Days had passed since the chaos that almost destroyed Star Harbor.

The wounds on Miles' body were still there, hidden beneath loose clothing and fresh bandages, but compared to before, he could finally walk properly again.

The rehabilitation sessions guided by Nurse Maya were proving effective.

Inside the Pearl Villa, the quiet mechanical sounds of medical equipment softly echoed through Timothy Sterling's room.

The old man rested peacefully on the bed while sunlight entered through the large curtains beside him.

Miles sat nearby in a chair beside his grandfather, stretching his recovering arm slowly while Maya adjusted some medicines on the side table.

"Nurse Maya."

Maya turned.

"Yes boss?"

Miles looked at her calmly.

"You should take a day off today."

Maya blinked in confusion. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Huh?"

Miles smiled faintly.

"Don't you have a date tonight?"

Maya froze instantly.

Her face slowly turned red.

"H… how do you know that boss?"

Miles chuckled lightly.

"Mom told me."

Maya covered her face in embarrassment.

"Aunt Elena really tells you everything…"

Miles leaned back carefully.

"It is good to have a special meal outside once in a while."

"Don't you get bored eating meals with the rest of the staff every single day?"

Maya immediately shook her head.

"Boss, your staff eats better food than most five star hotels."

"Mrs. Keller cooks for everyone sometimes too."

"Believe me… everybody loves the food here."

She handed him a glass of water and his medicine.

Miles took the pills slowly before drinking the water.

"I am glad to hear that."

Then he looked at her seriously.

"But still… take a day off."

"I insist."

Maya smiled warmly now.

"Thank you boss."

"Let me arrange someone from the hospital as my replacement here first."

Miles nodded.

"Thanks."

"And enjoy your time."

Maya bowed slightly before leaving the room.

The door quietly closed behind her.

Silence returned.

Miles slowly looked toward the sleeping Timothy.

"Date huh…"

His expression softened.

"Chloe…"

"How are you doing…"

"I hope..... you are happy…"

For a moment the room became quiet again except for the slow breathing of the old man.

Miles looked at Timothy carefully.

"What do you think Grandpa…"

"You sacrificed everything for your love…"

"And then lost her."

"Did you ever think about moving on…"

"Finding someone else?"

Timothy continued sleeping peacefully.

Miles smiled faintly.

"I know you didn't."

Then his eyes slowly lowered.

"Did you Chloe…?"

The silence lingered for several seconds.

Then footsteps approached outside.

"Boss, I am back."

June's voice came from outside the open door.

Miles stood up slowly from the chair.

"Time for work then."

He gently adjusted Timothy's blanket.

"Sweet dreams Grandpa."

Then he walked out of the room.

As he entered the living room, he immediately stopped.

The entire center table was covered with towering stacks of files, documents, reports, tablets, and contracts.

Miles stared silently.

June awkwardly made an innocent expression.

"Oops."

Miles sighed helplessly.

"Let's finish these before mom comes back."

June immediately nodded.

"Right."

"Aunt Elena scolded us yesterday too."

Miles sat down carefully while June arranged several files beside him.

Then suddenly his phone vibrated.

The screen displayed one name.

"Big Boss."

Miles immediately picked up.

"Greetings Mr. President."

Maxwell's calm voice came from the other side.

"How are you doing soldier?"

Miles leaned back against the sofa.

"I am recovering fast."

"Good to hear that."

There was a brief pause.

"Miles… there is something I wanted to inform you about."

Miles expression became more serious.

"What is it Mr. President?"

Maxwell's tone slightly changed.

"Few days ago… someone tried to look for your information inside the government database."

Miles remained calm.

"So I heard Secret Service took him before we could."

Maxwell chuckled lightly.

"Well of course."

"I do not want trouble hanging over you or Star Harbor again."

Miles eyes narrowed slightly.

"So what did you find?"

Maxwell answered quietly.

"It was her."

"Aveline."

Miles slowly closed his eyes for a second and sighed.

Maxwell continued.

"I know… I was the one who ordered you to spare her life last time."

"She had civilians captured."

"You were very angry that day."

"I still do not know why."

Miles remained silent for several moments.

Then he finally spoke.

"What do you want me to do Mr. President?"

Maxwell answered calmly.

"You do nothing."

"You recover."

"Secret Service already has clues that she is hiding in Vespera."

"Let us handle her."

Miles slowly looked outside toward the bright sky beyond the villa windows.

"She already left Haven yesterday."

Maxwell became quiet.

Miles continued calmly.

"She is in New York now."

"I will ask Charles to send the coordinates to Secret Service."

Silence fell on the line for two seconds.

Then Maxwell sighed softly.

"You never stop surprising me."

"Then we will take it from here."

"Take care of yourself soldier."

The call disconnected.

June looked toward Miles carefully.

"You good?"

Miles slowly placed the phone down on the table.

His expression remained calm.

"I am fine."

Somewhere far away from The Haven, in a quiet apartment filled with soft pink lights and silence, Chloe sat alone in her room.

The room itself looked less like a bedroom and more like a carefully crafted little studio built from memories, comfort, and loneliness.

Soft toys were neatly arranged on floating shelves beside the walls.

Small decorative lights glowed warmly around framed sketches and fashion illustrations.

Cute keychains hung from the corners of furniture.

A soft cream colored rug covered the floor beneath a white gaming chair.

Near the bed stood a long desk setup decorated with tiny flower pots, pastel figurines, scented candles, and handwritten sticky notes.

A white dual monitor setup softly illuminated the room.

Beside it stood a powerful RGB computer cabinet glowing faintly in white and pink shades.

Everything looked cozy.

Everything looked peaceful.

Yet strangely different.

Chloe sat comfortably in her chair wearing oversized home clothes, a loose cream sweater slipping slightly over one shoulder and soft shorts hidden beneath the length of the sweater.

Her long hair was loosely tied behind her head, a few strands falling beside her cheeks naturally.

Round glasses rested on her delicate face.

She looked thinner than before.

Quieter too.

Large headphones covered her ears while soft music played.

Her attention remained focused on the digital drawing tablet in front of her.

A beautiful dress design was slowly taking shape beneath her pen.

Elegant curves.

Layered fabric designs.

Shimmering sleeves.

It looked detailed enough to belong on a luxury runway.

Her eyes carefully followed every line she created.

Work had become her escape now.

Then suddenly

Bzzzzt.

Her phone vibrated across the desk.

The vibration lightly shook a small keychain beside the phone.

Chloe paused her drawing.

She slowly removed one side of her headphones before picking up the phone resting near a framed picture of her parents.

A faint smile appeared on her face.

"What is it my dear Lissy?"

An exaggerated offended voice came from the other side instantly.

"What is it?"

"You have literally locked yourself inside that house for a month."

"You don't come out."

"You barely call."

"So I called to make sure you are still alive."

Chloe softly chuckled.

"I am alive Lissy."

"I was just working."

Lissy groaned dramatically.

"You are always working."

Chloe looked back toward the unfinished dress design.

"I am designing a new dress for a client."

"She has a fashion show soon."

Lissy sighed loudly.

"You seriously became a shut in."

"Why don't you come outside and live a little?"

Chloe quietly leaned back in her chair.

"It is not like that."

"I genuinely like this work."

Lissy remained silent for a second before speaking again.

"Well anyway…"

"I am going clubbing tonight."

"Are you coming?"

Chloe immediately smiled awkwardly.

"You already know I do not like clubbing."

"Come onnnn my bestie ."

"Jason is coming."

"He is bringing a friend too."

"Let me introduce you."

"His dad owns a racetrack."

Chloe's lips curved slightly.

Maybe she was smiling.

Maybe she was pretending to.

"You know right…"

"I do not like dates."

The line became quiet for a moment.

Then Lissy spoke more softly this time.

"Chloe…"

"I am listening."

"Did you ever think about moving on?"

"Not every guy in this world is like him."

For a second Chloe's hand froze over the pen tablet.

Her eyes slowly lowered toward the desk.

"That is not it Lissy…"

"I am just not in the mood today."

Lissy sighed again.

"Alright alright."

"I will not force you."

"See you later then."

Before the call ended Chloe suddenly spoke.

"Can you help me with something though?"

Lissy immediately replied.

"Ask me anything."

"Can you bring me some groceries tomorrow from the convenience store?"

"What?"

"Can't you just order online?"

Chloe softly pouted.

"There is a sale tomorrow."

"Please Lissy."

"I have no one else to ask."

Lissy groaned dramatically again.

"Okay okay."

"I will bring them."

A small genuine smile finally appeared on Chloe's face.

"Thanks a lot."

"You are the best."

"Bye."

The call ended.

The room became quiet once more.

Only the soft music remained.

Chloe slowly leaned back in her chair.

"Not every guy in this world is like him…?"

Her eyes slowly moved toward the framed picture of her parents sitting beside the monitor.

Her fingers lightly touched the edge of the frame.

Silence lingered in the room.

Then slowly…

She wore her headphones again.

Pressed play.

And returned to drawing.

June carefully arranged another pile of documents on the table while secretly watching Miles from the corner of her eyes.

Miles was already walking far better than before, but the injuries were still there beneath the surface.

The doctors had clearly instructed him to rest for several more weeks.

Unfortunately, resting and Miles Sterling were two things that simply refused to exist together.

June finally sighed.

"Boss…"

Miles looked up from the tablet in his hands.

"Hm?"

"Are you really sure you want to visit the office tomorrow?"

Miles leaned back comfortably on the sofa.

"I am tired of being treated like a patient everyday."

"I can walk now."

"There will not be a problem."

June folded her arms.

"But Aunt Elena…"

Miles immediately smiled helplessly.

"I will talk to her."

"I am not going there for manual labor anyway."

"I literally do the same work here at home."

June looked around at the endless files covering the living room.

"That part is true."

Miles smirked slightly.

"See?"

June still looked unconvinced.

"You say that now…"

"But once you enter the office you will start walking around every department."

"You will visit the Media floor."

"Then the arm division."

"Then suddenly you will start inspecting projects personally."

Miles innocently blinked.

"I would never."

June stared at him silently.

Miles slowly looked away.

"Alright maybe a little."

June sighed deeply while rubbing her forehead.

Miles chuckled softly.

Then June suddenly remembered something.

"Oh right."

"The Tulip Corp team is visiting the office in three days."

Miles immediately looked interested.

"The animation company?"

June nodded.

"Yes."

"They confirmed the meeting this morning."

Miles slowly sat straighter.

"Now I am even more excited to go to the office."

June laughed softly.

"So this is the real reason."

Miles calmly replied.

"I want to see the people who made that horror game prototype."