The sharp chime of a phone echoed through the lavish streets of Makati as a sleek black limousine pulled up in front of a towering glass building. The car door swung open, revealing a striking young woman. Her long jet-black hair cascaded over her shoulders, accentuating the cool emerald sharpness of her eyes. She moved with effortless grace, the heels of her designer stilettos clicking against the pavement as she stepped out.

Kiera Tsubaki barely glanced at her phone before answering. "What?" Her voice was clipped, impatient.

On the other end, a hesitant voice wavered. "Umm... Ms. Kiera, your father wants to ta—"

"Tell him I'm on my way," she cut in without hesitation. Without another word, she ended the call, slipping her phone into the pocket of her tailored blazer.

She strode toward the entrance of Utopia, the empire she had built from the ground up—a powerhouse of fashion and beauty trends. At just twenty-two, Kiera was already a name whispered in awe throughout the industry. But beyond her success, she carried a legacy, one bound to her father, the formidable Mr. Tsubaki—the Philippines' most renowned businessman.

As she stepped into her sleek, modern office, she found him waiting for her, his piercing gaze steady, unreadable. Whatever this meeting was about, Kiera knew one thing—it wouldn't be just a casual chat.

"What took you so long? A CEO shouldn't act this way. Would you please do your job correctly?" Mr. Tsubaki's tone was sharp, laced with disapproval.

She let out an exasperated sigh, rolling her emerald eyes. "Dad! Can you just give me a break? My birthday is coming up, and it's important to me. Besides, I've already handled my responsibilities." Her arms crossed over her chest, her expression petulant—spoiled, even.

Mr. Tsubaki remained unfazed. "Ah, about your birthday," he said, his voice calm yet final. "The event night for our new project falls on the same date. You'll have to celebrate with the shareholders instead."

Kiera froze. Then, her eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait—what?! No! I'm having my own party!"

Without waiting for another word, she spun on her heel and stormed out of the office, her heels clicking angrily against the marble floors. Fuming, she pulled out her phone and quickly typed a message to Amy, her best friend.

"Meet me at the café. Now. Emergency."

She needed an escape—preferably one with caffeine and someone who wouldn't tell her what to do.

"I can't believe him!" Kiera huffed, stirring her iced latte with unnecessary force. "He actually said I'm not doing my job correctly. I am so fed up with his nagging. It's not like I even wanted this job in the first place, but I still do it perfectly."

Across the café table, Amy sipped her cappuccino, unfazed by Kiera's outburst. "Calm down, Kiera," she said in her usual soothing tone. "You shouldn't let this stress you out. Your birthday is coming up, and you need to focus on enjoying it, not wasting energy on your dad."

Kiera sighed, her frustration melting—at least a little. She reached across the table, wrapping her arms around Amy in a quick, appreciative hug. "You're the best," she murmured.

Amy grinned. "I know. Now, what's the plan?"

Kiera leaned back, a smug smile replacing her earlier scowl. "Well, I already booked the venue, hired a top-tier chef, and got a DJ."

Amy raised an eyebrow. "So it's all set?"

"Yup," Kiera said, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "My secretary handled everything." Her tone was full of confidence, as if orchestrating a high-profile party was the easiest thing in the world.

Amy chuckled, shaking her head. "Of course she did."

Kiera simply smirked, already picturing the extravagant night ahead.

A week passed, and Kiera's birthday finally arrived. Ignoring the events night at her company had been an easy decision—tonight was about her, not business.

In the private dressing room of the grand venue, she sat before an ornate vanity, carefully applying the finishing touches to her makeup. The soft glow of the mirror lights highlighted her flawless complexion, her emerald eyes shimmering with anticipation.

The door suddenly burst open.

"Kiera! Kiera!" Amy's frantic voice filled the room.

Kiera let out an irritated sigh, setting down her brush. "Amy, would you please keep it down?" she said, barely sparing her best friend a glance.

"But I need to tell you something," Amy insisted, breathless.

Kiera arched a perfectly shaped brow. "Then spill it."

Amy hesitated, her expression uneasy. "It's… T-Tyler." Her voice wavered.

The name sent a chill through Kiera's spine, but she kept her face unreadable. Without a word, she rose gracefully from her seat and adjusted the silky folds of her designer gown.

"I'll be in the restroom," she said coolly. Then, turning to her secretary, she added, "Inform everyone that the party is starting."

Without waiting for a response, she strode out, her expression unreadable—only the sharp clack of her heels echoing against the marble floor.

Meanwhile, at the Company's Event Night...

"Tonight is the night we've all been waiting for!" The host's voice boomed across the grand ballroom, drawing cheers from the distinguished guests. Glasses clinked, cameras flashed, and anticipation buzzed through the air.

At the head of the room, Mr. Tsubaki stood tall, his sharp gaze scanning the sea of elite businessmen and investors. His presence alone commanded attention, but his mind was elsewhere.

Just then, his butler approached, bowing slightly. "Sir, Ms. Kiera wanted me to inform you that she won't be attending tonight."

Mr. Tsubaki exhaled sharply, his expression unreadable. "Let her be. What matters is that this event goes as planned," he said, his voice cool and dismissive.

The butler hesitated, shifting uncomfortably. "Sir... there's another issue," he said in a hushed tone.

Mr. Tsubaki's eyes narrowed. "What is it?"

The worker leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's Mr. Gold. He's back… and he's at Ms. Kiera's party."

A tense silence stretched between them.

Mr. Tsubaki's jaw clenched. "Tyler…" he muttered under his breath, his hands tightening into fists.

Without hesitation, he turned to his security team. "Hurry! Keep Kiera away from him!" His tone was sharp, laced with urgency.

As his men moved into action, Mr. Tsubaki remained still, his mind racing. This was not part of the plan.

Tyler Gold's return could only mean trouble.

"So… you're just gonna let him have fun here?" Amy asked, arms crossed as she watched the party unfold.

Kiera sighed, swirling the drink in her hand before taking a sip. "Amy, do I really have a choice? I'm not about to ruin myparty just because he decided to show up."

Music pulsed through the venue, lights flashing in sync with the beat as Kiera lost herself on the dance floor. Laughter and chatter filled the space, champagne flowed, and for a moment, she let go of her worries. But then—something caught her eye.

A shadow lingered near the door to her private dressing room.

Her movements slowed. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She turned, trying to get a better look, but the figure was already slipping inside. Without hesitation, Kiera pushed past the crowd and followed.

The moment she stepped inside—THUD!

She barely had time to react before she was shoved against the wall, a strong hand pinning her in place. A gasp escaped her lips as she looked up, her heart pounding.

"T-Tyler?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

The man looming over her smirked. "Hey, Kiera," he drawled, his tone laced with mockery. "Did you miss me?"

Her breath hitched. "Tyler, please… not here." She tried to steady herself, but fear rattled her body.

His grin widened, dark and twisted. "Why not? We could have so much fun tonight." His fingers ghosted down her arm, his gaze locked onto her like a predator playing with its prey.

A surge of adrenaline shot through Kiera. Without thinking, she shoved him back and bolted out the door. Her pulse pounded as she sprinted across the venue, her heels clicking frantically against the marble floor.

"Shut it down!" she ordered breathlessly, grabbing one of her staff members. "The party's over—send everyone home now!"

The music cut off abruptly, guests murmuring in confusion as they began filtering out. But Kiera didn't care. She couldn't.

Long after the last guest had left, she remained. Alone.

The venue was eerily silent now, save for the clinking of ice in her glass. Seated at the bar, Kiera tipped her head back and took another long sip of whiskey, the burn in her throat doing little to numb the turmoil inside her. Tears welled in her eyes, blurring the dim lights around her.

She poured another drink. Then another.

By the time her father's security arrived, she was deep in her drunken haze.

"Ms. Kiera," one of the bodyguards said, his voice firm but cautious. "Your father instructed us to accompany you home."

She scoffed, wiping at her tear-streaked face. "Leave me alone," she slurred, gripping the bottle as she stumbled off the stool.

"Ms. Kiera—"

But before they could stop her, she turned and ran, clutching the liquor like a lifeline as she disappeared into the night.

As Kiera stumbled out of the venue, the cool night air hit her face like a slap. Her mind was clouded by alcohol, frustration, and a lingering sense of dread, but the sight of an old man standing near the edge of the sidewalk was the last thing she wanted to deal with.

"Young lady, could you spare some food and water? I've been lost for days," the man called out, his frail hand reaching toward her.

The alcohol still swimming in her veins made her reaction swift and violent. Without a second thought, Kiera hurled her wine glass toward the floor beside him. The sharp smash of glass echoed in the quiet street.

"Let go of me, you dirty old man!" Kiera shouted, her voice slurred and harsh. "I don't care if you're lost. My life's been a damn misery. Tch!" She shoved him roughly, her strength amplified by the fury coursing through her.

The old man sighed deeply, a slow, resigned sound, then muttered under his breath, his voice carrying on the wind. "Go forth to the World of Dystopia. You shall not return to this world until Dystopia is at peace."

Before Kiera could even process his words, the man was gone—vanishing like smoke in the night air.

Kiera stumbled toward her house, the world spinning as she pushed open the door. She didn't care about anything anymore.

The night passed in a haze of restless dreams and incoherent thoughts. When Kiera finally woke, the first thing she noticed was an intense brightness. She groaned, squinting against the harsh light.

"Hmm... why is it so bright?" She raised a hand to shield her eyes.

But when she opened them fully, her breath caught in her throat. This wasn't her bedroom. This wasn't her home. The unfamiliar landscape stretched out before her—barren, dusty, and wild.

She quickly stood up, her heart racing, confusion overwhelming her senses. With unsteady legs, she moved to the door and swung it open.

"WHOOSH!"

A horse, galloping at full speed, thundered past her.

Kiera stumbled back, her mind reeling.

"What. The. Hell?!" Her voice cracked, panic rising as she tried to process the impossible reality around her.