The morning sun rose warmly over the fifty-acre grounds of Imperial Crest Manor.

Inside the Master Pavilion, Amber was walking barefoot across the plush living room rug with a joyful smile lighting up her face.

She took slow, graceful steps, pausing every few moments to stretch her calves and wiggle her toes against the soft wool fibers. For six months, even the simplest sensation of walking had been stolen from her. Now, every single step felt like pure bliss.

Evren sat on the sofa with a warm cup of black coffee, watching her move with a contented smile. "You’ve been walking laps around the living room for two hours, Amber. Don’t wear yourself out before tonight."

Amber stopped, turning around with a playful spin. Her dark hair danced in the morning sunlight.

"I can’t help it, Evren," Amber laughed. "For half a year, I dreamed about taking just one step. Being able to walk whenever I want... it feels like magic."

She walked over to the sofa, sitting down beside him and resting her head gently against his shoulder.

"Thank you, Evren," she murmured softly, taking his hand into her own.

Evren squeezed her fingers. "Tonight is your night, Amber. The entire city is going to see who you really are."

At two o’clock in the afternoon, three luxury black presentation vans from the prestigious House of Valeria drove through the estate gates.

Led by Madam Valeria herself, the chief stylist for the metropolis elite, a team of ten master tailors and hair artists entered the grand foyer carrying garment racks covered in black velvet covers.

"Chairman Evren, Miss Amber," Madam Valeria greeted them with a respectful bow. "We have brought our most exclusive, private haute couture collection for tonight’s Gala."

Evren set his tablet down and stood up.

"I want the finest ensemble in your collection for Miss Amber," Evren said calmly. "A gown worthy of an Empress. And custom evening shoes."

Madam Valeria smiled warmly, snapping her fingers.

Her assistants pulled back the velvet covers, revealing three breathtaking gowns.

At the center was an emerald-green gown made from silk. It had a sweetheart neckline, elegant off-the-shoulder sleeves, and a flowing skirt that caught the light like deep ocean water. Alongside the gown was a pair of handcrafted stiletto crystal high heels, embedded with diamond dust along the straps.

Evren looked at Amber, seeing her eyes widen in pure admiration as she looked at the emerald dress and the crystal shoes.

"We’ll take the emerald gown, the crystal heels, and the matching diamond jewelry set," Evren decided without hesitation.

Evren pulled out his phone, confirming the purchase through the VIP terminal.

BEEP.

[APEX NATIONAL BANK: $300,000.00 USD TRANSFERRED TO HOUSE OF VALERIA]

[MEMO: BESPOKE GALA ATTIRE & DIAMOND JEWELRY ENSEMBLE]

The moment the payment cleared, the golden System interface flared in Evren’s vision:

[DING! REBATE SYSTEM TRIGGERED!]

[TARGET: AMBER STERLING (HEROINE 1 — LUXURY CARE & WARDROBE INVESTMENT)]

[EXPENDITURE VERIFIED: $300,000.00 USD]

[CURRENT MULTIPLIER: 10x (BASELINE PENALTY TIER)]

[CALCULATING REBATE REWARD: \$300,000.00 × 10 = +$3,000,000.00 USD]

[TRANSFER STATUS: $3,000,000.00 USD DEPOSITED TO APEX SOVEREIGN ACCOUNT]

[NEW LIQUID BALANCE: $227,047,542.50 USD]

"Thank you, Chairman Evren!" Madam Valeria beamed. "Miss Amber, please step into the private dressing suite. We will prepare you for the evening."

Two hours later, Evren finished adjusting his cufflinks in the grand foyer.

He was dressed in a tailored, charcoal-black three-piece suit that fit his broad, athletic frame perfectly.

The double doors of the master suite opened and the rhythmic sound of high heels clicking against the polished marble echoed through the hall.

Evren turned his head, and his breath hitched in his throat.

Stepping into the foyer was Amber.

The midnight-emerald gown draped around her figure, highlighting her graceful posture. Her long dark hair was styled into soft curls over one shoulder, held back by a diamond hair clip.

On her feet were the sparkling crystal high heels.

Amber stood tall and poised, looking noble and beautiful as she filled the entrance with her radiance. She took three slow, confident steps toward Evren, a shy blush touching her cheeks as she saw his stunned expression.

"How do I look, Evren?"

Evren walked forward, unable to take his eyes off her. He took her soft hand, raising it gently to his lips. "You take my breath away, Amber," Evren said honestly. "You look like a true Empress."

Amber’s blush deepened.

Evren placed his right hand lightly on her waist, holding her hand with his other as he guided her through a graceful ballroom turn across the marble floor.

Amber followed his lead effortlessly.

"Not a single stumble," Evren smiled, looking down into her eyes.

"Because you’re holding me," Amber whispered softly, leaning against his chest.

Meanwhile, across the city at the Grand Apex Hotel, the atmosphere was buzzing with anticipation.

In a private VIP lounge on the second floor overlooking the red carpet, two men sat drinking aged cognac: Young Master Prescott and Uncle Garrett Sterling.

Prescott adjusted the lapels of his gold-trimmed white tuxedo, swirling the amber liquor in his glass with a smug sneer.

"My father spoke with three City Council members this afternoon," Prescott boasted, setting his glass on the marble table. "The Council is growing suspicious of Apex Guild. A nobody delivery boy suddenly buying out Horizon Plaza and claiming S-Rank status? It’s impossible."

Garrett Sterling leaned forward.

"Evren threatened to foreclose on Sterling Guild yesterday," Garrett growled through gritted teeth. "He used an old delinquent debt ledger to humiliate me in front of my own lawyers. That insolent brat needs to be crushed."

Prescott let out a mocking laugh.

"Don’t worry, Garrett. Tonight, the entire metropolis will be watching. The Mayor, the Commerce Bureau President, and every major guildmaster will be in the grand ballroom."

Prescott’s eyes flashed with arrogance.

"Evren will probably push Amber into the hall in her pathetic wheelchair, trying to win sympathy. But in front of the live media cameras, we will challenge Apex Guild’s legal registration and demand an official audit. By midnight, his little empire will collapse, and Amber will be dragged back to your custody where she belongs."

Garrett smirked, clinking his glass against Prescott’s. "To their total ruin tonight."

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