Chapter 121: A New Chapter
Five years had flown by in the blink of an eye.
On the massive LED billboard adorning Emerald City's tallest skyscraper, a breaking news segment played on loop.
"Vertex Innovations Ltd.'s game studio has officially launched its groundbreaking 3D action mobile game. Within twenty-four hours of release, the game surpassed one hundred million downloads—an unprecedented milestone in single-player action game history. Industry analysts are calling it one of the most phenomenal releases in recent gaming culture."
A bus rolled to a stop beneath the glowing screen. Two uniformed high school girls climbed aboard, chattering excitedly as they made their way to the back seats.
"Did you catch the livestream yesterday?"
"Nope! I was at Ethan's concert. It was absolutely insane!"
"He debuted and became an A-lister overnight. Your voice sounds totally shot—must've been one hell of a show."
"Oh, it was. The entire arena sang along. What happened with the competition?"
"What do you think? Lucas won gold again. That piece he submitted was jaw-dropping. I've been training for thirteen years and can't even come close to what that kid can do."
"Well, duh. You don't get to be Benjamin's protégé without serious talent. Of course his students are incredible."
"It's wild, isn't it? All these young prodigies popping up everywhere lately."
……
Inside a television studio, a host in a crisp white suit beamed at the cool, strikingly handsome man seated beside him.
"Mr. Johnson, you've only been in the industry for five years, and you've already taken home Best Actor. Fans are calling you and Mr. Ethan Martinez the 'Twin Stars of Entertainment.' What's your take on that?"
Five years later, James still smiled with that same gentle warmth—but his eyes had matured, sharpened by experience and quiet authority.
"Ethan and I have been friends for years. We made a pact back then—I'd pursue acting, he'd pursue music, and we'd meet at the top. As for being 'A-listers'... we've still got a long way to go. There's plenty to learn from those who came before us."
The host continued peppering him with questions.
James glanced at his watch and politely interrupted with a smile. "Sorry to cut this short, but I'm running out of time."
The host, mistaking James's easygoing demeanor for flexibility, pressed on with his signature grin. "This is your first livestream interview—your fans would love to spend more time with you."
James maintained his smile, but his gaze sharpened instantly. "I appreciate that, but I have personal commitments. Let's wrap this up."
The host faltered under the weight of James's commanding presence and quickly stammered through his closing remarks before cutting the stream.
James rose to his feet, nodded courteously, and said, "Thank you for your time."
Then he turned and walked out without looking back.
……
Emerald City International Airport.
A young woman strode toward the arrivals gate, her expression cool and composed. Her long legs carried her with purpose, stiletto heels clicking sharply against the polished floor as she pulled a sleek suitcase behind her.
Her elegant silhouette drew glances from passersby, but she paid them no mind.
It wasn't until she reached the exit and spotted the Maybach parked outside—and the man waiting beside it—that her icy demeanor melted. She pushed her sunglasses down with one finger, a radiant smile breaking across her face as she quickened her pace.
"Michael!"
Michael looked up from his phone. The moment his eyes landed on Sophia, his face softened into the kind of smile reserved only for her.
He slipped his phone into his pocket and walked toward her, reaching for her suitcase with one hand while taking hers with the other. "Tired?"
Sophia shook her head. "Not really. I slept on the plane—first class, you know. What are you doing here, though? Thought you'd be swamped with work."
"Nothing's more important than you. Do you know how long it's been since I've seen you?" He opened the passenger door for her. "Sophia, after you."
Sophia slid into the seat. Michael stowed her luggage in the trunk before circling around to the driver's side.
The second he sat down, he noticed her reaching for the seatbelt. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Hold on. Don't buckle yet. I need a minute."
Sophia bit back a smile, her lips curving despite herself. She leaned in and kissed him fully on the mouth. Two months apart, and all that longing poured out in that single kiss.
Several heated moments later, the car finally pulled onto the road.
"How'd it go?" Michael asked.
"Contract's signed. Vertex Innovations officially acquired Borg Tech's AI platform. Development starts the day after tomorrow. Worth the two-month trip."
Vertex Innovations currently owned a state-of-the-art VFX and animation studio. To dominate the domestic market in visual effects production, Sophia had flown overseas to secure cutting-edge AI technology from Borg Tech.
Two months of intense negotiation—and the payoff had been worth every second.
Michael smiled, relaxed. "You haven't changed a bit. Still throwing yourself into your work like nothing else matters."
He paused, teasing. "At this rate, you're going to surpass me before long."
Sophia laughed softly and leaned over to kiss his cheek. "Cloud Group and Vertex Innovations are partners, not competitors."
The market was big enough for both of them. Cooperation beat cutthroat competition any day.
The Maybach came to a stop at a red light. Michael turned to her and laced his fingers through hers. "Any plans today?"
"Nope. I just closed a major deal—I'm taking two days off. I've earned it."
"What about tonight? No family dinner?"
"Mom's running three beauty salons now—she's swamped. Dad's flying all over the country prepping for the IPO. James is filming on location, Evelyn's practically living at the office, and Lucas is probably crashing at Mr. White's studio. The house is empty. Why would I go back?"
Her tone was light, matter-of-fact. Clearly, she'd grown used to this kind of life.
Three years ago, Mary's beauty and wellness spa had gone viral after a customer's Instagram post blew up. The business exploded, and with glowing reviews pouring in, she'd expanded to three additional locations.
Two years ago, Ray had spotted a business opportunity and launched his own venture—a tire brand called Firewheel Tires. It was still a small operation, but he was in the middle of securing funding for an IPO. He was busier than ever.
Sophia had always been career-focused. Now that her family had their own thriving ventures, it actually made things easier—she didn't have to carve out time to maintain emotional ties.
Work came first. Always had.
"So... amusement park this afternoon?" Michael suggested. "Bruce invited us to dinner tonight. If you're not up for it, I can cancel."
Sophia nodded. "Sounds good. Actually, Andrew gave me a penthouse at Riverbank No. 9 for my birthday. I'm thinking of moving there—it's closer to Vertex Innovations. I've been meaning to talk to Bruce about interior design anyway."
Plans settled, Michael drove Sophia back to Applewood Estate so she could shower and rest.
Applewood Estate hadn't changed. A cleaning service came by daily, so even after two months away, the place was spotless.
The moment they stepped inside, Michael pulled her into his arms and kissed her again.
He'd held back at the airport—too many people around. Now, finally alone, he let go.
Sophia wrapped her arms around his shoulders, melting into him. Within moments, her legs turned to jelly.
Michael's arm locked around her waist, steadying her. Worried she'd strain her neck leaning back, he guided her toward the couch, his lips never leaving hers as he pressed her down into the cushions.
"Baby," he murmured against her mouth, "you taste so sweet."
Sophia gasped for air, playfully swatting his shoulder. "If you keep this up, my lips are going to be swollen for dinner with Bruce."
Michael gazed down at her, his eyes brimming with affection. He swallowed hard and forced himself to pull back.
His restraint had always been remarkable.
After all, he'd managed to hold out for six years.