"Our sister is, and will always be, Rainbow. I've told you that more than once. We held back before because you were a girl, and we didn't want to publicly humiliate you. We worried about your pride."But you've gone too far, slandering my sister just to boost your ego and meddle in things that don't concern you. Dad may be lenient, but we are not him."If I can't protect my sister, then I don't deserve to be part of the Carver family!" Leon declared.The entire banquet erupted in chaos.The three Carver brothers had always fiercely protected their younger sister.Fiona quickly took Aria's hand. She remained as poised and formidable as ever, silently sending a message—anyone who dared to bully Aria would have to face the Grisham family first.After all, Fiona wasn't just Mrs. Carver; she was also the beloved daughter of the Grishams.With that unspoken warning, the room fell into a hush. Meanwhile, Verona's convictions were shattered. For years, she believed she was helping Fion
Unexpectedly, Fiona held her hand affectionately. "You're right, Mrs. Furler. As mothers, we shouldn't condone our children harming others. However, when others try to harm our children, we won't stand by. They better not test us!"Elizabeth was a bit nervous being held by such a beautiful lady. "Oh, yes. You're right."Fiona's eyes rested on Owen for the first time with sharp clarity. "Everyone believed my condition was stable because of the child my husband brought home."She continued, addressing the room, "Like everyone else, I trusted him. All of you have witnessed the love I've shared with my husband, especially Mrs. Wagner."Fiona wasn't one to let things slide when they concerned her daughter. She would have overlooked it if someone had been against her. But they hadn't hesitated to target her daughter, using her illness as an excuse. They were no different from the faceless critics online who had gone after Leon.Her illness had given them the chance to attack her child.
Divorce?The room fell silent, even Owen frozen in shock."Divorce?" Owen stared at Fiona, disbelief etched on his face. "You want to divorce me?"Owen knew the Grisham family well. They were known for their adherence to traditional values, so hearing Fiona suggest divorce so casually was shocking. Why hadn't she discussed this with him privately? Why humiliate him in front of everyone?It was as if Owen no longer recognized Fiona, his gaze filled with evident fury."You're having an episode again!" Owen reached for Fiona. "Come with me to the hospital!"An episode? How could Fiona's mention of divorce considered an episode?As most looked on in confusion, Aria tightly gripped Owen's wrist. "Mom kept the documents private to avoid affecting the Carver Group's stock. Be sensible and leave now."Owen gritted his teeth, glaring angrily at Aria. The fortune-teller was right. Aria was indeed a threat to the Carver family! He needed to find a way to handle this situation. Though he
Fiona was very respectful to Ian. "You're right."Standing nearby and leaning on his cane, Warren gazed intently at Fiona. With a meaningful tone, he asked, "Fiona, I couldn't quite catch what you said from upstairs. Are you really considering divorcing my son?"Ian frowned. "This is a matter for the younger generation. You shouldn't interfere.""Ian, I'm not interfering. I'm just asking," Warren replied with a smile. "It has already come to this point, after all."Fiona felt a deep sense of guilt toward Warren. Since she had married into the Carver family, her in-laws had treated her as their own daughter, understanding that she was far from her own family and offering her unwavering support.This had been the case for many years. Even when Aria was kidnapped, Warren's worry for her had taken a toll on his health.Fiona knew that bringing up divorce on such a joyous occasion could humiliate Warren. Yet, she decided to take a chance. "Yes, Dad. I want to divorce Owen."Gasps rip
Owen's hatred simmered, but he couldn't confront them. His dignity was at stake.Mindy grew anxious. "Dad, you should make amends with Mom. I doubt she'd really go through with a divorce.""She can do whatever she wants!" Owen snapped, loosening his tie as sweat beaded on his forehead and his fists clenched.Mindy couldn't comprehend why her usually shrewd father didn't grasp the severity of the situation. If the divorce became final, Mindy dreaded what her future might hold.The information had reached Fiona at just the right moment. Without it, she might not have resolved to divorce Owen today. This move also cut off any chance for Mindy to use Owen and Fiona to forge ties with the Carver and Grisham families.Even Leon was puzzled. "Mom, what made you suddenly decide?"He and his brothers expected Fiona to take time before settling on divorcing Owen. After all, they had loved each other since their youth. They hadn't anticipated this decision would come so swiftly.Percy ca
Owen's trust in Ian had Aria thinking of him. However, Nyx and the twins quickly dispelled those musings.Aria was lost in contemplation. She had only heard Agnes' voice at the banquet in her dream, but the other voice still eluded her.Was the commotion not significant enough? Aria pressed on her Charm Coin, subtly scanning the room. Owen was still struggling, Mindy looking pitiful as she pleaded, "Dad, don't be like this.""Can you tell what's wrong with her?" Aria asked, casually picking up a wine glass.Nyx leaped onto her shoulder, bouncing twice with a flicker of impatience. "I don't sense anything out of the ordinary. But you humans are quick to fall in line with her whims. My lord, there's a secret spell whispered in the depths of Netherrealm, one that can bend thoughts to its will.""A spell?" Aria replied nonchalantly. "Are you referring to what's recorded in the Durin scriptures?"Nyx blinked, her expression thoughtful. "I haven't read them firsthand. I only know of
No one knew who was in the video. The footage only showed a marble floor, clearly filmed with the intention of obscuring the subject's identity.Immediately, all attention was drawn to the livestream."Mr. York is the one who broke off the engagement with the Carver family. How could he be pursuing her now?""How do you know she's the one spreading the rumors?"The voices of the two women were altered, making it impossible to identify them."I recorded the person spreading the rumors," one of the women said, pointing her phone at the screen.Will appeared on camera, wearing a coat and holding a birdcage. He said, "You've only heard one side. Mr. York is actually the one pursuing her.""He talks as if he witnessed it himself," the person on the screen said. "Everyone knows he is Mr. Warren Senior's subordinate. It goes without saying who spread the rumors."It's hilarious. How shameless could she be to spread rumors that Mr. York is pursuing her? Can't she see the difference bet
"Mrs. Carver, how do you explain what Will said? There's even a video!" Kylie demanded, her voice sharp with accusation.Agnes, who had been about to intervene, let Kylie continue. She was enjoying the spectacle of Fiona's daughter embarrassing herself.The pressure was squarely on the Carver family."Since Will is the source, it's difficult to refute.""Ms. Aria is probably behind the rumors," someone suggested. "She must be scared that Mr. York might break off the engagement again.""Clearly, the York family looks down on a country bumpkin like her. If they didn't, they would have shown up," another person remarked."That's right. Plus, Will has followed Mr. Carver Senior's instructions for years. It looks like Ms. Aria likes to stir up trouble.""I'm worried that even Mr. Carver Senior's reputation might be tarnished by this," someone else added.Kylie's satisfaction grew with the rising chatter. "Mrs. Carver, please clarify who taught Will to spread those rumors. Was it som
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