Chapter 466: What the Ashes Could Not Bury!!!

Reaper Group Headquarters, Soul Tower.

The afternoon was unusually quiet on the executive floor of Soul Tower.

Monica sat behind her desk, reviewing documents from Reaper Entertainment’s upcoming projects. With Sterling Launchpad approaching its final stages, much of the media division was occupied with preparations, leaving her office relatively undisturbed.

A gentle knock came from the door.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Thea stepped inside.

Monica looked up and smiled.

"Thea. Please, have a seat."

"Thank you, Miss Monica."

Thea sat across from her, carefully placing her hands on her lap.

Monica set her tablet aside.

"Tell me. What’s wrong?"

Thea blinked.

"How..."

"How did I know?" Monica smiled. "I’ve been watching you for a few days. You seem distracted, and that’s why I asked you to come."

Thea lowered her eyes.

Monica leaned back.

"Is it something related to your job? Are you having trouble adjusting?"

"No, no." Thea immediately shook her head. "The job is wonderful. Everyone has been very kind to me."

"Then?"

Thea hesitated.

"Actually, sometimes I feel like I’m underqualified for the position you’ve given me. I don’t have the experience other people here have, but you still trusted me with such a good opportunity."

Monica smiled reassuringly.

"Don’t think of yourself that way. I’ve seen how hard you work, Thea. You learn quickly, you’re responsible, and you take your assignments seriously. You’re more than qualified."

Thea looked up.

Monica continued, "Besides, everyone has to begin somewhere."

She paused, remembering something.

"You know, in my family, women never really worked outside the household before."

Thea looked surprised.

"Really?"

Monica nodded.

"It wasn’t something our family encouraged. Yet look at us now. Aunt Elena works at The Atelier, and I help run the Reaper group. Even my grandfather supports it."

She smiled at the thought.

"Things can change a lot when someone gives you an opportunity."

Thea listened quietly.

"When Boss first asked me to work for him, neither of us knew we were cousins."

Monica leaned back, her expression turning thoughtful.

"At the time, everything around me was falling apart. We’d been rescued from a terrible situation, but afterward, I suddenly realized something."

"What?"

"I had no idea how we were supposed to survive."

Thea’s expression softened.

"Neither my brother nor I could return home until everything was settled. I didn’t have a job, and I didn’t want my little brother to face those difficulties."

Monica sighed.

"He was still young. He’d already been through so much with me, and I couldn’t bear the thought of him having to worry about our future too."

Thea remained silent.

"Then Boss gave me an opportunity. Funny, isn’t it? He’s younger than me, and he’s not even that much older than my little brother."

A small laugh escaped her.

"But he trusted me."

Monica looked around her office.

"And that’s how we started building Reaper Group. He had a collection of existing business investments, some of them quite messy, and we had to bring everything together."

"It must have been difficult," Thea said.

"Very. Reaper wasn’t the enormous group you see today. We had good people, but there was still so much to organize. We made mistakes, learned from them, and worked harder."

Monica smiled with quiet pride.

"And within a few years, we were competing against some of the biggest companies in the world."

Thea looked impressed.

"That’s amazing."

"Maybe. But when I look back and ask myself why I worked so hard, I don’t think about money or success."

Monica’s expression softened.

"I remember my little brother’s face."

She paused.

"He was scared, Thea. He’d suffered alongside me, and there were times when I couldn’t do anything to make things better for him."

Thea lowered her gaze.

"All I wanted was to give him a better life. A life where he wouldn’t have to be afraid of tomorrow."

Monica smiled faintly.

"That thought kept me going. Without him, I don’t know whether I would’ve found the motivation to achieve everything I have."

She looked directly at Thea.

"And I see something similar in you."

Thea raised her eyes.

"You want to give your sister a good life. You want to stand on your own feet instead of depending entirely on the Winslow family."

Thea nodded slowly.

"You’re right."

Her voice became quieter.

"I want to give Ivy everything I couldn’t give her before."

Monica smiled.

"And you will. You’re already taking steps toward that."

Thea managed a small smile.

Monica leaned forward.

"So, if your job isn’t the problem, what’s really troubling you?"

For several seconds, Thea remained silent.

Then she took a slow breath.

"It’s Bjorn."

Monica’s expression became serious.

Thea continued, "I know he’s still planning something big. And I know Aerin and Ren are continuing their disguises."

She clasped her hands together.

"Whenever I think about them being there, surrounded by those people..."

Her voice weakened.

"I keep hoping they’ll be safe."

Monica listened.

"They’re risking their lives while pretending to be people they aren’t. And they’re doing it because of everything that happened to me."

"Thea..."

"What if something happens to them?"

She looked up, her eyes filled with worry.

"What if Bjorn discovers the truth? What if they get hurt because of me? I..."

Her voice faltered.

"I don’t know what I’d do."

Monica immediately stood.

She walked around the desk and stopped beside Thea, gently placing both hands on her shoulders.

"Listen to me."

Thea looked up.

"Nothing is going to happen to them."

"But..."

"We’re prepared, Thea. There’s an entire extraction team waiting nearby in case something goes wrong. We’re not sending them into danger without support."

Monica gave her shoulders a reassuring squeeze.

"And you’re forgetting who they are."

Thea remained quiet.

"Those warriors have spent their lives training. Their ancestors fought in one of the greatest wars in unrecorded history. They stood their ground against guns with sticks and stones."

Monica smiled faintly.

"Do you really think their descendants are going to be helpless?"

Thea slowly shook her head.

"No."

"Exactly. We aren’t underestimating the enemy, but we aren’t underestimating our people either."

Monica pulled a chair closer and sat beside her.

"You have a better future ahead of you now. The freedom you’ve always wanted. A job, a family, and the opportunity to make your own decisions."

Thea’s eyes softened.

"We’ll always support you. Don’t forget that you’re family too."

"Miss Monica..."

"And there’s another reason I called you."

Monica’s expression became thoughtful.

"Boss has a lot on his plate right now. Believe me, he’s working harder than most people realize, trying to settle all these problems while keeping everyone he loves safe."

Thea listened.

"I’ve known him for a long time. Back when he lived his previous life, he had almost nothing to lose."

Monica paused.

"But this time, it’s different."

"Because of his family?"

"Yes."

She smiled gently.

"He finally has everything he never had before. And that means he’ll do whatever it takes to keep them safe and happy."

Thea looked down.

"So when you keep blaming yourself and worrying alone, you’re forgetting something."

Monica tapped her shoulder.

"Miles considers you family too. If something is troubling you, he’ll worry about you just as much."

Thea remained quiet.

"And if you don’t want to trouble him because he’s busy, you can always come to me."

Monica smiled.

"We’re cousins too, remember?"

Thea’s lips trembled slightly before she smiled.

"Thank you so much."

"You don’t need to thank me."

"I’m sorry for making you worry."

Monica shook her head.

"It’s fine."

She smiled warmly.

"We’re sisters."

For a moment, Thea simply looked at her.

She had spent so much of her life surrounded by people who wanted something from her. People who saw her as useful, disposable, or valuable only because of what she could accomplish for them.

Being told that someone considered her family, without expecting anything in return, still felt unfamiliar.

But it was a feeling she wanted to get used to.

Thea took another breath.

"Miss Monica, there’s one more thing I wanted to ask."

"Of course. Tell me."

"Do we still have the evidence recovered from WEB’s headquarters? The database files?"

Monica nodded.

"We do. Why?"

Thea hesitated.

"There was a folder I once saw in their system. Even when I was working for WEB, I wasn’t authorized to access it."

Monica became attentive.

"What was it called?"

"Velde Marine Systems."

Monica repeated the name thoughtfully.

"Velde..."

Then she looked toward Thea.

"That’s your real surname, isn’t it?"

Thea nodded.

"Yes."

"My parents were Eirik Velde and Sigrid Velde."

Her expression darkened.

"They were brutally murdered in front of my eyes."

Monica remained silent.

Thea continued, "For years, I believed I understood what happened to them. But when Bjorn confronted me about lying about the burning orphanage, he knew things he shouldn’t have known."

She looked directly at Monica.

"He knew too much about the real incident."

Monica frowned.

"And you think that folder might have something to do with your parents?"

"I don’t know."

Thea shook her head.

"But it has our surname. And WEB kept it somewhere even I couldn’t access."

Her voice became firm.

"I want to know the truth."

Monica nodded.

"Then we’ll find it."

Thea looked surprised.

"Really?"

"I’ll personally look into the recovered records. If there’s anything connected to your parents, we’ll investigate it."

Monica gently squeezed her shoulder again.

"And if someone was responsible for what happened to them, we’ll do everything we can to find that person."

Thea lowered her head.

"Thank you so much."

Monica smiled.

"Now, enough worrying for today."

She stood and returned toward her desk.

"Oh, and one more thing."

Thea looked up.

"Winter is already starting. Buy something nice and warm for Ivy and Olivia."

Thea blinked.

Monica continued, "The paychecks are being released today."

Thea’s eyes widened.

"Really?"

"Yes."

A smile appeared on Thea’s face.

"No wonder everyone in the office seems so excited."

Monica laughed.

"Of course. It’s payday."

She looked toward Thea.

"Your first real job and your first real salary. You should celebrate a little."

Thea smiled.

"Maybe I’ll take Ivy shopping."

"Good. And don’t forget to buy something for yourself too."

Thea nodded.

"Okay."

She stood.

"Thank you, Miss Monica. I feel so much better now."

Monica smiled warmly.

"I’m glad."

...

Near the Floating Elves Islands.

The yacht moved smoothly across the sea, leaving a long trail of white foam behind it.

The sunlight glittered across the water, while a gentle breeze carried the coolness of early winter.

Flora sat comfortably beneath the shaded seating area with Dion beside her. He was enjoying the view, occasionally checking whether she needed anything.

Nick, meanwhile, had disappeared to explore another section of the yacht.

His excitement hadn’t faded since boarding.

Near the railings, Miles stood beside Evelyn.

Ahead of them, an island was gradually becoming clearer.

A beautiful stretch of sandy beach curved around the shoreline, with dense green forest covering much of the land beyond it.

Miles pointed toward the island.

"See that?"

Evelyn followed his gaze.

"That’s the place?"

"Yes."

She leaned slightly toward the railing.

"Wow."

Her eyes moved across the beach.

"You have an entire beach to yourself."

Miles smiled.

"It’s more than just a beach."

Evelyn looked toward him.

"Really?"

"Of course."

She studied the island again.

"Well, I can only see the beach and a forest behind it."

She tilted her head.

"What else do you have there?"

Miles smiled mysteriously.

"You’ll see."

Evelyn sighed.

"Another surprise?"

"Something like that."

She laughed softly.

Then her expression changed.

"Actually, now I feel a little bad."

Miles looked toward her.

"Why?"

"We left JK behind."

She looked toward the island.

"She was injured, and we’re out here enjoying ourselves."

Miles chuckled.

"Ahh, Evie."

She turned.

"JK didn’t get left behind."

Evelyn blinked.

"What?"

Miles smiled.

"She left us behind."

Evelyn stared at him.

"Wait. What?"

"She’s already here."

Evelyn looked toward the island again.

Then slowly turned back toward Miles.

"Brother..."

"Yes?"

"Don’t tell me you have some kind of hidden base behind that forest."

Miles laughed.

"You’re clever."

Evelyn’s eyes widened.

"Seriously?"

Miles nodded.

"It’s a school."

Evelyn looked confused.

"A school?"

"Yes."

She studied his expression.

Then smiled suspiciously.

"I’m pretty sure it’s not a normal school."

Miles chuckled.

"Hehe."

Evelyn shook her head, smiling.

"Whatever it is, I’m excited."

She turned toward the approaching island again.

"Thank you, Brother."

Miles smiled.

"You’re welcome."

Evelyn suddenly remembered something.

"Can I take pictures?"

Miles nodded.

"Of course."

Her expression brightened immediately.

"Really?"

"Yes."

She reached for her phone, already looking delighted.

"Finally!"

Miles raised an eyebrow.

"Finally what?"

Evelyn smiled.

"I’ll finally have some pictures I can show my friends."

Miles laughed.