Owen's head throbbed, his expression etched with pain. He stammered, "Rainbow, I never meant for things to turn out this way. I only spoke harshly because I never met you. I didn't know it was you. I—"Aria cut him off, her voice firm. "Mr. Carver, your daughter is standing right next to you, not me."Owen faltered, blurting out, "Rainbow, how can you say that?"She raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in her eyes. "What else am I supposed to say? Should I embrace you as my father with open arms?"Owen's brow furrowed. "Rainbow, you can't hate me for a minor misunderstanding. I am your father."A smile graced Aria's face. "I'm afraid you'll be disappointed then. Holding grudges is one of my strongest suits."Panic flickered in Owen's eyes. He finally understood that Aria had no intention of acknowledging him.Taking a step forward, he poured out his heart. "I know I messed up. I've been searching for you ever since you returned. But no one told me your identity or whereabouts. I
Fiona wondered if she was dreaming. After all, she often had dreams like this. Aria would show up as a grown-up in all her dreams. She would assure Fiona she was doing well and tell her not to worry.But no mother wouldn't worry about their child. Fiona couldn't bear the thought of Aria disappearing again.Despite her wish, Fiona's dreams about Aria had become less frequent.Now, however, Fiona knew this wasn't a dream. Aria wouldn't talk like this in her dreams. The young lady who had saved her from the streets turned out to be her daughter! Fiona could barely believe it."You're not a jinx," Fiona said, her voice thick with emotion. "You're a gift from heaven. When you were born, all the nurses remarked on how chubby and happy you were. It's my fault for not protecting you well."Tears streamed down Fiona's face as she clenched her fists. "It's not your fault I'm sick. I'm just weak. Rainbow, honey. Why didn't I go and search for you? Why? I remember…" Fiona's thoughts were
Warren's words sent shivers down the managers' spines, especially those who had been disloyal. They kept their heads bowed, fearing Warren's gaze."Mr. Carver Senior, please don't worry. We'll cooperate fully with Ms. Rainbow!"Warren corrected the manager directly. "Call her Ms. Aria. My granddaughter's name is Aria Carver.""Grandpa." Aria only wanted Warren to know what happened, not to take over the company as its CEO. Warren's tone was doting. "You don't need to feel uneasy there. It's our hotel. You can do whatever you want. Rainbow, remember that we're the ones who owe you. Now that you're back, feel free to do whatever you want. I'll support you as long as I live."Warren's declaration had the managers rethinking their allegiances. They began to see Owen in a new light.Owen, filled with regret as he looked at his wife and daughter, realized the gravity of the situation. He wondered what he could do to mend things.Suddenly, the idea of seeking help from his sons crosse
Mindy stiffened, panic etched on her face. "Aria, you've misunderstood. I would never prevent you from coming back. You're my sister—""Sister?" Aria grinned. "You can call Mr. Carver your father as long as he agrees. However, didn't you say we had a conflict before? Why are you calling me your sister now?"The Carver family hadn't officially adopted you if I remember correctly, so you're not my sister. Let's talk about something else."Aria grabbed Dorothy with one hand. "How many of your dirty errands has this old hag done for you?""I didn't!" Mindy cried, tears staining her face. "I don't know what you're talking about."Owen also spoke up. "Rainbow, don't be so harsh on Mindy. Let me explain—""One claims to be my father, while the other declares herself my sister." Aria tossed Dorothy unceremoniously at Mindy's feet. "Let me remind you both, I have little tolerance. Don't try to flatter me."Aria's air of authority was so strong that even Owen hesitated before speaking, es
There was no denying Dorothy's eloquence. In a flash, she managed to brand Aria as unreasonable and undeserving of her status.Fiona, once a prominent socialite, understood the future implications of such labels on her daughter. Public speaking had become a distant memory for Fiona, who feared uttering the wrong word.Today, however, Fiona decided to take a stand. "How can you expect Aria to be polite to someone who labels her unreasonable and rude? I haven't been involved in family matters for a long time."Apparently, being polite to a household staff is now a requirement to earn a title in this household? The Carver family is your employer, Dorothy. If you're unhappy, you are free to leave."Dorothy stiffened. "Mrs. Carver, I—"Fiona didn't even bother looking at her. Instead, she looked toward Mindy. "Dorothy has been serving you all this time. I'm sure she's only acting like this because you permitted it. Look at her. Do you think we're blind to your intentions?""Mom, I don
Aria flung the pillow at Dorothy. "You're responsible for my mother's basic needs. The Carvers trusted you completely."You said you know nothing about the effects, so why is there lemon and mint inside my mom's pillow? It's clear you knew exactly what you were doing."The evidence was irrefutable, presented swiftly. Aria's words stung like a slap.Panic seized Dorothy when Aria yanked away the scented sachet. She hadn't anticipated anyone discovering the pillow.Dorothy's legs felt weak, and her eyes darted around nervously."Will you confess your accomplice now, or at the police station?" Aria pressed.Dorothy bit her lip, refusing to say the truth. "I'm loyal to the Carver family!""You've chosen to go to jail, then." Aria looked away, then suddenly smiled. "Honestly, it doesn't matter if you speak up or not. Your precious Ms. Carver will still be held responsible."Mindy felt suffocated under the weight of scrutiny. All Mindy could do was grab the hem of Owen's clothes and
Meanwhile, the crowd was still gathered in the hotel lobby.Not everyone was oblivious. Those who witnessed the scene understood what transpired. Some men even felt a pang of shame watching Owen leave so abruptly. How could he abandon his daughter and wife to defend a mere sponsee?In the past, Owen could still be described as kind-hearted, easygoing, and someone who wouldn't judge others based on their social standing. He had, after all, treated his sponsee just like his own.However, after Aria's return, Owen's priorities became muddled, leading to this unfortunate situation.The more capable managers swiftly made their decisions, choosing to stay. They wanted to observe Aria's handling of the aftermath, to see if Warren's chosen successor truly possessed the necessary qualities.After all, being decisive wasn't the only crucial aspect of running a business; astuteness was equally important.Could Aria, a young woman from a small town, truly rise to the challenge?It wasn't th
"Give me a list of people who got into the company through nepotism," Aria said coolly. "If I'm satisfied with it, you can avoid jail time." Conrad's mind went blank. "Jail?""Your aunt committed a crime for personal gain, and you secured this job through her influence," Aria explained, twirling her amethyst pendant gracefully. "You can't be entirely innocent of her actions." Conrad shrank back, his face draining of color. He wasn't stupid. If the Carver family really were to investigate what Dorothy did, there was no way he could escape unscathed. "Ms. Carver, I'll tell you everything!" he blurted out. "I know all of them, and I can identify them right now!"Aria averted her gaze from him and scanned the crowd impassively. "There's no urgency. Today's my first day managing this hotel, so I'm granting everyone a chance to redeem themselves."If you fail to do so, you'll face the same consequences as Conrad here. The Carver Group has a history of generosity toward long-term emp
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