Lily wasn't naïve. She had climbed to her current status through sheer agility and sharp instincts. At Orion's words, she immediately pressed a hand to her temple, her expression shifting. "I've revealed far too many secrets today. My head won't stop aching… Perhaps it's due to my condition." Her explanation was enough to settle those around her. "Oh, Ms. Kent is having a headache.""You should rest, Ms. Kent. Predicting the future must be exhausting.""You've been working tirelessly, especially in the stock market lately."Their respectful words soothed her irritation. Why had she let a mere waitress get under her skin? It wasn't worth her time. Lily refocused on the reason she was here. She turned to Orion and spoke smoothly. "I only befriended all of you because I'm fated to meet Mr. Draycott. He's someone I deeply respect. Under his leadership, I'm certain the Chamber of Commerce will thrive." Orion clasped his hands together humbly. "Ms. Kent, you flatter me. I'm si
The deeper one ventured into the Royal Hotel, the more they realized its vastness.The hotel had three floors, its decor untouched by time, preserving the elegance of the war period. Rather than modern designs, it retained a vintage charm—even the waitresses dressed in traditional gowns, adding to its old-world allure. Beyond the grand banquet hall lay the renowned Moonlight Tower—the very heart of the establishment. At its center stood a 16-foot-high stage, where only the finest operas were performed. Even the waiters pouring wine might double as performers. This was what set the Royal Hotel apart. Items auctioned onstage were introduced by experts, and transactions at the bidding tables often exceeded billions. Once upon a time, the Royal Hotel was the secret ground where foreign dignitaries and royal attendants conducted discreet dealings. Strict formal attire was required for all who stepped inside. To the common folk, the Royal Hotel remained an enigma. They only knew
A young woman in a gown fanned herself, momentarily stunned by her boss' reaction. She raised an eyebrow. "Boss, what happened? Did you get killed again? Or did someone steal your treasure?"She had worked with him for years, yet this was the first time she had ever seen him so unsettled. He was always indifferent—unbothered by the Chamber of Commerce holding a meeting in their hotel. To him, the game he was playing was far more exciting than watching political maneuvering. No one would expect the owner of the Royal Hotel to have such a childish hobby, but she had long figured that he was simply too lazy to engage with people. Any prestigious family in Ludwiten would seize the chance to establish a connection with him, yet none dared to approach. His presence alone was enough to intimidate. He exuded an effortless allure, dressed in an immaculate suit with a sleek watch on his wrist. His dark hair framed a gaze that seemed to pull people in. And yet, she couldn't shake the
Aria wondered if it had something to do with her past life or Barron. But since she couldn't figure it out, she decided to move forward. She tucked the ring away and stepped into the central room. Meanwhile, guests had slowly filled the theater. On stage, a performer sang under the glow of the spotlight. According to Orion's calculations, there was no way Aria would make it to the meeting on time. This session of the Chamber of Commerce had drawn a noticeably larger crowd of foreign investors. They sat watching the performance with evident excitement. Seated to the left of the stage, Clyde observed the attendees' expressions. A wave of frustration washed over him. The Chamber of Commerce had become nothing more than a tool to curry favor with outsiders. He raised his hand as if to take action, but then he let it fall, resignation settling in. The divide between the Grisham and Draycott families was clear. The families aligned with the Grishams were tied to fading industri
Everyone's first thought was the same—who was she, and why was she up there? Did she even have the right to sit in that seat?The moment Aria appeared, the performers on stage stopped playing. Even the waiters pouring coffee paused, their hands halting mid-motion as an odd expression crossed their faces. They were all equipped with Bluetooth earpieces. When they saw Aria, they exchanged glances, silently wondering whether they should intervene. Just then, Lily spoke first. "My dear sister, do you know where you are? You can't just sit there. Come down now."Sister? The person was Lily's sister?Some were bewildered, while others immediately recognized Aria. But how could Aria be Lily's sister? She was the daughter of the Carver family! Nobody dared to voice their thoughts, yet the question lingered—did the Grisham family not recognize Aria? For years, the Grishams had deliberately avoided mentioning the Carver family. However, a few of Aria's aunts had secretly seen her
Aria had grown into a woman far more beautiful and confident than anyone had expected. She was exactly the kind of person who would infuriate Orion by flaunting her sports cars. Yet, Waymond was more intrigued by something else—why had Clyde called her Dr. Genius?At that moment, realization dawned on Clyde as well. His lips trembled slightly as he glanced at Aria. Thinking back to the medical advice she had given at the Grisham residence, he finally understood the reasoning behind it. He wasn't sure whether to be impressed by her intelligence or wary of her cunning. But no matter how he looked at it, he couldn't bring himself to be angry. His gaze darkened. Aria was just as likable as she had been when she was still a baby. He wanted to step forward, to take a closer look at her. But the weight of their long-standing conflict and the misunderstanding from the yesteryears held him back. Aria, however, had always been adored by the elderly. If she could understand the stubborn
Orion didn't understand martial arts or what the staff were thinking, but he knew one thing for certain—this ignorant young woman was doomed. The Royal Hotel had upheld the same rules for years. The first floor was reserved for auctions, the second floor was strictly off-limits, and anyone who caused a disturbance would be thrown out. Only a select few were ever allowed onto the second floor. Rumors claimed that Barron had once watched a performance from an elevated seat alongside a young man—allegedly the true owner of the Royal Hotel. But no one could confirm this, and Orion found it hard to believe that a young man could have built such a powerful establishment. If he truly existed, where was his heir? Why were there no records of him? Orion's gaze darkened as he glared at Aria. He was determined to prevent the Carver family from making a comeback—no matter what it took. If he couldn't stop Aria himself, he would let the Royal Hotel handle it. After all, she had not onl
Lily clenched her fists. If she hadn't dodged in time, the silver needle would have left a scar on her face. Aria wanted her dead.Ever since she arrived at Ludwiten, Lily had been revered. Yet, Aria still treated her like this. Her gaze flickered as she reached up, covering her face. "Aria, I know you don't want to hear this, but the Grisham family has a right to know your birth chart reading." Aria tucked her silver needle away nonchalantly. "Do you know why I've spared you until now? How dare you call me your sister? You might fool a few idiots with your little tricks but don't try them on me. Next time, I won't be so nice."Knowing Aria was serious, Lily immediately backed away. She knew Aria would have killed her if not for Georgina.But indignation burned in Lily's chest. She was the one who could foresee the future—so why did she still pale in comparison to Aria? She bit her lip and shifted her gaze. The wealthy patrons who had profited from her investment tips immed
Aliya squinted at the unmasked man beside Aria. Now that his face was fully visible, something about him sparked a flicker of recognition. She lowered her gaze, trying to recall where she'd seen him before.Then a sharp gasp cut through the air."He's from the York family… Janovin's York family! Wait—was he Mr. Crow? Were they working together the whole time?"Even though they were all wealthy people, they weren't in the same ranks. No one dared to mess with the York family at all.If the circumstances were different, the arrogant, wealthy people from earlier would've tried to exchange contacts with Landon. That way, they could've partnered up in the future. However, with what had happened that day, those people were in a daze.Meanwhile, Aria knew those people still had no idea what was going on. So, she just removed her disguise and showed them who she really was.Aliya was stunned by what Aria had done. When she saw who the latter truly was, her gaze was filled with jealousy.
The wealthy clients that were left behind at the auction had connections to powerful people, and Dave didn't think Aria was capable enough to deal with every one of them. Although Farshya was well-developed, it had always been a country that focused on connections.Power meant everything, and Dave wanted to see how Aria and her team would deal with his guests. If he remembered correctly, Aliya was the daughter of a great leader in the state. She wanted a womb from a young lady because she wanted to have children.Before the clients got what they wanted, Aria had offended a lot of big shots. Dave thought about it for a second and hoped Aria would suffer as much as he did.Dave was right about one thing. Aliya wasn't anxious at all when someone infiltrated the auction and took control of the event. She was only stunned for a moment at first. Once everything had settled down, she calmed down and even looked a little proud."I suggest you talk to your leader first before deciding to cu
Dave had escaped, but just barely.He'd saved his life, nothing more. The documents he needed to destroy were still intact. Everything had gone completely off script.Every exit had been sealed. If he hadn't killed a villager and disguised himself with a spell, he would've died at the auction. He didn't receive any news about the ambush and was caught entirely off guard.He wasn't in Janovin, and security was that tight there. With his connections, he could've found out what was going to happen in advance. However, that wasn't the case at all.Slipping into a grimy back alley, Dave cursed his luck. Most of his men had been rounded up in the village. He could only hope a few had managed to slip through. But with sirens wailing in the distance, he knew hope was thin."Who the hell was that?" he muttered, wiping dirt off his face with a shaking hand. Normally a stickler for cleanliness, Dave was too rattled to care. "And where's the real Eden?"His mind snapped into action. The scho
Landon's sudden appearance wasn't just a coincidence. With Aria's intelligence, she would figure something out soon—he knew that. He hadn't planned on revealing himself like this. But something that belonged to him was here, and the demonic energy in this place… Aria couldn't face it alone.She studied him from head to toe, her hand still in his. His grip was firm, protective."There's a lot of mist ahead," he said quietly. "We'll need to tread carefully."Aria tilted her head. "You speak like you know this place well.""I do," Landon replied with a calm honesty. "I was deathly ill once. My soul wandered into a place just like this. Homer pulled me back."His voice made it sound like a distant memory, and Aria gave a soft laugh, tightening her hold on his hand. "You really are full of surprises. I guess it's true—handsome men are the most dangerous."But Aria's thoughts were racing. Why had he come after her like this, knowing it would reveal parts of himself he'd tried to keep h
Landon was still handling the stragglers behind Aria when he paused, his gaze flicking upward. Cameras were mounted in every corner—too many eyes. Vanishing without a trace wasn't an option.He glanced in Aria's direction, then lowered his head. His lips moved in a whisper, but the sounds were incomprehensible—something rhythmic, otherworldly. It was less like a speech and more like a chant—an exorcism.Meanwhile, Dave descended into the underground, calm and unrushed. That place reeked of foul energy, dense and suffocating. His master had cast a spell over it—one designed to kill anyone who dared to enter, no matter their strength. Dave wasn't afraid. He had more pressing priorities—destroying documents, erasing traces, minimizing damage.His bodyguard stayed close, watching for anyone who might try to stop them.Aria, moving swiftly, reached the lower floor—only to halt. Mist curled along the ground, thickening with every step. The air turned icy. And the corridor behind her…
"Why would there be people outside?" asked Dave. He had been disguising himself as a doctor for years, and that was the first time he looked so anxious. After all, if someone did approach their building, the villagers would have informed them about it. However, they received no news this time.Dave wondered what was going on."Dr. Dave, what should we do now? I think we're surrounded!"He was still in his coat as he slightly clenched his fists. "Let's move out. Bring the girls in the basement with us.""T-They're not in the basement."When Dave heard that, he looked furious. "What do you mean they're not in the basement?""Someone took them away, and I'm guessing it was her fault!" The bodyguard pointed at Aria, who was standing on the highest point, showing off her skills. With swift, lethal kicks and a taser turned weapon, no one dared get close.Whoever touched Aria would die, and no one dared to approach her at all.As for Landon, he still had his mask on as he stood behind
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