10,000x Rebate System: Every Return Makes Me Stronger

"Seraphina?"

The elegant voice of her mother carried clearly through the wood.

Seraphina quickly got off her knees and swallowed hard twice, wiping the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand.

Her cheeks were still flushed as she stood up and began fixing her hair and the slightly wrinkled front of her gown.

"Yes, mother," she answered, her voice carefully steady.

Amon also stood up from the sofa in a hurry and fixed his pants, pulling the zipper closed and adjusting his belt as quietly as he could.

"Open the door," she said from the other side.

Seraphina took a deep breath, smoothed her expression, and walked over.

She opened the door with a polite smile, revealing a tall woman standing in the hallway.

Her mother wore the same elegant gown from earlier, while her silver-blonde hair rested neatly over her shoulders.

Her sharp blue eyes immediately moved around the room, taking in the sofa, the furniture, and finally the two people standing inside.

Her gaze eventually settled on Amon, and for several seconds, she simply stared at him.

Amon felt a strange pressure coming from her gaze, although he couldn’t tell whether it was hostility or simply the natural authority of someone accustomed to controlling a room.

"Mother, this is Amon. He’s the one I told you about." She gestured toward him, then turned slightly. "Amon, this is my mother, Felicia Vale."

Amon stepped forward and extended his hand for a handshake. "It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Vale."

Felicia looked at his hand for a moment before glancing toward her daughter.

"What were you two doing here alone?"

Seraphina’s expression became slightly stiff. "I was just showing Amon around the house."

Felicia remained silent for a moment. Her cold blue eyes studied Amon from head to toe, as if she were measuring him.

Amon maintained a polite smile despite the uncomfortable atmosphere.

Felicia eventually looked away. "After the party, come to my office."

Amon nodded. "Of course. It would be my pleasure."

Felicia then looked back at her daughter. "Your friends are looking for you. Don’t keep them waiting."

Without another word, she turned and walked away down the hallway, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor.

Seraphina watched her mother disappear down the hallway before turning toward Amon.

Amon waited until she was out of earshot before turning to Seraphina as well.

"I thought you told me you didn’t have any friends," he said quietly.

Seraphina’s lips curled into a mischievous smile. "It makes going on dates with you much easier."

She winked at him before stepping toward the hallway. "I’ll see you later."

Amon raised his hand and waved. "Yeah, see you."

Seraphina walked away, leaving Amon alone inside the room.

His smile slowly disappeared as he looked upward.

His eyes narrowed at the ceiling. "...Who the fuck put a camera up there?"

---

The party continued for another hour.

Amon spent most of that time deliberately keeping his head down whenever he noticed Daniel Edinburgh anywhere nearby.

He wasn’t even sure whether the old man recognized him, but Amon wasn’t interested in testing his luck.

’If that old man remembers my face, I’m going straight to jail.’

Amon stood near one of the quieter corners of the hall while holding a glass of wine.

The conversations around him continued without interruption as wealthy guests discussed business and family matters.

Amon took a small sip before placing the glass down. That was when someone suddenly stopped beside him.

"You’re not much of a party person, are you?"

Amon turned his head.

She was a beautiful lady with dark auburn hair that fell in soft waves over one shoulder, and her deep green dress fitted her figure perfectly without being overly flashy.

Her eyes were a warm amber color, and the small smile she wore made her look approachable despite the expensive jewelry at her neck.

Amon gave a small shrug. "I don’t really like these kinds of gatherings that much."

"I’m Annette," she said.

"Amon."

Annette tilted her head slightly. "You’re new to this social circle, aren’t you? I don’t think I’ve seen you at any of these events before."

"I’m a friend of Seraphina’s," Amon replied.

Annette’s eyes immediately widened slightly. "Seraphina?"

Amon nodded.

"Is that so? My daughter is also friends with Seraphina."

Amon looked at her in surprise. "You have a daughter?"

Annette laughed softly. "Why do you look so surprised?"

"You look really young."

Annette covered her mouth as she laughed. "You don’t need to flatter me."

"I’m being serious, ma’am," Amon replied sincerely.

"I’ll take that as a compliment." She smiled before continuing. "My daughter wasn’t feeling well, so she couldn’t come tonight."

Amon nodded politely. "I hope she gets better soon."

"Thank you." Annette studied him for a few seconds before her smile became slightly strange. "You seem like a good boy."

Amon raised an eyebrow. "Why do you say that?"

Annette didn’t answer. She simply smiled before turning around and walking away.

Amon stared after her. "...What the hell was that?"

He remained standing there for several seconds, completely confused by the interaction.

’What did I even do?’

---

The party was almost over when Amon finally left the main hall.

Most of the guests had moved toward the dining area, where dinner was being served.

The previously crowded hallway was now almost completely empty.

Amon walked quietly through it while carrying the bouquet of lilies and the wrapped gift.

He had intended to give them to Felicia earlier, but the evening had become so chaotic that he hadn’t found the right opportunity.

’I’ll give them to her after the meeting.’

Amon eventually reached the office Seraphina had told him about.

He stopped outside and knocked twice.

Knock. Knock.

For several seconds, there was no response. After a while, Felicia’s voice came from inside.

"Come in."

Amon opened the door and stepped inside.

The moment he crossed the threshold, a sudden coldness bit into his skin.

Four thick ice chains erupted from the floor and walls, wrapping tightly around his wrists and ankles.

They yanked him upward until he was floating in the air, completely restrained.

"What the fuck?!"

He struggled against the chains, but they didn’t move.

Amon’s eyes quickly scanned the room before finally landing on Felicia.

She was still wearing the same elegant gown, but now she sat behind a large desk, slowly sharpening a short, wicked-looking sword with a whetstone.

The soft scraping sound filled the room.

Scrape. Scrape. Scrape.

The sound echoed through the quiet office.

Amon swallowed hard. "Ms. Vale?"

Felicia didn’t answer and kept on doing what she was doing.

Amon tried to remain calm despite the fact that he was currently suspended in the air like a captured criminal.

"What exactly is the meaning of this?"

Felicia continued sharpening the sword without replying.

Amon’s eyes slowly moved toward the weapon.

His voice became slightly nervous. "And why are you sharpening that sword?"

Felicia finally stopped as she lifted her eyes toward him.

A small smile appeared on her face like a predator ready to launch.

"Because, Amon..." She slowly placed the whetstone down. "...we need to have a very serious conversation about my daughter."

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