Miller's face turned a sickly green as he stormed forward, fury radiating off him.
"You're crossing the line, Miller!" Chris Lehman's voice cut through the tension like a knife.
Miller merely glanced at her, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "Your sons slandered me without reason, tarnishing my reputation. Wouldn't you agree that my name is worth at least a hundred million pounds?"
Chris sneered but said nothing.
Miller shrugged nonchalantly. "Ah, so you don't think my reputation is worth that much."
Turning to Sherlock, Miller's expression hardened. "Mr. Sherlock, I won't rest until justice is served. They'll pay for what they've done."
Chris trembled, finally losing her composure. She rushed over, desperation edging her voice. "Miller, we were wrong! A hundred million pounds? That's ridiculous. Please, let them go!"
A low, cold laugh escaped Miller's lips. "Oh? Now you're begging?"
For the first time, Chris hesitated, her resolve cracking. "I'm begging you," she whispered, eyes pleading. "We've looked after you all these years…"
Miller's laughter was harsh. "Looked after me? You dare say that? In the five or six years I've been part of the Lehman family, have you ever treated me with an ounce of respect?"
Chris's face went pale, unable to find the words to defend herself.
Miller's gaze shifted to Alex and Gary, both visibly panicking. "When these two framed me, did they stop for a second to think about the consequences? They wanted me ruined, maybe even dead. And now you expect me to let them off?"
Chris was shaking now, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm sorry, Miller. We wronged you. Please… just this once, let them go. I promise they'll never pull something like this again."
Miller stood still, his face a mask of ice.
Seeing no response, Chris's desperation grew. "Please, Miller. Do it for your adoptive father… for John."
Miller's heart skipped a beat at the mention of John Lehman. His adoptive father had always been kind, the only source of warmth in a household so cold. John, despite his busy schedule, had always made time for him, trying his best to be a father.
Fiona, standing nearby, shot a quick glance at Miller, her eyes soft. "Why do you always have to be like my mother?"
Miller's smirk returned. "I won't visit Aunt Sun this time. I'll catch up with her later. You should go home, spend time with your family for the festival."
Fiona pouted. "You know I don't like being around the Lehmans."
Miller chuckled. "But you're still a Lehman, Fiona."
She rolled her eyes, grumbling. "I envy you."
Miller smiled. "Oh, I almost forgot. I bought this place. You have a key, so if you ever need to stay, you're welcome here."
Fiona's eyes lit up. "Really? That's amazing! I'll save a fortune on rent."
Miller waved dismissively. "Feel free. Stay whenever."
"Great!" Fiona grinned. "I'll move in the day after tomorrow." She then nudged him. "Now go on, get out of here."
Miller shook his head, amused, as he started to leave. Fiona darted after him, grabbing his arm. "Come on, I'll drive you."
Miller laughed.
As he passed through the security gate, his phone buzzed with a new message: "Call me often, or you're dead!"
Miller smiled, slipping the phone back into his pocket.
After another exhausting ten-hour flight, Miller touched down in Manchester. The crisp air instantly reminded him of the city's notorious chill compared to sunny California. He pulled his jacket tighter around him, already missing the warmth.
Back at the hotel, he collapsed onto the bed, falling into a deep sleep.
When he awoke the next morning, his phone was filled with missed calls from Bernstein.
Apparently, Manchester City had a home game against Aston Villa that evening, and Bernstein was inviting him to join. Miller wouldn't pass up the chance.
At 7:15 p.m., Miller and Bernstein were seated in the VIP section. When Miller's name was mentioned over the stadium's speakers, the crowd responded with a mix of polite applause and scattered boos.
Miller frowned. "Seems like the fans aren't too thrilled with me."
Bernstein shrugged. "Well, you did manage to upset the head of the fan club. He's got some influence."
Miller snorted. "The man's useless at everything except stirring up trouble."
Bernstein sighed. "Well, if you want the adoration of the fans, you have to be ready for their criticism too."
Miller raised an eyebrow but stayed silent.
On the field, Manchester City played well, beating Aston Villa 3-1. But Miller remained unimpressed.
"What kind of performance was that?" he muttered, shaking his head.
Despite the victory, he wasn't satisfied. Aston Villa was a relegation-threatened team, ranked 15th in the Premier League, yet City struggled for dominance. They only won because they capitalized on a few key opportunities.
"Kevin Keegan's training is lacking," Miller mused aloud before turning to Bernstein. "We need more talent. Let's buy someone from Brazil."
Bernstein looked intrigued. "Who do you have in mind?"
Miller grinned. "A star. Let's go get a big name."