The man crossed his legs and flicked imaginary ash from his fingers. He glanced toward Caspian, the figurehead owner, and wide-eyed Andrew beside him. His tone remained neutral. "Why are you standing there? Go collect the payment.""Yes... right away!" Andrew hurried off, still stunned by the revelation of the real hotel boss behind the scenes.In the hall, Aria raised an eyebrow slightly. Was it her imagination? The man's way of handling things felt strangely familiar. His tactics were impossible to defend against. It was making Orion eat humble pie while forcing the Draycotts to pay compensation. She admired that style of doing things. Making no effort to hide her desire to meet him, Aria made a heart gesture toward the security camera, suggesting future collaboration.Seeing this, the man's usually detached gaze darkened. He didn't believe she had guessed his identity, so why the heart gesture? "Have you met her before?" He turned to Caspian, his presence overwhelming
Those standing with Aria exchanged glances. Some barely contained their joy, while others wore bewildered expressions. Clyde burst into hearty laughter, looking at his precious granddaughter with pride. "Brilliant! As expected of my granddaughter. You remind me of myself in my younger days. "I was too traditional, and you don't need your uncle's guidance. That amateur couldn't teach you much anyway." Waymond's expression turned complex. Clyde showed such double standards. Before Aria arrived, he'd praised Waymond as a promising merchant. Now, with Aria here, Waymond had been demoted to an amateur. Still, Aria had played the game well. Setting aside the items' nature, she had managed to trap the opposition through numbers alone. He could not help but grin; his niece was indeed brilliant. Aria remained gracious, addressing her grandfather earnestly. "Grandpa, I still need to learn from Uncle Waymond. When it comes to practical matters, his oversight gives me confidence." Waym
Bruce, who had first pledged loyalty to the Draycotts, could only agree with Orion now. He had been the first to reject Aria's partnership offer. Admitting that she had calculated everything correctly from the start would make him look foolish. Besides, Lily still held her trump card; she was able to predict the stock market. On that point alone, no one could compete with her in real business. While Bruce wanted his share of the stock market profits, others who had lost weren't thinking the same way. Some had already recognized Aria's capabilities. "Mr. Draycott, we should be careful." Not everyone in business circles was easily fooled. "Looking at Mr. Grisham's reaction, this wasn't his plan. Ms. Carver certainly has skill. "She must have noticed the special bidding rules for item four early on. Whether she won or not, bidding would cost four silver dollars. So she calculated the numbers from the start to trap Ms. Kent." Someone understood. "You mean regardless of what we
Before Aria arrived, Orion and the others had tried everything to keep the Carvers out of the Chamber. They even tried to stir trouble between the Grishams and Carvers. Now, their defenses had crumbled. The prominent families who had acted dishonestly felt especially uneasy. Barron had founded the Chamber, and over the years, they had used its reputation to secure numerous private gains. They refused to surrender such a profitable organization that concealed their schemes, let alone return it. As soon as Aria became a Chamber member, certain investors began to move. The Draycott faction harbored various schemes. They had to bring her down before she could restore the Carver family to public prominence; their survival depended on it. In today's digital age, even the biggest merchants feared reputation damage the most. If the public discovered the truth about how they had pushed out the Chamber's rightful founders while profiting from its patriotic reputation, the backlash would de
"Please, Mr. Katz, you're too kind." Aria quickly stopped the elderly man's gesture. "You were my grandfather's old friend and worked with my grandfather. Even without my help, my grandfather wouldn't let you fall. "My uncle had already made preparations, and I merely expedited things." The elderly businessmen heard the humility in her words. It was only meant to ease their burden. Clyde watched Aria's response with approval, rising with his cane. "Securing the projects is only the first step. Reviving our existing businesses is now the most important part. "Isaiah, do you have any plans?" Clyde asked Isaiah Katz. Isaiah paused, then shook his head. "I tried the online streaming we discussed. It made no impact." "Yeah, we even hired some influencers, but sales were minimal. We still operated at a loss." The business world always changed rapidly, and they struggled to keep up. Their children showed no interest in inheriting their enterprises since they viewed their work wi
"What do you mean?" someone asked for clarification as they did not understand what Aria meant. Aria glanced over, turning the black ring on her finger. "You'll understand when the time comes. Mr. Katz, I'll discuss the details with you once I've made preparations." "Does that mean you'll help us?" Isaiah's eyes welled with tears, and Aria smiled a little. "Not just help. Your business philosophy aligns with the Carvers'. So, we'll succeed together." What could bring more joy than finding a like-minded business partner? Though moved, Isaiah knew he was getting the better deal. "We can't be hasty. You must take 40 percent of my company shares." He turned to those two behind him. "Don't you agree?" "Yes! Of course!" The Draycotts had their eyes on their land. For over a year, they had used various tactics to force their orchards into bankruptcy. They understood perfectly what Aria's intervention meant. She was saving their lives. How could they not be grateful? Others w
But Aria beat Waymond to it. "Uncle Waymond, let's talk privately later." She wanted to discuss financials with Waymond, which were the matters best kept from her grandfather. She had examined his condition and planned to stabilize it gradually with her medicine tonight. Waymond couldn't help but smile at her mature demeanor. "Alright, we'll talk later." Clyde remained unaware of what the two were planning. After the initial Chamber selection concluded, business partners bid farewell to Clyde. They wished him good health and looked forward to the next profit calculation. Orion approached, immediately laying his trap. "Mr. Grisham, I admire your forgiveness. Even after your love-struck daughter nearly ruined the Grishams, you forgave her. Now you trust your granddaughter too. "Aren't you worried she'll bring the same misfortune?" Clyde smiled, his emotions unreadable. "I once saved the disloyal Draycotts. Isn't it natural to be kind to my own granddaughter?" Orion seethed
When Orion heard Aria's words, he glanced at Lily, who spoke right on cue. "Though the Kents are a medical family, we stayed in Southbury and never ventured out. After my grandmother's medical incident, we stopped practicing. "Ms. Carver attended vocational school in Southbury, so perhaps she gained connections after joining the Carvers. Meeting Dr. Farrow would be a blessing for any medical practitioner. "I envy Ms. Carver. At Janovin Medical University, I only heard Dr. Farrow's lectures from afar and was never qualified to approach him." Though Lily's words seemed complimentary, her implication was clear. If she, a top student, couldn't meet Lennox, how could a vocational school graduate possibly do so? No one had heard of connections between Lennox and the Carvers. The crowd caught her meaning, so they watched Aria with speculation and disdain. Orion laughed and said, "Mr. Grisham, you see how young and prideful Aria is. She's unable to keep things to herself and likes ex
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