.
"I’m glad."
He looked toward Chloe again.
"Really."
"When I heard you were in Beijing, I got excited."
Miles smiled.
Chen continued,
"My wife noticed."
"She became curious about who could make me leave work just to meet him."
Chloe laughed.
Chen smiled.
"So she invited both of you to dinner."
Chloe immediately looked interested.
"Home cooked dinner?"
Chen nodded.
"My wife cooks very well."
Chloe turned toward Miles.
"Sounds good."
Miles laughed.
"You agreed before asking me."
Chloe smiled.
"You like home cooked food too."
Miles nodded.
"Alright."
Chen reached inside his jacket.
He took out a thick envelope.
Then handed it toward Miles.
"There’s something else."
Miles accepted it.
"What is this?"
"Tomorrow afternoon."
Miles opened the envelope.
An elegantly designed invitation rested inside.
Chen continued,
"We’re holding an auction."
Miles looked at the card.
"You still run those yourself?"
"When something important comes up."
Chen smiled.
"This one has several interesting lots."
"Antiques."
"Artifacts."
"Old manuscripts."
"Jewelry."
"A few pieces with complicated histories."
Miles looked toward Chloe.
"An auction."
Chloe’s expression immediately became curious.
Miles held up the invitation.
"What do you think?"
She took it from him.
"I’ve never been to one."
Chen smiled.
Chloe turned the invitation over.
"It could become one of those memorable activities from the trip."
Then she looked toward Chen.
"Mr. Chen?"
"Yes?"
"Can we take pictures there?"
Chen laughed.
"We have a display museum connected to the auction hall."
Chloe immediately brightened.
"You can take as many pictures as you want there."
"Then we’re going."
Miles looked toward her.
"That was quick."
Chloe gave the invitation back.
"Pictures."
Miles nodded.
"Understandable."
Then he looked toward Chen.
"You heard her."
Chen smiled.
"I’ll arrange everything."
Miles suddenly added,
"By the way..."
Chen looked toward him.
"I met your wife recently."
Chen froze.
"What?"
Chloe looked between them.
Chen frowned.
"When?"
"Few weeks ago."
"Where?"
"Frankfurt."
Chen stared at him.
Then his expression changed.
"Wait."
He narrowed his eyes.
"I thought you didn’t attend the Conclave."
Miles grinned.
Chen immediately understood that something was missing.
"What did you do?"
Miles shook his head.
"I’m not telling."
Chen sighed.
"So you’re going to keep me hanging too?"
"It’s more fun that way."
Chloe looked toward Miles suspiciously.
"What is this about?"
Miles smiled.
"I’ll tell you later."
Chloe stared.
Then smiled.
"Hehe."
Miles looked toward her.
"What?"
"I recognize that expression."
"What expression?"
"That mischievous one."
Chen laughed.
He looked between them.
Then checked the time.
"I should let you two continue your evening."
He stepped back.
"See you tomorrow."
Chloe nodded.
"Thank you for the treat, Mr. Chen."
Chen smiled.
"The pleasure is mine."
Then he looked toward Miles one last time.
There was something almost fatherly in the expression.
"Good to see you alive, Miles."
Miles smiled faintly.
"Good to see you too."
Chen turned.
Then slowly walked away from the lake.
...
Miles watched him leave.
Then looked toward Chloe.
"Let’s go home."
Chloe raised an eyebrow.
"Home?"
Miles smiled.
"Hotel."
She laughed.
Miles asked,
"Want to walk back?"
Chloe looked down at her heels.
Then toward him.
"If we walk all the way..."
She smiled.
"...you’ll have to carry me."
Miles immediately nodded.
"Sure."
Chloe froze.
He looked completely serious.
She laughed.
"I’m kidding."
Miles almost looked disappointed.
Chloe pulled out her phone.
"Just call the car."
"Fine."
Miles sent a quick message.
They began walking slowly along the lake while waiting.
Chloe looked toward him.
"So..."
Miles already knew there was another question coming.
"Do you have friends everywhere too?"
Miles thought about it.
"Friends."
Then smiled.
"Enemies."
"People in between."
"All over."
Chloe immediately looked concerned.
"So you have enemies here?"
Miles shook his head.
"Not anymore."
That answer seemed to relax her.
They walked a few more steps.
Then Chloe said quietly,
"You know..."
"What?"
"It actually gives me some relief."
Miles looked toward her.
"Knowing that there are people all over the world who worry about you."
Miles became quiet.
Chloe continued,
"People who remember you."
"People who are happy to see you’re alive."
Miles looked toward the lake.
"Now that you say it..."
He smiled faintly.
"I never understood that back then."
Chloe nodded.
"I didn’t either."
Miles turned.
She continued,
"People worry about you."
He suddenly smiled mischievously.
Then changed his voice slightly, copying an old memory.
"Hey, Light..."
Chloe’s eyes widened.
Miles continued,
"I love you this much."
Chloe immediately hit his arm.
"Miles!"
He burst out laughing.
Her cheeks became red.
"You tease too much."
Miles continued laughing.
Chloe pointed toward him.
"Fine."
"Tell me how you know Mr. Chen."
Miles’ laughter slowly faded.
He thought for a moment.
"Ray sent me here."
"Uncle Ray?"
Miles nodded.
"He wanted me to investigate something."
They continued walking.
"There were problems inside the Chen family business."
Chloe listened carefully.
"Someone was replacing original auction pieces with copies."
Her eyebrows rose.
"Inside their own collection?"
"Yes."
Miles nodded.
"Original artifacts disappeared."
"High value items."
"Historical pieces."
"Copies were put in their place."
Chloe frowned.
"That sounds like someone inside."
"That was the assumption."
Miles continued,
"Mr. Chen’s father had an old connection with one of Graveyard’s commanders."
"So Ray sent me."
Chloe looked toward him.
"You were sixteen?"
"Around that age."
She shook her head.
Miles continued,
"Mr. Chen suspected someone dangerous was behind it."
"And he was right."
Chloe became quieter.
"What happened?"
Miles smiled faintly.
"I somehow saved his life."
Chloe stared.
"Somehow?"
Miles shrugged.
"There was fighting."
"Obviously."
"I don’t remember every little detail anymore."
Chloe looked unconvinced.
Miles smiled.
"But..."
"The situation between him and his father was complicated."
"It wasn’t good even back then."
"His father didn’t trust him enough."
"Chen believed his father never respected him."
"His father believed Chen was careless."
Miles paused.
"And both of them were terrible at actually saying what they felt."
Chloe smiled faintly.
"So you helped?"
"Not intentionally."
Miles shook his head.
"I was there to complete a mission."
"Nothing more."
"But the things that happened forced them to finally face each other."
Chloe looked thoughtful.
"So when he talks about owing you..."
Miles sighed.
"I don’t see it as a debt."
"Saving him was my duty."
"I wasn’t expecting anything in return."
Chloe looked toward him.
"But he sees more than that."
Miles nodded.
"I realized later."
He looked ahead.
"His life changed."
"His relationship with his father improved."
"He got another chance."
"So to him..."
Miles smiled.
"...maybe it feels bigger than it ever felt to me."
Chloe’s expression softened.
Then a proud smile appeared.
Miles noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"What?"
She held his arm.
"I’m just proud of my husband."
Miles smiled.
Chloe immediately continued,
"We should buy something for them tomorrow."
"For dinner?"
"Yes."
She nodded.
"We shouldn’t go to someone’s house empty handed."
Miles agreed.
"Sure."
"And..."
Chloe’s eyes brightened.
"We should buy things for the family too."
Miles laughed.
"More shopping?"
"Yes."
"We already have luggage."
"We can send everything directly from here."
Miles nodded.
"That’s true."
Chloe started thinking aloud.
"Something for Mom."
"Father."
"Grandpa Tim."
"Hope."
"Asher."
"Monica."
Miles smiled.
"This is going to become expensive."
Chloe looked at him.
Miles immediately corrected himself.
"Not that I care."
"Good."
A car approached.
Miles recognized it.
"There."
The vehicle stopped near them.
He opened the door for Chloe.
"Let’s go."
She got inside.
Miles joined her.
The lake slowly disappeared behind the car.
....
Star Harbor.
Comic Club Auditorium.
The auditorium lights dimmed.
Hundreds of conversations slowly softened as people took their seats.
The atmosphere inside was electric.
The show had been sold out for weeks.
Large banners near the stage carried the name of one of the fastest rising comedians in the international circuit.
ELLIOT MERCER
And seated directly in the center of the front row...
Was Monica.
She wore a beautiful dress.
Elegant.
Confident.
Simple enough for a comedy show but refined enough that several people immediately noticed her.
Her usual commanding presence didn’t disappear just because she was outside the office.
If anything...
It made her stand out even more.
Whispers began nearby.
A young man leaned toward his friend.
"Isn’t that Miss Monica?"
His friend looked carefully.
"From Reaper Group?"
"I think so."
Another person nearby whispered,
"I heard Reaper Entertainment bought streaming rights for tonight’s show."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"So that’s why she’s here?"
Someone looked toward Monica again.
"She looks really pretty."
His friend immediately elbowed him.
"Don’t say that so loudly."
"Why?"
"You want to offend her?"
Monica heard none of it.
Or pretended not to.
She looked toward the stage.
The ticket Miles gave her was still tucked carefully inside her purse.
Front row.
Exactly as promised.
Then the lights shifted.
The host walked onto the stage.
Applause spread.
"Ladies and gentlemen..."
The audience settled.
The host smiled.
"We have been waiting a long time for tonight."
Cheers immediately began.
"Our star has spent the past months selling out shows across Europe."
The crowd applauded louder.
"And finally..."
"He has returned to Haven."
More cheers.
The host smiled.
"You all know how much he talks about loving beaches more than mountains."
Several fans already started laughing.
The host continued,
"Apparently..."
"He doesn’t hate mountains."
"He is simply too lazy to climb one."
The auditorium burst into laughter.
Backstage staff laughed too.
The host extended one hand toward the curtains.
"Please welcome..."
"The man who somehow turned avoiding exercise into an international career..."
"Elliot Mercer!"
The auditorium erupted.
Applause.
Whistles.
Cheers.
The stage lights brightened.
Elliot walked out.
He wore a dark jacket over a simple shirt.
Relaxed.
Confident.
Completely different from the struggling young comedian Monica once knew in Mt. West.
He raised both hands.
"Star Harbor!"
The audience responded immediately.
Elliot laughed.
He walked toward the center.
Then his eyes moved across the crowd.
Front row.
Left.
Center.
And stopped.
Monica.
For barely a second...
His expression changed.
Recognition.
Warmth.
A little surprise.
Then he gave the smallest nod.
Not enough for the audience to notice.
But Monica did.
She smiled.
Then returned the same subtle nod.
Almost like two old friends silently greeting one another across a crowded room.
Elliot looked back toward the audience.
"Good evening, Star Harbor!"
The crowd cheered again.
He smiled.
"Wow."
He looked around.
"You people really came."
Laughter.
"I thought half of you bought tickets because your partners forced you."
More laughter.
A man from somewhere in the audience shouted,
"She did!"
The entire hall exploded.
Elliot pointed toward the voice.
"Brother, blink twice if you need help."
Another wave of laughter.
Monica found herself laughing too.
The jokes continued.
Travel.
Airports.
Family.
His life in Mt. West.
Being recognized in public at terrible moments.
Hotels that called themselves luxury but gave him towels thinner than tissues.
His sudden fame.
Fans.
Dating.
His inability to understand why people online analyzed every expression on his face.
At one point...
He joked about how becoming successful only meant that now more people watched him fail in public.
Monica laughed so hard she had to cover her mouth.
It surprised even her.
It had been a long time since she laughed like this.
Not the controlled smile used in meetings.
Not the occasional chuckle around Miles.
Not amusement while watching Hope and Asher fight over something.
Real laughter.
Careless.
Easy.
For nearly two hours...
She was simply Monica.
Watching Elliot.
The same man she had once known before anyone outside Mt. West cared about his name.
Eventually...
The final joke landed.
The audience erupted into one last roar.
Elliot bowed.
"Thank you, Star Harbor."
He smiled genuinely.
"You’ve been amazing."
Applause filled the auditorium.
Monica joined them.
Elliot looked toward the crowd one last time.
His eyes briefly returned to her.
Then he walked backstage.
...
The audience slowly began leaving.
Monica remained seated for a while.
She waited until the main crowd had begun thinning.
Then stood.
A staff member recognized her immediately.
"Miss Monica."
She nodded.
"He is backstage?"
"Yes."
"Thank you."
The staff member didn’t stop her.
Monica walked through the side corridor.
She reached the dressing room area.
One door was partly open.
She gently knocked.
The conversation inside stopped.
Several members of Elliot’s team looked toward her.
One immediately recognized her.
Then another.
Nobody needed instructions.
They quietly gathered their things.
One by one...
They left the room.
Monica watched them go.
Then looked inside.
Elliot sat near the dressing table.
He smiled.
"Miss Monica."
He gestured toward the couch.
"Have a seat."
Monica entered.
She sat down.
For a few seconds...
Neither knew exactly how to begin.
Then Monica smiled.
"How are you, Elliot?"
He leaned back.
"I’m good."
Then sighed dramatically.
"Apparently..."
"Having fame comes with a lot of restrictions."
Monica smiled.
"Like?"
"I lost my freedom."
He gestured toward the dressing room.
"People know where I eat."
"Where I travel."
"If I sneeze somewhere, someone uploads it."
Monica laughed.
Elliot smiled.
Then looked at her.
"You knew this would happen."
Monica raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"You always said I’d become famous."
She smiled.
"I did."
"I thought you were just being nice."
"I wasn’t."
Elliot became quiet.
Then asked,
"So..."
"How are you?"
Monica leaned back.
"I’m good."
"Busy."
"Mostly work."
"Still?"
"Always."
He smiled.
"You live here now?"
"Yes."
Monica nodded.
"Reaper Group moved its headquarters to Star Harbor."
Elliot looked genuinely surprised.
"Really?"
"Yes."
He frowned.
"What’s wrong with Mt. West?"
Monica laughed.
"Nothing is wrong with Mt. West."
She looked toward him.
"The chairman finally found somewhere he wanted to settle."
Elliot slowly nodded.
"Oh."
Then something occurred to him.
"I went back to your office in Mt. West."
Monica blinked.
"You did?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"Recently."
She looked surprised.
"You could’ve called me."
Elliot looked down.
"I thought I’d talk to you face to face."
He smiled faintly.
"But you weren’t there."
"Then shows started lining up."
"Travel."
"Europe."
"Things kept moving."
Monica watched him carefully.
"So..."
"What did you want to talk about?"
The room became quieter.
Elliot’s smile slowly faded.
He looked toward his hands.
"I wanted to apologize."
Monica didn’t respond.
He looked up.
"For last time."
Her expression changed slightly.
Elliot continued,
"When I found out who you really were..."
He sighed.
"That you were the face of Reaper Group."
Monica remained silent.
"I got scared."
He smiled bitterly.
"Not of you."
"Of everything around you."
He looked around the luxurious backstage room.
"I was nothing back then."
"A small comedian trying to get bookings."
"I had debts."
"Problems."
"No name."
"No influence."
He looked toward Monica.
"And you..."
"You walked into rooms where businessmen twice my age stood up when you entered."
Monica lowered her eyes slightly.
Elliot continued,
"I kept asking myself..."
"What could someone like me ever give you?"
Monica looked toward him.
"What did I ask you for?"
Elliot stopped.
She repeated quietly,
"I never asked you for anything, did I?"
"No."
He smiled faintly.
"You didn’t."
Monica’s expression remained calm.
Elliot continued,
"It took me time to understand that."
He looked toward the floor.
"I treated you badly."
"I panicked."
"I disappeared."
"I ran away instead of talking."
Monica remained still.
Elliot’s voice softened.
"You were sincere."
"And I hurt you."
Silence filled the room.
For a moment...
Monica looked down at her hands.
Then smiled faintly.
"I thought..."
Elliot waited.
"...you wouldn’t think about me again."
He smiled.
Not his stage smile.
Something quieter.
He didn’t answer immediately.
Monica looked toward him.
Then asked,
"So..."
"How does it feel now?"
Elliot raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"You have everything you thought you needed."
Monica smiled.
"Name."
"Fame."
"Money."
"Sold out shows."
"People waiting outside just to see you."
She leaned slightly forward.
"How does it feel?"
Elliot’s smile faded.
He thought for a few seconds.
Then answered simply,
"Empty."
Monica looked at him.
No joke followed.
No punchline.
No laugh.
Just that one word.
Empty.
Monica understood more than he probably expected.
She slowly smiled.
"You haven’t eaten, right?"
Elliot blinked.
"What?"
"Dinner."
He looked toward the clock.
Then shook his head.
"No."
Monica stood.
"I know a good place."
Elliot looked up.
She picked up her purse.
"Want to join me?"
A smile appeared on his face.
"I’d love to."
Then he glanced toward the hallway.
"But..."
Monica raised an eyebrow.
"Let’s wait."
"For what?"
"Until the audience leaves properly."
He stood.
"If somebody sees us together..."
He smiled awkwardly.
"...they’ll start rumors."
Monica stared at him.
Elliot continued,
"And with who you are..."
Monica sighed.
"Elliot."
He stopped.
She looked directly into his eyes.
"I didn’t care back then."
His expression changed slightly.
Monica continued,
"And I don’t care now."
She picked up her coat.
"I spent enough time worrying about work."
"Companies."
"People."
"Responsibilities."
She smiled faintly.
"I just want to be happy."
Elliot remained silent.
Monica added,
"Unless..."
She looked at him.
"...you think the rumors will damage your image."
Elliot stared at her for a moment.
Then smiled.
He grabbed his jacket.
"Let’s go."
Monica stood up
"Lets go"