The grand entrance was filled with elegant decorations, such as golden lights, red carpets, and grand floral arrangements, surrounded by a heavy presence of bodyguards in sharp black suits, their eyes scanning every guest with professional intensity.

As Aestrea and Vespera approached, two of the guards stepped forward politely but firmly.

"Invitation, please," one of them requested respectfully.

Vespera smiled calmly and reached into her small clutch, pulling out a black VIP invitation card embossed with gold lettering.

The moment the guards saw it, their posture changed almost immediately, becoming far more deferential and accommodating.

"Of course, Miss Lang," the lead guard said, bowing slightly.

"Welcome. The President has been expecting you."

They stepped aside smoothly, opening the path for them.

But as Aestrea walked beside her, one of the younger guards couldn’t help but murmur to his colleague, eyes widening in recognition.

"Wait... isn’t that Aestrea Voss? The top star who’s been dominating all the awards after just half a year of his debut?"

The other guard nodded excitedly, whispering back.

"Yeah! That’s him! The guy who swept every major category last season. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but... he’s even hotter in person..."

They started "shipping" them almost immediately, their voices carrying just enough for Aestrea and Vespera to hear.

"Damn, they look good together. Power couple vibes."

"Vespera Lang and Aestrea Voss? The CEO and the superstar? That would be insane."

Hearing the murmurs, Vespera’s lips curled into a satisfied smile.

She pressed herself closer to Aestrea, deliberately pushing her massive breasts against his arm, the soft, warm flesh squishing noticeably as she clung to him.

Aestrea didn’t bother giving her, or the guards, any special reaction.

His expression remained calm and indifferent as he continued walking forward, guiding Vespera toward the VIP elevator at the end of the lavish lobby.

The guards continued whispering excitedly behind them, but Aestrea paid them no mind. He simply pressed the button for the private elevator, the doors opening with a soft ding.

Then, after a few seconds, the elevator doors closed, and they began their ascent toward the grand banquet hall on the top floors.

It took them a few minutes to reach the last floor since the hotel was truly grand, having more than ninety floors.

Ding...!

The elevator doors opened smoothly on the top floor, revealing a grand hallway lined with marble and gold accents.

Soft classical music drifted through the air as Aestrea and Vespera stepped out, arm in arm.

At the end of the hallway stood two massive, ornate double doors, easily ten feet tall, carved with intricate designs and gleaming under crystal chandeliers.

Two attendants in formal uniforms bowed deeply as they approached and pulled the doors open with synchronized precision.

The moment Aestrea and Vespera stepped through into the grand banquet hall, the spotlight seemed to find them instantly.

The massive ballroom was simply... lavish, with high ceilings with frescoes, towering chandeliers dripping with crystals, and tables arranged with the finest silverware and floral centerpieces.

Hundreds of the world’s elite were already gathered: billionaires, presidents of conglomerates, famous actors, musicians, and even political figures.

The air was filled with the soft hum of conversation, clinking glasses, and live orchestral music.

But the moment they entered, the atmosphere instantly changed as a wave of whispers started spreading through the crowd crazily.

"Is that... Aestrea Voss?"

"Oh my God, it is him! He looks even better in person."

"And he’s with Vespera Lang? The richest woman in the country?"

"They look incredible together. Power couple of the year, no doubt."

Popular figures and rich presidents couldn’t help but gossip, their eyes following the pair as they walked deeper into the hall.

A famous director raised his glass in acknowledgment.

A tech billionaire whispered something to his wife, both of them staring openly. Even a few international presidents paused their conversations to glance their way.

Aestrea’s popularity was simply that grand.

In just half a year since his explosive debut, he had become a cultural phenomenon, sweeping through countless awards, breaking records, and maintaining an air of mystery that made him irresistible to the public.

His face was on billboards, magazines, and trending topics almost daily.

Vespera was equally recognizable.

As the owner of multiple entertainment conglomerates and the richest woman in the entire country, she was a force of nature in the business world.

Her sharp business acumen, stunning appearance, and unapologetic confidence made her a constant subject of admiration and envy.

The two of them together, the enigmatic superstar and the powerful CEO, would obviously create an electric atmosphere.

So, of course, more whispers followed them like a shadow as they walked through the crowd.

"They’ve been rumored for months, but seeing them like this... it’s real, isn’t it?"

"Vespera never brings a date to these events. This is huge."

"Aestrea Voss with the richest woman alive? The media is going to explode tomorrow."

Vespera smiled gracefully, clearly enjoying the attention. She pressed herself a little closer to Aestrea’s side, her arm linked with his as they moved toward the center of the hall.

After looking around for a while, she then leaned slightly closer to him and whispered.

"The President of the Helix Conglomerate isn’t here yet. We can stand here for a while and wait."

Aestrea nodded, stopping near one of the tall marble pillars that offered a good view of the entrance while still blending into the crowd.

They stood together, a striking pair that continued to draw occasional glances and whispers from the surrounding guests.

Just then, a uniformed waiter approached them with a silver tray, offering two glasses of fine red wine.

"Would you care for some wine, sir? Madam?" the waiter asked politely.

Aestrea accepted one of the glasses with a small nod, taking a sip. The wine was excellent, clearly from a prestigious vintage. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Vespera, however, politely refused with a graceful smile.

"No, thank you."

Aestrea raised an eyebrow at her, genuinely surprised.

This Enchantress called Vespera Lang was a notorious wine enthusiast.

In this world, she had a private collection of rare bottles worth millions, and it was well-known among close circles that she drank at least one bottle a day, sometimes more when the mood struck her.

Seeing her turn down a glass like this was... unusual.

Noticing his gaze, Vespera sighed softly and leaned in closer, her voice low enough for only him to hear.

"One of us still has to drive."

Aestrea chuckled lightly at her words.

Honestly, knowing this woman’s character, he had half-expected her to accept the wine and use it as an excuse to book a hotel room with him later.

But with so many well-known figures present like presidents, billionaires, and media moguls, she was clearly being more cautious.

Even though she wanted to make their relationship a bit more open, she didn’t want to publicly confirm anything too intimate.

Vespera noticed his teasing look and gave his arm a playful squeeze, her breasts pressing a little more firmly against him as she did so.

"Don’t look so surprised," she murmured, a teasing smile on her lips.

"I can be responsible when I need to be. Besides... I’d rather keep a clear head tonight. Who knows what kind of trouble you might get into?"

Aestrea took another sip of his wine, his green eyes scanning the room casually.

"Fair enough."

At the same time, he was wondering...

What exactly did the Tower want him to do?

Continue to live in this imaginary self?

If he did that... how would he discover his inner self? Not to mention that the Tower contained three challenges, and this was simply the first one.

He took another light sip, twirling his glass as a thought suddenly popped into his mind.

What if he actually gets stuck in this kind of life?

What if he never meets his lovers ever again and continues living in this fake life?

The thought got stuck in his mind.

But it dissipated just as quickly, causing his eyes to narrow coldly. He looked at the glass of wine, and said that his cup was still close to being full...

"...Gulp, gulp!"

He chugged it down directly.

Vespera’s eyes widened in surprise. She quickly reached out and took the empty glass from his hand, her voice laced with concern.

"Aestrea? What are you doing?" she asked, her tone a mix of worry and confusion.

"You never drink like that. Is something wrong? You’ve been acting a little strange tonight."

She placed the glass on a passing waiter’s tray and turned back to him, her hand gently resting on his arm.

"Are you okay? If you’re not feeling well, we can leave. The President will understand. You don’t have to push yourself."

Her voice was softer now, genuine worry evident in her emerald eyes as she searched his face.

Aestrea’s calm eyes instantly turned lazy, almost half-lidded as he stared at Vespera in front of him.

The memories of them together flashed through his eyes in an instant.

"...Vespera Lang," he called out her full name, causing her to frown deeply as he had never called her full name before.

"...Prepare yourself for tonight."

He approached a nearby waiter and took another glass of wine, twirling it while turning to Vespera with a lazy smile.

"What do you mean by that?" her eyes narrowed slightly in curiosity.

"...Nothing much."

He took a light sip of the wine.

At the same time, the grand doors leading to the banquet suddenly opened, revealing a gorgeous woman pushing the wheelchair of a man who looked quite old.

"That’s the Helix Conglomerate’s CEO!" Vespera pointed out.

Aestrea took a look at him... and a strange look appeared in his eyes before quickly disappearing.