Victoria paused on the marble step, looking down at Mark and Chloe as if they were mere specks of dust on her gilded shoes. A slow, terrifyingly serene smile spread across her lips.

The silence that fell over the Grand Regency Ballroom was deafening. Every eye in the room was locked on the base of the staircase, where Mark Ashford stood shouting at the woman in the gold gown, flanked by Chloe Dupont who was gesturing wildly for security.

"Did you hear me?" Chloe shrieked, turning toward the grand entrance as the venue’s head of security rushed into the hall with six armed guards. "Throw this delusional pauper out! She’s trespassing at my father's gala!"

The Security Chief sprinted forward, but he didn't stop at Victoria. Instead, his eyes caught the crest on Arthur’s lapel pin—the obsidian shield of Sterling Global Enterprises. Panic drained the color from the chief’s face. He froze in his tracks, immediately bowing his head so low his forehead nearly touched his knees.

Before Mark could comprehend what was happening, a heavy set of double doors opened near the VIP balcony. An older gentleman in a tailored tuxedo ran down the side stairs so fast he nearly stumbled over his own feet. It was Julian Dupont, Chloe's father and the host of the gala.

"Father!" Chloe called out, putting her hands on her hips with a smug smirk. "Look at what's happening! Mark’s homeless ex-girlfriend sneaked in wearing fake jewelry!"

Julian didn't even look at his daughter. He shoved past Mark, hit his knees on the cold polished marble right before Victoria, and pressed his hands together in desperate supplication.

"Madam President Sterling!" Julian gasped, his voice trembling so violently it echoed through the crystal chandeliers. "Please forgive my daughter’s unspeakable ignorance! We had no idea you would grace our humble event in person!"

The room gasped in collective horror. Whispers erupted like wildfire through the crowd of aristocrats and business tycoons.

"President Sterling? The ghost billionaire behind the Sterling Global Conglomerate?"

"She's the head of the world's largest private treasury!"

"The Ashfords and Duponts just insulted the most powerful woman on the continent!"

Mark felt the world spinning beneath his feet. The breath was knocked out of his lungs as if he had been struck by a freight train. He stared at Victoria, his eyes wide with horrified realization. The humble girl in the faded sweater, the girl who quietly sketched in a tiny damp apartment for two years... was the sole sovereign heiress to an empire worth hundreds of billions.

"F... Father?" Chloe stammered, her face turning pale as chalk. "What are you doing? She's nobody! Mark said—"

"SILENCE, YOU FOOL!" Julian roared, turning on his daughter with bloodshot eyes. "You have just ruined us!"

Victoria descended the final steps, her golden dress gliding over the marble like liquid sunlight. Her face remained a mask of flawless, unreadable calm as Arthur stepped forward and placed an encrypted glass tablet into her gloved hand.