Morning light filled the dining area of Pearl Villa.
The breakfast table was lively.
Hope sat properly with her plate, occasionally glancing at Miles while listening to every word. Asher, on the other hand, was completely focused on his olette, eating like nothing else in the world mattered.
Miles looked up from his plate.
"Mom."
"We are coming to the Atelier for lunch."
Elena smiled without even looking up from serving.
"You don’t need to ask, son."
Miles hesitated for a mont.
"Mom."
"I want you to et soone."
Daniel raised an eyebrow instantly.
"What a girl?"
That single sentence froze the table.
Silvey looked up.
Monica paused mid sip.
Hope’s eyes widened with curiosity.
Even Asher briefly stopped chewing.
Elena looked at Miles carefully.
"It’s sothing else, isn’t it?"
Miles nodded.
"Yes."
"She is Grandma’s elder sister."
"Edna."
"She is the one who gave that picture fra."
Elena’s eyes widened in surprise.
"Really?"
"Then why didn’t you invite her ho?"
Miles gave a small smile.
"I wanted to ask you first."
Elena’s expression softened.
"It’s fine, son."
She placed her hand gently on the table.
"More relatives are always welco."
Her voice carried a quiet warmth.
"For a long ti I had none."
She looked at Miles.
"You ca back..."
"And life beca colorful again."
Daniel smiled silently beside her.
Silvey, sitting across, observed Elena closely.
Behind her smile, she could see sothing deeper.
Seventeen years of loss.
Seventeen years of waiting.
Hope leaned forward slightly, listening to everything with curiosity.
Asher returned to his olette.
Elena looked back at Miles.
"How did you even find her?"
Miles shrugged lightly.
"It was more like an opportunity."
"They found first."
He paused.
"And we already t one of them."
Daniel frowned slightly.
"One of them?"
"Who are you talking about?"
Miles answered calmly.
"Olivia."
"She is Edna’s granddaughter."
Elena blinked in shock.
"What?"
"Really?"
Daniel laughed.
"That explains a lot."
Elena shook her head with a smile.
"Next ti I et that girl..."
"I am definitely scolding her for hiding this."
Miles chuckled.
"You should."
Hope suddenly spoke.
"Big broo."
"Sister Olivia is in trouble."
Monica burst into laughter.
Silvey followed.
Daniel laughed loudly.
Elena smiled warmly at the innocent statent.
Daniel leaned back in his chair.
"I saw the news."
"There was an announcent about the trial."
Silvey nodded.
"Yes uncle."
"It’s in three days."
Daniel looked excited.
"They said it will be broadcast live."
"That sounds interesting."
Elena, however, looked slightly worried.
"I am more concerned than excited."
Silvey smiled reassuringly.
"Don’t worry, aunt."
"Brother Miles has already taken care of everything."
Elena looked at Miles.
"All the best then."
She stood up slightly.
"Miles."
"Call before you arrive at the Atelier."
"I will arrange a private room."
Monica nodded.
"I will call you, aunt."
Breakfast slowly ca to an end.
Daniel stood up and looked at the kids.
"Co on."
"School ti."
Hope jumped down from her chair.
Asher grabbed the last bite of his olette and ran after him.
Soon the house grew quieter again.
Miles picked up his jacket.
Monica walked beside him toward the door.
Miles looked back.
"Are you coming, Silvey?"
Silvey stretched lazily.
"I will visit the ACE Automobile division."
"Since I am here, I should check other branches too."
Miles nodded.
"There is a sports car in the basent garage."
"You can use it."
Silvey’s eyes lit up instantly.
"A sports car?"
"Now I am excited."
Miles smiled faintly.
"Enjoy."
A few minutes later Miles and Monica stepped out toward the city.
The car started smoothly.
Miles glanced at Monica.
"How much of the relocation is left?"
Monica checked her tablet.
"Everything is done."
"Only the employees are left."
"Those who agreed to move to the new headquarters have already been assigned housing here."
"They will arrive in a few days."
She looked up.
"The old headquarters will remain active."
"There are certain operations we cannot relocate."
Miles nodded.
"Good."
"Let’s see the progress."
He turned the steering wheel slightly.
The car moved toward the central district.
As they drove further...
The skyline began to shift.
And then it appeared.
Between the surrounding buildings, rising high above everything else...
Soul Tower.
The massive glass skyscraper stood like a symbol of power in the heart of Star Harbor.
The car slowed to a smooth halt at the grand entrance of Soul Tower.
The towering glass structure reflected the morning sunlight like a mirror, its sharp edges cutting through the sky as if declaring its dominance over the entire skyline of Star Harbor.
Miles stepped out of the car.
Monica followed.
The entrance doors opened automatically as they approached.
A uniford security agent imdiately straightened.
"Good morning, sir."
Miles handed him the keys without a word.
The guard bowed slightly.
"Welco sir."
They walked inside.
The lobby was alive.
People moved in every direction.
Executives in suits.
Assistants carrying files.
New employees being guided across departnts.
Voices overlapped.
Phones rang.
Footsteps echoed across the polished marble floor.
Miles slowed his pace slightly, observing everything.
"What’s happening today?"
"So many operations already?"
Monica walked beside him, completely at ease.
"Boss."
"Did you really think we would leave all the floors unused?"
Miles raised an eyebrow.
"We are renting half of them."
Miles gave a faint smile.
"So we already have return on investnt?"
Monica nodded confidently.
"Yes."
"After the news of our relocation..."
"Many companies started opening their branches in Star Harbor."
She gestured subtly around them.
"The city is growing faster than ever."
Before Miles could respond
A man walking past suddenly bumped into him hard.
Shoulder to shoulder.
The impact was enough to make the man turn back imdiately in irritation.
"Are you blind?"
"Can’t you see where you are going?"
He looked around in frustration.
"First this place has too many rules..."
"And now this..."
"I am wasting my ti in this city."
Miles exhaled slowly.
The noise in the lobby began to fade.
People nearby had noticed Monica.
Whispers started spreading.
"Isn’t that Miss Monica?"
"The Reaper Group..."
"She’s here..."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Security personnel moved quickly.
Two agents rushed toward them.
"Boss."
Monica’s expression turned cold.
"Remove him from the building."
The man froze.
The word hit him like a shock.
Boss?
His eyes widened.
"I... I am sorry..."
He stepped back imdiately.
Monica didn’t even look at him.
The agent nodded.
"Copy that, Miss Monica."
They moved toward the man.
But before they could grab him Miles spoke calmly.
"Let him go."
The agents stopped.
Monica turned her head toward Miles.
Miles looked at the man briefly.
"Keep the environnt healthy here."
The words were simple.
But carried authority.
Monica’s eyes turned sharp as she looked at the man.
A silent warning.
The man felt a chill run down his spine.
He lowered his head instantly.
"I am sorry..."
The agents escorted him away quietly.
Within seconds the lobby returned to normal.
The whispers faded.
The movent resud.
As if nothing had happened.
Miles and Monica walked toward the private elevator.
The doors opened.
They stepped inside.
Silence replaced the noise.
The elevator moved upward smoothly.
Floor after floor passed.
Until finally
The doors opened at the top.
The executive floor.
The atmosphere here was different.
Quiet.
Controlled.
Focused.
A few employees worked at their stations.
As soon as they saw Miles and Monica, they stood up.
"Good morning, sir."
Miles nodded.
"Long ti no see."
He looked around the office.
"I appreciate that you all agreed to relocate to Star Harbor."
He paused.
"Did we restrict your personal lives?"
One of the senior employees stepped forward.
"Sir."
"That is nothing compared to what the Reaper Group has given us."
"We can relocate anywhere if you ask."
Others nodded in agreent.
Miles smiled slightly.
"I appreciate it."
"Thank you for your hard work."
The employees returned to their tasks.
Miles and Monica continued walking down the corridor.
They stopped in front of a large office.
Monica opened the door.
"This is your office, boss."
Miles looked inside.
Spacious.
Minimalist.
A large desk.
Clean interiors.
And an entire wall made of glass.
Miles raised an eyebrow.
"Was this necessary?"
Monica looked at him as if the answer was obvious.
"You own this place."
She stepped inside.
"Soday the world will know who is behind the Reaper Group."
Miles sighed.
"I thought I was retired."
Monica smirked.
"You retired from Graveyard."
"Not from real life."
Miles shook his head lightly.
"Fair enough."
He walked toward the glass wall.
And stopped.
The view in front of him was breathtaking.
The entire city of Star Harbor stretched out below.
He could clearly see Sterling Enterprises at Cinder Square standing proudly among the buildings.
Beyond that
The ocean.
Endless.
Blue.
Shimring under the sunlight.
Ships moved slowly across the water.
The port city was alive.
Growing.
Evolving.
Miles stood there quietly.
"This is amazing..."
Monica stepped beside him.
"Indeed."
.....
Inside the upper office of Cross Capital, the atmosphere was far from calm.
Dominic Cross stood alone near the wide glass window.
From this height, the city stretched .
But his eyes were fixed on one thing.
Soul Tower.
The newly risen giant in Star Harbor.
Dominic’s expression darkened.
He pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
The call connected.
Bennett Hayes answered from the other side.
"What is it?"
Dominic did not take his eyes off the tower.
"Did you know..."
"Soul Tower is offering rental spaces?"
Bennett scoffed lightly.
"So?"
"You want to lease a few floors?"
"Need funding?"
Dominic’s voice turned sharper.
"Most of the companies moving there are from outside the city."
He paused.
"Don’t you see what that ans?"
Bennett fell silent.
Dominic continued.
"Reaper didn’t just buy a building."
"They created a center of influence."
"Once those companies settle there..."
"...Reaper will control access."
"Connections."
"Opportunities."
His grip on the phone tightened.
"They are positioning themselves to dominate this city."
Bennett exhaled slowly.
"Damn."
"First Sterling Enterprises..."
"And now Reaper."
His tone turned serious.
"We can’t let this continue."
A short pause followed.
Then Bennett spoke again.
"We handled ACE Finances."
"We can handle them too."
Dominic’s lips slowly curved into a cold smile.
"That’s exactly what I was thinking."
Bennett’s voice dropped.
"I will arrange people."
"We will place them inside Reaper."
"From the inside..."
"...we dismantle them."
Dominic’s eyes remained locked on Soul Tower.
The reflection of the tower shimred in his pupils.
A dangerous grin spread across his face
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