The air in the VIP ward smelled of industrial bleach and decaying white lilies. Austin Vance lay perfectly paralyzed on the array bed, a shattered husk of a man crushed by a meticulously planned car accident on the lower district highway. At forty-two years old, he had the wealth to buy the city, yet he could not even raise a finger to wipe away the cold sweat pooling in his eyes. The only thing tying his soul to the mortal realm was the rhythmic, synthetic hiss of the ventilator. Beside his bed stood Vivienne. She was not looking at him. She was casually adjusting her flawless makeup in the reflection of the glass window, the rare diamonds on her fingers—diamonds he had poured from his family's wealth at her feet—glinting under the harsh fluorescent lights. "Disconnect it," Vivienne said, her voice completely devoid of warmth. The attending doctor hesitated, his fingers trembling over the control panel. "Madam... Mr. Vance's vital matrix is still stable. If we begin the advanced

Vivienne stood frozen, her manicured fingers balling into tight fists at her sides. For a long, suffocating moment, the only sound in the apartment was the quiet hum of the refrigerator.She stared at Austin, waiting for the punchline. She expected him to laugh, to jump up from the sofa, and to tell her that it was all a joke. In the two years they had been dating, Austin had never once spoken to her in that tone. He was the man who had abandoned his standing in the Sovereign Vance Clan just to be with her. He was the one who spent his days working to clear her family’s endless debts. He was her obedient, dependable anchor, yet he sat there completely unbothered, just a few feet away from where she had carelessly thrown her purse onto his clean cushions."What did you just say?" Vivienne’s voice dropped, thick with rising irritation. "Pay for it myself? Austin, Harrison has been overseas for years. This is a welcome home gathering with our old classmates. Are you seriously throwing a

The Imperial Lounge was the absolute pinnacle of high society indulgence in the Capital, a multi-tiered crystal pavilion floating gracefully over an artificial spiritual lake. Tonight, the grandest V.I.P. hall was bathed in shifting gold and violet lights, rented out entirely for Harrison Cross’s welcome home celebration.Vivienne Sterling glided through the glass double doors, her chest held high as she scanned the glamorous room. She had spent the entire hover-car ride convincing herself that Austin’s sudden spine was just a pathetic, desperate attempt to gain leverage over her."Vivienne! Over here!"Chloe Sinclair waved her over from a plush velvet booth where a dozen of their old academy classmates were already drinking expensive alchemical champagne. Sitting right in the center, looking impeccably handsome in a tailored midnight-blue suit, was Harrison Cross.The moment Harrison saw Vivienne walk in, his eyes lit up with a possessive, familiar warmth. He stood up, smoothly stepp

The Capital Academy was the premier training ground for the elite scions of the Capital’s high-ranking clans, a sprawling fortress of architectural glass and ancient stone where power, wealth, and spiritual talent dictated everything.An armored, obsidian-black transport bearing the unmistakable silver dragon crest of the Sovereign Vance Clan glided smoothly through the Academy's main gates. Students from secondary houses immediately parted like the Red Sea, staring at the vehicle with a mixture of reverence and curiosity."Is that a Prime Heir vehicle?" a student whispered, nudging his companion. "I thought the only Vance scion currently at the Academy was Olivia Vance, and she rides the standard clan shuttle. Did the elusive Prime Heir finally return?"Inside the luxury leather interior of the transport, twenty-two-year-old Austin sat with his arms crossed, watching the familiar campus grounds roll past. In his past life, he had completely abandoned his responsibilities to the Vance

Olivia wiped the remaining tears from her face, her nineteen-year-old expression hardening into a look of frustration as she led Austin toward a quiet alcove near the Grand Martial Pavilion's holographic boards. The alcove was shielded by privacy arrays, but the ambient hum of spiritual energy from the main hall still vibrated through the stone floor."It's Harrison Cross," Olivia said, her voice tight with a mixture of anger and helplessness. "The Cross Corporation has been heavily investing in the Academy's martial department this semester. They just donated a massive shipment of low-grade aether crystals to the senior training halls last week. Because Harrison just returned from his overseas training, the department heads are trying to fast-track him into the Regional Advancement Tournament."Austin’s eyes narrowed slightly, a dangerous stillness settling over his features. *Harrison.* Of course.In his past life, Harrison hadn't just targeted Austin through Vivienne’s emotional ma