Manager Helen’s face turned completely pale. Cold sweat ran down her temples, and for a moment she seemed to lose the ability to breathe normally. Her hands trembled as she lowered her head slightly toward Lisa, her voice breaking and unstable.“I… I am sorry, Ms. Lisa,” she said in a stammer. “I truly did not know that Miss Aurora was someone you knew. If I had known, I would never have…”Lisa raised one hand, stopping Helen’s words without raising her voice. Her gaze remained calm, yet that calmness only made the pressure in the air feel heavier.“You are wrong,” Lisa said flatly. “The problem is not because she knows me.”Helen swallowed hard.“Aurora is the wife of the biggest investor in Star Entertainment,” Lisa continued in the same calm tone. “The investor whose funds support more than half of the projects you have managed all this time.”The words struck like a heavy hammer.Tina froze. The faint smile that had remained on her face vanished instantly. Her eyes widened, her br

Max stared at Jale without the slightest change in expression. His lips curved up faintly—not a smile, but something colder, more like a quiet assertion.“You’ll find out soon enough,” he replied shortly.The words sounded light, almost indifferent. Yet it was precisely that calmness that made Jale’s heart pound wildly. There was something hidden behind those words—something moving fast, unseen, and completely beyond his control.And indeed.Less than a second after Max finished speaking, the sharp vibration of a phone shattered the silence of the hall.Bzzzt. Bzzzt.Jale flinched. All eyes turned toward him. His hand reflexively reached into his suit pocket—then froze when he saw the name on the screen.Daddy.His face instantly drained of color. His hand trembled violently, as if the phone had suddenly become unbearably heavy. Tina grabbed his arm in panic.“Answer it,” she whispered urgently.Breathing raggedly, Jale pressed the call button and raised the phone to his ear.“H-Hell

Aurora stepped closer and looked at Jale calmly. “Stand up,” she said gently but clearly.Jale flinched, then hurriedly rose to his feet. His face was still wet with tears, his eyes red and swollen. As soon as he stood, he immediately bowed deeply toward Aurora.“Thank you… thank you so much,” he said repeatedly, his voice trembling. “I will not forget your kindness. Never.”Tina stood up beside him. She also bowed respectfully, tears still streaming down her cheeks. “Thank you, Aurora. We truly owe you.”Aurora only nodded slowly. There was no arrogance on her face, nor any satisfaction. She looked tired, yet relieved.Without daring to say anything more, Jale and Tina turned and left the hall. Their steps were hurried, as if afraid that all of this was nothing more than a dream that could vanish at any moment. The grand doors of the hall closed behind them, and the event continued.The music started playing again, the guests began to move, but the atmosphere had changed forever.Lis

Via quickly turned toward the stairs and immediately bowed slightly. “Miss Aurora—” Aurora descended calmly. She was wearing a simple cream house dress, her hair falling softly over her shoulders. Her face looked fresh. Her gaze swept across the living room—Via standing tense, Tsahik rigid and silent, and the unfamiliar woman sitting stiffly on the sofa with an expression of anger mixed with panic. “Miss Aurora,” Via said carefully, “she says that she is—” “I am Max’s fiancée!” Seraphina cut in sharply. Her voice echoed through the living room. She looked at Aurora with her chin lifted, trying to maintain her dignity even though her body still felt heavy. Then she turned to Tsahik in irritation. “Release me right now!” Aurora did not show even the slightest hint of surprise. No raised eyebrow, no held breath. Only calmness. Max had told her long ago. About the political engagement between families. About the old agreement he had never truly regarded as a bond of the heart.

One month had passed since that day. The state of Morrow had slowly transformed into a place that was almost unrecognizable compared to its past. Cities that were once filled with fear had come back to life with a new face. Streets that had once been controlled by criminal gangs were now crowded with families strolling peacefully, children playing, and tourists arriving without worry. All of this happened after Max was officially appointed as the War Commander of Morrow State. A month ago, his identity was finally revealed to the public. The entire state learned who the man was who had secretly destroyed the largest gangster network in the region. News about Max spread rapidly to every city, every district, and even to the smallest villages. No criminal organization dared to show itself anymore. Many had already been destroyed. The rest fled far away from Morrow State. Within a short time, security across the entire region improved drastically. Markets became lively again. Hotels