Chapter 300: You are one of her friends!!!

Earlier..

Chloe’s apartment was quiet except for the soft music playing from the speakers near her desk.

The afternoon sunlight entered gently through the curtains, falling across the pink themed room and giving everything a warm glow. Her sketches were scattered across the table beside her drawing tablet. Different dress concepts. Fabric notes. Color combinations.

She slowly walked back toward her room carrying the paper bag of Chinese takeout in one hand.

The smell of noodles and spicy chicken filled the air.

Chloe quietly hummed along with the music while kicking the door shut behind her with her foot.

She sat down on the chair comfortably.

Then grabbed the chopsticks packet and tore it open using her mouth absentmindedly.

Her phone suddenly vibrated beside the monitor.

Chloe paused.

Her eyes slowly moved toward the screen.

The contact name remained there silently.

"Grandpa."

For a few moments she simply stared at it.

The ringing continued.

Then finally...

She picked it up.

Silence came first.

A heavy silence.

Then an old tired voice slowly arrived from the other side.

"Chloe...?"

Chloe leaned back in the chair.

"What is it Grandpa...?"

Louis let out a quiet breath.

"I have been trying to reach you for a while."

"You were not picking up my calls."

Then his voice softened slightly.

"But you finally did today."

Chloe looked down quietly at the food container in front of her.

"I thought..."

"It would be good to check once in a while whether you are alive or not."

"I was going to call you today anyway."

Her voice became quieter.

"Whatever happened in the past..."

"You are the only blood relative I have left."

Silence again.

The words clearly hit Louis deeply.

His old voice carried guilt inside it.

"I know..."

"I know you may never forgive me for what happened."

Chloe closed her eyes for a moment but said nothing.

Louis slowly continued.

"I called because..."

"I may not have much time left now."

That made Chloe’s expression change slightly.

Her fingers slowly tightened around the chopsticks.

Louis continued speaking calmly as if he had already accepted something long ago.

"I already gave my will to the family lawyer."

"In case something happens to me..."

"Contact him."

Then his voice weakened slightly.

"I only have one last wish."

"I want to be buried beside your grandmother."

Silence filled the room again.

The music still played softly in the background.

Chloe quietly lowered her eyes.

Her throat felt strangely heavy suddenly.

...

Inside Sterling Enterprises.

The large conference room remained elegant and calm.

Alice still looked surprised while staring at Monica.

"You are Miss Monica from Reaper Group..."

Monica smiled politely.

"Nice to meet you."

Alice immediately moved her hand forward for a handshake.

Monica shook her hand naturally.

"Nice to meet you too Miss Monica."

Alice genuinely looked excited now.

"I honestly never expected I would meet you personally."

"You are a huge inspiration for me."

Monica blinked once.

"Really?"

Then she looked sideways toward Miles with a playful expression.

"See?"

"I have people looking up to me too."

Miles sighed dramatically while leaning against the table.

"What do you mean by ’too’?"

"The world looks up to you."

"You are literally the face of Reaper Group."

"You worked hard for everything."

Alice quietly observed them.

The atmosphere between them felt unexpectedly casual.

There was no stiff corporate distance.

No forced professionalism.

They spoke naturally like people who trusted each other deeply.

Miles looked back toward Alice.

"You missed the pitch though."

"It was actually very interesting."

Monica side eyed him immediately.

"I was busy doing work someone assigned me."

June tried not to laugh nearby.

Alice quickly spoke.

"I can do the presentation again if needed."

Monica shook her head.

"No need."

"If he believes in you..."

"Then I do too."

Her tone was calm but confident.

"I will ask June to send me today’s presentation details."

June immediately nodded.

"I already sent them Miss Monica."

Monica smiled lightly.

"Thanks."

Miles slowly stood up from the chair carefully because of his recovering injuries.

"Then shall I leave?"

"You ladies can continue talking."

Monica crossed her arms.

"Yes."

"And go take your medicines."

"Otherwise Aunt Elena will scold you forever."

Miles sighed helplessly.

"Alright alright..."

Then he looked toward Alice again.

"Miss Alice."

"See you next time."

"In Star Harbor."

"You can coordinate everything with Monica or June."

Alice quickly stood up again.

"Thank you so much Mr. Sterling."

Miles smiled politely before leaving the conference room together with June.

The door slowly closed behind them.

Now only three women remained inside.

Monica.

Alice.

And Kate.

For a few moments Monica quietly stared at Alice.

Alice became slightly nervous under that gaze.

"Miss Monica...?"

Then Monica suddenly smiled softly.

"Maybe he did not recognize you."

Alice froze slightly.

"But I did."

Monica leaned back calmly in her chair.

"I know who you are."

"I know you were there..."

"In France."

Alice’s expression slowly changed.

Monica’s eyes remained calm and observant.

"You are one of Chloe’s friends."

After a while the conference room door finally opened.

Monica walked out first calmly while Alice and Kate followed behind her.

The atmosphere between the three women looked surprisingly comfortable now.

Inside the office area nearby, Miles was already standing beside a group of employees discussing some files and project reports.

Even while recovering, he still looked naturally involved in the flow of work around him.

One employee nervously explained something on the tablet while Miles listened patiently.

Then he noticed the three women approaching.

Miles looked toward Monica.

"So?"

"Are you all done?"

Then he narrowed his eyes slightly in suspicion.

"What did you talk about?"

Monica crossed her arms immediately.

"It is a secret."

Miles blinked.

"A secret?"

Then he raised both hands in surrender.

"Alright then."

"I do not want to hear it."

The employees nearby quietly smiled seeing their usual exchange.

Miles then looked toward Alice again politely.

"I hope she did not trouble you Miss Alice."

Alice quickly shook her head.

"Not at all Mr. Sterling."

Then she smiled sincerely.

"And thank you for today."

"We will return to New York first..."

"But next time..."

"It will be to move Tulip Corp here."

Miles nodded lightly.

"I will look forward to working with you Miss Alice."

Alice quietly looked at him for a second longer. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Still difficult to believe.

This calm young businessman...

This polite chairman...

Was actually Kai.

The same boy Chloe once loved with all her heart.

The same person connected to the worst night of her life.

Yet standing here now...

He did not look cruel.

He did not look manipulative.

He simply looked... tired.

And strangely lonely.

Alice softly lowered her eyes.

"See you soon Mr. Sterling."

Then she and Kate finally left the office floor together.

The automatic doors quietly closed behind them.

For a moment Miles continued looking toward the direction they left.

Then he frowned slightly.

"I do not know why..."

"But she looks familiar."

His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

"I just cannot remember who she resembles."

Monica instantly interrupted his thoughts.

"You are thinking too much boss."

"You are still on medicines."

"Stop stressing your brain."

Miles sighed softly.

"Hnm."

Then he stretched slightly.

"Let us have lunch."

...

Outside the towering Cinder Square building...

Alice and Kate finally got inside the cab waiting near the entrance.

The city traffic moved calmly around them.

The moment the car door closed...

Alice finally leaned back heavily against the seat.

Kate looked toward her.

"You good?"

Alice slowly looked outside the window toward the massive Sterling Enterprises skyscraper.

Then she quietly spoke.

"Miles Sterling is actually Kai..."

Even now the realization still sounded unreal.

Kate adjusted her glasses.

"He honestly seemed like a good man."

Then she smiled lightly.

"And we secured an incredible deal for the company."

She paused briefly.

"I really did not expect him to have history with our Chloe."

Alice slowly closed her eyes.

"History..."

Then she whispered quietly.

"It was a disaster."

Her expression became heavier.

"She completely changed after that incident."

Kate sighed softly.

Even after all these years...

Everyone around Chloe still remembered how badly she broke afterward.

Alice suddenly opened her eyes again.

"But now..."

"I know what I need to do."

Then she immediately picked up her phone and dialed a number.

The ringing continued briefly before the call connected.

A sleepy voice answered from the other side.

"Lissy...?"

Alice immediately frowned.

"Were you sleeping again?"

Chloe’s exhausted voice came lazily.

"Obviously."

"It is not Haven."

"It is New York."

"The city sleeps here."

Alice shook her head helplessly.

"We are moving."

Silence.

Then Chloe spoke again.

"...what?"

Alice smiled slightly.

"We are moving the entire company to Star Harbor."

"With all employees."

"With the entire team."

"Including you."

Chloe immediately groaned dramatically.

"What??"

"I was finally settled here..."

Alice crossed her legs comfortably.

"We secured a very big deal."

"Not only are they investing in the project..."

"They are also going to guide Tulip Corp directly."

Chloe yawned loudly on the call.

"You did not get scammed right?"

"Does the chairman have eyes on you or something?"

Kate immediately burst into laughter quietly beside her.

Alice rubbed her forehead.

"What are you even saying?"

"Actually..."

"The chairman is genuinely a good man."

"And he introduced us personally to Miss Monica."

Chloe’s sleepy voice paused.

"Who now?"

Alice leaned back with a grin.

"Miss Monica."

"From Reaper Group."

Suddenly Chloe sounded more awake.

"What??"

"Really??"

Alice nodded even though Chloe could not see her.

"Yes."

"I was literally talking to her moments ago."

"Apparently she and Mr. Sterling are cousins."

Chloe stayed quiet for a moment.

Then she sighed.

"Sounds like you are serious then..."

Alice rolled her eyes.

"Wake up."

"I am serious."

Chloe groaned softly again.

"So I really have to move with you all?"

"Do I even have a choice?"

Alice instantly answered.

"Of course you don’t."

Then she smirked slightly.

"You can consider this punishment."

"For never asking your rich grandfather for investment."

Kate laughed again hearing that.

Alice continued.

"You are not only our best animator Chloe."

"You are also my partner in the company."

Silence came from the other side for a few moments.

Then Chloe finally surrendered tiredly.

"Fine..."

"But even after shifting..."

"I am still working from my room."

Alice blinked in surprise.

"That was easier than expected."

"I honestly thought convincing you would take hours."

Chloe mumbled sleepily again.

"If I disagreed..."

"You would not let me sleep anyway."

Then another yawn came.

"Can I sleep now?"

"I still have work to finish later..."

Alice smiled softly this time.

Even after everything...

Chloe still sounded the same in some ways.

"Alright."

"Sleep."

"But start packing mentally."

"Because your shut in life is ending soon."

Chloe immediately replied.

"Do not threaten me Lissy..."

Then the call disconnected.

Inside the moving cab

Alice quietly looked outside the window once again.

Far away...

The Soul Tower stood proudly in the skyline beside Cinder Square.

A new Chapter was slowly approaching.

And none of them truly knew...

What would happen when Chloe and Miles finally met again.