Nisa had no idea how complicated things truly were. Durand had made his choice years ago—opting for someone in the state government over the Draycott family. But he had never once confided in his wife, Nisa, about it. Even so, he now found it wise to apologize to the Grisham family. At the very least, it would set them apart from the Draycott and Fitzroy families. They had simply made the wrong decision at a critical moment.Durand sighed. "Alright, honey, I'll take your advice. I'm relying on you to smooth things over with the Fitzroys. Ultimately, I'm placing my trust in you, my darling wife, to fix this."Nisa took a slow sip of her coffee. "I'm glad you understand. This is a crucial moment, so make sure you clean up any messy relationships you have outside."Durand's smile faltered briefly, but he said nothing.Nisa studied him. "I'm only worried something might happen. The deceased girl's parents were easy to deal with, but others won't be. Who knows what might come up?"Th
With Amos' assurance, Durand finally felt at ease. If Amos was taking action, it meant the mastermind behind the scenes was also displeased with Aria. Others might only be all talk and no action, but Durand knew better than anyone how capable Amos was. No one could detect the flaws in Amos' plans. After all, he had been the one to handle Fiona's incident back then. The fact that he had managed to pull off such a massive deception in front of the Grisham brothers spoke volumes about his abilities. And now, he was even more formidable than before.As the third most powerful figure in Ludwiten, backed by the governor, Amos' influence extended far beyond what ordinary businessmen could fathom.The Guetta family was finally saved. Just moments ago, Durand had regretted provoking Aria, but now, he was certain—this outsider who had disrupted the Chamber of Commerce's operations was destined for a steep downfall.Otherwise, the Grisham family might actually seize control of all of Ludwi
"Now that the Draycotts are done for, the Fitzroys won't be far behind," Amos said, letting the bitterness linger before offering a glimmer of hope. "The Guetta family will take over the scholarship program."Durand barely managed to contain his excitement. Greed twisted across his face. "Don't worry. I'll manage it properly."Amos remained composed. "It's not your competence I doubt, but let's avoid another situation like that girl's. Her parents may have signed a waiver and dropped the case, but the higher-ups aren't brushing it off."You know how seriously Mr. Kelsall takes the scholarship program. You've worked with Orion on a few deliveries, so you should know."Mr. Kelsall's been in poor health lately. Start lining up some new faces. As for Aria, leave her to me."Durand's eyes lit up with opportunity. "Of course, Mr. Lune. I've been watching the Chamber of Commerce closely and have a few candidates in mind."I can take over Orion's responsibilities—and do better. As long a
Many called Fiona a lovesick fool for marrying Owen, but Nisa knew better. No woman could foresee a man's betrayal. After all, when a man was courting a woman, he would do anything to win her over. Yet once love faded, the woman became little more than a puppet. Even if he felt nothing but disgust, he wouldn't cast her aside—not if there was still something he needed from her.Nisa took a long breath, her eyes drifting to a framed family photo on the nearby shelf. Her father's face stared back at her.If not for him, the Guetta family's business wouldn't be where it was today.Back then, Durand had been willing to give up everything for Nisa. He obeyed her father's every word and deferred to him on both major and trivial decisions. He hadn't even minded being under her father's thumb.A bittersweet smile tugged at Nisa's lips as a single tear slipped down her cheek. She stared blankly at her phone for a moment, then made a decision. Anonymously, she sent a message to Fiona."T
The letter only contained one sentence. "Stop investigating and return to Janovin immediately."To an outsider, it might seem like a threat. But Aria knew better. If this person wanted to threaten her, they wouldn't have done it this way. So, was it a warning instead?Amused, Aria studied the letter before turning to the deliveryman. "Is that all? Who gave this to you? A man or a woman? Did they say anything else?"The deliveryman responded without hesitation. "Why? Is something wrong? I just followed instructions—took the letter from the cabinet and sent it to you. As for the sender's gender, I'm not sure. I never spoke to them directly."Aria smiled, slipping a hand into her pocket. "I see. Thanks."The deliveryman then asked to take a photo for confirmation.Aria glanced at him, and in that moment, a name surfaced in her mind—Cassian. She had heard about him when she first arrived in Ludwiten—a man with ties to both worlds.She lowered her gaze with a knowing smile. A fair wa
Lily had no idea that Aria had already figured out her secret—she had been reborn. Oblivious to the danger looming over her, she was still waiting for the Wagner family to rescue her. After all, Yonah had once said her destiny held great value to him. While Lily resisted the Draycott family, she was eager to submit to the Wagners.Back then, she never understood how the seemingly inconspicuous Wagner family had emerged victorious in the power struggles among the elite. But after meeting Yonah, she finally did.She feared him. Even through the glass of a car window, she could feel the suffocating presence he exuded. That chilling moment when he seemed to see right through her—it was something she could never forget.Yet when she arrived at the Wagner residence, an unsettling silence greeted her. The housekeepers were gone, the villa pristine, devoid of any sign of life.What happened?She had been desperate to tell Yonah about Aria's secret. The businessmen in Ludwiten might di
Lily's heart pounded wildly, her frantic expression betraying the fear she couldn't conceal. If not for her past life's memories, her true identity would have remained buried forever. She knew better than anyone that the real daughter of the Kent family had died long ago. But Olivia, her cunning mother from the countryside, had spun a lie and even tampered with the DNA test. After all, Lily bore a striking resemblance to the child the Kent family had lost—the one they had exchanged years ago.As Lily lived with her past memories, she knew better than anyone else that the Kent family's daughter was dead and buried. Olivia's goal had been simple—use Lily to secure wealth. If the Kent family came looking, she would claim Lily as her own. After all, Olivia could forge hospital records with ease, leaving no trace behind. Even now, modern DNA tests could be manipulated with the right connections. The kidnappers had their own ways of making things work—otherwise, Lily's identity would
Aria stepped forward, her gaze cold. "I don't care whether you live or die. I overlooked everything you did back then because I saw you as Grandma's last living relative. "Thanks to Grandma's biological granddaughter, I was brought back to the Kent family 18 years ago. My parents didn't treat me well, but Grandma adored me. Because of that, I didn't grow up in a human trafficking village."I felt indebted to Grandma's biological daughter and wanted to repay her in some way. That's why I tolerated you for so long." Aria looked at Lily calmly. "And yet, you've just confirmed what I suspected all along. You're not Grandma's granddaughter. You're the daughter of that human trafficker."Lily's hands clenched, her expression shifting. Gone was the pitiful act—rage and vengeance twisted her face.She screamed, "So that makes me a villain? Do you think I chose to be the human trafficker's daughter?"Aria's voice was slow and measured. "Do you think it's unfair?"Lily's bitterness seeped
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