Chapter 230: Capital!!

The night in Star Harbor had been calm.

The ocean breeze carried the quiet scent of salt and maple leaves through the peaceful neighborhood.

Pearl Villa stood silent under the fading darkness of early dawn.

Inside the house the world was still asleep.

But Miles Sterling was already awake.

The first light of morning had barely touched the sky when he stepped outside.

The air was cool and fresh.

Perfect for training.

Miles stretched his arms and shoulders before beginning his usual workout routine in the open garden.

He had barely started when a voice came from behind him.

“Son wait for me.”

Miles turned his head.

Daniel was jogging toward him from the porch, wearing a grey tracksuit.

Miles raised an eyebrow.

“Oh.”

“Working out father?”

Daniel caught up beside him, slightly adjusting his breathing.

“Yeah.”

He rubbed his stomach with a sheepish smile.

“Your mom forced me.”

Miles laughed.

Daniel shook his head helplessly.

“She said I am getting belly fat.”

Miles looked him up and down.

“What?”

“Drinking more beer than usual?”

Daniel waved his hand quickly.

“No no.”

“I just lack regular movement that’s all.”

Miles chuckled.

“Let’s go then.”

The two of them began jogging down the path leading away from the villa.

The early sunlight filtered through the tall maple trees, creating golden lines across the ground.

The quiet rustle of leaves followed their footsteps as they jogged deeper along the trail.

After a few minutes Miles spoke quietly.

“I am sorry father.”

Daniel glanced at him.

“For what son?”

Miles kept running while speaking.

“About the incident.”

“It must have scared you.”

Daniel was silent for a moment.

Then he smiled calmly.

“To be honest son.”

“I wasn’t.”

Miles looked at him briefly.

Daniel continued.

“I believe you would never allow anyone to hurt this family.”

He slowed slightly.

“I was a little scared.”

“The kids were with me.”

His voice softened.

“But that only means something.”

“We have to raise them stronger.”

Miles nodded.

“They will be.”

Daniel looked ahead toward the rising sun.

“I also believe something else.”

Miles listened quietly.

“When a man leaves his home to protect it…”

“That is the ultimate sacrifice.”

He turned his head toward Miles.

“And I believe that is exactly what you were doing.”

Miles was slightly surprised.

Then he smiled faintly.

“I am not going anywhere father.”

Daniel nodded.

“I know son.”

They continued jogging until their workout was finished.

By the time they returned to the villa the sun had fully risen.

Morning light filled the house.

Inside the living room Elena and Monica were already sitting together talking over tea.

The moment they entered Elena looked at them.

“You two took a while today.”

Daniel pretended to look offended.

“What?”

“Can I not talk with my son for a while?”

Elena crossed her arms.

“If you want to talk to him so much.”

“Ask him to start dating.”

Miles groaned immediately.

“Mom…”

Monica laughed.

“I would love to see how that unfolds.”

Miles gave her a look.

“You seem very comfortable Monica.”

“Don’t you have work to do?”

Elena immediately spoke.

“What work?”

“You may be her boss at the office.”

“But here she is your cousin.”

“Your elder cousin.”

Monica made a face.

“That sounds like I am very old.”

Miles smirked.

“Then maybe you should marry first.”

Monica crossed her arms.

“At least I have a personal life.”

“I do go on dates.”

She sighed.

“But it is difficult to find a reliable man.”

Daniel suddenly spoke from the side.

“Do you want me to help set something up?”

“I know a lot of people through the restaurant.”

Monica laughed politely.

“Thank you Uncle Daniel.”

“But I am good.”

Daniel nodded with a smile.

“Alright.”

“I am going to take a shower then.”

Elena waved him off.

“Yes go.”

Daniel walked upstairs.

The living room became quiet again.

Miles looked toward Elena.

“Mom.”

“I want to say something.”

Elena immediately noticed the seriousness in his voice.

“Tell me son.”

Miles hesitated slightly.

“It’s about grandfather.”

Elena listened carefully.

“You once said he was a good man.”

“And that there must have been a reason he left us.”

Elena nodded.

“Yes.”

Miles looked down briefly.

“To be honest…”

“I hated him.”

“For leaving his family.”

His voice carried quiet emotion.

“If he had stayed…”

“Maybe our family would have been different.”

“Maybe dad would still be alive.”

“Maybe I would never have been kidnapped.”

Elena remained silent, letting him speak.

Miles continued slowly.

“I was wrong.”

“For the past few days I wasn’t on vacation.”

“I was searching for answers.”

He looked up.

“Grandfather left to protect us.”

“There were dangerous people watching then.”

“He had to disappear.”

Elena smiled gently and held his hands.

“I believe you.”

“I always told you he was a good man.”

Miles nodded.

“For seventeen years he prepared everything.”

“He made sure I became strong enough.”

“He taught me how to survive anything.”

“So one day I could protect this family.”

“Even if he wasn’t here.”

His voice softened.

“He sacrificed everything.”

Tears formed in Elena’s eyes.

But they were tears of relief.

Her son had finally understood.

Elena squeezed his hands gently.

“Looking at you now.”

“I believe you went through something big.”

“I am proud that you succeeded.”

Miles smiled softly.

“Thank you Mom.”

“I took care of the danger that grandfather prepared me for.”

Elena wiped her eyes.

“I am just happy that you are home.”

Monica suddenly clapped her hands lightly.

“Alright.”

“Let’s not make Aunt sad first thing in the morning.”

Miles turned toward her.

“If you care about her so much.”

“You should visit more often.”

Monica grinned.

“That problem is solved boss.”

Miles frowned slightly.

“What do you mean?”

Monica blinked.

“Oops.”

“I forgot to tell you.”

She smiled innocently.

“We are moving.”

Miles stared at her.

“Moving?”

Monica nodded.

“The headquarters of the Reaper Group.”

“Is being relocated here.”

“To Star Harbor.”

Miles looked genuinely surprised.

“What?”

“How did I not know about this?”

Monica shrugged playfully.

“Sorry boss.”

“You may be the boss.”

“But there is someone above you.”

Miles raised an eyebrow.

“A big boss?”

“Who?”

Elena calmly raised her hand.

“It’s me.”

Miles blinked.

“I wanted Monica to stay here with us.”

“So I asked her to move.”

Monica added with a smile.

“And the Reaper Group cannot function without me.”

“So naturally we relocated.”

Miles suddenly laughed.

“You two are unbelievable.”

He shook his head.

“It’s actually a great decision.”

“Just make sure important operations are not disrupted.”

Monica nodded confidently.

“Everything is already taken care of.”

Then she tilted her head.

“Oh right.”

“I have a question.”

Miles looked at her.

“What?”

“The oil business we just acquired.”

“Should I keep it under the Reaper Group…”

“…or Sterling Enterprises?”

Miles smiled.

“Put it under Sterling Enterprises.”

He leaned back slightly.

“The world should know something.”

“The forgotten Sterling Empire now has a new capital.”

Star Harbor.

The black sedan moved smoothly through the morning streets of Star Harbor.

The city had already awakened.

Traffic flowed along the wide coastal roads, sunlight reflecting from the glass towers that surrounded Cinder Square.

Inside the car Miles sat behind the wheel while Monica occupied the passenger seat beside him.

For the first time in days the atmosphere felt ordinary again.

Almost peaceful.

Monica looked down at the tablet in her hand.

“The report has been sent to Interpol.”

Miles nodded while keeping his eyes on the road.

“That is good.”

He paused.

“What about the others?”

Monica scrolled through the updates calmly.

“Maddock already reached the Clan.”

“He delivered the package you asked me to give them.”

Miles nodded slightly.

“And Veronika?”

“She landed in Russia safely.”

Monica continued.

“Basil reached his home as well.”

Miles leaned back slightly in the driver’s seat.

“What about June?”

Monica glanced at him with a small smile.

“She is in the office.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“Who do you think has been running Sterling Enterprises while you were gone?”

Miles chuckled quietly.

“Feels like it has been ages.”

He looked ahead through the windshield.

“My mind is still full of wild forests.”

“And no sunlight.”

Monica smirked.

“That is called forest lag.”

Miles looked at her sideways.

“You are not very good at joking.”

The car slowed as it approached the towering glass complex of Cinder Square.

The Sterling Enterprises building stood tall at the center of the district.

Employees were already entering and leaving the building.

Miles parked the car.

The moment they stepped out several staff members greeted them respectfully.

“Good morning boss.”

Miles nodded casually as he walked toward the entrance.

Monica followed beside him.

Inside the lobby the environment was lively and organized.

Elevators moved constantly.

Employees walked quickly between departments.

As Miles stepped into the office corridor someone approached them.

April.

Her face brightened when she saw him.

“You are back.”

Miles stopped.

“What’s up?”

April smiled proudly.

“Everything is great.”

“Operations have been running smoothly.”

Miles nodded.

“I was reviewing employee performance data that June sent me.”

He looked at her.

“You are doing very well.”

“Keep up the good work.”

April’s eyes lit up.

“Thank you for the appreciation.”

She hesitated slightly.

“Actually there is something I wanted to inform you about.”

Miles gestured for her to continue.

“What is it?”

April adjusted the files in her hand.

“We have a new client.”

“He belongs to a royal family in India.”

Miles raised his eyebrow.

“Really?”

April nodded.

“They placed a large custom jewelry order.”

“It is for a grand wedding they are organizing for his sister.”

Miles smiled slightly.

“That is great to hear.”

April nodded.

“There is one more thing.”

“They want to meet you personally before finalizing the deal.”

Miles shrugged casually.

“Sure.”

“Anytime is fine.”

April smiled with relief.

“Thank you.”

“I will inform them.”

At that moment June appeared from the nearby hallway.

She carried a tablet and several documents.

“Good morning boss.”

Miles nodded.

“Good morning June.”

While the office returned to its usual rhythm outside the building another scene was unfolding.

Across the street.

At the small Cinder Square café directly opposite the Sterling Enterprises tower.

A woman sat quietly at a table near the window.

A cup of coffee rested in front of her.

She held her phone close while speaking softly.

“He is back grandma.”

She took another sip of coffee.

“He looks completely unharmed.”

On the other end of the call an old woman’s voice responded calmly.

“Looking at what is happening in Moscow…”

“I believe he succeeded.”

The woman leaned back in her chair.

“Should I return now?”

She looked out the café window toward the office building.

“I still have real work to do.”

“If I stop working I will not be able to pay rent.”

The old woman laughed softly through the phone.

“You and your dream of living independently.”

“The house you are living in at Star Harbor…”

“…is under your name.”

“It is a gift for you.”

The woman froze.

Her eyes widened.

“Really?”

Several people in the café glanced toward her.

She immediately lowered her voice.

“Really?”

“Thank you.”

She leaned closer to the phone.

“So that means I can live in this city permanently now?”

The old woman answered calmly.

“That decision is yours.”

“You can work and spend half your income paying rent.”

“Or you can live in a house you already own.”

The woman sighed dramatically.

“You tricked me didn’t you.”

She looked out .

“But honestly…”

“It is not a bad place to live.”

“There are beaches.”

“And I love beaches.”

The old woman chuckled softly.

“Do one last thing for me.”

“I sent you a package.”

“Deliver it to Miles Sterling.”

The woman lifted an eyebrow.

“Just give it to him?”

The old woman’s tone became serious.

“Make sure only he receives it.”

The woman nodded slowly.

“Alright.”

She ended the call.

Then she glanced again toward the towering Sterling Enterprises building across the street.

Her coffee cup rested forgotten in her hand.

And somewhere inside that building.

Miles Sterling had just returned to work.

Unaware that another piece of his past was already approaching him.

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