The morning sun rose bright and warm over Victoria Hill.

In the ground-floor sunroom, Evren sat by the glass doors, looking out over the private gardens. A fresh pot of black coffee rested on the small wooden table beside him.

Footsteps echoed down the hallway, and Mikay walked into the sunroom, carrying a leather briefcase and wearing a fresh suit, though he looked like he had been awake since dawn. He pulled up a chair across from Evren and set two folders on the table.

"Morning, Boss," Mikay said, taking a breath. "City Hall was buzzing this morning. I met with Mayor Henderson’s chief of staff at eight o’clock sharp."

"How did it go?" Evren asked, taking a sip of his coffee.

"Completely approved," Mikay smiled, opening the first folder. "The Apex Sovereign Relief Foundation is officially registered. The Mayor signed the co-sponsorship charter personally. He told me City Hall will match five million dollars in official grants to show public support."

"Good," Evren nodded. "What about the Gala?"

"The grand ballroom on the tenth floor of Horizon Plaza is fully booked for tomorrow evening at seven," Mikay replied. "We sent digital invitations to every registered guild master, merchant director, and city official. Over four hundred guests have already confirmed their attendance. The local news stations are calling it the biggest charity event of the year."

Mikay reached inside his suit jacket and pulled out a small, sealed black envelope. He placed it carefully in front of Evren.

"And here is the other item you requested from Apex National Bank, Boss," Mikay said in a low voice. "The card for Miss Amber’s private trust account."

Evren picked up the black envelope. Inside was a sleek, matte-black titanium card engraved with Amber’s name and the golden Apex crest.

"Thanks, Mikay," Evren said, slipping the envelope into his pocket. "Take the rest of the morning off and get some rest. Tomorrow night is going to be busy."

"Will do, Boss," Mikay said, standing up and heading out.

A few minutes later, Amber walked into the sunroom. She wore a simple white knit sweater and dark slacks, her long black hair resting over one shoulder. She smiled when she saw Evren sitting by the window.

"Good morning," Amber said softly, walking over to sit beside him. "Was that Mikay leaving?"

"Yeah," Evren smiled. "The foundation is registered, and the Gala is set for tomorrow night."

Evren reached into his jacket, pulled out the black velvet envelope, and set it on the table in front of her.

Amber looked down at the envelope with a curious expression. "What is this?"

"Open it," Evren said gently.

Amber lifted the velvet flap and pulled out the black card, along with a folded bank slip. She ran her thumb over her name engraved in gold across the front of the card, then glanced down at the printed statement.

Her dark eyes widened in surprise.

"Evren..." Amber looked up at him, puzzled. "This is a private VIP Black Card... and the statement says fifty million dollars in my name. Where did this come from?"

"I set up a trust account for you a while ago," Evren explained calmly. "Mikay picked up the physical card and documents from the bank this morning."

Amber shook her head, trying to hand the card back to him.

"Evren, I can’t take this," she said softly. "You bought this entire manor, you bought my armaments, and you pay for everything I could ever need. Why would I need fifty million dollars sitting in an account?"

Evren reached out and gently placed his hand over hers, keeping the card in her palm.

"When you were injured, people took away your choices," Evren said quietly. "Your guild discarded you, your uncle stole your inheritance, and you were left with nothing. I promised myself you would never feel powerless again."

Amber fell silent, her breath catching in her throat as she looked into his eyes.

"This money is yours, Amber," Evren continued. "You don’t have to explain what you spend it on, and you don’t have to ask anyone for permission. Even if there ever comes a day where I’m not right beside you, you will always have your own independence and security."

Amber’s eyes glistened with warmth. Her fingers tightened around the card, holding it against her chest.

"Thank you, Evren," she whispered. "Nobody has ever treated me with so much respect."

"You earned it," Evren smiled, squeezing her hand gently.

Later that afternoon, the master dressing suite on the second floor was filled with open boxes from Maison Valoria.

Amber stood in front of the full-length mirror, adjusting the straps of a midnight-blue silk evening gown with silver trim. The dress fit her perfectly, accentuating her tall, athletic figure.

Behind her, Zephyra stood looking at a row of garment bags with a hesitant expression.

"I don’t think I belong in one of those, Amber," Zephyra said, glancing at a dark charcoal dress hanging on the wardrobe door. "I’m used to combat leathers and boots. An evening gown feels... strange."

Amber turned around and laughed softly. "You’re not hiding in the shadows anymore, Z. You’re coming with us as our guest of honor. Try it on."

Zephyra looked at Amber, then at the mirror. With a quiet sigh, she took the charcoal dress and stepped behind the dressing screen.

Two minutes later, Zephyra stepped out.

The dress was made of smooth, matte-charcoal fabric with high-slit sides that allowed full freedom of movement. It showed off her slender frame and complemented her silver hair.

Amber walked over and smiled warmly. "See? It looks amazing on you."

Zephyra walked up to the mirror. She raised her hands, looking at her fingers against the dark fabric. There was no shaking, no necrotic purple veins, and no pain.

Amber stood behind her, gently gathering Zephyra’s silver hair and pinning it up with an obsidian hairpin from one of the shopping boxes.

"You look like a completely different person," Amber murmured with a smile.

Zephyra stared at her reflection. A rare, faint smile touched her lips.

"I used to wear clothes that could hide bandages and blood," Zephyra said quietly. "Standing here like this... it feels like waking up from a long nightmare."

She turned toward the open window, looking out in the direction of the city center.

"Tomorrow night, every guild master and merchant lord in Veridia will be in that ballroom," Zephyra paused for a second. "Where powerful people gather, there are always hidden daggers. I’ll stay close to you and Evren."

"We’ll watch each other’s backs," Amber nodded.

That evening, as the sun began to dip behind the western mountains, Evren stood on the front terrace.

His phone buzzed in his hand. The caller ID showed Commander Derrick.

Evren answered the call. "Derrick. How is the security sweep at Horizon Plaza?"

"Everything is on schedule, Chairman," Derrick’s deep voice came over the speaker. "We installed three enchanted barrier beacons on the perimeter walls, and the private elevators are locked to VIP biometric access."

"Good," Evren said. "Any unusual activity around the building?"

"Nothing serious," Derrick replied. "Just a minor logistical hiccup with the catering agency. The event manager told me that six veteran banquet servers called in sick with a stomach bug this afternoon. The agency sent replacement staff from the central hospitality union to cover the tables."

Evren’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Replacement staff?"

"Yes, Chairman. The event manager checked their union IDs and cleared them into the prep kitchen," Derrick said. "It’s pretty standard for large events, but I wanted to mention it."

Evren looked out at the distant lights of the city beginning to flicker against the twilight.

"Have the guards run independent background checks on all six replacements tonight," Evren ordered calmly. "And keep four armed guards stationed at the kitchen service doors during the entire event."

"Understood, Chairman," Derrick replied. "I’ll handle it personally."

Evren tapped the screen to end the call. He pocketed his phone and looked toward the glowing skyline of Veridia Metropolis.

Tomorrow night was going to change the balance of power in the city.

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