The Retired Young Mercenary Is Secretly a Billionaire

Chapter 321: Scars !!!

The floating platform gently rocked with the rhythm of the sea.

The water beneath it was crystal clear. Small schools of fish occasionally flashed beneath the surface before disappearing into deeper waters.

Daniel sat comfortably in his chair while Miles watched attentively.

A fishing rod rested across Daniel’s lap.

"First things first," Daniel said.

He picked up a fishing line.

"You have to prepare the line properly."

Miles leaned closer.

Daniel carefully threaded the line through the guides of the rod.

Then he attached the hook.

"The knot matters."

"If this comes loose, the fish wins."

Miles chuckled.

"Sounds serious."

"It is serious."

Daniel handed him another line.

"Now you do it."

Miles followed his instructions.

The first attempt was messy.

The second looked slightly better.

By the third attempt, Daniel nodded with approval.

"Not bad."

"See? You learn quickly."

Miles smiled.

"Maybe I inherited it from my teacher."

Daniel laughed.

"I only showed you once."

Afterward Daniel showed him how to attach bait properly.

"Don’t just stab it randomly."

"The fish are smarter than you think."

Miles looked doubtful.

"The fish?"

"Trust me."

A few minutes later both lines dropped into the water.

Then they waited.

The calm breeze passed through their hair.

The waves quietly touched the shore nearby.

Miles felt completely relaxed.

No missions.

Just family.

Suddenly Daniel’s rod bent.

"There!"

Daniel pulled.

A silver fish burst from the water.

Miles laughed.

"You caught one already?"

Daniel proudly placed it into the storage container.

"Experience."

A few minutes later Miles caught his first fish.

Then another.

Then another.

The competition unofficially began.

By the end of the hour several fish had already been collected.

Unfortunately for Miles, Daniel’s catches were much larger.

"How is this possible?"

Miles looked at another large fish Daniel had caught.

Daniel grinned.

"Skill."

"Luck."

"And age."

Miles sighed.

"That last one doesn’t count."

The sound of running footsteps arrived from the beach.

Hope, Asher, and Dion appeared.

All three had changed into beach shorts.

Dion carried several coconuts while the twins looked excited.

"Dad!"

"Big broo!"

"We brought coconuts for you!"

A staff member quickly took the coconuts.

Within moments they were expertly opened.

Fresh straws were inserted.

The cold coconut water looked refreshing beneath the sunlight.

Daniel accepted one.

"Thanks."

"We needed that."

Miles took another.

The cool drink instantly washed away the heat.

Asher’s eyes widened.

"There are fishes!"

Hope rushed toward the container.

"So many!"

Dion looked between Daniel and Miles.

"Having a competition, are you?"

Miles pointed toward Daniel’s side.

"I am losing anyway."

"Father already caught bigger fish than me."

Daniel laughed proudly.

"What can I say?"

"You just learned."

"It also takes luck."

"You can’t guide your hook toward a bigger fish."

Dion crossed his arms.

"But still."

"Seeing him lose is fun."

Miles rolled his eyes.

"Yeah."

"Yeah."

"Enjoy it while it lasts."

The group laughed.

A few moments later Elena arrived from the beach side.

She looked at the collection of fish.

"I think you’ve caught enough."

"Let’s enjoy the beach time now, shall we?"

Daniel stood up.

"Right."

He patted Miles on the shoulder.

"Son."

"We’ll compete another time."

Miles nodded.

"Of course, Father."

"I’ll win next time."

Daniel laughed.

"We’ll see."

Soon everyone began moving toward the beach.

The atmosphere immediately felt different.

The scent of sunscreen filled the air.

The ocean breeze carried laughter across the sand.

The women had already changed into beachwear suitable for a family outing.

Flora wore a comfortable light blue swim outfit with a loose beach cover.

Monica had chosen a practical dark navy beach set paired with a wide hat.

Alice and Kate wore simple but stylish beachwear designed more for comfort than attention.

Chloe appeared a few moments later.

She wore a modest white and light sky blue swim outfit paired with a thin beach overshirt that moved gently in the breeze. The design was simple and elegant.

Combined with her soft features and long hair, she looked fresh and naturally beautiful.

Daniel joined the others.

The twins immediately ran toward the shoreline.

Yet Miles remained seated.

Monica looked back.

"Don’t you want to join?"

"We brought a beach ball."

Miles smiled.

"I am coming in a while."

Then Chloe stepped forward.

She quietly sat in the chair beside him.

Flora noticed immediately.

She exchanged a knowing smile with Elena.

Alice grinned.

"I think we should leave them alone for a while."

Flora nodded enthusiastically.

"Yes."

"Yes."

"Let’s go everyone."

One by one they walked away.

Soon only Miles and Chloe remained.

The ocean stretched endlessly before them.

For a moment neither spoke.

Then Miles looked at her.

Chloe noticed instantly.

"Are you staring at me?"

"Am I?"

Miles smiled.

"Is it wrong to behold someone’s eyes?"

Chloe gave him a look.

"Are you really just looking at my eyes?"

Miles slowly slid his chair closer.

Then he leaned slightly toward her.

His voice lowered.

"You look cute."

Chloe instantly turned red.

She moved her face away.

"You!"

"At least give me a warning."

Miles chuckled.

"Oh."

"I can hear someone’s heartbeat."

"Is it going to come out?"

Chloe covered her face.

"If you keep doing things like this, maybe my heart will come out."

"You are the one wearing cute clothes."

Miles smiled.

"Not my fault praising you, is it?"

Unable to look directly at him, Chloe hid her face against his shoulder.

"You are a bad boy."

"Always teasing me."

Miles gently caressed her head.

A faint fragrance reached him.

He blinked.

"What’s this fragrance?"

Chloe sniffed lightly.

"It’s my sunscreen."

"I got it from back home."

Miles smiled.

"It smells like flowers."

Chloe looked up.

"You like it?"

"I have an entire box of it."

"Do you want some?"

"Me?"

Miles laughed.

"Nah."

"I’ll stick with my regular things."

Chloe shook her head.

"Come on."

"Everyone is enjoying the beach."

"You didn’t even take off your shirt."

Miles gently lifted her chin.

Their eyes met.

"Do you want me to take it off?"

Chloe immediately froze.

Then her face became even redder.

"Hey!"

"Don’t make it sound dirty."

"Will you?"

Miles laughed.

"So you don’t want me to?"

Chloe sighed dramatically.

"I mean you cannot enjoy the beach without getting into the water."

"And you cannot go like this."

Miles looked down at himself.

"I think I’ll stick with the shirt."

Chloe crossed her arms.

"Why so?"

Then she narrowed her eyes playfully.

"Are you shy?"

Miles looked toward the sea for a moment before speaking.

"My body is full of scars."

"I don’t want to scare you or anyone here."

The ocean breeze gently moved Chloe’s hair.

She looked at him quietly.

"Scars?"

"Does that really matter?"

Her voice carried a hint of disbelief.

"Are you saying I love you only because of your appearance?"

Miles smiled faintly.

"I know you don’t."

He looked toward the horizon.

"I just haven’t shown these scars to anyone."

"The last time my mom saw them..."

He paused.

"She cried."

Chloe’s expression softened instantly.

The teasing disappeared from her face.

"I see."

She slowly lowered her gaze.

"I can understand her."

"No mother wants her child to get hurt, you know."

Miles nodded.

"Yes."

"That’s why I don’t want to suddenly change this happy atmosphere by taking off my shirt."

For a few seconds Chloe remained silent.

Then she slowly placed her hand on his chest.

The gentle touch surprised him.

"It’s okay."

"Apart from the scars..."

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

"I already know you’re all built up under those clothes."

Miles raised an eyebrow.

Chloe continued.

"And honestly..."

"I don’t want other people seeing you like that."

Miles stared at her.

"Hun?"

A grin slowly appeared.

"Jealous?"

Chloe immediately looked away.

"Yes."

The answer came so naturally that even Miles was surprised.

Then she looked back at him.

"When we’re alone..."

"Can you show me your scars?"

Miles blinked.

"Why are you interested in scars?"

Chloe thought for a moment.

The waves rolled gently onto the shore.

"Maybe..."

"I want to know the part of your life that you don’t talk about."

Her voice became softer.

"Maybe we can’t share the old pain."

"But we can share the new ones together."

Miles looked at her quietly.

Sometimes she sounded innocent.

Sometimes wise.

Sometimes both at the same time.

"Sometimes I don’t understand you."

Chloe smiled.

A smile that reached her eyes.

"It’s just..."

"Je t’aime à la folie."

Miles froze for a second.

Then a nostalgic smile appeared.

"It brings back memories."

The phrase carried him back years.

Back to another country.

Another version of them.

Chloe stood up first.

"Come on."

"Let’s join them."

"It’s a family outing."

"I don’t want Lissy and Kate teasing me for the rest of the week."

Miles laughed.

"Let’s go."

Together they walked toward the others.

Large beach umbrellas had been arranged on the sand.

Elena and Flora sat beneath one of them, enjoying cold drinks while chatting comfortably.

Nearby, Hope and Asher were completely focused on building a giant sandcastle.

Kate had somehow been recruited into their construction team.

The structure already looked impressive.

Little towers stood proudly against the sea breeze.

Meanwhile the rest of the group was engaged in an intense beach ball match.

Or at least everyone except Dion.

Dion was treating it like a military operation.

Every serve looked powerful.

Every return looked calculated.

Daniel stood on the same team and shook his head helplessly.

"Looks like the ball is going to die today."

Alice laughed.

"Mr. Dion."

"Take it easy on us."

Monica jumped and returned the ball.

"Take this!"

The ball flew back.

Dion immediately smashed it again.

The others groaned.

Miles and Chloe finally reached the twins.

Asher proudly pointed at the sandcastle.

"Big bro!"

"Look at our castle!"

Miles crouched beside them.

His eyes widened slightly.

"You two are really architects."

Chloe looked closer.

"Really..."

The castle actually looked surprisingly detailed.

Tiny walls.

Small towers.

Even a moat.

Hope folded her arms proudly.

"We worked very hard."

Then she suddenly looked at Chloe.

A bright smile appeared on her face.

"Big sis Chloe."

"You look very pretty."

Chloe blinked.

"Really?"

Hope nodded seriously.

"Yes."

The innocence in her voice made everyone smile.

Chloe gently ruffled Hope’s hair.

"Thank you."

"You are the cutest."

Hope giggled happily.

From the beach court, Dion suddenly shouted.

"Hey brother!"

"Let’s have a beach ball contest!"

"Join the ladies."

"They are losing."

Miles looked over.

Then toward Daniel.

Then back toward Dion.

"Three versus two isn’t fair."

"Is it?"

His gaze shifted toward Chloe.

"Wanna join?"

Chloe instantly shook her head.

"No."

"I’ll stay here."

Then she pointed.

"Take Kate."

Miles looked surprised.

"Kate?"

Kate looked up.

"Oh."

"Yes Chairman."

Dion immediately pointed dramatically.

"Join us, Kate."

"We will beat them."

Monica crossed her arms.

A confident smile appeared on her face.

"With him on our side..."

She pointed directly at Miles.

"...you are not winning."

The challenge instantly hung in the air.

And judging by Dion’s grin, the peaceful beach day was about to become much more competitive.