"Mr. Grisham ordered his legal team to contact them." The person notifying Aria about this was an HR employee from the Grisham Group. Aria had subordinates stationed in HR, but whether she chose to use them was entirely up to her.From the beginning, she had known what Eamon intended. He had been preparing ever since he realized the Fitzroy family had betrayed them—when Robert stopped Fiona from visiting and even attempted to harm Clyde.Eamon had given his wife a chance. Aria understood that he wanted to settle things smoothly; after all, they had been together for years.But the Fitzroy family never acknowledged their mistakes. They neither apologized for Robert's actions nor showed any sign of remorse, behaving as if nothing had happened.On top of that, they had spoiled Jett far too much. When Laura instructed Jett to withdraw his investments, Eamon had likely made up his mind then and there."Mrs. Fitzroy Senior wants my Uncle Eamon's shares." A sinister smile played on A
However, Aria declined the call as she wasn't planning on taking any orders for the time being.Landon glanced at her and asked, "Did you come up with the nickname Richie Carver yourself?""Yes. Don't you think it suits me?" Aria replied proudly.After all, she was indeed rich—nothing about that was a lie.Landon had never quite understood her smugness before, but now, as realization dawned, he arched an eyebrow. "As long as you're happy, Aria."Today had been a great day. Not only had Aria made a fortune, but Eamon had also severed ties with his wife without hesitation, saving her a lot of trouble. She hated owing personal favors the most.Ever since arriving in Ludwiten, Aria had been searching for clues. She strongly suspected that someone had orchestrated the misunderstanding between the Carver and Grisham families. That suspicion had led her to the Fitzroy family.Aria didn't believe the Fitzroys were innocent—especially not with Magdalene involved. The woman was old and ex
"Mrs. Fitzroy Senior, don't get so worked up. Slow down and mind the stairs!" Benson called out, announcing Magdalene's arrival. Clyde cast a glance at Jett upon hearing the commotion. Jett, in turn, furrowed his brows and clenched his fists.Magdalene stopped at the foot of the stairs, her voice sharp with displeasure. "So, you've decided to sever ties with the Fitzroy family? I've arrived, yet not a single person comes to greet me. How wonderful! Is this how you welcome your guests?"Clyde stepped forward, Jett following closely behind. "What kind of welcome were you expecting?"Magdalene's eyes immediately reddened at the sight of Jett. "Jett! Why are you here? Do you have any idea how anxious your mother and I were while searching for you?"Jett remained unmoved. He knew full well whether they had truly been looking for him.Laura hesitated upon seeing Jett at the Grisham residence, standing so close to Clyde. To her, it felt like a betrayal. Did he even realize she was his
Jett continued, "You follow Grandma's every word and let her control your marriage. Why?"Laura was caught off guard. "Jett, did your grandfather say something to you? Don't listen to him. He just doesn't want you getting close to the Fitzroy family!"Jett laughed. "They don't want me getting close to the Fitzroys? That's the best joke I've heard all day, Mom."He gestured to himself. "Look at me. I have no accomplishments, and my grades are awful. Do you really think I could graduate if I weren't from a wealthy family? You, more than anyone, know how unremarkable I am.""I'm so ordinary I don't even seem like a Grisham. I don't have Dad's vision or Uncle Waymond's business acumen. Compared to Aria and my Carver cousins, I'm a complete failure! Who would want to get close to me?" Jett's eyes turned red. The sting of how the Draycott family had nearly used him against the Grishams still hadn't faded.Clyde watched him, his mouth slightly open. He hated hearing Jett tear himself d
"Jett…" Laura's eyes widened, and her body swayed a little. In contrast, Magdalene remained indifferent. Some people grew softer with age, doting on their younger generations. Others cared only for themselves.Since Jett no longer listened to her, Magdalene decided to get straight to the point. "Well done. You've even managed to turn my grandson against me. It seems the Grisham family no longer values our partnership."She shifted her gaze to Clyde. "Let's see how long the Grisham family can survive without us. My daughter will sign the divorce papers, but she must receive half of the marital assets. I trust the Grisham family won't be shameless enough to leave her with nothing."Jett's head snapped up at her words. It was clear Magdalene was after the Grisham Group's shares. After all, Eamon's company was part of the marital property."Grandpa!" Jett instinctively turned to Clyde, who looked grim. Company shares were crucial. If Laura and Eamon divorced, the Fitzroy family cou
Aria was standing downstairs in a suit. She exuded an air that was both masculine and feminine—cool yet mischievous. Her dark eyes held no warmth. When she looked at people, it felt less like she was seeing them as living beings and more like she was peering through them.Magdalene had never seen Aria up close before. Now that she had, an inexplicable dread crept over her. She instinctively took a step back as if Aria carried misfortune itself.Aria approached with polite composure. If not for the dagger in her grip, she might have passed for an ordinary young woman greeting her elders."I remember what you told my mother, Aunt Laura." Her lips curled in a nonchalant smirk before her gaze shifted to Magdalene. "It seems you're unaware of what's been happening in Ludwiten, Mrs. Fitzroy Senior."She gave a small shrug. "It doesn't matter. You'll find out soon enough. Since you're here, it saves me a trip to the Fitzroy residence."From the moment Aria appeared, Magdalene hadn't lo
Laura's marriage to Eamon had never been honorable. Naturally, she pinned her hopes on her son to redeem herself. But right now, all she wanted were the Grisham Group shares.If a mother truly loved her child, she would fight for custody in a divorce. Yet Laura had left without hesitation, her hatred for Aria outweighing any affection for Jett. She had never even considered taking him with her.Jett wasn't a fool. Although he might not have understood everything before, it was crystal clear now. His mother and grandmother were cut from the same cloth.He had always assumed Magdalene manipulated Laura, seeing how hesitant she often seemed. But now, he realized they had always been on the same side. No amount of coercion would have worked if Laura hadn't already shared Magdalene's nature.She listened to Magdalene because, at her core, she was no different.Laura's words to Aria were venomous, a curse filled with malice. Jett glanced at Aria, wanting to apologize, but he knew an apo
The sharp caw of a crow outside the car grated on Magdalene's nerves. She twirled her bracelet even faster, her expression darkening. "The Grisham family is doomed! Such ominous creatures appearing at their house in broad daylight—what a bad sign!"Laura glanced out the car window. The crow's presence unsettled her, and without hesitation, she instructed the driver to drive.Magdalene didn't waste any time. "Laura, handle this however you want. Our family has a legal team just like the Grishams. Let the lawyers take care of everything—don't say anything unnecessary."Lowering her gaze, she pondered for a moment. "You mentioned that Eamon has been staying out late for social events. We should focus on that.""He didn't betray me, though." Laura hesitated. Magdalene gave her a pointed look. "People will only take your side if he did. Use it to your advantage."Laura slowly nodded under her gaze. "I'll find some evidence.""Good. Our family is involved with the Draycotts now. Once
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