It was generosity on a breathtaking scale. In the luxury boutiques, servants wept tears of pure joy as they loaded designer bags onto carts, while back at the estate, the remaining staff waited on the edge of their seats to see what treasures would return from the exclusive high-end district.
Meanwhile, the inner Reed family finished their shopping excursion and retreated to a private, five-star dining room. The atmosphere was radiating warmth. Liam was practically a one-man paparazzi crew, snapping endless photos to send to his older brothers who were currently stuck abroad, missing their sister's historic homecoming.
The Willows Grand Banquet Gala
"Let me enlighten you on the absolute latest scandal," a prominent socialite whispered, swirling her champagne. She sat at the center of the nation's most exclusive gossip circle.
"Oh? Do you actually have verified intel for once?" her rival countered, her tone dripping with mock boredom.
"Word from the docks is that the phantom princess of the Reed family has officially broken her twelve-year isolation."
"Please. I've convinced myself that the Reed princess is a myth invented for tax purposes. Nobody has seen a single shred of proof that she exists."
"Exactly. Even their inner household staff don't have a single childhood photograph of her. It's entirely bizarre."
"Mmm, unless she was born deformed, or has some severe mental complication," another woman sneered maliciously. "Why else would a global dynasty hide a child away from the world?"
"Hush! Keep your voice down before a loyalist hears you."
Within minutes, the entire banquet hall had abandoned the evening's itinerary. The Willows' celebration was completely overshadowed by the ghost of the Reeds.
"Look at Mandy Reed," the malicious socialite chuckled, pointing toward the VIP entrance. "She plays the loyal guard dog for this 'unknown princess,' yet she's just as blind as the rest of us."
Before her rival could reply, a low, powerful rumble echoed from the front courtyard. A custom, armored black limousine slid gracefully up to the red carpet. The crimson-and-gold coat of arms emblazoned on the door panel sent an immediate shockwave through the crowd.
"The Green family...!" someone gasped.
"Don't tell me the Greens are scouting for a matrimonial alliance tonight?"
"Ugh, your mind is perpetually stuck in a romance novel."
"The Greens and the Reeds... those are the only two factions that truly hold the strings of this nation," an elder tycoon murmured. "And yet, the Second Young Master of the Greens is an absolute ghost. Our families operate in absolute terror of a man we've never even looked at."
The limo door clicked open. Princess Green stepped out into the flashing lights, followed closely by her younger brother. But it was the occupant from the opposing door that drew the collective breath out of the room.
A pair of bespoke, midnight-black leather shoes pressed into the red carpet. A tall, impeccably built man stepped into the light, wearing a handmade, royal-blue silk-blend suit. He exuded an oppressive, almost terrifying aura of absolute authority—the kind of presence that suggested he owned the very ground everyone stood upon. It was Xander.
Without giving the stunned media a single second to snap a clear facial profile, he gripped his siblings' hands and swept past the flashbulbs, treating the paparazzi like mere static.
Once inside the grand foyer, his sister exhaled a breath. "Brother, I swear, if the Reed princess actually shows her face tonight, I am immediately introducing myself. I need to vet my future sister-in-law."
"Must be nice," the younger brother grumbled, adjusting his cuffs. "Everyone is looking at you two like deities. I'm basically a ghost."
Xander let out a rare, low chuckle. "Stop complaining. For that, I'll buy you that customized twin-engine helicopter you were eyeing last month."
His sister's eyes went wide. "Oh my god, Brother! I love you to the moon and back!"
From the sidelines, a young heiress clutched her pearls, her eyes locked onto Xander's retreating back. "I don't care who that man is. He could be a mercenary, a psychopath, or the devil himself—I want him. I will have him."
Before the gossip could shift, a massive uproar echoed from the main gates.
"The Reeds have arrived! Mandy, Neville, Thunder... and an absolute goddess!"
The crowd parted like the Red Sea. Stepping into the ballroom was Audrey, surrounded by her cousins. She wore an avant-garde gown that accentuated her flawless, athletic physique.
"Who on earth is that woman? She looks like a high-fashion supermodel."
"She's magnificent. If I can get my son to secure her hand, our family's genetics are set for the next three generations."
"Mandy, darling, you look absolutely radiant tonight," the malicious socialite from earlier purred, instantly gliding forward with a fake smile.
"Pathetic hypocrite," another woman muttered nearby.
The socialite ignored the comment, her eyes locking onto Audrey with a subtle, venomous glare. "Tell me, Mandy... I heard a rumor that your 'fancy' imaginary princess has finally crawled out of hiding? Is she hiding in the car?"
Before Mandy could even process the insult, a faint, imperceptible blur cut through the air. A precise, supersonic strike connected with the socialite's pressure point.
Thud.
The woman's eyes rolled back, and she collapsed heavily onto the marble floor, completely unconscious.
The surrounding guests erupted into a panic. "What just happened?! Did she have a stroke?"
Audrey stood perfectly still, her hands resting casually against her gown as if she hadn't moved an inch. Her expression remained entirely serene. "That is the price for letting garbage spill regarding my family. Mind your tongues," she announced, her soft voice carrying a terrifying weight. Mandy stared at her older sister, a cold sweat breaking out down her spine. Audrey's martial arts skills were god-tier.
Across the room, three pairs of sharp eyes caught the entire sequence.
"Brother... did you see that?" Princess Green whispered, her hand flying to her mouth. "That wasn't a medical emergency. That woman just executed a high-level assassination strike in broad daylight."
Xander's eyes narrowed into dangerous slits, his gaze completely locked onto Audrey's elegant silhouette. A dark, predatory smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "She isn't a socialite. That's a master-level operative."
"I'm going to find out exactly who she is," his sister declared, instantly walking toward the Reed contingent. "Hello, Mandy. Hello, Neville. I am Princess Green. It is an absolute privilege to meet you." The surrounding crowd quickly scattered, terrified of the combined power of the two families.
"Hello, Miss Green. The pleasure is ours," Mandy replied, trying to steady her breathing.
"And who is this breathtaking lady beside you?" Miss Green asked, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Audrey. "For a moment, I thought an actual immortal had descended upon this boring gala."
"Oh... she's..." Mandy hesitated, terrified of revealing the supreme identity of the princess too early.
"Audrey," the princess answered for herself. Her voice was cool, aloof, and utterly mesmerizing. She carried herself with a dangerous, lazy grace—completely devoid of the loud, tacky arrogance of typical heiresses.
Because the Reeds and the Greens shared an elite, ancient lineage of military and corporate discipline, the two women instantly recognized each other's caliber.
Princess Green's eyes lit up with uncharacteristic excitement. "Sister Audrey! Oh my goodness, please tell me I can hug you. If you deny me, I swear I won't sleep a single wink tonight!"
"Hahaha!" Mandy let out a triumphant laugh. Her heart swelled with pure ecstasy as she watched the surrounding high-society ladies turn green with envy. The untouchable Princess Green was practically begging for her sister's affection.
The entire ballroom fell into a stunned, breathless silence as the truth finally resonated through the elite crowd. The mysterious, legendary Princess Audrey Reed had officially arrived.
Within moments, the highest-ranking elders of the Willows family abandoned their posts, rushing forward to offer their deepest bows. Every billionaire bachelor in the room stared with unadulterated longing, yet none possessed the audacity to step into their radius. It was blindingly obvious—Audrey and Princess Green possessed more raw power, wealth, and lethal elegance than twenty million ordinary socialites combined.