The relentless hum of the city was a familiar lullaby, but tonight, it couldn't quiet the storm brewing inside Jisoo Kwon. Her fingers, usually dancing with purpose across a keyboard, now trembled slightly as she reread the email invitation for her company's expansion gala.

“Dear Guests and Employees, As the proud CEO and founder of Sooyaa's Desires...” The words felt like a hollow echo in the vast, elegant expanse of her office. Pressure, a constant companion, weighed heavier than usual, a suffocating blanket woven from family demands and the insidious whispers of scandal.

She sighed, rubbing her temples. Her half-brother, Jackson, was once again on the brink of financial ruin, a self-inflicted wound from a shady deal with Antonio Venturi. And, as always, her father expected her to be the family's endless well of resources. She closed her eyes, a sharp pain blooming behind them.

The insistent ding of her phone shattered the fragile calm. 'Please, come over for dinner, Jisoo-yaa.' —Mother. Another sigh. The dread of another forced family meal, another barrage of thinly veiled insults and pleas, was almost unbearable. She craved escape, a silence deeper than the city's hum, a world where her worth wasn't measured by her wealth or her willingness to be a pawn.

Her gaze drifted to the window, the city lights a dazzling, indifferent canvas. A flash of light in the distant sky caught her eye, an unnatural shimmer among the stars. She frowned, tilting her head back, watching as the stars themselves seemed to coalesce, drawing a form against the velvet black. A gasp escaped her lips, barely audible. Was that… a dragon?