"We're here, Mr. Ingerton." An expensive car stopped in front of a junction. Harry peered at the narrow and ancient-looking alley, frowning. "You sure?"Why would Boss be here, of all places? There was a market nearby where elderly men and women were bargaining with the sellers. Harry had never been to a place like this since he entered the business industry. Reagan said, "This is Clearwater Alley. Or do you want to look for her in the hospital opposite this place?""A hospital? No, no." Harry pointed at the alley. "This will do as long as we're in the right place."The possibility of Boss working in a hospital was even lower, with how lazy she was and how averse she was to the stench of blood. While he spoke, Harry leaped out of the car and walked, followed by his group of bodyguards clad in black. Anyone not in the know would assume that he was a gangster, what with this casual lawlessness he was exhibiting. Although Harry had a smile on his face, he didn't look like a
"Why are you trying to deceive me?" Harry was the one who came inside. He let out a hearty laugh.Clayton was so scared that his hands shuddered, immediately ducking behind Aria.Aria lowered her gaze calmly. Her face was strikingly beautiful, and it was difficult to overlook her.Harry noticed her the moment he entered, though he didn't reckon she was the one he had been looking for. Then, he walked over with his bodyguards."Kid, is your parents home? I'm not feeling well, so I thought of visiting after seeing your livestream."Harry, being quite astute, quickly surmised that his boss intended to maintain her anonymity by lodging in such a modest place.However, Aria grinned devilishly after hearing that. "You're calling me a kid?"The delighted smile on Harry's face disappeared as he turned around. He found her voice and tone oddly familiar.Aria chewed on her gum while grinning. "Mr. Ingerton, you're quite forgetful. You can't even recognize me?"At that moment, Harry want
Reagan still couldn't believe it. His hands were shaking as he adjusted his glasses.If Marshall knew about Aria's identity, he would regret everything!Reagan finally understood why Bernard would assign Kent Corporation some projects. It was all because of Aria!Reagan took his glasses and spoke. "Ms. Ken—Boss…""It looks like you recognize who I am." Aria smiled.Reagan quickly replied, "I didn't know you were the one at the Kent Residence. If I did, I would have…"Aria fiddled at the coffee set. "I didn't want anyone to know, so what you did was right."Harry couldn't understand what they were saying. "The Kent Residence? What are you guys talking about?"Reagan lowered his eyes. "Mr. Ingerton, I'll explain to you later."Harry didn't care about that, only having one thing in mind. "Boss, let's return to Janovin now. Hahaha! I'm so happy. Once you return there, we can rule that place!""I can't go back now. You saw it for yourself. I just started my business." Aria smiled.
"I… I…" Harry didn't know what to say.In the end, Aria helped him out by explaining, "Grandma, the Lowe family introduced him over. He has been on Southbury's television show before."Georgina's attitude changed as she looked at Harry. "You've been on television before? You're considered our VIP customer, then. We'll give our all to serve you."Harry was fortunate to have been on television for two consecutive days."There's no need for that. I—"However, Aria interrupted him with a smile, "That's right. I'll treat him to a meal later.""Yes. You guys should dine out." People of Georgina's age only trusted what they saw on television. "Mr. Lowe Senior still keeps us in mind."Harry wondered who she was referring to.Aria glanced at him. "Mr. Lowe Senior has always been like that. He even supported me when I was streaming. That's why Mr. Ingerton noticed us. He originally wanted to invest in the Lowe family. We're merely a tag-along."Harry, who came specifically from Janovin,
Marshall was quite smart. Since Harry had made such a big scene when going inside, he would have caught a lot of attention.If he asked Sarah or Clayton about it, he would know which house Harry went to. In the worst-case scenario, Marshall could ask Georgina.However, before Marshall could head inside, he saw Reagan guarding outside a skewer restaurant.Harry was sitting at the table beside the window.Marshall was astonished. He had eaten at this small, run-down skewer place since he was young. Marshall wondered why someone like Harry would be eating there.In fact, Aria was the one who chose the place—simply because it was the nearest to her. "Let's order more meat. Sam likes to eat it."Harry's smile was ingratiating. "Bring us 20 plates of lamb!"Upon hearing that, Sam put up five fingers.Aria spoke indifferently. "50 plates."Harry immediately corrected himself, "50 plates!"After saying that, he looked toward Sam and sighed. "L is only so accommodating around you. I d
Marshall couldn't comprehend why it was Aria.Marshall nearly stumbled on his feet as he backed away in astonishment. He would have fallen if the bodyguard hadn't steadied him.Marshall couldn't fathom how Harry had canceled their business meeting to meet Aria.Only after being pulled three feet away did Marshall snap back to reality. It was impossible for him to rush back and get a closer look. Moreover, he wouldn't have been mistaken by what he saw. He was certain it was Aria. And next to Aria was the beggar Georgina had taken in. Marshall pondered how Aria had managed to meet Harry. After racking his brain, a thought finally popped into his head. Muttering to himself, he mumbled, "The live stream! Karen mentioned that Aria was teaching that old bat how to stream!"An idea sparked in Marshall's mind, prompting him to reach out to Aria. Yet, he discovered he had deleted her number.Marshall cursed himself in frustration. "I'll just reach out to the old bat then!"Dialing Georg
Sam felt excited and even stopped eating his lamb meat. He quickly typed four words on his phone, "Get rid of him!"Aria fiddled with her coffee cup. "We need to lay low and do it subtly. Don't attract any attention. Mr. Ingerton, I hope you can cooperate."Goosebumps formed on Harry's head when she called him so formally. "I… I'm not used to pretending."Aria smiled. "You need to. I'm only a medical streamer from today onward. Don't slip up."Harry nodded excitedly. "Boss, isn't this a piece of cake for us?"Aria lifted her head. "You can understand it that way. Reagan, you too. Keep your eyes focused and act naturally."Reagan replied politely, "Yes, Boss… I mean, Dr. Genius.""Okay. Let's talk about the company's direction. The number of people watching my stream has been steadily increasing. Thus, Grandma and I wouldn't be able to handle it alone in the future. "We need backend customer service, dedicated operations personnel, and charities to support agriculture and educa
Jenna attempted to defuse the tension. "Look at the new fund I invested in. It hasn't been performing well at all. Didn't Grand Construction Corp. mention investing in pharmaceuticals? Why haven't they yet? Is Mr. Ingerton going back on his words?""You met Mr. Ingerton? Did he disclose anything to you?" Karen perked up, getting back to the main topic at hand.Sophia laughed. "Do you think everyone has access to him? Even your husband might not get an opportunity."Karen scoffed. "We are supposed to collaborate with Grand Construction Corp. Besides, Mr. Ingerton's secretary, Reagan, is good friends with my husband. Meeting him wouldn't be difficult!"Sophia brushed off Karen's bragging, knowing she was merely trying to impress the others.Karen was about to retort when she noticed Sophia's disbelief.Suddenly, Jenna shouted after scrolling on her phone. "Heartbound Hall! Oh my! Mrs. Kent, look. Isn't this Heartbound Hall? It's located at Clearwater Alley, so it should be."Karen
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