A sleek black car stopped in front of the grand Tamarvich estate.
Crystal chandeliers from the front gates reflected off the windshield, revealing an atmosphere prepared with luxurious elegance—as if welcoming a royal delegation.
A red carpet stretched from the stairs all the way into the main hall.
On both sides, well-dressed guests stood poised, their gazes fixed on each new arrival.
"Lady of the Virellano Group has arrived."
The first to step out of the car was Aurielle Virellano.
Graceful, commanding, and exuding an unmistakable high-class aura that made the crowd go silent. Her shimmering silver gown glinted softly under the lights, and every step she took was like that of a queen in the world of business.
"That’s Aurielle Virellano..."
"CEO of Virellano Group...!"
"She’s stunning... like a goddess on the red carpet..."
Whispers of admiration spread quickly.
But then, attention shifted once more.
From the car’s door, a young man stepped out slowly.
Wearing a dark grey suit, neat hair, and... an incredibly adorable face.
His expression was calm, though slightly awkward—perhaps not used to such lavish events, or rather, not used to the crowd itself.
Women—young, older, and even seasoned socialites—began whispering among themselves.
"Oh my... who is he?"
"A new model? A teen idol?"
"He looks like a living doll..."
"I just wanna hug him..."
"Wait, why’s he walking behind Miss Aurielle? Is he... her assistant?"
Aurielle heard all the murmurs. Her expression stayed flat, but deep down, there was a flicker of pride.
She might not like Al getting more attention than her... but still, he was her little brother. The Virellano genes never failed.
Al paused for a moment, glancing around.
Aurielle noticed immediately.
"What’s wrong? Keep walking!"
"Ah, nothing. Got it, Sis."
He continued moving, though an unsettling feeling nagged at him.
Without anyone noticing, he sent a few quick messages through a magical glyph on his hand.
Meanwhile, near the far end of the hall...
David Virellano and Rudi Norvalien stood observing.
"Tch... that’s Al," he muttered.
"Don’t tell me... he’s here as your sister’s servant?
Huh. Didn’t expect he could clean up nicely."
David stayed silent. His fists clenched slightly.
Al—the lazy one everyone thought useless—was now standing confidently beside Aurielle... stealing attention that should’ve been his.
Aurielle and Al were escorted by the Tamarvich head butler to the VIP table—the one reserved for the city’s most influential figures.
Not long after, Idham Tamarvich, young master of the house, approached in an expensive suit and exclusive cologne, smiling warmly.
"Good evening, Miss Aurielle. Thank you for coming..."
"Of course. Maintaining good relations between our families and companies is important," Aurielle replied with poise.
Idham smiled... until his eyes landed on Al.
He blinked in surprise.
"He’s my assistant tonight," Aurielle added before any rumors could start.
Idham nodded back, trying to act nonchalant, but the faint irritation behind his polite smile was hard to hide.
What’s so special about this guy that he gets to sit next to Miss Aurielle?
He was just a regular orphan at school... nothing impressive...
He gave a brief nod and walked away to greet other guests.
Al let out a quiet sigh. The night had barely begun, yet he already felt like everyone’s target.
It’s going to be a long night...
In the middle of the Western-style grand hall, the main lights dimmed suddenly.
A spotlight illuminated a single figure on stage—a middle-aged man in a pristine white suit with a gold brooch: Lefon Tamarvich, patriarch of the family.
"Ladies and gentlemen...
Allow me to welcome you all, and express my deepest thanks for your presence on this night of honor..."
His voice was deep, charismatic, and resonated through the hall.
"Tonight is not just another family banquet...
We are here to celebrate the arrival of an extraordinary figure."
"A young woman, only seventeen years old, who has taken the business world by storm."
"Dubbed the Light of Wall Street, mentors in the Uni-State refer to her as a Market Miracle. In just five years, she transformed Alasia Group from a small firm into a multinational giant."
"And tonight, due to our collaboration between the Alasia Foundation and the Tamarvich family in managing Hazandeen International High School, we are proud to honor her."
A thunderous applause filled the room.
"Unfortunately... our guest of honor is still en route.
Please enjoy the appetizers, and may this night mark the beginning of not just local... but global collaboration."
The lights brightened again.
Waiters in crisp uniforms glided through the hall, serving dishes from Makazhar’s finest five-star chefs.
At Aurielle and Al’s table.
Al gazed at the food with sparkles in his eyes.
"Foie gras? Gold leaf layers? This cake has... Tibetan yak milk cream?"
Heaven... he thought, carefully placing a small piece of cake onto his plate.
He took a bite—slowly, delicately.
"Hmmmm~" he hummed with satisfaction, cheeks puffed adorably, eyes shut in bliss.
To most people, it was too cute.
Aurielle glanced at him with a mix of judgment and amusement.
"You look like a kid tasting good food for the first time," she muttered, lips hiding a smile.
Soon, two figures approached their table—David, in formal wear and Virellano’s emblem, and Rudi, in a gaudy gold-accessorized suit.
"Big Sis Aurielle," David greeted politely with a small bow.
"You brought Al too."
Aurielle gave a flat nod.
Rudi joined in with a sly smile.
"Well... it’s truly an honor to share a table with the eldest daughter of the Virellano family.
And..." he turned to Al with a faintly mocking grin,
"Your assistant here seems to have a rather... lavish appetite."
Al simply glanced at him, unbothered, and continued chewing his cake in peace.
He dabbed his mouth with a napkin like a casual noble—unfazed by the thinly veiled insult.
David smiled faintly, trying to seem neutral.
"Rudi, don’t be like that. Al’s your friend too, remember? You guys went to the same school."
Though deep down, David enjoyed watching Al being underestimated.
Aurielle narrowed her eyes.
She saw right through Rudi’s provocation.
And David... rather than defend his brother, was clearly enjoying being seen as the more "refined" one.
Yet the calmest person was still Al.
He set down his fork, glanced at David briefly, and smiled softly.
"This cake is delicious... You two not going to try?"
"Or are you just enjoying staring at me instead?"
David blinked, momentarily speechless.
Aurielle held back a laugh.
She might not say it out loud, but she knew her little brother’s innocence often came wrapped in sharp, hidden blades.
Aurielle basked in the attention. Her silver gown, custom-designed by a world-class stylist, shimmered under the chandelier’s glow.
Whispers of admiration, praise, and curious glances from local and foreign entrepreneurs surrounded her like perfume.
This... this is how I should be seen, she thought, sipping her light wine.
But her euphoria didn’t last long.
One of the Tamarvich head butlers rushed in, bowing nervously toward Lord Lefon.
His face was tense—like a soldier bringing news of a brewing war.
Lord Lefon stood at once and headed toward the front courtyard.
The hall fell into a curious hush.
A convoy of luxury cars appeared outside the main hall. But these weren’t just ordinary luxury cars.
Lamborghini Diplomatica – Limited Edition.
Rolls-Royce Phantom – Divine Series.
Al-Tech Genesis Hybrid—a hypercar from a rising African manufacturer, not even released to the public yet.
People began whispering excitedly.
"Those cars only show up at the World Economic Nexus..."
"Could it be... she’s really coming?"
The final car stopped.
Several black-suited bodyguards exited first—expressionless, radiating the aura of elite assassins.
Then... from the left side of the vehicle, a man and woman stepped out.
Ultra-elegant. Movie-star level charm.
The woman wore a black-silver gown, glass heels, and a sky-blue sapphire necklace.
The man beside her wore a triple-layer platinum-detailed suit and a wristwatch worth an entire private island.
Gasps echoed through the crowd.
"Is that Miss Ai...?"
"I thought she was a teenager?"
"She looks... like she’s in her 30s—but her charisma is unreal..."
But before the doubts could settle—
The man turned... and opened the main car door.
And in that moment... the world stopped.
A teenage girl—no older than seventeen.
But the way she walked, the presence she exuded, the very air around her... shifted in an instant.