So what if gold prices were skyrocketing? A stock rising so abnormally was never a good thing. Anyone who traded stocks would know this was a sign of an impending crash. Aria could celebrate all she wanted today. But by tomorrow, Orion's three stocks would soar together and crush the Carvers! Orion was too used to being arrogant since he had powerful backing. He did not believe Aria could really beat him. After all, once his capital started rolling, it would be five times what the Grisham family had! When Arlo heard that Orion wanted to continue pouring huge amounts of money into the stock market. his first reaction was to find Harlan Wexford, the Draycott Group's financial officer. Harlan shook his head. "No way. Mr. Draycott can continue to increase his position, but if he wants to divert funds from my department, it will likely cause a shortage in the company's finances. "If relevant authorities find out about this, it will be very troublesome. They'll issue external warni
The other Chamber of Commerce members had already completed their additional investments. This caused Orion to feel extremely displeased.Thankfully, he had hired a professional trader who was quick on his feet. The trader had successfully added the investment half an hour before the stock market closed.Orion finally heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness I made it in time. It's all the financial officer's fault. Does he think he's the boss just because he handles the money?"The Chamber of Commerce had heard the argument just now. "Mr. Draycott, do you have any personal connections with the financial officer?"Orion took a drag from his cigarette. "He used to be one of my underlings. He's just a country bumpkin. I hired him because he was smart and used to have good grades in school. He even got a scholarship to study abroad."If he wasn't good with numbers, I wouldn't have hired him.""You'll need to be careful, Mr. Draycott. Financial officers can be very ruthless when gett
The bodyguard's smile was quite unsettling. "Don't worry, Mr. Draycott. I'll take care of this. I remember Mr. Wexford has a daughter in junior high…"Orion glanced at him. "Don't make a scene. Do it quietly.""Of course." Despite his answer, the idea he had in mind differed from that. He planned to screw Harlan over. After all, he had heard that Harlan was in the process of resigning.Orion didn't bother with the further details. After all, nothing of that was important to him. He only cared about his stocks.…Meanwhile, Aria averted her gaze from the computer when the stock market finally closed. Not only was she tired, but she was also starving. She felt like she could eat a cow right now!"Let's find a place to eat some stew." Aria placed her laptop down and started to navigate for nearby restaurants.Landon sat in the passenger seat and arched an eyebrow. "You earned so much, but you only want to eat stew?""Yup. Stew is enough for me. I like eating it." Aria started to
Aria's thoughts were all over the place. Perhaps she was too tired, or maybe it was Landon's scent. She furrowed her brows as black mist curled around her, even her gaze shifting with it.Sensing the growing surge of bad karma, Landon chose not to push forward. Instead, he reached out and covered her eyes. "It's been a while since you asked for consultation fees from me."This time, he didn't pull her toward his neck. Instead, he bit his finger and pressed his lips to hers.With her vision blocked, Aria's consciousness wavered, slipping toward drowsiness. She only snapped out of it when the phone she'd dropped under the car seat started ringing. Blinking away the haze, she grabbed Landon's wrist and twisted it in a swift reversal.Her hair brushed against his face as she loomed over him, eyes tinged with red beneath her cool demeanor. "My phone is ringing."Landon turned his head slightly, revealing his sharp side profile, his elegance undisturbed.Retrieving her phone, she s
Laura's voice dripped with resentment as she confronted Aria. Aria, unfazed, twirled the blade she had whisked out of nowhere. Her tone was indifferent. "Yes, Aunt Laura. Are you saying all this just to get me to share some profit with the Fitzroy family? Or do you want me to secure a spot for your family in the project bidding?"Laura stiffened. She hadn't expected Aria to catch on so quickly. She was much sharper than she had assumed.It brought Laura back to the first time she met Aria—a baby lying in a crib, wearing a tiger hat, smiling at everyone—everyone except Laura.Back then, Laura had just married into the Grisham family and given birth to Jett. She had felt an inexplicable sense of rejection from the child, and it displeased her. But there was nothing she could do about it. Eamon doted on Aria because of Fiona, showering her with the best things in Janovin. Clyde and his wife treated Aria like a precious jewel, calling her a blessing—cheerful, dominant, and full of l
Laura ended the call angrily. Never in her life had she been this angry. She had been raised to embody grace, elegance, and composure. As Eamon's wife, she had perfected the role expected of her in the Grisham family, always appearing poised and refined. But today, all of that restraint had shattered.The butler stared at her in shock as she fumed, breath heavy with frustration.She had never expected Aria to submit easily, but the woman was far more defiant than anticipated. Not only had she refused to comply, but she had also dared to hint at an even greater ambition—dealing with the Fitzroy family once the Draycotts were out of the way."She's delusional if she thinks she can take on the Fitzroys," Laura scoffed, her voice sharp with disbelief. "She has no idea who she's up against."After letting it all out, she tried to gather herself together. Her driver then approached her. "Mrs. Grisham, perhaps it's best to take a step back and consider alternative strategies. Didn't Mrs
Settle the score? With whom?The Chamber of Commerce members, devastated by their losses, wanted to pin the blame on Orion. If not for him, they wouldn't have been so obsessed with the stock market.One particular member, who had just suffered a breakdown, had neglected his company entirely to monitor stocks, convinced that Orion's three picks would soar. But now, his faith had cost him everything.Yet, none of them dared to lash out at Orion. They clenched their fists, their faces contorted with frustration.Despite their losses, they weren't entirely ruined. The three stocks still held some value—six to seven dollars each. If they pulled out now, they could salvage at least a third of their assets. The problem was that they couldn't sell until Friday.One of them, grasping at straws, muttered, "Today was bad, but maybe tomorrow will bring a rebound."No one responded. They knew better. A drop like this wouldn't end in a day. Worse, each transaction came with hefty fees.Some h
Warren was holding a shareholders' meeting in Janovin. The Carver family was nothing like it had been before. No one entertained the idea of collaborating with Krowonian companies anymore—those who remained were fully committed to rebuilding the business. More importantly, everyone had heard of Aria's success in Ludwiten. Their excitement was barely contained."Mr. Carver Senior, my friends in Ludwiten told me that Ms. Carver secured the most sought-after government development land. Perhaps we should also shift our focus there..."Warren didn't deny their assumptions. He merely laughed. "You're right. Our company will officially establish a branch in Ludwiten next month. We started there all those years ago—it's time to go back."Such a move had been unthinkable before. No matter how much some had wished for it, returning was no easy feat.Rebuilding connections, especially after what Owen had done, was a challenge. The Carver Group had lost its foothold in Ludwiten, and break
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
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