Riverdale, Verdant City Airport.
Chasel Mills descended from the private jet, his custom black combat boots hitting the tarmac. He had an imposing aura and sharp, star-like eyes, but his face was a little pale.
Awaiting him was a young woman in a crisp black uniform, looking sharp and capable. Even the uniform couldn't hide her curves, which only added a unique, dangerous allure to her presence.
However, Chasel's gaze cut right through her, his mind clearly elsewhere.
"Suzaku," he said, "The investigation I assigned you. Any results?"
Five years ago, he was a promising young man. At just 20, he founded North Green Group and became a dark horse among Verdant City's enterprises as its market value doubled again and again. Yet just as he was riding high, ready to take the company public, he was framed by his own business partner.
The company's vice president, Charlotte Walker,drugged him and framed him for rape, making sure a pack of reporters was there to catch him red-handed.
Delirious from the drug, he managed a desperate escape. He vaguely remembered being saved by a woman. In his drug-fueled state, he spent the night with her, which saved his life!
But when he came to his senses, he was already in prison, and he didn't even know who that woman was.
One month into his sentence, he was selected to join a mysterious special forces unit, beginning a five-year career on battlefield.
For five years, he was constantly at war, never having a moment to investigate his past.
Until today.
His service was done.
He had returned.
And that night remained a knot in his heart.
Hearing this, Suzaku immediately snapped to a standard salute. "Report, Aurelian! We've got a lead. I'll have an answer for you by tonight." Her crisp voice was a mix of admiration, respect, and a healthy dose of fear.
"Good."
Hearing her report, a jolt went through Chasel. His cold, indifferent face finally showed a trace of emotion.
But then he started to cough violently.
Suzaku quickly took out a white silk handkerchief and handed it to Chasel. "Aurelian, are you alright?" Her face, usually so fierce, was etched with concern.
If it weren't for the battle a month ago, how could this god-like man be so grievously injured?
But it was also that battle––where he crushed the invaders—that cemented his legendary status.
Afterwards, he retired gloriously at the peak and took charge of the nation's most secret organization: "Aurelian"! He was granted the title of Aurelian himself. The name was not just a title, but also a symbol of supreme honor, a creed.
Aurelian Mills is a living legend!
And because of this, after stepping down from the position as "Commander of the North", Chasel no longer needed to personally guard the border. Only now did he finally have the time to return to Verdant City.
"I'm fine." Chasel stated.
Another pair of coughs. When he pulled the handkerchief away, it was stained with a patch of bright red, but he sacted as if he hadn't even seen it.
Family comes first. Chasel thought, the faces of his family appearing in his mind. "Wait for me to change, then take me to the Mills estate."
With that, he took the lead and strode out of the airport. Suzaku followed respectfully.
Verdant City, I'm back!
Every favor will be repaid, and every betrayal will be answered!
...
Chasel stood before an old residential area.
The Mills family was very kind to him. Especially his adoptive father, Gilberto Mills, who took him from the orphanage and treated him as his own son. Even after he had his own daughter, Nora Mills, his love for Chasel never wavered.
Gilberto had said more than once that when he and Nora grew up, they should get married––to keep the family's fortune and love all under one roof.
And Nora, who'd been close to Chasel since they were kids, had always been like his little shadow, sticking to him wherever he went. He knew every detail about her, right down to the number and location of the moles on her skin.
If he had not been framed and imprisoned, he might have married Nora now.
Thinking of this, Chasel smiled bitterly.
So much time had passed. He was no longer that young and promising entrepreneur. In the eyes of the world, he was just an ex-con, a rapist.
People and things... he was sure they had changed beyond recognition.
Soon, Chasel shook the thoughts from his mind and stepped into the complex.
Even after five years away, Chasel still found his way to the Mills family home as if he had never left.
Five years of tough experiences had long shaped Chasel into a man of few smiles, one who possessed a palpable and imposing authority.
Standing at the door, Chasel paused for a moment. Then a warm, gentle smile spread across his face, and his domineering aura faded, leaving him looking like an ordinary boy next door.
The only thing that remained was the sickly pallor of his face, which made him look a little weak.
Then he knocked.
Soon, the door was opened.
"Who is it?"
A middle-aged woman appeared in front of Chasel with a bright smile on her face.
But soon, the smile on her face gradually froze.
"You...you are...Chasel?" A look of disbelief appeared on her face.
"Mom!" Chasel shouted.
"Don't call me mom, I don't have a son like you!" The woman's face instantly turned cold.
For five years, the shame of having a rapist in the family had been a constant humiliation, a plague of pointing fingers and hushed gossip.
"Monica, who is it? A guest is a guest. Don't keep them at the door, invite them in for a simple meal!"
Just then, a man with graying temples, holding an old-fashioned smoking pipe, appeared in front of Chasel.
Seeing him, a slight tremble ran through Chasel's body.
"Dad, you should smoke less. You need to take care of yourself!" Chasel said. There was a slight tremor in his voice.
"Chasel?" Gilberto's pipe stopped halfway to his lips. As if he couldn't believe his own eyes, he pinched himself hard on the arm.
The pain was real. He looked Chasel over again, and a wave of raw emotion hit him. "Chasel, you are finally back! Where have you been all these years?"
Back then, when everyone else said that Chasel had been convicted of attempted rape, Gilberto was the only one who refused to believe it. But after Chasel was sent to prison, he had vanished without a trace. He had even tried to visit him in prison, but he could never find where he was being held, or even who to ask.
"Dad, it's a long story." Chasel's expression was complicated.
"It's okay. It's just good that you're back. We can talk about it later. We have plenty of time!"
Gilberto' eyes were slightly red, and his expression was excited.
"What are you doing at the door? Quick, let Chasel in!" Gilberto said, realizing that Chasel was still outside the door.
"On such an important day, you're letting a rapi..." Monica Anderson whispered. She then turn ed to look at Chasel and said, "Chasel, since you are back, another day or two won't make a difference. Why don't you come back tomorrow?"
Chasel was speechless.
For a moment, he was frozen, unsure whether to enter or leave.
"What are you talking about?"
Gilberto's face suddenly turned cold.
"Chasel, don't just stand there in the doorway, come in!" Gilberto said, and moved to pull Chasel in.
Monica looked unhappy, but she stepped aside, allowing Chasel to enter the home.
It was only after he was inside that Chasel realized the house was full of people.
Most were familiar faces––relatives from the Mills family!
But there was one other person: a handsome young man with a distinguished air, clearly the son of a rich family. He was surrounded by all the relatives, the clear center of attention.
"Samir, from now on, you'll have to be the one to look after our Nora!"
"This child has been spoiled by her parents since she was little. If she acts up, please be patient with her!"
"Of course, if she's being completely unreasonable, just tell us and we'll be the ones to discipline her!"
The aunts were all talking over each other.
Beside the young man, a well-dressed woman with a ponytail and a stunning figure blinked her eyes playfully. "Auntie, what are you talking about? When am I ever unreasonable..."
"Yeah, Auntie, Nora's such a sensible girl. And I promise—once she marries me, I'll spoil her like a little princess. The maids will handle everything at home. Her only job will be to shop, have fun, and let me pamper her. She won't have to worry about a thing." The young man said, looking at the relatives with a gentleman's smile, but deep in his eyes, there was a flicker of impatience for these "vulgar" aunts.
"You're right, you're right, we were worrying for nothing," one aunt said quickly, unable to hide the envy in her eyes. "For Nora to marry a man like you, she's marrying into a world of luxury. She's set for life."
Just then, Gilberto walker over, pulling Chasel along with him.
Seeing that there was another person behind Gilberto, Nora was a little curious.
"Dad, is your friend here?" Nora asked.
However, in the very next moment, when she was who it was, the smile in Nora's eyes froze.
A flicker of panic went through her, and her body, which had been leaning against Samir, subconsciously tried to pull away.
"Nora, long time no see," Chasel smiled.
However, the panic was gone in an instant, and Nora's face suddenly turned cold as she asked, "When did you get out of prison?"