The first issue was the overgrown plant. Since it would absorb too much sunlight and oxygen in the bedroom, it could affect their health over time. That was why Aria had recommended switching to a peace lily, which was both auspicious and harmless. As for the second case, the jewelry had dubious origins. One piece came from a black market, and another had dangerous mercury levels. Wearing them long-term could cause illness, let alone affect one's complexion. Aria had already handled these issues and explained everything. But the Furler ladies remained convinced of her extraordinary fortune-telling abilities. After all, how else could she have brought their wandering husbands back home? To them, her title as a master was irreplaceable. "We know you want to keep a low profile, Ms. Aria. We won't spread the word." "Yes, we'll just treat you like a family member." Aria did not want those behind the Earthbound Manifestation to know she had entered it. But this was excessive. Surro
Ashton's voice was unnaturally aged and raspy like rusted iron. He was speaking in such a stilted and mechanical way that he sounded like a poorly assembled puppet. Aria raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Furler Senior, you should always get a doctor to check on you if you have any discomfort. You can't act childish and refuse treatment. I happen to know some medicine, so I hope you don't mind me taking a look." Ashton froze at her casual tone. Without giving him a chance to refuse, Aria's eyes fell to the bedside. With a flick of her fingers, she tossed the Emperor Coins to the four cardinal directions. Ashton struggled to rise. "You—" Pretending not to notice his resistance, Aria cut him off, "Mr. Furler Senior, let me check your pulse." But instead of checking his pulse, she went straight for his throat. Maxwell and the others could not see what was happening inside. Ashton's face darkened as he struggled against her grip, shouting, "Is this how you treat patients? Maxwell, why are y
Ignatius stared wide-eyed as he wondered what Aria meant by possession. Aria had no time to explain. With one hand lowered, she began her incantation steadily, "By ancient powers, spirits hear, evil's bane, begone from here!" With each word, Ashton's expression grew more grotesque. He looked like he was searching for another victim. But all four directions were sealed, and he had no escape. As Aria finished her chant, Ashton threw his head back with a roar before releasing a dense black mist. Aria's eyes flashed as she dodged, but the mist rushed shamelessly toward Landon, which was the only gap in the barrier. Besides targeting family members, evil spirits were most attracted to those rich in fortune. Ashton's eyes lit up at seeing Landon. With such powerful fortune, just one taste of it would heal Ashton's injuries. He could taste, but not possess. Ashton wasn't foolish; he knew such a person carried heaven's fortune. But no matter who it was, anyone would fall ill if an evil
"Mr. Furler Senior had been using forbidden methods to extend his life." Aria glanced at Landon, brushing off imaginary dust from his clothes. "Now he's facing the consequences and wants a new body. He even dared to absorb your fortune. Hmph, as if he's worthy of it." Her voice was low as she whispered to him, which seemed quite intimate. He was noble and aloof, while she was bewitchingly beautiful. They were indeed a striking pair. Landon chuckled softly after hearing her words. His voice was husky and pleasant. "Don't worry, I'm saving all my fortune for you." Aria had tried not to be enchanted by his beauty. But her fiancé wasn't just gorgeous. He was gentle, considerate, and perfectly behaved, which made him the ideal partner. She understood her brothers' concerns. Even her young protégés seemed worried. Perhaps they feared she was blinded by love. With looks like his, it would be easy to lose one's head. If he ever did something wrong and lowered his head as an apology
Ashton seemed to speak both to Ignatius and to himself, "I should have died long ago. Instead, I was foolish and wanted to stay longer to see you marry and have children. In the end, it's just a futile dream." Hearing his words, Ignatius broke down. He turned to Aria. "You can save Grandpa, right? You must be able to save him!" "I cannot," Aria's eyes lowered. "He should have died. But he's been staying where he doesn't belong by draining the life force from the surroundings. He'll harm not just his descendants but others too." Ignatius hugged Ashton and shook his head desperately. "That's not what Grandpa would do, Aria! Please, I'm begging you! He loves me most! Just this once!" Ashton watched Aria too, with one hand still hidden behind his back. Aria had meant to spare this grandfather and grandson some final good memories. But since Ashton had dabbled in the forbidden, he had to face the consequences. "Did you only want to see Ignatius marry and have children? Or did you
"Without me, you wouldn't exist, and neither would he. Everyone calls you Mr. Furler now, but what about me? I'm left here waiting for death! "If you're truly a good son, you should share your life with me. That's your duty." As Ashton finished speaking, his face twisted with greed. Ignatius stood frozen. He could not accept that these words had come from his beloved grandfather. Ashton had made his choice willingly. When he discovered a way to extend his life, he cared little for the fate of his descendants. All he desired was to live—and to be young again!Ashton's eyes darted nervously as his hand crept behind his back, ready to seize his replacement vessel. But he froze mid-motion. He believed his covert move had gone unnoticed, but Aria had already secured copper coins to his wrist with a fine thread. The thread, enchanted to react to even the slightest movement, tightened its grip. In that instant, Ashton's eyes widened in horror as he felt his soul begin to slip away.
The true mark of maturity came with a bitter realization. Not all parents would love their children unconditionally. Some cherished only the status their children brought them. Others craved control, while some favored certain children over others based on outdated beliefs. Many struggled to understand why, but life rarely offered simple answers. Even the most devoted love for one's children could sometimes become stifling in its intensity. However, Ashton's relentless pursuit of immortality had eclipsed all else. Aria told everyone not to touch Ashton's body, and she wrote a talisman on the spot. "The body should be cremated this afternoon. And Ignatius, this room should remain vacant for now." Ignatius lifted his head at her words, his face marked by suffering. "Keep wearing this Charm Token." Aria eyed his shoulder. "Take medicinal baths more frequently. I'll write down instructions for you. The fastest way to remove the mark is through beneficence—good deeds often overcom
With that thought in mind, Landon's gaze drifted over. His mesmerizing eyes turned cold and distant. Ah yes, the boy did look rather pitiful with that fair skin and those innocent doe eyes. He remembered how Aria used to prefer men who looked just like that, unlike himself. She had commented on how Landon looked so delicate, easy to bully, and carried an air of fragility. Fragile? Hah. Landon's eyes darkened, his emotions masked behind his perfect façade. Lost in his grief, Ignatius had not even noticed how his constant hovering around Aria might be misinterpreted. After such events, it seemed inappropriate to continue their visit. Maxwell had already begun preparing the funeral arrangements. Ashton's service would need to be handled with proper dignity. But Landon stopped him. "Don't announce it today." "Why?" Maxwell looked confused. Though irritated by how Aria always softened at the sight of pitiful young men, there were important things Landon had to say. "It wouldn't
Chaos erupted at the auction. For all their pride and arrogance, the wealthy clients' expressions had twisted into pure panic the moment something went wrong.So, their first reaction was to seek a staff member."The power's unstable!" Dave spoke into the microphone, trying to project calm. "Everyone, stay calm. There's scheduled maintenance in town—it's just affecting the electricity. Nothing's wrong."He genuinely believed that. It was what he'd been told.But Aria knew better. The blackout wasn't random. It was a signal. Sam had tracked down the source of the call. With the exits sealed off, Aria had everything she needed to act.A faint smirk curled on her lips. Without hesitation, she grabbed Landon and swiftly took Aliya hostage. Her movements were sharp, practiced, so fast that no one around her even had time to react.Then came the needles.Aria flicked her wrist, sending a series of acupuncture needles flying. The rich guests closest to her froze in place, locked in stu
Tony's accusation stirred a ripple through the room, and it didn't escape Dave's attention. With a subtle flick of his wrist, he signaled to someone nearby.Aria caught the movement. Her fingers tensed, ready to slip free of the rope she had already loosened. But before she could act, she heard a smooth, composed voice glide through the air."I need her to boost my luck," the man said coolly. "I've done my research. She's the ideal bride for someone like me."Dave stopped in his tracks, and it seemed like he was telling someone else to verify what Landon had said."Sir, it checks out," one of the staff murmured after a brief consultation. "Mr. Crow's fate is complicated. The master said only a spiritual match could extend his life. Otherwise, he won't make it past his next birthday."Dave let out a low chuckle, visibly relaxing. "Well then, Mr. Crow, it seems you've come to the right place. Please—carry on, everyone."Aria listened in stunned silence. Landon hadn't lied. His life
Aria couldn't tear her eyes away from Dave.He was still quietly speaking to the man on the screen, their exchange shrouded in secrecy. No one nearby could hear what they were saying—but Aria could guess. It had to be a deal of some sort, something about her. Everything about Dave's posture, the glint in his eyes, told her this wasn't just business. It was personal.She glanced up at the clock again, nerves coiling in her chest. Something was wrong. Sam was taking longer than usual. That wasn't like him.The auction was nearing its close. They couldn't miss the chance to strike. Sasha, glowing with excitement, clapped her hands and declared, "Six million! It looks like no one else is bidding—congratulations to our newest member, Mr. Tiger—""Ten million dollars."The voice sliced clean through the noise, calm, clear, and cold.Everyone turned toward it.A man stood at the edge of the crowd, dressed in a sleek tuxedo dusted with black feathers, his mask intricate and dark.T
Aria had once told Sam to avoid chaos if he could—but she'd also said that when desperation knocked, rules could bend.Now was one of those moments.Sam hesitated only briefly before diving in.He had to know who was behind this. Who kept targeting Aria? Who was pulling the strings in the dark? And once Sam decided on something, there was no turning back.Without Aria by his side, he breached the system, knowing full well the other side had already alerted the police.The firewall he faced wasn't just tough—it was nearly impenetrable. It filtered everything, controlling access with surgical precision. But Sam wasn't interested in the broader network. He narrowed his focus and cut straight to the source, filtering out all the noise to lock onto the actual IP.The auction raged on aboveground. The man behind the screen, confident in his usual routine, remained calm and unaware that the mask he'd worn for years was finally slipping. He'd always stayed out of sight, appearing only
While Aria discreetly signaled to move, the auction hall was buzzing with excitement. Laughter echoed, wine glasses clinked, and the room pulsed with greed.Sasha's voice came through the mic, smooth and cheerful. "While everyone's enjoying themselves, let's welcome our latest arrival of the evening."She glanced at the man beside her—her bodyguard—who immediately stiffened under her gaze.To the crowd, it looked like he was escorting Aria to the stage under control. In truth, Aria's hand was already pressed lightly against his chest, right over a poisoned pressure point. He knew better than to resist—he'd seen what she was capable of.And she'd made her warning crystal clear—if she was exposed or captured, he wouldn't live to see morning.The guests didn't notice a thing. All eyes were on Aria, their expressions hungry. They saw value in her—fresh, young, healthy. To them, she wasn't a person. She was premium merchandise.She was brought to stand beside a young woman who had alr
Eamon and Waymond had just been thrown out of the Chamber of Commerce. Waymond's face was flushed with fury, his eyes red. "Eamon, why didn't you let me speak earlier? Mr. Lincoln was being unreasonable!"Eamon, ever perceptive, shook his head. "Mr. Lincoln's been bribed. He was never going to take our side."Wise and strategic, Eamon had always been top of his class—but now, he was even sharper when it came to reading a room."I'm guessing Aria found something during her investigation that made them nervous," he continued. "Durand couldn't have controlled Lincoln on his own. There's more to it."Waymond frowned, still struggling to piece things together. "But who could bribe Mr. Lincoln? Not even the mayor has that kind of sway. He's—""What if it's someone from the state?" Eamon cut in, eyes flicking back toward the building. "We need to tell Dad. There's no point in staying here, but there is someone we can talk to.""Who?" Waymond asked quickly. "Lucas Murray—the new secr
Durand's expression darkened; Eamon was right. Amos and the official from the state had originally wanted to work with the Grishams, especially Eamon. That was why they used the Fitzroys as a bridge to approach him. Unfortunately, Magdalene had failed to establish any rapport with the Grishams.Instead, she kept criticizing Eamon, claiming he followed Laura's every word, and insisted they had plenty of ways to manipulate the Grishams. In the end, the divorce erupted into a scandal, and the entire Fitzroy family was imprisoned.Ironically, Eamon's actions only impressed the state official more. Durand had even heard Amos say that their leader hoped Eamon would continue working with them as his involvement would ensure their plans progressed smoothly.That knowledge burned Durand with frustration. No matter what he did, he could never measure up to Eamon."It looks like you still haven't grasped the situation, Mr. Grishman. Mr. Grisham Senior has begged everyone, but where did it le
"I'm happy to take over the Grishams' responsibilities," Durand said.Waymond scoffed coldly. "You're not worthy of it.""Mr. Lincoln, it seems someone's not too happy with you."Durand, dressed like a gentleman as always, adjusted his glasses and replied calmly, "Waymond, you've been in this business long enough to know how things work. The Grishams have gained a lot over the years. It's not up to you to decide whether to hold on to it."Leonardo stood, trying to ease the tension. "There's no point in arguing. Let's settle this the traditional way—with an anonymous vote. Everyone, write down whether you think the Grishams should step down. Let the vote speak for itself. That way, it'll be fair."He instructed someone to bring in a box, paper, and pens. Each member was handed a set. It was more for show than anything else; everyone already knew how the vote would go.Eamon saw right through their performance, his gaze turning cold as he sat silently. The votes were quickly cast an
"Mr. Grisham, how long your niece stays locked up isn't up to us—it depends on the severity of her crime," Durand said. "As a member of the Chamber of Commerce, you should understand how serious the situation she's stirred up really is. Haven't you read any of the online news?"People are now hoping the Grisham family goes bankrupt. They're even demanding that we, the Chamber, investigate this matter ourselves!"His words made those who had previously wanted to side with the Grishams start to hesitate. With the Draycotts and Fitzroys already doomed, the Grishams had seemed like the next best option. But no one had expected Aria to make such a critical mistake.Public sentiment had turned sharply. The Chamber of Commerce was now being blamed for enabling an economic disaster. What angered the public most was Aria's carefully crafted image. If she'd shown her true colors from the start, they might have ignored her. But pretending to be righteous, only to betray the common people—that w