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
They were livid at Aria's sheer audacity. Never had they encountered someone as arrogant as her. Rex couldn't hold back any longer. "I think you need someone to teach you some manners!"Before Clyde could react, Waymond stepped in front of Aria, blocking her from view. Dressed in a sharp suit, he looked down at Rex with an oppressive gaze. "Oh? And what exactly are you going to do about that? Teach me a lesson too?" His voice was cold as he continued. "I finally see how you all perceive the Grisham family. If that's the case, then there's no need for further business. From this moment forward, all procurement contracts between the Grisham family and the Everett and Quispe families are canceled. As for the rest, their contracts will not be renewed once they expire." Only now did they realize who they had been looking down on. Aria wasn't just affiliated with the Carver family—she was the biological niece of the Grisham family, a connection far deeper than Owen's. Regret wash
Orion glanced at Rex. "Waymond, why are you getting so worked up? These people are simply ignorant. I'll teach them a lesson once the meeting is over."His wording was deliberate—if Waymond kept pressing the issue, he'd come across as nitpicky. Orion then shifted his gaze. "As for Ms. Kent, they may have been connected in the past, but it's not our place to comment." Lily nodded, looking as though she was holding herself back. Maintaining his role as the peacemaker, Orion turned to Aria. "Ms. Carver, you should mind your manners. Everyone here is your elder. "I understand you think highly of the Carver family. In Janovin, they're unmatched, but things are different here. Besides, Ms. Kent is a distinguished guest whom I personally invited, and she's also a potential member of the Chamber of Commerce. "Take my advice and stop causing trouble. Mr. Grisham Senior may have shielded you once, but he might not be able to do so again. Don't put your uncle in a difficult positi
Orion was practically mocking Aria for her inexperience in doing business. After all, Aria had no foundation in Ludwiten, which focused on stock evaluation and public offerings. In this context, she was undeniably a novice. The key to success here was securing as many investments as possible. Orion had only established his foothold in the Chamber of Commerce because of his success in doing so. He cast a glance behind him and said, "Great power comes with greater responsibility. It's fine, Aria. You can take your time to learn."By now, Waymond and Clyde surely understood his message. The Grisham family still had to protect the companies that depended on them for survival.If the Grishams decided to cut off certain projects, those companies would lose funding and collapse. Orion had the capital advantage—he could drag any competitor into a price war. While he could withstand the losses, could those companies do the same? Most of them relied on exports, making Orion their linchp
As expected, everyone's expression shifted the moment the grandfather and granddaughter interacted. This was especially true for those who had long maintained partnerships with the Grisham family.For years, they had secretly fueled discord between the Grishams and Carvers, manipulating events to serve their own interests. Some had exaggerated conflicts, while others had deliberately concealed crucial matters. If the two families reconciled, all their schemes would inevitably come to light. The Grisham family's wrath would be unavoidable—especially once they learned the truth about Fiona's ordeal. Their alliance with Orion was built on lies to Owen and a fabricated account of Fiona's incident. Sienna had heard of Aria's disappearance and, knowing how distressed Fiona would be, had gone searching for her. In truth, Fiona had regained her sanity when she was with Owen and had wanted to reunite with Sienna. But Owen had blocked every attempt. Blinded by greed, Orion's allies
Orion's head nearly exploded with rage at Aria's actions. Who did she think she was? This young woman had too many tricks up her sleeve!Clyde smiled dotingly. "You don't have to say these things to flatter me, Aria. I've always respected Warren's straightforward way of doing business. Besides, when the late Mr. Barron was around, he taught me a great deal. So, don't worry. In Janovin, you have your Grandfather Warren. In Ludwiten, you have me."Clyde's seemingly lighthearted words sent a ripple through the room. Orion's face darkened, and even an inconspicuous man in the crowd furrowed his brows. As for those hoping to profit from the situation, their expressions shifted instantly. Waymond, too, was startled by how quickly Clyde had changed his stance—especially after everything he had suffered over the years. But Clyde remained indifferent to the reactions around him. He simply patted the back of Aria's hand. "You healed me, and now I know what to do. Like you said, my illne
Amos was too stunned to react. One side of his face throbbed with pain, and fish oil clung to his hair, glistening from the dish he had been slammed into.He had always eaten fish a particular way—only one side. No matter how expensive the fish, he refused to flip it over, believing that leaving it untouched brought good fortune.But today, that superstition had been smashed—along with his pride. Pinned to the table, Amos hadn't even found the time to get angry. Confusion flickered in his eyes as he struggled to rise.Then Lucas spoke, his words crashing down like a stone wall."Amos Lune, you conspired with the Draycott and Fitzroy families to crush honest entrepreneurs. You've abused your position shamelessly."Lucas didn't stop. His tone cut sharper with each sentence."We also have evidence linking you to a human organ trafficking ring in Bellebrook. You've disgraced the people who supported your rise—and the country that invested in you."Lucas had been suppressing his ange
Lucas shook his head steadily. "Not yet."Amos, still basking in the glow of his "victory", had no idea what was coming. He answered Durand's call with a smug smile. On the other end, Durand's laughter rang out loud and triumphant."Mr. Lune, you should've seen the Grisham brothers' faces! I bet they never expected to be abandoned like that!"You played it brilliantly. One quiet move, and boom—the Grisham family's out of the Chamber of Commerce. From here, it's just a slow bleed. They'll lose everything."Amos kept his tone cool. "This isn't enough. Keep pushing the online chatter. The narrative needs to focus on how their precious granddaughter cost so many investors their savings. And don't forget her carefully crafted persona—it's about to unravel."He paused, voice crisp. "Reach out to the other businessmen. Now that the Grishams can't offer any benefits, it's time for everyone to take a bite. You understand, don't you, Durand?"Durand took a moment, then replied, "Right. Got
Cormac even thought of leaving some of his influence behind after retiring. This way, he could still have some power over decisions. He thought he could remind Lucas that not just anyone could do his job well. Therefore, Cormac remained calm after receiving the note. He was already so used to handling his daughter's troubles.Cormac strode into his lounge and asked Pedro, "Is it drunk driving again? Don't you know how to handle it?""It's not drunk driving." Pedro still seemed out of it.Cormac's expression darkened. "It's not drunk driving? Was she on drugs again? I already reminded you numerous times to get someone to keep an eye on her. Which stage of the process is she at right now? Call the people from the drug-testing institution.""No. That's not it." Pedro took off his glasses and his badge.Cormac finally realized that Pedro seemed off. "What happened? Just tell me. I doubt she'll kill someone. Although my daughter is troublesome, she won't do something like that. I kno
Aliya had never heard of the Special Missions Unit until today. But after seeing Pedro's panicked reaction, it didn't take long for her to realize that this was a group with more authority than even her father.Still, some people lived so long in privilege that they convinced themselves they were untouchable. Logic no longer applied to them.Aria was done entertaining Aliya's ignorance. With a flick of her wrist, she signaled someone to silence her. Then, she turned to Aliya with icy disdain."Don't worry," Aria said. "I'll take you with me when I pay your father a visit. Then we can ask him together what his name truly means in this state."Her voice was calm but sharp."You seem to have forgotten that his power—any power—comes from the people. And now, you're using that power to treat their lives like currency. To buy yourself a life of superiority."She stepped closer. "Organ trafficking is illegal here. That's the crime we've confirmed so far. But don't worry. We'll find the
When Pedro heard that it was the Special Missions Unit, his forehead was covered in sweat immediately. Even his mind had gone blank. At that moment, all he could think about was how doomed they were!Others might not have heard of the unit before. However, as a state official, there was no way Pedro wouldn't know them. In fact, the Special Missions Unit was something they had no control over.Technically, the Special Missions Unit had way more clearance than they did. After all, they were in charge of big cases. Sometimes, they would even work with the special troops.The Special Missions Unit belonged to the country, and they were extremely mysterious. Even people with high clearance wouldn't know who they were in real life.Pedro only managed to find his voice after a long time. As he wiped the sweat off his forehead, he chuckled awkwardly."Oh, this is all a misunderstanding. May I know who I am speaking to? I never expected the Special Missions Unit to be carrying out a missio
Aliya had never met Aria before, but this was the first time she'd seen a young woman more poised—and far more arrogant—than herself. That only fueled her rage. And the fact that Aria was stunningly beautiful didn't help either.Scoffing, she snapped, "Do you dare let us make our calls? Let's see if you still look so smug after that."The other wealthy attendees stiffened. None of them moved. With Aria in the room, they had the sinking feeling that calling in favors wouldn't end well.Aria merely tilted her head and smiled. "Of course," she said, then turned to her team. "Please hand this lady her phone. Let her make her call."The members of the Special Missions Unit didn't question her. They knew Aria well enough to understand what she was doing—she wanted the bigger fish. The call would be recorded, and with any luck, it would lead them straight to someone higher up the chain.Aliya was momentarily thrown off by Aria's easy agreement. But she quickly chalked it up to ignorance.
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