Rain crawled slowly down the glass walls of the city, turning the midnight skyline into blurred silver lights.

Inside the top floor office of the Aaron Empire, silence felt dangerous.

Amanda Aaron sat in her father’s chair like she owned the world already.

Black suit. Cold eyes. Rings shining against the crystal glass in her hand.

Every man in the room feared her despite her young age.

Because she carried the same aura as her father — Aaron Alexander.

Cruel when angry.

Sharp when silent.

And impossible to control.

“You let him escape?” Amanda’s voice was calm enough to terrify people.

One of the men lowered his head instantly. “Miss Aaron, we thought—”

“You thought?” She stood up slowly. “That’s exactly why my father trusts me more than all of you.”

The room fell dead silent.

Amanda walked toward the terrified man, heels echoing against the marble floor. She stopped inches away from him and fixed his collar with slow fingers.

Then smiled.

That smile was worse than a threat.

“Find him before sunrise,” she whispered. “Or I’ll make an example out of you.”

Across the city, another world existed entirely.

Warm yellow lights glowed inside a quiet café near the university district.

Soft music played while students laughed over unfinished assignments and coffee cups.

Shelly Matthew sat near the window with books spread around her.

Messy notes. Business charts. Highlighter marks everywhere.

Unlike Amanda, Shelly looked at people gently, like the world had never taught her cruelty.

Her father, Smith Matthew, was one of the most respected businessmen in the city. Honest. Powerful. Clean reputation.

Shelly wanted to become like him someday.

“Still studying?” her friend teased.

Shelly laughed softly. “My presentation is tomorrow. I’m dying already.”

“You worry too much.”

“Because I care too much.”

And maybe that was true.

Shelly cared about everything.

People. Feelings. Small moments.

The complete opposite of Amanda Aaron.

That same night, fate quietly began moving in silence.

A black luxury car crossed the empty streets of the city while Amanda sat quietly in the backseat, watching raindrops slide across the tinted window.

Far away from her world of danger and power, Shelly stayed awake inside her room, surrounded by books and soft music, trying not to fall asleep over her notes.

Neither of them knew the other existed yet.

But somewhere between the city lights, family empires, and destiny—

their paths were already moving toward collision.

next scene

The conference room of the Grand Monarch Hotel felt colder than usual.

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city while expensive perfume, tension, and power filled the air equally.

At the center of the long marble table sat Amanda Aaron.

Calm. Sharp. Dangerous.

Beside her were members of the Aaron business team, all silent enough to hear the ticking clock on the wall.

Across from her sat Smith Matthew.

Respected. Intelligent. Untouchable in the legal business world.

The meeting had started professionally.

But professionalism never survived long around Amanda Aaron.

“This partnership requires transparency,” Smith said firmly while closing the project file in front of him. “Your proposal leaves too many unanswered questions.”

Amanda leaned back in her chair slowly, eyes unreadable.

“Maybe because you’re asking questions that don’t concern you.”

Several people around the table exchanged nervous glances instantly.

Smith’s expression hardened slightly. “If my company invests millions, everything concerns me.”

Amanda gave a cold smile.

“You businessmen love pretending the world runs on honesty.”

“And you mistake fear for power,” Smith replied immediately.

Silence.

Heavy silence.

Amanda’s fingers tapped once against the table before she stood up slowly.

“Careful, Mr. Matthew.”

Her voice remained calm, but everyone in the room felt the warning underneath it.

Smith stood as well. “No, Miss Aaron. You should be careful. Arrogance destroys people faster than enemies do.”

One of Amanda’s team members quietly tried to interrupt. “Sir, maybe we should continue this later—”

“No.” Smith picked up his file sharply. “This meeting is over.”

The sound of the chair sliding against the marble floor echoed loudly.

Without another glance toward Amanda, Smith walked out of the conference room.

One by one, the investors and assistants followed him nervously until the massive room became almost empty.

Only Amanda and her team remained.

The silence afterward felt suffocating.

Amanda stared toward the closed door for several long seconds.

Then suddenly—

The glass in her hand shattered against the wall.

Everyone flinched.

“You let him walk out like that?” one man asked carefully.

Amanda turned toward her team slowly.

Her eyes looked terrifyingly calm now.

“That man,” she said quietly, “just made the biggest mistake of his life.”

No one dared respond.

Amanda grabbed her coat from the chair and walked toward the exit.

“Find everything about Smith Matthew’s company,” she ordered coldly. “Every weakness. Every secret. Every person connected to him.”

She paused near the doorway.

“And especially…”

Her jaw tightened slightly.

“…his daughter.”

-

-

-

The city looked alive after midnight.

Neon lights reflected across wet roads while music thundered through the underground racing arena hidden beneath the industrial side of the city.

Smoke. Engines. Screaming crowds.

This was Amanda Aaron’s favorite world.

Far away from meetings, businessmen, and fake respect.

A black Ferrari drifted sharply around the corner, tires screaming against the asphalt as the crowd exploded with cheers.

Inside the car, Amanda smirked slightly, one hand steady on the wheel while the other shifted gears effortlessly.

Fear never existed inside her.

Only adrenaline.

The car spun perfectly before stopping inches from the barrier.

People immediately surrounded the track shouting her name excitedly.

“Amanda!”

“Do that again!”

“She’s insane!”

Amanda stepped out of the car calmly, black jacket hanging loosely over her shoulders while smoke curled around her.

Her racing gloves were stained slightly, and a tiny cut rested near her knuckles.

She looked dangerous even while breathing.

One of her friends laughed while walking toward her. “You’re actually trying to kill yourself one day.”

Amanda grabbed a water bottle casually. “Not today.”

Meanwhile, near the upper viewing area, Shelly Matthew stood beside her university friends, looking both nervous and fascinated by the chaos around her.

“I still can’t believe you brought us here,” one girl laughed loudly.

“It’s fun!” another replied.

Shelly smiled softly while watching the glowing track below. “It’s… different.”

Truthfully, she had never seen anything like this before.

The speed.

The freedom.

The recklessness.

It scared her a little.

And excited her a little too.

Suddenly the crowd became louder than before.

“Amanda’s racing again!”

Shelly frowned slightly. “Amanda?”

“The Amanda Aaron,” her friend whispered dramatically. “Rich mafia princess. Crazy racer. Terrifying human being.”

Shelly looked down toward the track curiously.

At the same moment, Amanda pulled her gloves back on and entered her car again, completely unaware of the girl watching from above.

Engines roared violently.

Shelly watched the black Ferrari fly across the track like a storm.

And for some strange reason—

she couldn’t look away.

The final lap felt like pure chaos.

Engines screamed through the night while smoke burned through the air and crowds shouted loud enough to shake the metal barriers.

Amanda’s black Ferrari moved like something untouchable.

Sharp turns. Dangerous drifts. Absolute control.

And within seconds—

she crossed the finish line first.

The entire arena exploded with cheers.

People climbed onto barriers screaming her name while flashing lights reflected across the track.

“Amanda Aaron wins again!”

Amanda stepped out of the car slowly, breathing heavily but smiling faintly for the first time that night.

Victory looked natural on her.

One of the racers laughed breathlessly. “You drive like a psychopath.”

Amanda grabbed a metal bat from nearby without answering.

Shelly frowned from the upper level. “What is she doing?”

Before anyone could answer—

Amanda swung the bat directly into the front windshield of her own Ferrari.

Glass shattered everywhere.

The crowd CHEERED louder.

Shelly’s eyes widened in shock.

Amanda hit the car again.

And again.

Headlights broken. Mirrors destroyed. Black paint scratched violently beneath the flashing neon lights.

It looked insane.

Yet Amanda looked completely calm doing it.

“What the hell…” Shelly whispered softly.

One of her friends leaned against the railing casually. “Oh, that? She always does this.”

Shelly looked confused. “She destroys her own car?”

“Yeah.” Her friend laughed. “That’s Amanda Aaron’s way of celebrating a win.”

Below them, Amanda finally stopped swinging the bat.

Breathing hard, she rested the bat over her shoulder while the crowd roared around her like she was some untouchable queen of destruction.

Then Amanda smirked slightly and walked away from the ruined Ferrari without looking back once.

Shelly stared silently at the destroyed car.

A strange mix of fear, disbelief, and curiosity settled inside her chest.

Because no normal person celebrated victory like that.

But somehow—

Amanda Aaron made madness look beautiful.

A few days later, the morning at Westbridge University was unusually crowded.

Students filled the parking area while conversations, footsteps, and distant laughter blended together beneath the bright sunlight.

A black Mercedes slowly entered the university parking lot.

Almost everyone recognized the car instantly.

Amanda Aaron.

The expensive engine purred softly before Amanda turned sharply into a parking space—

CRACK.

A scooter tilted sideways and fell onto the ground.

Several students gasped quietly.

Amanda stopped the engine with visible annoyance before stepping out of the car, sunglasses resting over her eyes.

Her heels clicked against the pavement as she glanced briefly at the damaged scooter like it was nothing important.

At the same moment, Shelly Matthew walked toward the scene holding books against her chest.

And froze.

“My scooter—”

She hurried forward immediately, kneeling beside it. One side was scratched badly, and the mirror had broken completely.

Amanda removed her sunglasses slowly.

“I didn’t see that,” she said flatly.

No apology.

No guilt.

Just irritation.

Shelly looked up at her for the first time properly.

Amanda looked even more intimidating in daylight.

Cold expression. Sharp jawline. Black clothes like always.

Amanda pulled out her phone carelessly. “Give me your address. I’ll send you a new one.”

Shelly blinked once, surprised by the arrogance in her tone.

Then she stood up slowly.

“No, thank you.”

Amanda frowned slightly like nobody had ever refused her before.

“You want to keep this broken thing?”

“It’s fine,” Shelly replied softly while lifting her scooter carefully. “I can fix it.”

Amanda crossed her arms. “You’re refusing compensation?”

Shelly finally looked directly into her eyes.

“I’m refusing your attitude.”

The air between them shifted instantly.

Several nearby students went completely silent.

Nobody talked to Amanda Aaron like that.

Amanda stared at Shelly for a few long seconds, almost offended… but strangely interested too.

Shelly avoided her gaze first, adjusting her books awkwardly before trying to move the scooter.

One of the wheels jammed slightly.

Amanda watched quietly.

Then without a word, she stepped forward and lifted the scooter upright herself with one hand.

Shelly looked startled.

Amanda leaned slightly closer, voice low and calm.

“You should be more careful where you park.”

And with that—

Amanda walked away toward the university building while students immediately moved aside for her.

Meanwhile Shelly stood there speechless beside her damaged scooter…

wondering why her heartbeat suddenly felt so strange.

The university corridors had finally grown quieter after hours of meetings and presentations.

Amanda Aaron walked out of the administration building beside the Head of Department, discussing investment plans for a new business program sponsored by the Aaron Group.

Even the professors spoke carefully around her.

Not because of her money.

Because of her presence.

Cold. Dominant. Impossible to ignore.

“Thank you for your time, Miss Aaron,” the HOD said politely near the entrance.

Amanda gave a small nod. “Send the final documents by tomorrow.”

And then she walked toward the parking area alone.

Her black Mercedes waited beneath the shade of tall trees while students passed by nearby.

Suddenly, loud hooting noises echoed from the other side of the parking lot.

A group of boys stood near motorcycles laughing at girls walking past them.

One girl looked visibly uncomfortable.

Amanda’s expression darkened immediately.

She changed direction and walked straight toward them.

The laughter slowly died.

One of the boys noticed her approaching. “What?”

Amanda stopped in front of them, eyes sharp with disgust.

“This is what your parents taught you?” she said coldly. “To stand around acting like animals?”

The boys exchanged glances.

Then one of them scoffed rudely. “Who the hell are you, lady?”

Silence.

Dangerous silence.

Amanda stepped closer slowly.

The arrogance disappeared from the boy’s face almost instantly when Amanda casually pulled her coat aside—

revealing the gun resting beneath her waist.

Not pointed at him.

Just visible enough.

The boy’s face turned pale immediately.

His friends stepped backward without a word.

Amanda looked at him with terrifying calmness.

“Say that again.”

Nobody moved.

Nobody breathed properly.

Then Amanda let her coat fall back into place and walked past them like nothing had happened.

Her heels echoed against the pavement while fear followed behind her.

The boys remained frozen in silence.

And a few feet away—

Shelly Matthew stood near the staircase, clutching her books tightly after witnessing everything.

Amanda unlocked her car calmly, entered the Mercedes, and drove away without looking back once.

But Shelly couldn’t move.

Because for the first time in her life—

she had seen someone carry danger so casually.

That night, the Aaron mansion felt quieter than usual.

Inside the study room, shadows from the tall shelves stretched across the wooden floor. A single lamp lit the space where power always spoke in calm voices.

Aaron Alexander stood near the window, looking out at the city like he already owned it.

Amanda Aaron stood across from him, still in her black coat, expression unreadable.

“You’ve been moving too freely in the city,” her father said finally. “Too many eyes on you.”

Amanda didn’t respond immediately.

She never rushed when it came to him.

Then—

“I can handle it.”

Aaron Alexander turned slightly. “I know you can.”

A pause.

Then his voice deepened.

“We’re sending you to Brazil.”

Amanda’s gaze sharpened slightly.

“For what?”

“A meeting,” he said. “Big one. Expansion deal with the strongest group there. If this succeeds, our network becomes global.”

He turned fully toward her now.

“And you’re going alone.”

Silence settled between them.

Even the air felt heavier.

“I trust you more than anyone,” he added. “That’s why you’re the only one I’m sending.”

Amanda’s jaw tightened slightly—not from fear, but pressure.

Then she nodded once.

“When do I leave?”

“Tomorrow.”

Brazil was nothing like her city.

Heat. Noise. Power everywhere.

The meeting took place in a private high-rise secured like a fortress. Armed men stood at every corner while leaders from both sides filled the long glass hall.

Amanda sat at the negotiation table like she belonged there.

Cold eyes. Perfect posture. Zero hesitation.

The Brazilian mafia leader studied her carefully before speaking.

“So this is the famous Amanda Aaron.”

Amanda didn’t smile.

“I don’t like wasting time,” she said calmly. “Let’s talk business.”

The room shifted instantly.

No intimidation worked on her.

No politics slowed her down.

Numbers were discussed. Territories compared. Security routes calculated.

Amanda spoke less—but every sentence cut through the room like steel.

By the end of the meeting, even the Brazilian side respected her silence more than others’ speeches.

Finally, the leader leaned back.

“Your reputation is real,” he said. “Deal accepted.”

Amanda closed the file without emotion.

“Good.”

Two days later, she returned.

The airport was quiet, but her arrival wasn’t.

Her team stood waiting as she stepped out, expression unchanged, suitcase rolling behind her.

One of her men quickly stepped forward.

“Miss Aaron…?”

Amanda handed him the folder.

“Signed agreement,” she said simply. “Expansion approved. They’ll cooperate fully.”

A brief silence followed.

Then relief.

Then shock.

They had expected negotiation problems. Resistance. Delays.

But Amanda had returned with complete success.

No explanation. No drama.

Just results.

As she walked toward her car,

Amanda was driving alone that evening.

The road outside the city was almost empty—just long stretches of asphalt fading into the horizon under a dull sky.

Her black Mercedes moved smoothly, but her mind wasn’t on the road.

Then she saw it.

Ahead on the roadside, a group of boys surrounded two girls. The situation was wrong instantly—too close, too aggressive, too loud.

One of the girls tried to step back, but was grabbed again.

Amanda’s expression changed.

The car slowed.

Stopped.

She stepped out.

No hesitation.

“Let them go,” she said coldly.

The boys turned, laughing at first—until they properly saw her.

But arrogance is always louder than fear at the beginning.

One of them smirked. “Go away, lady. This isn’t your problem.”

Amanda walked forward.

Fast.

Before anyone could react, her fist hit the first boy straight across the face. He stumbled back hard.

The others froze for a second—then chaos broke.

Amanda moved like controlled violence. One more punch, a sharp shove, eyes burning with anger.

“Last warning,” she said sharply.

Then she pulled her gun out.

Silence dropped instantly.

The air changed.

One of the boys panicked, reaching for his weapon.

A gunshot cracked through the road.

Amanda staggered—her shoulder hit.

Pain exploded through her body, but she didn’t fall immediately.

The boys panicked and ran.

Running footsteps faded into the distance.

The two girls stood frozen, shaking.

Amanda pressed her hand against her shoulder, breathing heavily, one knee finally touching the ground from the pain she was forcing down.

“Get out of here,” she said tightly to the girls. “Now.”

They ran.

Silence returned.

Only her breathing remained.

Then footsteps again.

A girl stood a few meters away.

Shelly Matthew.

She had been there the whole time—witnessing everything in shock.

And she wasn’t alone.

One of the girls with her was still trembling, but Shelly didn’t move away.

Her eyes locked onto Amanda immediately.

Recognition. Fear. Confusion. Everything at once.

Amanda tried to stand, but her body betrayed her slightly.

Shelly rushed forward before she could stop her.

“No—don’t move,” Shelly said quickly, grabbing her carefully.

For a moment, Amanda didn’t react.

Just looked at her.

At the same girl she had once almost dismissed at the scooter incident.

Their faces were close now.

Too close.

Shelly’s hands were steady despite shaking inside. “You’re bleeding badly…”

Amanda’s expression softened just a fraction—not weakness, just exhaustion.

Their eyes stayed locked.

No arrogance between them now.

Just silence.

Heavy. Unspoken.

Amanda’s grip on consciousness weakened slightly.

Shelly tightened her hold instinctively.

“Hey—stay with me,” she said softly.

Amanda tried to respond, but her breath faltered.

Her eyelids slowly lowered.

The last thing she saw clearly—

was Shelly’s worried face holding her in the middle of an empty road.

And then—

everything went dark.

Amanda stayed still for a moment, her hand pressed tightly over her injured shoulder.

Shelly was still holding her arm carefully, worried. The other girl stood behind her, shaken and silent.

Shelly shook her head immediately. “No… we can’t let you drive like this. Your arm—”

Amanda cut her off, voice firm despite the pain. “I’ll drop you both.”

Shelly blinked. “But you’re injured.”

Amanda’s eyes lifted slowly. “I said I’m okay.”

There was no space to argue with her tone.

After a pause, Shelly finally stepped back a little, still uncertain. “At least let us help you sit properly.”

Amanda didn’t refuse this time.

A few minutes later, she was back behind the wheel, jaw tight, breathing controlled. Pain pulsed through her shoulder with every movement, but she didn’t show it.

Silence filled the car as she drove through the empty streets.

Shelly sat in the back, watching her carefully. The other girl whispered something, still shaken.

When they reached Shelly’s neighborhood, Amanda stopped the car.

Shelly leaned forward. “You should go to a hospital.”

“I will,” Amanda replied flatly.

She turned slightly, looking at both of them through the mirror. “Don’t go outside alone at night again. It’s not safe.”

Shelly frowned. “What about you?”

Amanda’s grip on the steering tightened slightly. “I’ve handled worse.”

She paused, then added in a lower tone, almost unexpectedly protective:

“Go inside.”

Shelly hesitated for a second, then nodded slowly. “Thank you… for saving us.”

Amanda didn’t respond. She just looked away first.

After they got out, Shelly stayed for a moment longer, watching the car.

Amanda finally drove off again, her shoulder throbbing more with every kilometer.

It was just past 1 AM when she returned to the mansion.

The gates opened immediately.

The moment her car stopped, her father was already there.

Aaron Alexander stepped forward quickly, his sharp eyes scanning her condition instantly.

“Amanda.”

His voice dropped.

He saw the blood on her coat.

“What happened?”

Amanda stepped out of the car calmly, hiding the pain as much as she could. “Nothing serious. Just a normal fight.”

Her father narrowed his eyes. “A ‘normal fight’ leaves my daughter bleeding?”

Amanda sighed slightly. “I handled it.”

There was a brief silence.

Then Aaron Alexander suddenly exhaled, shaking his head with a small, proud smile.

“My tiger,” he said softly.

Amanda’s lips twitched despite herself.

“You taught me well,” she replied.

For a rare moment, the coldness between them melted.

Aaron Alexander gave a short laugh and gently placed a hand on her shoulder—not the injured one.

“Still reckless,” he said.

Amanda finally let out a quiet breath, almost a laugh too.

“Still alive,” she replied.

And for once, in the silence of the mansion—

they both laughed softly like danger had briefly stepped away from their lives.

A few days passed.

The mansion slowly returned to its usual silence.

Amanda Aaron had recovered physically—no more hospital, no visible weakness, no signs of that night.

But the bandage was gone… not the memory.

Even when she moved her arm slightly, a faint pull of pain still reminded her what had happened on that empty road.

She sat alone in her study room late at night, papers untouched in front of her.

For once, her mind wasn’t on business.

It kept drifting back.

The road.

The gunshot.

The sudden pain.

And then—

a face.

A girl holding her in the middle of chaos, hands steady even while her voice shook.

Amanda’s fingers tightened slightly on the edge of the table.

She didn’t know her name.

Didn’t know who she was.

But that moment… stayed.

The way she had said, “Stay with me.”

Amanda exhaled slowly, irritated at herself for even remembering it this clearly.

“Why am I thinking about this?” she muttered under her breath.

She stood up and walked toward the window.

Outside, the city glowed like nothing had ever gone wrong in it.

But inside her mind, it wasn’t the city she saw.

It was that girl.

The scooter girl.

Shelly Matthew.

Though Amanda still didn’t know her name yet.

She only remembered the feeling—warm hands on her shoulder, steady eyes in panic, someone refusing to let her fall even when she barely knew her.

Amanda touched her injured shoulder lightly, expression unreadable.

Strangely… it didn’t feel like weakness.

It felt like something unfinished.

Something she hadn’t expected.

Something she couldn’t ignore.

And for the first time in a long time—

Amanda Aaron was curious about someone… without knowing why.

On the other side of the city, Shelly Matthew couldn’t focus on anything either.

Her room was quiet, books open on her desk, notes half-written for university work—but her mind wasn’t there at all.

It kept going back to that night.

The empty road.

The chaos.

The gunshot.

And Amanda Aaron.

Shelly knew exactly who she was.

Everyone did.

The daughter of Aaron Alexander.

A name people didn’t say too loudly. A reputation people didn’t question twice. The kind of person the city both feared and talked about in whispers.

Shelly had heard all of it before she ever met her.

Cold. Dangerous. Arrogant. Untouchable.

But none of that matched what she had seen that night.

Not completely.

Shelly slowly closed her notebook and leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling.

“She was bleeding…” she whispered to herself.

But she still made sure those girls were safe.

Still drove them home.

Still warned them to be careful.

Shelly’s fingers tightened slightly around her pen.

And the strangest part wasn’t the fear.

It was the memory of Amanda’s eyes.

Not cruel.

Not arrogant.

Just… human for a moment too short to understand properly.

Shelly stood up and walked to the window.

Outside, normal life continued—cars passing, lights glowing, people living without knowing what had happened on that road.

But inside her mind, nothing felt normal anymore.

She shouldn’t be thinking about her.

She shouldn’t care.

Amanda Aaron was danger. Everyone said that.

And still…

Shelly couldn’t stop remembering the way she had held her arm that night.

Like she didn’t want her to fall.

On the other side of the city, Shelly Matthew couldn’t focus on anything either.

Her room was quiet, books open on her desk, notes half-written for university work—but her mind wasn’t there at all.

It kept going back to that night.

The empty road.

The chaos.

The gunshot.

And Amanda Aaron.

Shelly knew exactly who she was.

Everyone did.

The daughter of Aaron Alexander.

A name people didn’t say too loudly. A reputation people didn’t question twice. The kind of person the city both feared and talked about in whispers.

Shelly had heard all of it before she ever met her.

Cold. Dangerous. Arrogant. Untouchable.

But none of that matched what she had seen that night.

Not completely.

Shelly slowly closed her notebook and leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling.

“She was bleeding…” she whispered to herself.

But she still made sure those girls were safe.

Still drove them home.

Still warned them to be careful.

Shelly’s fingers tightened slightly around her pen.

And the strangest part wasn’t the fear.

It was the memory of Amanda’s eyes.

Not cruel.

Not arrogant.

Just… human for a moment too short to understand properly.

Shelly stood up and walked to the window.

Outside, normal life continued—cars passing, lights glowing, people living without knowing what had happened on that road.

But inside her mind, nothing felt normal anymore.

She shouldn’t be thinking about her.

She shouldn’t care.

Amanda Aaron was danger. Everyone said that.

And still…

Shelly couldn’t stop remembering the way she had held her arm that night.

Like she didn’t want her to fall.

The mall was busy that afternoon—bright lights, crowded walkways, luxury stores full of people shopping like it was any normal day.

Amanda Aaron walked through it like she never blended in anywhere.

Black coat. Calm face. Sharp eyes scanning everything without effort.

Behind her, her guards stayed close.

Too close.

Because danger always followed her name.

They were halfway through the main corridor when it happened.

A sudden movement near the upper floor railing.

Then—

panic.

One of the guards shouted, “DOWN!”

In seconds, chaos exploded.

Amanda was pulled back as bullets cracked through glass panels. People screamed, running in every direction. Storefronts shattered. Security alarms went off.

Someone was trying to kill her.

The attack was targeted. Clean. Planned.

But Amanda didn’t freeze.

She never did.

Her guards formed a shield around her, pushing her toward cover, but Amanda broke free instantly.

“No,” she said sharply.

One of her guards grabbed her arm. “Miss Aaron—stay back!”

Amanda pulled her arm away.

Her eyes were already locked on the direction of the shooter.

Cold. Focused. Dangerous.

She pulled her weapon out.

And stepped forward.

“Clear the civilians,” she ordered.

Another shot fired.

Glass exploded near her feet.

But Amanda moved anyway.

She returned fire immediately.

Fast. Controlled. Precise.

The attackers weren’t expecting her to respond directly.

Panic spread on their side now.

Within moments, the situation collapsed into chaos for them instead.

Amanda’s guards pushed forward, securing exits and corners while she continued moving through the corridor with deadly calm.

When the threat finally retreated, silence slowly returned.

Broken glass. Smoke. Screams fading into distance.

Amanda stood still in the middle of it all, breathing steady, weapon lowered.

Her coat had dust and small cuts from flying debris—but she didn’t look shaken.

Only alert.

A guard approached quickly. “Miss Aaron, are you injured?”

“No,” she said simply.

Then she turned toward the exit.

By evening, the news had already spread everywhere.

Breaking headlines flashed across screens:

“ATTEMPTED ATTACK ON AMANDA AARON AT CITY MALL”

“MAFIA HEIRESS TARGETED IN PUBLIC SHOOTOUT”

“SECURITY TIGHTENED ACROSS CITY AFTER INCIDENT”

Social media exploded.

Everyone was talking about it.

Fear. Shock. Rumors.

And in a quiet room far away, Shelly Matthew sat frozen in front of her phone.

She had just seen the news.

Her fingers went slightly cold.

Amanda again.

Another attack. Another escape.

Shelly’s thoughts tightened instantly—not admiration, not excitement… something more complicated.

Concern she didn’t want to admit.

Because no matter what people said about Amanda Aaron—

Shelly already knew one thing for sure.

That girl always ended up standing alone in the middle of fire.

After many days of tension, things in the city had slowly settled back into controlled silence.

But under that silence, power was still moving.

Tonight was different.

It was the grand opening of Amanda Aaron’s new luxury brand outlet—another extension of the Aaron empire stepping into the public business world.

The venue was filled with elites, businessmen, media, and their families. Flashing lights. Soft music. Expensive smiles.

Amanda Aaron entered like she owned every reflection in the room.

Black dress. Minimal expression. Maximum presence.

All eyes followed her instantly.

Among the guests stood Smith Matthew, speaking with other investors near the main hall.

And nearby, quietly observing the event, was Shelly Matthew.

She wasn’t here for business.

She came with her father.

But she stayed slightly away from the crowd, holding a drink she barely touched, watching everything carefully.

Then—

Amanda noticed her father.

Smith Matthew stepped forward toward Amanda as she reached the main stage area.

Their eyes met instantly.

The air shifted.

“Congratulations, Miss Aaron,” Smith said politely—but there was a clear edge underneath it. “Impressive expansion… for someone still so young.”

Amanda gave a small, cold smile.

“Age doesn’t matter when you know what you’re doing.”

Smith nodded slightly. “True. But experience matters more than ego.”

A subtle pause.

Amanda tilted her head slightly. “You seem confident for someone who almost walked out of our last deal.”

Smith’s expression hardened slightly. “Because I don’t like wasting time on unreasonable decisions.”

A faint tension spread between them.

Not loud.

But sharp enough for people nearby to notice.

One of Smith’s associates tried to intervene softly, but Smith raised a hand.

“It’s fine,” he said, then stepped back. “Enjoy your event, Miss Aaron.”

Amanda didn’t reply.

She simply watched him walk away.

Then she turned slightly and sat down near the lounge area, surrounded by executives and guards.

From across the hall, Shelly stood near a pillar.

Far enough not to be noticed.

Close enough to see everything.

And then—

Amanda looked in her direction.

Just for a second.

Not fully turning her head.

But enough.

Their eyes didn’t fully meet in a dramatic way.

It was quieter than that.

Almost accidental.

But still enough to feel like something paused in between them.

Shelly froze slightly.

Amanda didn’t react outwardly.

She just looked away first.

But something in her expression changed for the briefest moment—

like she had recognized something she couldn’t name yet.

Shelly slowly lowered her gaze, her grip tightening slightly on her glass.

Because somehow, even in a room full of powerful people…

Amanda Aaron was still the only one she kept noticing without meaning to.

Shelly stepped out of the main hall slowly, the noise of the event fading behind her as she walked into a quieter corridor.

Soft golden lights lined the hallway, and through the large glass window, the city lights shimmered below like scattered stars.

She exhaled, trying to relax her thoughts.

But she wasn’t alone for long.

Footsteps followed.

Controlled. Certain.

Shelly didn’t turn immediately. She already had a feeling who it was.

When she finally did, Amanda Aaron was standing there.

Calm. Hands in her pockets. Expression unreadable as always.

Shelly’s lips curved slightly, but there was a hint of sarcasm in her tone.

“So someone is bored at their own function…” she said, glancing back at the window. “And came here to watch lights from a window.”

Amanda looked at her for a moment, then followed her gaze outside.

“Better than listening to fake compliments inside,” Amanda replied flatly.

Shelly raised an eyebrow. “Everything there is business. That’s how these events work.”

Amanda stepped closer, stopping beside her—not too close, not too far.

“I know how they work,” she said.

A brief silence settled between them.

From the glass, city lights reflected faintly on both of their faces—so different, yet oddly aligned in the same frame.

Shelly crossed her arms. “You didn’t have to follow me here.”

Amanda’s eyes stayed forward. “I didn’t follow you.”

Shelly glanced at her. “You just happened to walk out the same time as me?”

Amanda didn’t answer immediately.

Then, calmly—

“Yes.”

That single word carried enough arrogance to make Shelly almost smile.

Shelly shook her head slightly. “You’re impossible.”

Amanda finally turned her head a little toward her.

“And you talk too much for someone who tries to stay unnoticed.”

Shelly paused.

That hit closer than she expected.

For a second, neither spoke.

Just the quiet hum of the building and the glow of the city outside.

Then Shelly looked back at the window.

“I don’t like those kinds of events,” she admitted more softly this time. “They feel… fake.”

Amanda studied her quietly.

After a moment, she said, “Everything is fake. You just choose what you want to believe in.”

Shelly glanced at her again.

“That’s a very… sad way to see the world.”

Amanda’s expression didn’t change.

But something behind her eyes flickered briefly—so quick it almost didn’t exist.

Then she looked away first this time.

And for a moment, both of them just stood there…

watching the city lights without realizing they had

started sharing the same silence.

Amanda stood there for a second longer than usual.

The corridor was quiet again, only the faint music from the hall drifting through the walls. City lights still shimmered outside the window, reflecting faintly on her face.

Shelly had just turned away.

Already walking.

Amanda’s gaze followed her.

Something in her mind shifted slightly—like a thought she had almost caught, but not fully.

She opened her mouth.

Not used to doing that.

Not used to asking.

“What’s your—”

But before the words could finish properly, Shelly glanced back over her shoulder, already mid-step, her voice light but rushed.

“I have to go now… see you somewhere.”

And just like that, she left.

Her figure disappeared into the corridor, blending into the crowd and noise again.

Silence returned.

Amanda stayed still.

Her eyes remained on the empty space Shelly had just left behind.

For a moment, she didn’t move at all.

Then slowly, her jaw tightened slightly—as if she disliked the interruption more than she should have.

“…somewhere,” she repeated quietly under her breath.

She didn’t even know her name.

But somehow, that bothered her more than it should.

Amanda finally turned away, expression back to normal, steps steady as she returned toward the hall.

But something had shifted.

Just a little.

And for Amanda Aaron…

that was already too much.

After the function ended, the mansion-like hotel suite was quiet again.

Amanda Aaron stood near the floor-to-ceiling window, a glass in her hand, city lights reflecting in her cold gaze. The noise of the event still felt far away, like it belonged to another world.

She wasn’t thinking about the brand launch.

Not anymore.

Her mind kept going back to the corridor.

The girl.

Grey dress. Calm voice. That attitude that didn’t bend easily in front of her.

A knock came at the door.

“Come in.”

Her manager entered carefully, holding a tablet. “Yes, ma’am?”

Amanda didn’t turn immediately. “I want every detail about that girl in the grey dress from the function.”

The manager paused slightly. “The guest list girl…?”

Amanda’s eyes shifted slightly. “Yes.”

No emotion in her voice. Just certainty.

The manager quickly nodded. “Okay, ma’am. I’ll get it done.”

A brief silence followed.

Amanda took another slow sip from her glass, still staring outside.

The manager hesitated for a moment, then added carefully, “Should I prioritize her family background or—”

“Everything,” Amanda cut in instantly.

The single word was enough.

The manager nodded again. “Understood.”

He turned to leave.

But before he reached the door—

Amanda spoke again, quieter this time.

“Fast.”

The manager stopped for a second, then nodded once more and left.

The door closed behind him.

Silence returned.

Amanda stayed by the window, expression unreadable.

But her thoughts weren’t silent.

For the first time in a long time…

someone who wasn’t part of her world had stayed in it longer than she expected.