The spectral twins, Abbie and Angie, clung to the ethereal plane within the amethyst pendant, their spectral forms trembling—too afraid to come out. Everyone around Aria was very dangerous.They had believed their presence would taint Aria's fortune—after all, they were spirits of malevolence. Yet, upon encountering Chaos, their fears were magnified. Aria's willingness to harbor such a being suggested she was not one to be swayed by mere omens.Sam, on the other hand, detected a peculiar scent emanating from Aria. It was tantalizing, a fragrance that made his hunger rise.He rubbed his belly with a longing expression and glanced at the amethyst pendant sideways, trying to convey his desire.Aria, understanding his unspoken plea, pinched his cheek. "These are your future siblings. You must not consume them, understand?"Sam was struck dumb. The notion of his potential prey becoming kin was baffling.He grudgingly nodded, deciding to bide his time. For now, he had to restrain his t
Despite Landon's frail appearance, he was adept at handling seasoned businessmen like Warren in the industry. So how could he suddenly seem polite and harmless before Aria? He must be putting on an act!Besides, no brother would ever find his sister's boyfriend pleasing to the eye, especially since Landon had called off his engagement with Aria. While everything else was understandable, his transformation before Aria was unsettling. After all, Landon wasn't like this with others.Sensing Leon's gaze, Landon looked over with an unreadable gaze."I understand that Leon may be unhappy about me. I was in the wrong, after all." Landon took the initiative to speak, his subdued tone seeming somewhat innocent. "Perhaps it's because I refused to play with him when we were younger, or maybe my foolishness to call off my engagement with Aria."With his refined and pale face, he seemed a bit fragile when he batted his long lashes. Nobody would want to trouble such a beautiful person, especia
Aria raised her eyebrows. "The Wagner family? You seem to care quite a lot about our family's banquet.""Well, I could have attended as your family," Landon replied, handing her a cup of coffee. "Get in the car first. I'll explain it to you when we get there."Aria was well taken care of. She settled into the seat, enjoying her coffee.Landon had arranged for two SUVs. Leon and the others were in the second vehicle, leaving the first one for just the two of them.Landon, capable of working anywhere, adjusted Aria's seat before responding to messages from his workgroup.Reclined, Aria yawned lazily, her beauty undiminished.Landon finished sending a text and caught sight of her. His eyes flickered as he fiddled with the rosary bracelet on her wrist. "A jeweler will come later. You can pick out a ring.""A ring? No thanks," Aria rejected without a second thought. "Having it while I perform my acupuncture is a hassle."Landon was exasperated. "Well, you can choose a necklace or so
Aria's eyes flickered at his words, and she recalled the burdens from the sins he carried. He had been kind to her, and she felt the need to repay him somehow. She reached out, gently holding his wrist to read his pulse. Though it appeared as if she was examining him, she was actually working to alleviate some of his burdens. As a practitioner in esoteric arts, she had many ways to help.However, Landon avoided her touch. "Don't misuse your magic."Aria felt that Landon was not easy to fool. He seemed to know everything.Was it because he read a lot of books? Aria propped her chin and got lost in her thoughts.Suddenly, she spoke up, "By the way, the spirits I adopted are afraid of you."Landon chuckled, wrapping her in a coat. "Do I look scary? You should help them build their courage. They could learn from Sam."Only four Perils existed in the world, like Sam. These creatures were embodiments of pure evil, leaving destruction in their wake. Yet, not all of them had been see
Aria was still pondering Nyx's words. What would the Wagner family have for Nyx to follow them involuntarily?She touched the Charm Coin to contact Nyx. She sought answers about what transpired at the Layne residence, how he ended up gravely injured, and his sudden appearance at Edenvale Children's Hospital. Yet silence greeted her queries.Puzzled, Aria glanced at Landon, eyebrows raised. She couldn't fathom why the little ones seemed to cower before him.Landon noticed her gaze and put down his work phone with a slight smile. He retrieved a bottle of water from the car's fridge and handed it to her, asking calmly, "Why the curious look?""Nothing much." Aria yawned lazily. "You go ahead and work. Wake me up when we arrive."The toll of dismantling a formation always left her drowsy, something Tobias had warned her about. She needed rest after such exhausting work, and the comfort of the car quickly lulled her into sleep.Landon watched her delicate features, a peculiar tenderne
Aria's remarkable resilience was the only thing shielding her from the chaos engulfing the Carver family.A selfish, duplicitous father, a cunning sponsee, and a host of scheming aristocratic families circled her like vultures.Landon could barely hold back his anger when he thought of that. He would gladly help Aria finish them off if she wanted to, and he didn't care if he broke the rules.He fiddled with his bracelet. When he looked up again, his demeanor seemed to have changed.Meanwhile, Aria had a dream. The dream was even more bizarre this time. The setting was the "Survival of the Fittest", but Leon's fate had taken a tragic turn. He lay buried beneath the children's hospital, having sacrificed himself to save another. The twin siblings had transformed into Wrathborns, creatures of vengeance.The dream twisted, bringing her to Leon's final visit home, a stormy confrontation."I won't accept it. No one can replace Aria," Leon's voice was thick with defiance. His gaze was
This meant Jeffrey and Leon had died before she returned, all because of these accidents.When Aria woke up, her breathing was erratic, and she had a splitting headache. Despite having endured countless dreams before, this one left her feeling as though a crushing weight bore down on her chest, suffocating her.With missing memories and underlying psychological issues, she'd been indifferent to family relationships.The notion of seeking out her birth parents had always seemed a distant thought, a task for those who cared enough to find her. But now, as the remnants of her dream clung to her mind, a sharp pang struck her heart.Leon looked so lonely, standing alone under the moonless sky. He wanted her to return, but he didn't want her to suffer and get acknowledged alongside a Carver family's sponsee.Leon's online reputation was poor. Yet, he instinctively saved others in danger during the show.Leon questioned Fiona, as he wanted her to support him. However, the outcome left h
Aria's eyes held a simmering resentment. Whenever she felt this way, it led her thoughts to darker places, like Landon's neck, for instance.It wasn't the first time she'd been tempted to bite it. The black mist surrounding him, coupled with his alluring fortune, was an irresistible combination.She had to admit, though, that the most captivating aspect was his scent, which was intoxicating, and his strikingly handsome face.Landon possessed a noble destiny and many merits yet was weighed down by his karma. This duality made him irresistibly attractive to Aria.She knew her behavior was odd but couldn't resist sinking her teeth into his neck. His scent calmed the effects of the nightmare and cleared her mind.Seeing the change in Landon's usually pale face, Aria smiled. She thought he would look even more striking in a crimson robe instead of his usual black suit and white shirt. That would truly make him stand out.Aria suddenly felt a strange sense of familiarity with his image
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