Lisa stood frozen in disbelief as the situation turned against her. For years, she had always held the advantage. In her mind, the old, unattractive wife didn't stand a chance—Winnie would be out of Miguel's life soon enough.She had carefully calculated her moves, knowing Winnie's temper was infamous. All she had to do was provoke her. Once Winnie lost control, people would brand her as bitter and unfit to teach, blaming her for her failed marriage.Winnie had long been suffering from psychological distress caused by Miguel's affair. Aria knew this—and it was precisely why she chose to intervene.It was never easy for women. A wife breaking down over her husband's betrayal was often seen as unstable. If she fought back against the mistress, she'd be mocked—labeled hysterical, her efforts seen as pathetic.Sure, the mistress was in the wrong. But public opinion? That rarely sided with the wife. Most people just wanted her to move on. If she didn't, they saw her as the pitiful one w
Miguel was visibly shaken. Until now, he hadn't connected the dots that Aria was from the Carver family. The realization hit him like a thunderclap—his face went ghostly pale, and his lips trembled.He fumbled for an explanation, but deep down, he knew there was nothing he could say that would fix this. Meanwhile, Lina stiffened at the mention of marital property, anxiety flickering across her face.Lina looked at Miguel and asked, "Miguel, she's lying, right?"But Miguel was drowning in panic. Cold sweat soaked his shirt. He couldn't even begin to imagine what kind of storm was coming his way.Lina, no fool, knew exactly whom to plead with. She clung to Winnie's hand in a panic. "Ms. Siegler, I didn't mean for this to happen. Do you really think I seduced him?"Her voice trembled. "What should I do? I've only managed to survive in Ludwiten because of your help… That's why I didn't tell you how he hurt me.""You bitch! You're the one who came onto me!" Miguel exploded, his voice
Amos was visibly agitated—far more than usual—especially after hearing that the young woman he'd carefully selected had been taken away by Aria. He didn't hesitate this time. Without even waiting for more details, he ordered his subordinates to take Aria down.Still, Amos had more pressing matters on his plate. He was on a call, and from the other end, he could tell the person speaking wasn't pleased.A low sigh echoed through the receiver. "If you're not making progress, perhaps it's time to rethink your method. Understand the reality first. Teenagers' education isn't something people at the grassroots level should just poke their noses into.""You're right. I'll take what you said seriously," Amos replied, the deference in his tone hinting that the caller was someone with real power."I've got more meetings lined up, so I won't be back this week. The incident at Oakvale Academy has turned into a real mess. I want to see some results by Monday."Amos understood the implications
Aria remained motionless as Clyde slowly rose to his feet, leaning heavily on his cane. His brow furrowed.He had always shielded his grandchildren, especially Aria. She was obedient, thoughtful—never the kind to stir up trouble. For something like this to happen, it had to be more than it seemed.Years in the business world had sharpened Clyde's instincts. Even before the officers explained, he sensed this was personal. Someone was targeting Aria. Someone she'd likely crossed without realizing it."Officers," he said in a calm, gravelly voice. "I'm not stopping you from taking my granddaughter in. But may I ask—what exactly are the charges?"Though tension clung to the room like fog, Clyde kept his composure. He didn't raise his voice or act out. Instead, he questioned with clear, deliberate logic. "If you're here to make an arrest, shouldn't your body cameras be on? I don't see any recording."The officers had expected this. The Grishams weren't people one could deal with casual
When Aria approached the officers, she smiled and politely said, "Sorry for the trouble."The way she stretched out her hands, willingly and without hesitation, unsettled the officers. She was too relaxed—far too composed for someone about to be arrested. It didn't sit right.Still, protocol was protocol. They exchanged uncertain glances, unsure whether to report this odd behavior to their superiors. In the end, they clicked the cuffs around her wrists.Aria didn't flinch. Her expression remained serene, as if the handcuffs were no more than costume jewelry.From a distance, a silver-haired young man dropped his binoculars in alarm. His fingers flew over the keyboard as he furiously typed.Who dared to arrest his boss without so much as a warning? Didn't they know they had no right to interrogate her?While the young man couldn't keep his cool, his team members could still think logically. "Weston, what are you thinking? Boss only got taken away because she'd allowed it."When W
Landon had always kept a low profile. Though he never revealed his identity as the famed "Artist" of the Highest Operations Unit, he had quietly helped crack numerous serial murder cases. Unlike Aria, who treated such things as duty, Landon did it for fun.The HOU's supervisor had long wanted Landon to take over his position. Still, it didn't take him long to realize that someone like Landon—a genius born into a prestigious family in Ludwiten—would never treat this as a full-time job.So when news broke of Landon's arrest, the HOU was already on edge."Say that again. Who got arrested?""Landon York. Mr. York."The supervisor shot up from his seat, his voice thunderous. "Who arrested him and for what reason? How could they move without notifying us?"One of the members explained, "He disrupted the market. There's a video floating around showing suspicious intent. Right now, it's just an investigation. Nothing serious yet. We're just following protocol."The supervisor scoffed. "
Jett knew Aria had only done what she did to stop foreign investors from draining the public's funds. Yet, he had never felt so wrongly accused—so bitterly misunderstood—by anyone before.The public wasn't so forgiving. Rumors swirled that Aria could be facing serious prison time. A photo of her in handcuffs even surfaced online, stirring an uproar.The headline that spread like wildfire read, "Second-Generation Capitalist Wrecks Stock Market, Traps Ordinary Investors!"Within minutes, the comments section exploded. Although the image didn't clearly show Aria's face, sharp-eyed netizens were quick to connect her to the Carver and Grisham families. Demands for an official statement flooded in."I knew something was off about her from the beginning.""I actually got emotional when she brought back the heroic spirit… turns out she was just out for our money!""She's all smoke and mirrors. I heard she didn't even graduate from vocational high school. Check it—her grades were awful."
Despite the concern on Durand's face, sarcasm laced his every word. "Mr. Grisham, I don't know if the rumors online are true," he said with feigned innocence. "But my secretary told me Ms. Carver's been caught. Even if she was desperate for money, I doubt she'd resort to something like that. What will she do now? Old Mr. Grisham Senior's health might not survive the shock."Durand practically radiated malicious joy. The Grisham family's long-standing prosperity had always been a source of his envy, and their current misfortune brought him undisguised delight.But Eamon wasn't one to shrink back. He had once kept a low profile, but now his old intensity had returned."Why are you so quick to sneer when nothing's been investigated yet?" His voice cut clean and sharp. "Unless… were you the one who reported Aria?"Durand's smugness faltered, his expression darkening. It was because he had.Someone had to tip off the authorities for them to begin looking into Aria. It was orchestrate
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