The Retired Young Mercenary Is Secretly a Billionaire

Star Harbor International Airport was unusually crowded that morning.

Travelers moved between check-in counters.

Families stood around luggage trolleys.

Airport announcements echoed constantly through the massive terminal.

Miles and Chloe had already completed the immigration and security checks and were now walking toward the international departure area.

Chloe looked back at the immigration counters.

Then sighed.

"I need a passport that says Republic of Haven too."

Miles looked toward her.

"What’s wrong?"

He adjusted the small travel bag over his shoulder.

"That was a pretty smooth check."

Chloe glanced at him.

"Yes."

She pointed toward the departure gates.

"We’re going to Belvoir now."

"So?"

"What about after that?"

Miles raised an eyebrow.

Chloe continued.

"When we leave Haven for another country, there will be more complicated things."

"Different passports."

"Visas."

"Citizenship rules."

"Documents."

She sighed dramatically.

"We’re supposed to be traveling, not attending an immigration examination every few days."

Miles moved slightly closer.

Then lowered his voice.

"Don’t forget whose wife you are."

Chloe immediately puffed her cheeks.

"Oh?"

Miles smiled.

Chloe looked at him.

"Don’t you want my passport to say Chloe Sterling?"

Miles froze for a moment.

Then smiled helplessly.

"Okay, okay."

He raised both hands.

"Don’t worry."

Chloe narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

Miles continued,

"I already submitted the application."

Her expression immediately changed.

"You did?"

Miles nodded casually.

"Yes."

"When?"

"Recently."

Chloe stared at him.

Miles continued walking.

"By the time we come back from this trip..."

He glanced toward her.

"...you’ll probably have your new passport."

Chloe’s eyes widened.

"Seriously?"

"With the citizenship certificate."

She stopped walking.

Miles took another step before realizing she was no longer beside him.

He turned.

Chloe stared at him.

"I’m getting citizenship too?"

Miles nodded.

She immediately became suspicious.

"Isn’t Haven very strict about citizenship?"

Miles sighed.

Chloe continued,

"I heard people can live there for years without qualifying."

Miles simply stared at her.

Chloe understood that expression.

She closed her eyes.

"Okay."

Miles smiled.

Chloe pointed toward herself.

"I’m the wife of Miles Sterling."

"Exactly."

She shook her head.

"You’re terrible."

Miles laughed.

They continued through the terminal.

Chloe looked toward the large flight information display.

Their flight still had considerable time before boarding.

She checked the clock.

Then sighed.

"We’re early."

Miles looked at her.

"You’re the one who wanted to leave the villa this early."

Chloe looked slightly embarrassed.

"Sorry."

She smiled.

"I was overly excited."

Miles nodded.

"Clearly."

"I forgot airplanes don’t leave earlier just because passengers arrive early."

Miles laughed.

"We could have used a private jet."

Chloe immediately shook her head.

"No."

"You said you wanted us to travel like a normal couple."

"Exactly."

Miles looked around the enormous international terminal.

"Normal couples also wait."

Chloe smiled.

"Maybe on the return journey we can use one."

Miles looked amused.

"So normal life has already become exhausting?"

"No."

Chloe took his hand.

"But even if you’ve planned everything..."

She looked at him seriously.

"Husband."

Miles immediately became cautious.

"Yes?"

"I have my own checklist."

"What checklist?"

"Things I want to do with my husband."

Miles sighed.

"Of course you do."

Chloe smiled sweetly.

Miles squeezed her hand.

"I should listen to my wife."

"Good."

His phone buzzed.

Miles immediately pulled it out.

A secure message had arrived.

He opened it.

His eyes moved across the screen.

Then...

A visible trace of relief passed through his face.

Chloe noticed immediately.

She had become much better at noticing those little changes.

"Something happened."

Miles looked toward her.

"What?"

Chloe smiled.

"I saw that."

Miles slipped the phone back into his pocket.

"Saw what?"

"Your face."

"My face?"

"You relaxed."

Miles said nothing.

Chloe leaned slightly closer.

"First tell me something."

"What?"

"Why are we really going to Belvoir?"

Miles became silent.

Chloe continued before he could answer.

"I know Olivia invited us."

"And I know you want me to see the tea plantations."

She narrowed her eyes.

"But there’s more."

Miles sighed.

Chloe smiled.

"I knew it."

He looked toward the crowds moving around them.

Then back toward her.

"Sorry."

Chloe’s expression softened.

Miles continued,

"I’m being selfish."

"For what?"

"We’re leaving for our honeymoon."

He looked at her.

"It’s supposed to be you and me."

Chloe listened quietly.

"But..."

Miles paused.

"I added Belvoir at the last minute because there is someone I wanted to meet."

Chloe immediately smiled mischievously.

"Oh?"

Miles knew that smile.

"What?"

"Another sister?"

Miles flicked her forehead.

"Ouch!"

Chloe immediately rubbed it.

Miles shook his head.

"Sister."

He sighed.

"It’s Ivy’s sister."

Chloe blinked.

"Ivy?"

Then realization appeared.

"You mean Cousin Olivia?"

Miles nodded.

"Olivia knows her."

Chloe frowned slightly.

"But Ivy is her sister?"

"Not biologically."

Chloe looked curious.

Miles explained,

"Ivy was adopted."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Chloe thought for a moment.

"I’ve never actually met Ivy."

"So I didn’t know much about her."

Miles nodded.

"She has an older biological sister."

Chloe looked toward him.

"And that’s who we’re meeting?"

Miles smiled faintly.

"Hopefully."

There was something in his voice.

Chloe noticed.

"What happened to her?"

Miles remained quiet for several seconds.

Then answered carefully.

"You can say..."

"...she’s finally getting her freedom back."

Chloe’s expression immediately changed.

"After many years."

Miles nodded.

"She once told me that when everything ended..."

His gaze became distant for a moment.

"...she wanted to settle in Star Harbor."

"Live normally."

"Be free."

Chloe studied his face.

"So something serious happened."

Miles didn’t deny it.

"Serious enough that you added Belvoir to our honeymoon route at the last minute."

"Yes."

Chloe smiled.

"I don’t mind."

Miles looked toward her.

She continued,

"Let’s meet them."

Then her excitement suddenly returned.

"And I still want to see the tea plantations."

Miles laughed.

"I’ve never seen one."

Chloe smiled.

"So that part of your plan still counts."

Miles looked at her for a moment.

"Thank you."

Chloe tightened her fingers around his hand.

"Miles."

"Hmm?"

Her expression became softer.

"I know you have a lot of responsibilities."

Miles remained silent.

"I know some of them are..."

She searched for the right words.

"...far outside anything I can help with."

Miles looked toward her.

Chloe continued,

"Even though I want to share everything with you..."

She smiled faintly.

"I know some things are simply out of my league."

Miles opened his mouth.

Chloe immediately shook her head.

"Don’t."

He stopped.

She continued,

"But I promised Mom something."

Miles raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"That I’d take care of you."

Miles smiled.

Chloe stepped closer.

"So..."

"During this trip..."

She pointed toward him.

"You are my responsibility."

Miles stared at her.

Chloe continued,

"Which means we aren’t doing anything dangerous."

Miles almost laughed.

"That’s your rule?"

"Yes."

Miles raised both hands.

"Alright."

Chloe looked satisfied.

"We’ll meet Ivy’s sister."

She smiled warmly.

"I would actually love to see a woman finally getting her freedom."

Then she looked at him.

"And knowing you..."

Her eyes softened.

"...I’m sure you contributed to it somehow."

Miles said nothing.

Chloe smiled.

"I’m proud of my husband."

For once...

Miles had no joke.

No comeback.

Nothing.

Chloe gently rested her head against his chest.

He slowly wrapped one arm around her.

They stood there for a few seconds while thousands of strangers moved around them.

Miles looked down at her.

Then asked,

"Do you want to share a cup of ice cream?"

Chloe immediately lifted her head.

"I’d love to."

Miles laughed.

"Come on."

Chloe grabbed his hand.

"Let’s go to the lounge."

...

Darkness.

Nothing else.

Thea opened her eyes.

Or at least...

She thought she did.

There was no difference.

Everything around her was black.

She couldn’t see the floor.

Couldn’t see her hands.

Couldn’t see walls.

Couldn’t see the sky.

Nothing.

Only darkness.

Thea started walking.

One step.

Another.

Her footsteps made no sound.

"Hello?"

No answer.

She kept walking.

The silence became unbearable.

"Where am I?"

Nothing.

Thea continued forward.

Her breathing slowly became faster.

Then...

Far away...

A light appeared.

Tiny.

Barely visible.

But it was there.

Thea stopped.

Her eyes widened.

She immediately changed direction.

Then started running toward it.

Her footsteps became faster.

The light remained ahead.

She ran harder.

But instead of getting closer...

The light moved farther away.

"No."

Thea ran faster.

"Wait."

Her breathing became heavy.

The light continued retreating.

Eventually...

Thea stopped.

She bent forward slightly.

Her chest rose and fell rapidly.

"I..."

She swallowed.

"I have to get out."

She lifted her head.

"I need to find my sister."

Then...

A voice came from behind.

"Sister Thea."

Thea froze.

Her eyes widened.

Slowly...

She turned.

"Ivy?"

A little girl stood in the darkness.

Thea’s breathing stopped.

"Ivy."

She immediately stepped forward.

But Ivy looked sad.

"Why, Sister?"

Thea froze.

Ivy’s eyes were wet.

"Why did you leave me alone?"

Thea shook her head quickly.

"No."

"Ivy."

"It’s not like that."

"Why did you abandon me?"

"I didn’t."

Thea rushed forward.

"I would never abandon you."

Suddenly...

Another figure appeared beside Ivy.

Olivia.

Thea stopped.

Olivia looked at Ivy.

Then extended her hand.

Ivy took it.

"Let’s go, Big Sister Olivia."

Thea’s expression changed.

"No."

Olivia began walking toward the distant light.

Ivy followed.

Thea reached out.

"Ivy."

The two figures suddenly moved farther away.

Much farther.

Toward the light.

Thea started running.

"Wait!"

The light moved.

Olivia moved.

Ivy moved with them.

Thea ran desperately.

"Ivy!"

She reached forward.

Her fingers touched nothing.

"Ivy!"

The darkness swallowed everything again.

"IVY!"

...

Thea’s eyes snapped open.

She sat upright violently.

Her breathing was rapid.

Sweat covered her forehead.

Her hands gripped the blanket beneath her.

For several seconds...

She didn’t recognize where she was.

A room.

A bed.

Soft lights.

A small table nearby.

Then a voice came from beside her.

"You alright?"

Thea turned sharply.

A woman sat nearby.

Reina.

Thea’s eyes widened.

She immediately moved backward.

"You."

Reina stood slowly.

Thea stared at her face.

"I’ve seen you."

Reina remained calm.

"The picture."

Thea’s breathing remained uneven.

"You’re the woman from the picture."

Reina said nothing.

"You work for the Prince."

Reina slowly raised both hands.

"Calm down, Miss Thea."

Thea looked around urgently.

"We’re not here to hurt you."

"I..."

Thea tried to stand.

"I need to go back."

Reina’s expression became serious.

"Back?"

Thea looked toward the door.

"I need to go."

Reina stepped in front of her.

"Go back to that hell?"

Thea froze.

Reina looked directly into her eyes.

"We’re giving you a chance to leave."

Thea stared at her.

"A chance..."

Reina continued.

"To get your freedom."

Thea’s expression changed.

"You can meet your little sister."

That stopped her completely.

"Ivy?"

Reina nodded.

Thea’s eyes immediately filled with fear.

"No."

She shook her head.

"I have to go back."

"Why?"

"He’ll hurt her."

Thea’s voice became desperate.

"If I don’t return..."

"He’s going to hurt my sister."

Reina smiled.

Thea stared at her.

"What?"

"He can’t."

Thea froze.

Reina repeated,

"He cannot hurt your sister."

Thea’s lips parted.

"No one can hurt her."

Reina stepped closer.

"Your sister is protected."

Thea stared.

"Protected by who?"

"Someone very strong."

Thea’s breathing slowed slightly.

Reina continued,

"Personally."

Thea still looked unconvinced.

"And..."

Reina smiled.

"The WEB hasn’t lost Princess Thea."

Thea’s eyes narrowed.

"What do you mean?"

Reina turned slightly toward the table.

A photograph rested there.

She picked it up.

Then handed it to Thea.

Thea looked down.

Her entire body froze.

The woman in the photograph...

Was her.

Same face.

Same hair.

Same markings.

Same posture.

Almost perfect.

Thea’s eyes widened.

"What..."

Reina smiled.

"We planted our own Princess Thea inside."

Thea slowly looked up.

"That’s impossible."

"Apparently not."

Reina sat beside her.

"Someone in our group has a very annoying amount of talent."

Thea kept staring at the photograph.

Reina continued,

"But we need your help."

Thea looked toward her.

"It’s easy to make someone look like you."

Reina tapped the photograph.

"It’s much harder to make someone behave like you."

She smiled.

"Especially when we don’t know how you speak inside the WEB."

"How you respond to Bjorn."

"How you speak to Astrid."

"Your habits."

"Your routines."

"Your mannerisms."

Thea’s expression became complicated.

"Who..."

She looked around.

"Who are you people?"

Reina smiled.

"My name is Reina."

Thea waited.

"And?"

Reina shrugged.

"That’s the only part that matters right now."

Thea stared at her.

Reina’s expression softened.

"The important thing is..."

"Your sister is waiting for you."

Thea froze.

"In Mountain City."

She leaned slightly closer.

"Belvoir."

"Haven."

Thea’s eyes filled with tears almost instantly.

"Ivy..."

Reina nodded.

Thea lowered the photograph.

Her mind worked quickly.

The extraction.

The unknown operatives.

The Prince.

The disguised woman.

The timing.

Then suddenly...

She looked directly at Reina.

"You work for him."

Reina smiled.

Thea continued.

"Miles."

A small laugh escaped Reina.

"You are smart, Miss Thea."

Thea looked down.

For some reason...

That answer hurt.

Not painfully.

Something warmer.

He had come for her.

After everything.

Thea whispered,

"Why?"

Reina looked confused.

Thea’s voice broke slightly.

"I said terrible things to him."

Her eyes became wet.

"I told him he was brainwashed."

"I insulted everything he believed."

"I practically told him..."

She swallowed.

"...that the next time we met, we’d be enemies."

Reina listened quietly.

Thea wiped one tear.

"Why would he help me?"

Her voice became weaker.

"This isn’t his fight."

Reina smiled gently.

"You’re his friend."

Thea looked up.

Reina continued.

"And apparently..."

"Miles Sterling has a problem."

Thea blinked.

"He can’t leave a friend suffering in hell."

A tear escaped Thea’s eye.

Reina continued,

"And..."

"He definitely can’t watch someone’s little sister spend years waiting for her big sister."

Thea’s lips trembled.

Reina smiled.

"He’s a good brother too."

Thea looked away.

More tears gathered.

For years...

She had carried everything alone.

Lucian.

Bjorn.

The WEB.

Ivy.

Every decision.

Every lie.

Every fear.

Everything had always depended on her.

If she failed...

Ivy suffered.

If she hesitated...

Ivy suffered.

If she betrayed Bjorn...

Ivy suffered.

That had been her world.

Until now.

Reina gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Don’t worry."

Thea looked toward her.

"Let us handle things from here."

Reina’s voice became firmer.

"You’re not alone anymore."

Thea stared at her.

"There are thousands of people..."

Reina smiled.

"...all standing behind him."

The door opened.

Thea immediately looked over.

Two people entered.

Marina came first.

Darius followed.

Darius immediately noticed Thea sitting upright.

"Oh."

He smiled.

"She’s awake."

He looked toward Reina.

"Great."

Then toward Thea.

"I hope you’re done with the explanation."

Reina nodded.

"Mostly."

Marina walked closer.

She smiled at Thea.

"Hello."

Thea looked at her.

"I’m Marina."

She pointed behind herself.

"And the big guy is Darius."

Darius frowned.

"Big guy?"

Marina ignored him.

Thea gave a small uncertain nod.

"Hello."

Darius checked the time.

"The airlift is ready."

Thea looked toward him.

"We’re going back to Haven."

Her eyes widened.

"Haven?"

Darius nodded.

"Yes."

Reina immediately asked,

"What about Ren and Aerin?"

Thea looked between them.

Those names were unfamiliar.

Darius smiled faintly.

"They got in."

Reina relaxed slightly.

"The press conference?"

"Cancelled."

Thea frowned.

Darius continued,

"Thanks to Leader."

Thea immediately understood who he meant.

"Miles?"

Darius nodded.

"He created some fake chaos in France."

Thea’s expression changed.

"That was him?"

Marina laughed.

"Of course."

She crossed her arms.

"With the Prince on our side..."

Her expression became serious.

"...we now have eyes over almost every WEB operation in Monaco."

Thea stared.

"What exactly is going on?"

Reina smiled.

"Like I said..."

She pointed toward the photograph again.

"We planted our own Princess Thea inside."

Thea looked down.

"So she is Aerin?"

"Yes."

Reina nodded.

"She’s disguised as you."

"And Ren?"

Darius answered,

"Your subordinate."

Thea looked toward him.

"He’s also disguised."

Marina smiled.

"Ren is the master of disguise."

Thea stared at the photograph again.

The resemblance was terrifyingly accurate.

"But..."

She looked toward them.

"What happens if someone becomes suspicious?"

Silence.

Darius scratched his cheek.

"That..."

Reina narrowed her eyes.

"What?"

Darius sighed.

"Is where we have a problem."

Thea immediately became tense.

"What happened?"

Darius looked toward her.

"Bjorn called Princess Thea back to Norway."

Thea’s entire expression changed.

"What?"

Reina straightened.

Marina’s smile faded.

Darius nodded.

"Yes."

"He wants her back."

Thea stood immediately.

"No."

She looked genuinely alarmed now.

"They aren’t ready."

Darius nodded.

"Exactly."

Thea paced once.

"Monaco is one thing."

"Norway is completely different."

She looked toward Darius.

"People there have known me for years."

"My staff."

"Guards."

"Senior WEB members."

"Astrid."

Her expression hardened.

"And Bjorn."

Darius nodded.

"That’s why..."

He looked slightly apologetic.

"...we still need your help."

Thea stopped.

Darius continued.

"Sorry, Miss Thea."

"But before we send them there..."

"We need to train them."

Thea remained silent.

Marina added,

"Your speech patterns."

"Habits."

"Private conversations."

"Things only people around you would know."

Thea slowly nodded.

"Okay."

Everyone looked toward her.

She took a deep breath.

"I’ll help."

Reina smiled.

"Thank you."

Thea looked down at the photograph again.

"If they’re going to stand in front of Bjorn..."

Her expression became serious.

"...they need more than my face."

Darius nodded.

"Exactly."

Marina clapped her hands lightly.

"Then let’s go."

Thea looked toward her.

Marina smiled brightly.

"I just talked to someone."

Thea raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"I heard your sister is preparing a welcome gift."

Thea froze.

"Ivy?"

Marina suddenly realized what she had said.

Reina turned toward her.

"Hey."

Marina looked over.

"What?"

"What if she wanted to surprise her?"

Marina’s eyes widened.

"Oh."

She covered her mouth.

"Oops."

For the first time since waking...

Thea laughed.

It was small.

Broken by tears.

But real.

Darius moved toward the door.

"Let’s go."

Thea looked around the room one final time.

Then...

She stood.

Not as Princess Thea Vik.

Not as Bjorn’s daughter.

Not as Lucian’s spy.

Not as the woman trapped between two sides.

Just Thea.

A sister going home.

And for the first time in years...

She walked toward a door without wondering who she was leaving behind.

Because this time...

She was finally going back to Ivy.