Chapter 441: The NULL
Pearl Villa.
Night.
Dinner had ended almost an hour ago, but no one seemed interested in leaving the living room.
The house carried the comfortable laziness that came after a good meal.
Empty glasses rested on the center table.
Hope was sitting on the carpet with a book.
Asher had disappeared into his room only a few minutes earlier after spending most of dinner asking Nick questions about games.
Miles leaned back beside Chloe.
He looked toward her.
"Thanks for helping."
Chloe turned.
"For what?"
"You worked all day."
Miles smiled.
"Then came home early and still helped me in the kitchen."
Chloe looked confused.
"What’s wrong with helping you?"
"Nothing."
"I like doing things with you."
Miles raised an eyebrow.
"Like what?"
Chloe immediately noticed the smile forming on his face.
Nick looked up from his phone.
"Hey."
Miles ignored him.
Nick pointed between them.
"We’re right here."
"Don’t start flirting."
Miles looked toward him.
"Shut up."
Nick shook his head.
"Newlyweds."
Daniel laughed.
Then looked toward Miles.
"The food was really good."
Elena nodded.
"Very good."
Miles smiled.
"Thanks."
Nick immediately added,
"I loved it."
Miles looked toward him.
Nick sighed.
"Unfortunately..."
"What?"
"This is another thing Dad can use to scold me."
Miles laughed.
Elena looked at Nick.
"Do you want to learn?"
Nick froze.
"Learn what?"
"Cooking."
He stared at her for a moment.
Then actually considered it.
"Aunt Elena..."
"Yes?"
"If you’re offering to teach me..."
He smiled.
"That’s a very generous offer."
Elena waited.
Nick continued,
"But honestly..."
"I’m more of an eater than a cook."
Daniel chuckled.
Elena smiled warmly.
"That’s fine."
Nick looked toward her.
"You don’t have to be good at everything."
For some reason, those words made Nick quieter.
Elena continued,
"You said you’re one of the most popular gamers in the country."
Nick nodded.
"Well..."
She smiled.
"That’s already success."
Nick seemed slightly surprised.
Elena looked toward Miles.
"Miles is different."
Miles immediately looked suspicious.
"What does that mean?"
Elena ignored him.
"He tries to learn everything."
"If he doesn’t know something..."
"He works until he knows it."
Miles smiled faintly.
Elena continued,
"He overworks too."
Miles’ smile disappeared.
Nick laughed.
"That’s true."
Elena looked at her son.
"We don’t need him to be good at everything."
Miles leaned back.
"But he is."
She sighed.
"That’s just how he does things."
Her attention returned to Nick.
"And that kind of life probably comes with its own problems."
Nick listened carefully.
Elena continued,
"If you’re successful doing something you genuinely enjoy..."
"That’s enough."
She paused.
"I’m sure your parents have very high expectations."
"Not only because you’re their son."
"But because of who they are."
Nick smiled weakly.
Elena continued,
"The President’s son."
"Your Mother is successful in business."
"People probably expect you to behave a certain way."
"Achieve certain things."
"Represent the family."
Nick nodded slowly.
Elena smiled.
"But beneath all that political and social weight..."
"They’re still your parents."
"I’m sure they want you to succeed."
"But I’m even more sure they want you to be happy."
Nick’s expression softened.
Elena continued,
"That’s how parents are."
Daniel nodded beside her.
"Exactly."
He looked toward Nick.
"I’m sure they’re proud of you already."
Nick remained quiet for a moment.
Then smiled.
"Thanks, Aunt."
He looked toward Daniel.
"Uncle."
Daniel nodded.
Nick leaned back.
"I think I know what you mean."
He smiled faintly.
"I know them."
"Whatever they say..."
"They really do care about me."
Miles finally spoke.
"Good."
Nick looked toward him.
Miles smiled.
"Finally got that into your head."
Nick rolled his eyes.
Miles continued,
"You’re good at what you do."
"You’re already a celebrity."
"And you’re a gamer good enough that most people don’t even know the guy they’re watching is the President’s son."
Nick smiled.
Miles added,
"And believe me..."
His expression became amused.
"You really don’t want to know why your father talks about me."
Nick raised an eyebrow.
Miles continued,
"Half the things I did..."
"He couldn’t do himself."
Nick laughed.
"So he’s using you as the impossible example?"
"Exactly."
Miles smiled.
"Which means he doesn’t expect you to follow my path."
Then his tone became more sincere.
"No matter what you achieve..."
"There’s always something a family can teach you."
"Same with elders."
"Learning from someone doesn’t mean becoming them."
Nick nodded slowly.
"That actually sounds reasonable."
Miles grinned.
"Of course."
"Rare moment."
Miles gave him a look.
Before Nick could continue...
Footsteps came rushing from the corridor.
"Big Bro Nick!"
Asher appeared.
Nick looked over.
"Yes?"
"Can you show me that trick again?"
Nick immediately stood.
"The one from the morning?"
Asher nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes."
"Come on."
Nick followed him toward the room.
Asher grabbed his hand halfway.
"Hurry."
Nick laughed.
"I’m coming."
They disappeared.
Chloe watched them.
Then smiled.
"He’s very humble for a celebrity."
Monica, sitting nearby with a glass in her hand, nodded.
"I agree."
Daniel looked toward her.
"Is that rare?"
Monica laughed.
"You have no idea."
She leaned back.
"At Reaper Entertainment..."
"We literally have media training for celebrities."
Elena blinked.
"Media training?"
"Part of it."
Monica smiled.
"Some need lessons just to remember that fame doesn’t make them better than everyone around them."
Daniel laughed.
"So those nice interviews aren’t always real?"
Monica looked toward him.
"Not everything on screen is real."
Elena nodded knowingly.
"That much I understand."
Monica continued,
"Nick is good, though."
"Very confident."
"But not arrogant."
She smiled.
"He hides quite a lot of his talent behind that face."
Miles looked toward the corridor.
"True."
Monica added,
"He’d probably make a good actor too."
Miles immediately called toward the hallway,
"Tell them that, Mr. President!"
Everyone laughed.
Somewhere inside the room...
Nick shouted,
"I heard that!"
Miles smiled.
...
His phone rang.
The smile faded only slightly when he saw the caller.
Charles.
Miles stood.
"I need to take this."
Chloe nodded.
Miles walked toward the quieter side of the living room and answered.
"Did you eat, Charles?"
A pause.
Then Charles replied,
"I’m eating, Boss."
Miles sighed.
"I can wait while you eat."
"No need."
Miles could already hear it in his voice.
"Where are you?"
Charles hesitated.
Miles narrowed his eyes.
"Still at the base?"
"Yes."
Miles closed his eyes.
"Charles."
"Don’t worry, Boss."
"My wife isn’t in the city again."
Miles leaned against the wall.
"Are you sure she didn’t run away from you?"
Charles laughed.
"Not really."
Then added,
"She’s completely addicted to Korean shows."
Miles chuckled.
"She needs nothing else"
Miles shook his head.
"Fine."
Then his tone changed.
"Tell me."
"Did you find what we expected?"
Charles became serious.
"Yes."
A pause.
"You were right."
Miles looked toward the dark window.
Charles continued,
"It’s him."
Miles’ expression hardened.
"NULL."
"Exactly."
Charles sounded irritated.
"Damn it."
"What does he want with Launchpad?"
Miles sighed.
"He’s just a guy for hire."
Charles replied,
"Then why don’t we pick him up?"
Miles said nothing.
"Capture him."
"Question him."
"Get it over with."
Miles smiled slowly.
"He isn’t alone."
Charles became quiet.
Miles continued,
"If NULL can get himself into Launchpad..."
"Something opened the door for him."
Another silence.
Charles finally said,
"Boss..."
Miles remained quiet.
"I get chills whenever you go silent like that."
Miles almost laughed.
Then said,
"I sent you a number."
Charles checked something.
"A contact?"
"Yes."
"Whose?"
Miles answered calmly,
"NULL’s."
Charles went silent.
Miles smiled.
"Call him."
Charles sounded genuinely surprised.
"And say what?"
"Tell him Ghost wants to hire him."
There was another long silence.
Then Charles asked,
"Boss."
"Yes?"
"You’ve met him before, haven’t you?"
Miles smiled.
"He’s a fun guy."
Charles sighed.
"That means yes."
Miles looked toward the living room.
"You’ll see."
𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚
"Boss..."
"What?"
"You’re scary."
Miles chuckled.
"Go home."
Charles laughed.
Miles continued,
"Before your wife becomes scarier than me."
"She won’t."
"You sure?"
Charles didn’t answer.
Miles smiled.
"And eat proper food sometimes."
"I am."
"What are you eating?"
Silence.
"Charles?"
"A sandwich."
Miles sighed.
Charles immediately defended himself.
"It has protein."
"Of course it does."
Miles shook his head.
"Good night."
"Good night, Boss."
The call ended.
Miles placed the phone into his pocket.
When he turned...
Chloe was watching him.
"You look happy."
Miles smiled.
"What happened?"
"An old friend is in the city."
Chloe became curious.
"A friend?"
Daniel heard them.
He smiled.
"I bet all Miles’ friends are bigshots."
Chloe nodded immediately.
"Yes."
Miles looked offended.
"Why are you agreeing?"
Elena laughed.
"Are you going to meet him?"
Miles shook his head.
"No."
"Why?"
"He doesn’t know my real name."
Chloe stared.
Miles smiled.
"And I already have one friend staying in this house."
He looked toward the hallway.
"That one is hard enough to handle."
Elena gave him a look.
"That’s not how you talk about guests."
Miles immediately straightened.
"Sorry, Mom."
Daniel laughed.
Elena looked toward Chloe.
Then frowned slightly.
"Both of you should sleep early."
Chloe blinked.
Elena continued,
"Chloe looks tired."
She pointed toward Miles.
"And I don’t want dark circles under my daughter’s eyes."
Chloe immediately hid part of her face.
"Mom..."
Elena ignored her.
"It’s your responsibility."
Miles nodded obediently.
"Yes, yes, Mom."
"Make sure she doesn’t overwork."
"I will."
Chloe muttered,
"I can hear both of you."
Miles smiled.
...
Thirty-two years ago.
SYND Private Hospital.
Citadel City.
Night had fallen over the capital.
Rain clouds covered most of the sky, leaving the private hospital surrounded by darkness.
Inside...
The hallways were quiet.
Only the occasional footsteps of nurses disturbed the silence.
At the end of one private wing...
A younger Timothy Sterling stood outside a room.
He remained there for several seconds.
His hand rested against the door handle.
Everyone had already told him the same thing.
There wasn’t much time.
His father could not be saved.
The doctors had stopped speaking in hopeful terms.
They spoke carefully now.
Softly.
The way doctors spoke when they had already accepted what the family had not.
Timothy finally opened the door.
The room was dim.
Only a small lamp beside the bed remained on.
Machines worked quietly around the hospital bed.
And there...
Lay the old patriarch of the Sterling family.
The man whose presence had once been enough to silence rooms.
Now thin.
Weak.
Still.
Timothy closed the door behind him.
For a few seconds...
He didn’t move.
He simply looked at his father.
So many years.
Arguments.
Expectations.
Rules.
Silence.
Pride.
Anger.
Family.
And somehow...
This might be the last time.
Timothy slowly walked closer.
His father appeared to be asleep.
The lines on his face seemed deeper than Timothy remembered.
His breathing was weak.
Timothy stopped beside the bed.
He looked at him.
No words came.
His expression shifted several times.
Pain.
Regret.
Affection.
Things he had spent years refusing to show.
Finally...
Timothy lifted one hand.
He gently placed it against his father’s forehead.
Warm.
Still alive.
His lips trembled slightly.
But Timothy forced a smile.
"Father..."
No response.
He carefully adjusted the blanket covering him.
Pulled it a little higher.
Smoothed the corner.
The same simple action someone had probably done for him as a child.
Timothy looked at his father’s face again.
Then gave a small, silent wave.
Goodbye.
He turned toward the door.
One step.
Then...
"Tim..."
Timothy froze.
A weak voice came from behind.
"Is that you?"
Timothy immediately turned.
His father hadn’t moved.
His eyes were still closed.
Then...
Slowly...
They opened.
Timothy stared.
For a moment, he looked like a child again.
A gentle smile formed.
"Father..."
He walked back toward the bed.
"How did you know?"
The old man breathed slowly.
His eyes struggled to focus.
Then a faint smile appeared.
"You were..."
He paused to catch his breath.
"...just five."
Timothy listened.
"And you used to come beside my bed..."
His voice was barely more than a whisper.
"...after my whole day of tiring work."
A weak chuckle escaped him.
"I would already be asleep."
"But you..."
"You played around the bed."
Timothy’s eyes slowly became wet.
His father looked toward him.
"I could always tell it was you."
A pause.
"How could I forget my son..."