Alaric's Adam apple bobbed. "Okay. The Sloane family will step back willingly."Alaric had lost. His grandfather had always told him to never reveal his trump card in business, to remain an enigma. Despite his grandfather's disdain for his bloodline, he had taught Alaric what he could, for Alaric was his only grandson.Over the years, Alaric had adhered to that advice and kept his trump card a secret.His father, on the other hand, had hoped for his downfall. But Alaric didn't care. He had no interest in his father's approval as long as he got what he wanted.Alaric also held his maternal grandfather in high regard. The man had brought him to Ludwiten, taught him to write in Farshyan, and had never cared about the color of Alaric's green eyes. As long as Alaric lived honorably, he would remain his grandson.Alaric didn't care how others viewed him, especially now that his grandfather was dead. Still, there were things Alaric would do. He glanced at Fiona. "The Sloane family isn't
Sam looked up and gestured, silently asking why it seemed so difficult."The business world is complicated," Aria explained. "When a company collapses, countless people lose their jobs."Aria could fight the Draycott family with cash flow, but it was a one-time move. Prolonged use would harm the market, and it was uncertain whether small and medium-sized businesses could endure it.Her challenge was to find a way to avoid such an outcome. The ideal solution would be to have support from a decision-maker in the Chamber of Commerce when she needed to fill the funding gap.Bringing down the Draycott family was the easy part. But Barron hadn't built the Chamber of Commerce to tear other enterprises down.Aria rested her face in her hand, deep in thought. She could enter the market as an angel investor and battle the cash flow issue, then convince the Grisham family and the head of the Sloane family to exclude the Draycotts from the Chamber.This would stabilize the situation and help
Fiona opened her mouth, hesitating. "I…"Aria patted her shoulder. "You have the freedom to choose your own path. Look. You brought such a gifted daughter into the world and surrounded her with brothers who adore her. Without you, none of us wouldn't even be here."Fiona laughed softly, dismissing her words. "That's nonsense."Aria leaned in closer. "I'm serious. I was lucky to be born into this family. My stars might not be the brightest, and I can't read my own fate, but I realized something recently. If you weren't my mother, I would've already cut ties with the Carver family."Aria met her gaze. "You've been lost in a fog long enough. If you're willing to act, then do it. I'll take care of those who oppose you."Fiona's eyes glistened with emotion. "I know my daughter is the best in the world.""Mom, did you meet Mr. Sloane on your own accord?" This was the only thing Aria cared to ask.Fiona nodded. "I did."Aria chuckled. "That's all that matters. I believe in your judgme
Society's expectations toward women were inherently unfair because they demanded them to be everything all at once. Women were expected to be perfect mothers and corporate elites. Upon marriage and motherhood, the world often expected them to abandon their careers and stay home.Even if they didn't regret their choices, others would regret it for them. People would claim the woman was only fooling herself and that regret would come sooner or later.And it was true. Eventually, most would regret their decisions.But they made those sacrifices out of love. Even knowing the possible regrets, many mothers chose to become full-time housewives.Were they certain that they'd find happiness for the rest of their lives. Of course not. But they did it willingly anyway.There would always be some who, years later, might say, "I didn't divorce because of you."People said many things. For some reason, the success of a woman's marriage became a measure of her worth, an ironic yet undeniable
If one were to describe it simply, Alaric was a playboy on the surface. But in reality, he might still be holding onto his first kiss, a gift reserved for Fiona.Aria pondered this as she looked over her phone conversation once again. The more she examined it, the clearer it became. Despite the attention from his girlfriends, they never grew too close. Though surrounded by women, he often drank and smoked alone.The photos might have been old, but they sparked an epiphany in her. Alaric had once nearly entrusted his entire family to Fiona, still worrying that she'd see him as less than pure.Aria thought it was all rather intriguing, rubbing her chin in contemplation.Meanwhile, Fiona couldn't quite understand Aria's sly smile, attributing it to a generational gap.Aria grinned. "Mom, don't mention our conversation just yet. Let me meet Mr. Sloane at tomorrow's meeting.""Of course," Fiona replied, always ready to indulge her daughter's wishes.A thought struck Aria. "By the w
Aria shared the story with Landon about a person who, in their youth, had many friends but only truly cared for one.Landon's response was nonchalant. "I spend a lot of time online too. When someone says they're asking for a friend, it's usually for themselves. What does this have to do with the Sloane family?"Aria realized that Landon was skilled in many areas, except for his lack of imagination. "Just pretend the person with unrequited love is you."Landon's thoughts shifted suddenly. He remembered a time on a mountain when she always seemed to prefer men who were lean and fair, unlike himself.With a snap, the quill in his hand broke. The two men standing beside him stiffened at the sound.Landon sneered, and Aria was puzzled by the sudden cold laugh. "I should've figured you've never experienced unrequited love," he muttered.Realizing Landon struggled to empathize with Alaric's situation, Aria decided to provide some clarity.Landon adjusted the ring on his thumb and glanc
Landon glanced at her face, his brow furrowing slightly. He couldn't tell what she was dreaming about. Reaching out, he gently guided Aria's lips to his neck. Without thinking, she instinctively drew nourishment from his body. The soft bite of her teeth, delicate as it was, gave the impression that she was hunting for sustenance.He let her tug at his collar, feeling the slow drain of blood from his body. With one hand on her waist, it appeared as though he was composed, unaffected by temptation. But deep down, his Adam's apple bobbed, and his breathing grew heavier.Aria, meanwhile, seemed completely indifferent to the situation. If it had been anyone else, she might have woken up, but Landon's presence held her in place.Her eyes narrowed slightly. She was caught between the haze of dream and reality, struggling to understand what was happening.Her eyes moved to her disheveled robe, then to the familiar face beside her—one that, despite his unwillingness, she recognized as her
The frosted shadows stretched across the bed, their movement rippling across the vast lake. Yet, aside from Landon, only Aria remained in the room. A faint ringing echoed from Aria's ankle, the soft chime of the bell attached to a gold chain that bound her. Every movement she made caused the bell to tremble.Despite her frantic efforts to escape, the chains held tight, offering no freedom. Her breath came in shallow gasps, dragging her deeper into helplessness.The man's voice, low and seductive, whispered in her ear. "Relax a little, master." His tone was smooth, but his grip on her waist remained firm, unyielding.His warm breath traced a path up her spine, sending a shiver through her. Aria's brow furrowed almost instinctively in response.Their reflections danced on the lake's surface, distorted by the ripples. Aria's eyes, tinged with a faint red haze, gazed back. Her fair skin contrasted sharply with the disarray of her clothing—a robe slipping loosely at her waist, giving
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