Aria put her phone away and glanced at Jett. "Okay. I got it."If she had not needed to consider Jett's feelings, she could have handled the Fitzroy family even faster. "Did Grandpa agree?"Jett looked up. "Don't tell him. Grandpa's always protected me. That's why he hasn't been ruthless enough. You too. I know what's going on."Clyde held too many of the Fitzroy family's secrets. If he hadn't been concerned about Jett, Magdalene wouldn't have had a chance to slander them.Aria idly twirled a pen drive between her fingers. "It's not just for you. Sometimes, the way I do things doesn't align with the Grisham family's values.""I was born from a scheme, but I'm glad I was born into the Grisham family." Jett had matured. If this had happened before, he wouldn't have been able to handle it—his head would have been filled with endless doubts and dark thoughts.But now, he seemed more resolute. "Do what you have to. Just don't tell Grandpa. He'll worry about you.""How similar." Aria
If Orion wanted to conceal his cash flow crisis, he first had to ensure Aria would keep quiet. But just as Aria issued her orders, news about the Draycott Group spread like wildfire.Headlines like "Unpaid Wages", "Mass Layoffs", and "Subsidiaries in Crisis" tore through the Draycott family like a raging storm.Despite the mounting scrutiny, the company could still weather the storm—so long as it remained profitable and continued paying taxes.However, a quick search revealed a troubling reality. Several Draycott Group subsidiaries had already shuttered. It was obvious that the company's problems ran deeper than mere rumors.The banks were the first to react. Normally, it was Orion who entertained bank officers, but now, the tables had turned. "Mr. Wrenwood, how can you believe such baseless rumors?"Naturally, Orion wouldn't admit the truth. "You know the Draycott family's assets well. It's just land holdings. Sure, I made a bad investment, but it's hardly a fatal blow."Alde
The entire company was in turmoil. Employees from every department found it both shocking and unsettling—what were they supposed to do now that the company had run out of cash flow?Within half an hour, multiple hashtags about the Draycott family dominated social media. Initially, they had threatened legal action against those spreading so-called false rumors.Then, a bombshell dropped—news broke that Orion had been using company funds to support his personal stock trading, and the stocks he invested in had plummeted.While stock trading itself wasn't illegal, misusing company funds was a different matter entirely. If the reports were true, the Draycott Group's financial situation was dire.No one in the business world was naïve. It didn't take much effort to verify the claims, and soon, the truth became apparent—the rumors were likely true."Some of his closest associates are also struggling with cash flow," someone noted."Serves him right." Those who had been stifled by Orion'
Magdalene's head spun. If not for the cane beside her, she would have collapsed. The Draycott family being investigated was unthinkable. That person would never allow it—unless they had already abandoned the Draycotts, letting them fall.The more she dwelled on it, the more her fear grew. The Draycotts were under investigation the moment she partnered with them. Which meant… their troubles had begun last week!"How could he lose money in the stock market when he had Lily Kent's guidance?" she thought.Her fingers dug into her palms. If the Draycott family's cash flow was truly in jeopardy, then the money she invested in them was as good as gone.Then, another realization struck her—the Draycotts had claimed to have set a trap for the Carvers. Yet, while they were crumbling, Aria remained unscathed.Magdalene couldn't comprehend it. She turned sharply to the person who had reported the news. "If the stock market is in such turmoil, what about the Carver family? What about Aria an
Those words hit Magdalene like a punch to the gut. How could she admit now that Aria actually had real skills? She even had connections Magdalene knew nothing about. And those connections were more powerful than the Grishams' standing in Ludwiten. After all, playing the stock market required serious money to back her up! Magdalene's face grew paler as she stepped back, nervously twisting her bracelet between her fingers. Out of nowhere, she remembered what Aria had said at the Grisham residence. "I can bring the Fitzroy family down too." With a thud, Magdalene's head knocked against something as she stumbled backward. Her bracelet snapped, sending beads scattering across the floor with a soft clicking sound. "Ms. Kent! Someone get Ms. Kent!" That was Magdalene's gut reaction. She had a strong feeling that bad luck was coming. People would always turn to higher powers when they were in trouble. Magdalene was especially superstitious and hoped Lily might show her a way out
The coldness in Orion's eyes revealed his true nature when he stared someone down. Lily trembled as they held her in front of Orion, whose face was twisted with rage. "Mr. Draycott, please listen. This stock market change was just bad luck. "What I told you was absolutely true, but somehow things changed. Give me another chance to make it up to you." With a loud smack, Orion slapped her across the face when she was done speaking. "Another chance? Who's going to give me another chance then?" Red finger marks appeared on Lily's cheek, making her cry out in pain. But Orion showed zero mercy as he grabbed her by the throat. "Remember what I said? If your predictions were wrong, I'd make you wish you were dead! "I put all my money in because of what you told me! And you tried to run? I dare you to try that again!" Lily felt like she was drowning, unable to breathe. After struggling for what felt like forever, Orion finally let go. Once she caught her breath, she calmed down. "
People were demanding, "What's with the rumors going around outside?" "We're the Draycotts! How could our family possibly be out of money?" "Say something! Are you mute?" Matt had always greeted everyone with a smile before. No matter how outrageous their words or how arrogant their attitude, he would just chuckle pleasantly. After all, he earned his pay by putting up with this stuff. But today, he really could not take it anymore. "What's happening? Go ask Orion! This isn't my company; it's your family's!" Such massive changes in the company had taken everyone by surprise overnight. How could ordinary employees possibly have predicted this? Orion was really reckless for using company funds to speculate on stocks! What would happen to all the working people now? The pressure had initially come from outside, and now it was coming from within. For Orion, those 60 or 70 million in funds didn't matter whether they were recovered or not. He might as well make a big play—what i
Ralph Gambon was the most famous investment professional in Ludwiten. People said he had the Midas touch. Whatever he backed, whether stocks or companies, would flourish. The prominent families in Ludwiten had tried to recruit him many times, but he never appeared. Even Orion wanted to bring him into his company. After all, everyone wanted to recruit someone with such amazing skills like him. Ralph had gone nowhere, even declining invitations from the Chamber of Commerce. But this legendary figure was now on the phone, calling the person on the other end his boss! Could they be an overseas investor? Harlan could no longer maintain his usual composure. He knew Orion was ruthless, but he never imagined he would be so lawless as to target Elena. If those people hadn't shown up, Elena would have been kidnapped. Those men had even tried to assault her! Initially, Harlan just wanted to leave quietly, not wanting to take the fall for anyone. But now, he felt both afraid and furious.
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