The quiet streets of Star Harbor’s residential district for the rich were washed in the soft golden light of the late afternoon.

Miles’ car rolled smoothly through the familiar neighborhood roads.

He had barely turned the corner toward Pearl Villa when he suddenly saw a familiar figure standing ahead on the road.

Olivia Pierce.

She stood in the middle of the street waving both hands.

Miles frowned slightly and hit the brakes.

The car stopped with a short screech.

He lowered the window.

“Still chasing cats on the street?”

Olivia rolled her eyes.

“You should stop here.”

“My grandma is here.”

“She’s waiting for you.”

Miles looked at her carefully.

Then he stepped out of the car and shut the door behind him.

“Should I be prepared?”

Olivia crossed her arms.

“What do you think she is?”

“She’s not going to kill you.”

Miles shrugged.

“Don’t know.”

“Maybe being a ninja runs in the blood.”

Olivia groaned.

“Come on.”

“A lady is inviting you to her house.”

Miles shook his head.

“Yeah.”

“Don’t make it more weird.”

They walked toward the house together.

Inside, Olivia pointed toward the staircase.

“She’s upstairs.”

“Left room.”

“Balcony.”

Olivia leaned against the wall.

“I’ll stay here.”

Miles nodded slightly and walked toward the stairs.

His footsteps were slow.

Measured.

The wooden floor creaked softly as he climbed.

When he reached the hallway he saw the half open door leading toward a balcony.

He stepped inside.

The balcony overlooked the quiet neighborhood garden.

A small round table stood near the railing.

Two chairs had been placed across from each other.

A tea set rested between them.

And sitting beside the table was an elderly woman.

Her silver hair was neatly tied behind her head, shining faintly in the afternoon light. Her posture was elegant despite her age, and the lines on her face carried the calm dignity of someone who had lived through many storms of life.

Her eyes were sharp.

Observant.

The kind of eyes that noticed everything.

Miles’ footsteps made her turn.

She slowly stood up.

For a moment both of them simply looked at each other.

Miles felt something strange.

Her face.

It looked familiar.

Not exactly the same.

But very close.

She resembled the young woman standing beside his grandfather in the old photograph.

The old lady smiled warmly.

“Have a seat, Miles.”

Miles hesitated for a moment.

Then he slowly walked forward and sat down across from her.

The old lady calmly poured tea into a cup.

She pushed the cup across the table toward him.

“You must have a lot of questions.”

She folded her hands calmly.

“How about I begin with an introduction.”

“My name is Edna Winslow.”

She watched his reaction carefully.

“I am your late grandmother Elowen’s elder sister.”

Miles froze.

“Winslow?”

His voice carried genuine surprise.

“Are you related to Winslow Estates?”

Edna raised an eyebrow slightly.

“Yes.”

She smiled.

“It seems Graveyard provides quite a lot of knowledge about the world.”

“What else do you know?”

Miles picked up the teacup slowly and took a sip.

“Winslow Estate.”

“They own the largest tea plantations in the world.”

“Twenty eight percent of the Mountain City Belovoir region.”

“The city itself is one of Haven’s biggest tourist attractions.”

“The company has been running those plantations for generations.”

He placed the cup down gently.

“And there is something unique about the Winslow family.”

“They follow a matriarchal system.”

“The daughters inherit the family leadership.”

“The husbands marry into the family and take the Winslow name.”

Miles looked directly at her.

“So my great grandfather didn’t throw my grandfather out because he rejected a political marriage.”

“It was because of the Winslow family traditions.”

Edna chuckled softly.

“You really are clever.”

“But it wasn’t only your grandfather who was expelled.”

Her voice softened slightly.

“The Winslow family also lost my dear little sister.”

“Elowen.”

Miles’ fists slowly tightened.

“Sometimes I wonder…”

“Why traditions exist only to restrict freedom.”

Edna nodded gently.

“I wonder that too.”

She looked toward the distant horizon.

“Tim.”

“Your grandfather Timothy Sterling.”

“He started everything from nothing here in Star Harbor.”

“An extraordinary man.”

Her eyes softened with nostalgia.

“I was very happy that my sister chose him.”

“She lived the life she wanted.”

“She was happy.”

Edna’s expression slowly darkened.

“Until someone planned her death.”

Miles suddenly stood up.

The chair scraped loudly across the floor.

“What?”

His voice shook.

“She… she was murdered?”

“My grandmother was murdered?”

Edna nodded slowly.

“Unfortunately.”

“Yes.”

The air around Miles suddenly changed.

A cold murderous intent flickered in his eyes.

“Who did it?”

His voice became sharp.

“I want a name.”

Edna calmly raised her hand.

“Calm down, son.”

“You need to know everything before you reach a conclusion.”

Miles turned away slightly.

He placed his hands on the balcony railing and took a deep breath.

But when he turned back toward her…

His expression had completely changed.

The wind on the balcony had grown colder.

The quiet sound of leaves moving in the garden below drifted upward as the conversation between Miles and Edna continued.

Edna lifted her teacup calmly before speaking again.

“The political marriage your great grandfather arranged for Tim…”

She paused briefly.

“…was with the Mordecai family.”

Miles’ head snapped up instantly.

“Mordecai?”

His voice carried clear shock.

“Them?”

Edna studied his reaction carefully.

“What do you know about them?”

Miles’ expression hardened.

“Mordecai.”

“The largest private weapons supplier in the country.”

He leaned slightly forward.

“Second only to the Arms and Weapons division that I acquired from the Wraithbourne Group this year.”

His eyes narrowed.

“They don’t just manufacture weapons.”

“They run multiple illegal operations behind the scenes.”

“They are very powerful players.”

Edna nodded slowly.

“Exactly.”

Miles’ voice lowered.

“Are you saying the Mordecai family was behind my grandmother’s death?”

Edna folded her hands on the table.

“The daughter of the Mordecai family who was supposed to marry your grandfather…”

“…her name was Marlove Mordecai.”

Miles froze.

“Wait.”

“Marlove?”

His brows tightened.

“Wasn’t that the name of Chester’s wife?”

Edna nodded once.

“Yes.”

“She later married Chester Sterling.”

“The same man who was responsible for your father’s death.”

Miles’ hands slowly clenched into fists.

The wooden railing of the balcony creaked under the pressure of his grip.

The air around him felt heavier.

Edna watched him carefully.

“Preserve this anger, son.”

Her voice remained calm but firm.

“You still have a fight ahead of you.”

She continued slowly.

“Marlove Mordecai planned your grandmother’s death with the help of the Mordecai family.”

Miles remained silent.

His breathing had grown heavier.

Edna leaned back slightly in her chair.

“Later Marlove died from illness.”

“You could say she received what she deserved.”

Miles’ jaw tightened.

“But your grandfather…”

Edna looked toward the sky for a moment.

“…your grandfather wanted revenge more than anything.”

“But he couldn’t pursue it.”

“He had only one family left.”

“Your father.”

“Edward Sterling.”

Her voice softened.

“So he stayed silent.”

“For years.”

“Until the day Chester Sterling opened his mouth.”

Miles slowly turned back toward her.

“About what?”

Edna answered quietly.

“About the King Sterling treasure.”

The words hung in the air.

“That was the moment everything changed.”

“Your grandfather left Star Harbor.”

“He knew he might never return alive.”

“But he didn’t want his family to become targets.”

Edna’s eyes darkened slightly.

“But fate had already chosen its path.”

“While your grandfather was dealing with treasure hunters…”

“…your father was killed.”

Miles’ fingers trembled slightly on the table.

“And before your grandfather could return home…”

“The Mordecai family sent assassins after him.”

Edna paused.

Her voice grew quieter.

“When we found him…”

“…he was already on his deathbed.”

Miles’ breathing stopped for a moment.

“He asked us a few things.”

“Things we had to take care of.”

She looked directly at him.

“We found out you were at Graveyard”

“What could be the better place for you to learn things that we couldn’t teach.”

“Your life in Graveyard.”

“He wanted you to become strong.”

“Strong enough to face everything alone.”

“So that no one could ever harm your family again.”

Miles lowered his gaze slowly.

His eyes remained fixed on the table.

“So…”

His voice was quiet.

“He died?”

Edna shook her head slowly.

“We thought so too.”

“But for the last seventeen years…”

“…he has been sleeping.”

“In a coma.”

Miles’ head snapped up.

His eyes widened.

“Where is he?”

Edna answered calmly.

“In Belovoir.”

“He has been under our protection and care all these years.”

She leaned slightly forward.

“It’s time for you to bring him home.”

“I will prepare the transport.”

“You prepare a place for him.”

Miles nodded slowly.

“I will.”

Edna continued.

“But remember something.”

“The fight is not over.”

“The Mordecai family is still searching.”

Her voice became more serious.

“They are looking for Kyle Sterling.”

Miles’ brows furrowed.

“He carries the blood of the Mordecai family.”

“It won’t be long before they discover you.”

She exhaled slowly.

“My husband handled everything for all these years.”

“He followed your grandfather’s request carefully.”

“Everything was arranged so that you could become the man you are today.”

Miles looked at her.

“Your husband?”

Edna nodded.

“Lucian Winslow.”

Then her voice lowered.

“But a few days ago…”

“…Lucian went missing.”

Miles stood up immediately.

“What?”

Edna raised her hand slightly.

“I believe it is connected to the Mordecai family.”

Miles’ voice hardened.

“Then we should leave immediately.”

Edna shook her head calmly.

“Do not rush.”

“He is strong.”

“And he has an entire underground network searching for him.”

“He will be fine.”

Her sharp eyes met Miles’.

“Your responsibility is here.”

“To protect what you have built.”

“And prepare…”

She paused.

“…a calamity.”

“For the Mordecai family.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep