Chapter 369: Things are Moving fast!!
A Few Days Later
Paris, France
The morning sky was covered by soft grey clouds.
A gentle breeze drifted through the quiet cemetery, carrying the scent of fresh flowers across the rows of white stone graves.
Everything felt peaceful.
The world seemed to slow down.
Chloe stood silently before two graves.
Fresh lilies rested in her hands.
Her fingers trembled ever so slightly.
Miles stood beside her without saying a word.
He knew...
Some moments belonged only to the heart.
Chloe slowly knelt down.
She carefully placed the flowers before the gravestones.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"Dear Mama..."
Her voice was soft enough that only Miles could hear.
"...Thank you."
"Thank you for bringing me into this world."
She gently brushed away a few fallen leaves from the stone.
"I know..."
"We didn’t have much time together."
"But every moment..."
"Every single one..."
"They’re the memories I treasure the most."
A small laugh escaped her lips.
"You..."
"Papa..."
"And me."
"Our little family."
She looked between both graves.
"I’m happy."
"You finally found each other again."
"In the safest place."
Her eyes slowly became moist.
"Papa..."
"After you left..."
"Life became very difficult."
"I felt so lonely."
"So lost."
She closed her eyes for a moment.
"But just like you taught me..."
"I stayed strong."
A warm hand gently intertwined with hers.
Miles.
She squeezed his fingers before continuing.
"And..."
"I finally found someone."
"Someone I can rely on completely."
"Just like Mama relied on you."
A smile slowly bloomed across her face.
"His name is Miles."
"And..."
"I love him."
She looked at the graves again.
"We’re getting married soon."
Then she suddenly laughed.
A cheerful little laugh.
"Miles is actually here today..."
"To ask for your permission."
She glanced sideways at him.
Miles awkwardly scratched the back of his neck.
Chloe smiled mischievously.
"But..."
"Even if you say no..."
"I’m still marrying him."
She giggled.
"So..."
"Please let me be stubborn with you..."
"One last time."
Miles couldn’t help smiling.
He stepped forward.
Still holding Chloe’s hand...
He carefully placed another bouquet beside the graves.
"Thank you..."
He spoke quietly.
"For giving the world someone as wonderful as Chloe."
"I promise..."
"I’ll spend the rest of my life protecting her."
"And making her smile."
The breeze quietly carried away his words.
For a long while...
Neither of them spoke.
They simply remained there.
Together.
...
Later that afternoon...
They arrived at Chloe’s old family mansion.
The familiar iron gates stood exactly where they always had.
Tall stone walls surrounded the entire estate.
Time had changed many things.
But not this place.
Chloe looked quietly at the entrance.
"I’m visiting again..."
"After four years."
Miles looked at the mansion.
His thoughts unconsciously drifted back to that terrible day.
Everything returned like fragments of an old memory.
Chloe noticed the expression on his face.
She gently nudged his shoulder.
"Don’t think too much."
Miles smiled.
"This time..."
"We’re entering through the front gate."
He looked up at the enormous walls.
"The boundaries are huge."
Chloe laughed softly.
"They always felt more like prison walls."
She folded her arms.
"You know..."
"I wasn’t even allowed to use the front gate."
Miles nodded gently.
"He was protecting you."
She understood exactly who he meant.
"My father."
She smiled.
"I know."
"He only wanted me to be safe."
She looked at Miles.
"But..."
"I like your way of protecting me better."
Miles raised an eyebrow proudly.
"Well..."
"I’m stronger."
Chloe burst into laughter.
"My superhero."
Miles immediately sighed.
"Can you let that go already?"
She innocently tilted her head.
"What’s wrong with calling you that?"
Miles looked at her.
"Have you ever thought..."
"What you’ll call me after we’re married?"
Chloe pretended to think very seriously.
"Hmm..."
"Darling."
"Honey."
"Baby."
"Hubby."
Miles blinked.
"That many?"
She laughed.
"Nah."
"I’ll stick with Superhero."
Miles looked completely defeated.
"Hey..."
She laughed even harder.
"I like seeing you lose."
Miles simply shook his head.
"I’ve created a monster."
She proudly nodded.
"Too late."
...
That evening...
Paris glowed beneath thousands of golden lights.
Just like years ago...
They found themselves standing beneath the Eiffel Tower once again.
The same city.
The same sky.
The same two people.
Only this time...
Neither of them carried the weight of uncertainty.
Their fingers remained intertwined.
Sometimes she leaned against his shoulder.
Sometimes he quietly wrapped an arm around her.
Neither hurried the moment.
Neither wanted it to end.
The night quietly slipped away.
...
The following day...
After visiting several old friends and familiar places...
Marcel drove them towards Charles de Gaulle Airport.
The atmosphere inside the car was warm.
Comfortable.
Filled with memories.
Miles quietly looked out of the window.
Then smiled.
"I’m getting..."
Before he could finish...
Chloe immediately interrupted.
"Déjà vu?"
She grinned.
"A huge one."
She looked at him playfully.
"Right, Mr Exchange Student?"
Marcel burst into laughter.
"Sorry about all that."
He looked through the mirror.
"But..."
"I’m really happy."
"You two are finally getting married."
He smiled proudly.
"Good luck, Captain."
"I always knew you’d make it."
Miles laughed.
"There were four of us in this car that day."
Chloe frowned.
"One..."
"Two..."
"Three..."
She counted everyone.
Then looked confused.
"Who was the fourth?"
Marcel tried not to laugh.
"He was in the trunk."
Chloe’s eyes widened.
"What?"
Miles calmly answered.
"The man who kidnapped you."
She stared at both of them.
"You guys..."
"What did you do to him?"
Marcel quickly waved his hand.
"Oh."
"He’s alive."
Chloe immediately folded her arms.
"That’s not what I’m asking."
Miles looked out of the window.
"It doesn’t matter."
"Forget about it."
"Hmph."
She pouted.
"You’re the one who brought it up."
Marcel couldn’t stop laughing.
"Not fair, Mr Marcel."
Still smiling...
Marcel opened the glove compartment.
He took out a small gift bag before handing it to Chloe.
She blinked.
"This?"
"My wife asked me to give it to you."
Curiously...
Chloe opened the bag.
Inside rested a tiny jewellery box.
She slowly lifted the lid.
A delicate silver chain lay inside.
Attached to it...
A tiny four-leaf clover pendant sparkled beneath the sunlight.
Her eyes immediately softened.
"It’s beautiful..."
Marcel smiled.
"It’s a good luck charm."
"My wife wanted you to keep it."
"She wishes both of you nothing but happiness."
Chloe gently touched the pendant.
A warm smile appeared on her face.
"I’ll treasure it."
Miles looked towards Marcel.
"Not fair."
"We should’ve met her."
"And thanked her properly."
Marcel laughed.
"I wish."
"But she’s staying home."
He smiled proudly.
"It’s her final month."
"We’re expecting..."
"A baby girl."
Both Miles and Chloe looked at each other before smiling.
"Really?"
Chloe’s face brightened.
"Congratulations!"
Miles nodded warmly.
"Congratulations, Marcel."
Marcel’s smile became even wider.
"Thank you."
Chloe carefully placed the necklace back inside its box.
"Please thank her for me."
"And tell her..."
"I absolutely love the good luck charm."
Marcel nodded.
"I will."
The three of them smiled as the airport slowly came into view ahead.
The flight landed safely in Star Harbor just before sunset.
After collecting their luggage...
Miles drove them back from the airport himself.
The city slowly passed by outside the windows.
Chloe sat comfortably in the passenger seat.
One hand rested near the window as she quietly admired the view.
Occasionally...
She glanced at Miles.
He looked unusually peaceful.
His eyes remained on the road.
Yet his thoughts were clearly somewhere else.
There was a calmness on his face she hadn’t seen before.
She smiled softly.
She didn’t interrupt him.
Just then...
His phone vibrated inside the cup holder.
Buzz...
Buzz...
Miles didn’t react.
He was still completely lost in thought.
Chloe looked at him.
Then reached over and picked up the phone.
She smiled mischievously.
"Mr Miles."
"Hello?"
"You’re receiving a call."
"Please wake up."
Miles blinked a couple of times before finally looking over.
"Hm?"
"Who is it?"
Chloe looked at the screen.
"It says..."
"Celina."
Miles immediately recognised the name.
"Oh."
"Her."
He smiled.
"Pick it up for me."
Chloe answered the call before holding the phone beside his ear.
"Hello?"
A familiar voice came from the speaker.
"So..."
"You finally remember me?"
Miles laughed.
"Celina."
"What’s wrong?"
"What’s wrong?"
She sounded genuinely offended.
"You’re getting married..."
"And you didn’t even tell me."
"I had to find out through a wedding invitation."
She paused dramatically.
"Are we even friends anymore?"
Miles rubbed his forehead.
"Oops..."
"Sorry."
"Everything happened so quickly."
"I never found the right moment to tell everyone."
Celina let out an exaggerated sigh.
"I’m still upset."
"You hid something this important."
"You didn’t tell me."
"You didn’t tell Becky."
"You didn’t tell Rose."
"You kept all of us in the dark."
Miles smiled helplessly.
"Alright."
"Don’t be upset."
"I’ve already apologised."
"So tell me..."
"What can I do to make it up to you?"
"Hmph."
Her voice softened only a little.
"We’re meeting."
"Me."
"Becky."
"Rose."
"Just like the old college days."
"And..."
"You have to bring her."
"We all want to meet your future wife."
She continued before Miles could answer.
"Tomorrow."
"It’s the weekend."
Miles glanced at Chloe.
She was pretending not to listen while secretly smiling.
"Alright."
"I’ll bring her."
Celina finally sounded satisfied.
"You should’ve told me earlier."
"I would’ve had a custom dress made."
Miles laughed.
"There’s still plenty of time."
"You can still have your dress altered."
"You don’t understand."
She sighed dramatically again.
Miles chuckled.
"My apologies, Princess."
"And please tell Uncle..."
"I’m sorry for not telling him sooner."
"Fine."
"I’ll forgive you."
"For now."
"See you tomorrow."
The call ended.
Inside another part of Star Harbor...
Celina slowly lowered her phone.
She placed one hand over her heart.
"You idiot..."
"You really could’ve told me sooner."
She smiled to herself.
"I would’ve been less sad."
Her expression gradually became brighter.
"Still..."
"I’m happy."
"At least one of us from the friend group is finally getting married."
She laughed quietly.
"It actually makes me excited."
...
Back inside the car...
Miles let out a small sigh before returning his attention to the road.
Chloe looked at him with curiosity.
"That..."
"Was quite the conversation."
She smiled.
"So..."
"Who is she?"
Miles answered naturally.
"She’s a friend."
"The CEO of Wraithborne Group."
"Oh."
Chloe nodded.
"Her."
Miles looked surprised.
"You know her?"
She shook her head.
"Not personally."
"I’ve seen her on television."
"And on social media."
"She’s quite popular."
Miles blinked.
"Really?"
"I had no idea."
Chloe laughed.
"So..."
"She wants to meet me?"
Miles nodded.
"She’s upset."
"I never told our little friend circle."
Chloe looked at him with obvious surprise.
"You have..."
"A friend circle?"
Miles laughed.
"Of course I do."
"We studied together in college."
"I became good friends with her group."
"Celina."
"Rose."
"And Becky."
Chloe smiled.
"They sound like people from very influential families."
Miles nodded.
"Yes."
"I suppose they are."
She looked out of the window before smiling again.
"It’s nice."
Miles glanced at her.
"What is?"
"It’s nice knowing..."
"You also have friends from the normal world."
Miles looked completely confused.
"What exactly is that supposed to mean?"
Chloe suddenly looked suspicious.
"Wait."
She slowly turned towards him.
"Why are they all girls?"
Miles blinked.
"What?"
"Weren’t there any boys in your college?"
She narrowed her eyes playfully.
"And..."
"You went to college?"
"When exactly did that happen?"
Miles couldn’t help laughing.
"I only attended during my final semester."
"I needed to complete my degree."
"I joined as a scholarship student."
He smiled at the memory.
"My cover was the poorest student on campus."
"Most of the others came from wealthy families."
"They never really spoke to me."
"Apart from those three."
He shrugged.
"And besides..."
"Celina’s parents have known my parents for years, they were school buddies."
"That’s how we already knew each other."
Chloe suddenly burst into laughter.
"Relax."
"You explained that so quickly..."
"As if you’d just been caught doing something."
Miles looked embarrassed.
"I wasn’t."
She giggled.
"I know."
Then her smile became warmer.
"I’m actually excited."
"Tomorrow..."
"I finally get to meet your friends."
She looked out towards the familiar streets.
"I want to make good friends too."
"I’m going to be living here with you after all."
Miles smiled.
"So..."
"Tomorrow..."
"We meet them."
Chloe nodded happily.
"Yes."
A few moments later...
Miles slowed the car before stopping Mars Residency.
"We’re here."
Chloe unfastened her seatbelt before opening the door.
She stepped outside before leaning back in through the open window.
"Thank you for the ride..."
"My future husband."
She smiled brightly.
"I love you."
Miles looked at her for a moment before smiling back.
"I love you too."
Then Chloe laughed softly before closing the car door.