Barry felt like Landon was treating them like they didn't exist.After thinking briefly, Aria answered, "There's actually a question I want to ask you.""Okay. Give me a moment," Landon said, his dark gaze fixed on the nervous man before him. He then said to the man, "You head back first. I want to see the outcome tomorrow." Aria could faintly hear sounds from the other end of the call. It felt like she was listening through a veil of mist, yet somehow, she could still perceive the tangible pressure emanating from the other end of the phone line.The person Landon was speaking to seemed extremely deferential, their voice tinged with fear. "Yes. Mr. L…"Aria didn't catch the name clearly. By the time Aria regained her focus, the voice call had transitioned into a video call.She didn't decline his sudden video call request.Aria was usually carefree and saw no difference between voice and video calls.Soon, Landon's face appeared on the screen. He wore a black suit, his legs
Landon's fingers stilled mid-motion. "Why?"Aria's mole seemed more noticeable than usual. "I feel like he helps you to do everything. Did he owe the Carvers a favor?"Landon answered the latter part of the statement. "Yes, he does owe us a favor."Aria propped her chin up with one hand. "Then, ask him to remove the Guard status."Landon paused for a moment, pretending not to understand. "Guard status?"Thinking he didn't know what it was, Aria explained, "In my livestream, there's a symbol that appears when someone gifts a lot. It doesn't match my aesthetic."A low chuckle escaped Landon's lips. "Why don't you ask the platform to handle it for you? It's your livestream account, after all."Aria, rarely one to outwardly display emotions, gave him a small pout, managing to be both adorable and prideful at the same time. "They keep giving me automated responses, and even the moderators haven't been helpful. Maybe it's because they don't want to offend a high-spending customer."L
Although Georgina didn't care much about others' opinions, she prioritized Aria's education. Other matters could wait, but one's knowledge was for life.Georgina despised those who claimed furthering one's studies was useless. They would advise her to let Aria abandon her studies and start working. However, if Aria performed well in her exams this time, she might get into a prestigious college.Aria hadn't even finished washing up, but Georgina could already envision her bright future. She believed that Aria shouldn't be confined to this small town and be looked down upon by others. Aria should venture out and make herself a name."Aria, listen to me. I can manage the shop, and I won't be soft-hearted toward the Kent family either. Just focus on doing well in your exams and don't feel pressured." Aria could sense how much Georgina cared about her exam.For good luck, Georgina brushed a four-leaf clover over Aria's body. It was said to ward off bad luck and bring success.Aria ha
The highly discussed Aria was still in the cab dealing with her work.She was finalizing the Kent Corporation acquisition. Setting traps and analyzing data, she devised a long-term strategy for maximum profit.Once everything was ready, she contacted Harry. "Go and inform Marshall that Grand Construction Corp. will give him three minutes to state his case."Harry was excited. "It's a foolproof negotiation tactic. I understand!"A company whose market value had plummeted to rock bottom was the perfect acquisition target.By the time Aria completed this task, it was already 9:00 am. The exam was set to start at 9:30 am, but even after getting out of the car, Aria continued to be engrossed in her phone.Moderator 007 also reached out to Aria. Knowing she was released, he sent several messages expressing his regrets on behalf of the platform.Aria smiled. "I need to thank you, too."It wasn't easy for the platform to support her and not ban her account under immense pressure. This
Malcolm felt goosebumps forming over his skin. "Grandpa, I think Aria can manage by herself."He felt the overwhelming sense of pressure again.Aria smiled. "He's right."After saying that, she disappeared into the building. Abraham twisted Malcolm's ear. "What do you mean she can do it by herself? Didn't you see her grades? If she fails this time, I'll kick you out of the Lowe family, you brat!"Not only did Malcolm have to get up early, but he also received a scolding. It wasn't even his exam, yet he'd be punished if Aria didn't perform well. Malcolm began to question whether he was Abraham's biological grandson. Abraham fretted. Cases like Aria's were rare. Though most students knew she was innocent, her release was barely ten hours ago.The official report lacked details as the full investigation was still ongoing. It would take at least five days to understand Aria's involvement clearly. Thus, some students still had some reservations about her."Her being able to cure
Aria didn't need to split her exams into two days. At this pace, she could finish all her papers by 3:00 pm. This unprecedented pace forced the teachers to adjust their grading schedule. They all planned to work overtime that night to get her papers graded promptly.Aria powered through the exams until 12:00 pm.The proctor quickly collected the papers and sealed them in front of the class. This time, even the grading process would be made public to prove Aria's abilities.Aria was starving by the time she finished her morning exams. Malcolm obeyed his grandfather and took her out to eat.When he appeared, there were many onlookers."Is he Aria's boyfriend? He's so handsome."Malcolm's appearance matched the latest trend. He had single eyelids, a high nose bridge, and youthful features. He was only three years older than Aria. He still looked like a student, making them look like peers.Someone already posted their photos on the school forum. "They look perfect together!"
Aria raised her eyebrows, thinking Landon had made quite a dramatic entrance.Landon's good looks and proximity to Aria caused the cafeteria to erupt in wide-eyed stares, especially from Malcolm, who nearly dropped his utensils on the table.Landon, impeccably dressed in a suit, seemed oblivious. He leaned in, tucking a strand of Aria's hair behind her ear with a chuckle. "Could you ask your classmate to scoot over a bit? I brought you lunch."Aria set down her spoon, propping her chin on a hand. "He's not a classmate but a friend from the Lowe family. Why didn't you tell me you were coming back?"Landon sneered when he heard the word "friend". Then, he loosened his collar and smiled brightly. "I just got off the plane and didn't have time to message you."As he spoke, he threw a glance at Malcolm. "Can I have my girlfriend back, please?"The request, delivered in a polite yet unyielding tone, was underscored by a dark, domineering glint in his eyes.Malcolm gulped and relented,
Aria was devouring the ribs in the cafeteria while Landon looked at her from beside. It seemed he was only there to bring her lunch and nothing more.Girls flocked around, ogling at Landon. He responded with a raised eyebrow and the occasional sickly cough. He exuded an air of unattainable mystique, approachable only to Aria. "Aren't you going to eat?" asked Aria. "I have a business lunch later," Landon replied, his refined manners starkly contrasting with the students around him. Plus, he also exuded a commanding presence. He then sent a voice message in Nobeetan, his voice surprisingly dreamy. Seeing he was busy, Aria didn't disturb him.The roasted ribs, pork belly, and prawn suited her tastebuds more, and since Landon had a weak stomach, he was better off drinking soup. With that in mind, Aria pushed the mushroom soup toward him. Landon smiled, phone still in hand, before taking the spoon from her and bringing it to his lips for two delicate sips. The action was intim
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