Landon, a renowned socialite and tyrannical figure in Janovin, commanded respect and fear. When healthy, he would ruthlessly punish those who dared to provoke the York family. His reputation ensured that no one would dare to cross him, as doing so would be equivalent to seeking their own demise.His imposing stance caused one of the CEOs to say, "Mr. York, your fiancée doesn't need to socialize with anyone. People should be the ones buttering up to her!"Landon acknowledged the comment with a nod. "You're right, Mr. Gagnon. I hope my fiancée remains unblemished and unexploited. That's why I arrived a bit late."Kylie couldn't help but shake her head. "No! I don't believe it. How could you like her?""She's beautiful, kind, and innocent. Why wouldn't I like her?" Landon replied, his gaze indifferent.Beautiful, kind, and innocent?Everyone turned their eyes to Aria. While she was undoubtedly beautiful, her innocence was in question.Landon paid no mind to the gazes directed at Ar
Agnes tried to pull Kylie away. "Kylie, are you crazy?"Kylie couldn't possibly be that foolish! Didn't she see how Landon acted? He came here just to support Aria!However, Kylie seemed to have lost her mind. "Mom, listen to me. There's no way he would fall in love with a country bumpkin. They have nothing to talk about. He's such a dignified person!"Agnes wished she could slap some sense into Kylie. Yet, Kylie was surprisingly strong, making it impossible for Agnes to restrain her.Seeing everyone look at her as if she were insane, Kylie felt a chill in her heart. She rushed over to Mindy, grasping her hands. "Mindy, you know him best. We've observed him for years. He's rejected you time and again. There's no way he'd be interested in an outsider. Please, say something, Mindy!"But Mindy's mind went blank when Landon arrived at the banquet. She hadn't expected him to come.The Carver family had hosted many events in the past. On her birthday, Owen had personally invited the
However, Landon had already made his move, leaving no room for Mindy to turn things around. Whether Mindy was a bitch or not didn't matter to him—it wasn't his concern. But with Aria involved, Landon wouldn't hesitate to expose Mindy."Someone once said that the most important thing for a woman is having manners."Landon's gaze shifted to a wealthy woman who typically went unnoticed. "Ms. Yallaton, both of these individuals openly express their admiration for me. Do you not see a problem with that? Yet, when it comes to my fiancée, you're quick to criticize. Why is it acceptable for these two to act this way but not for her?"Felicia Yallaton tried to respond. "That's different. For so many years, Mindy—""Yes, it is different," Landon cut her off, his tone indifferent. "Aria is my fiancée. As for those two… I've rejected them countless times in private, never showing any interest. Their actions have been affecting my life for too long."Landon's expression hardened. "If my fiancé
The ladies felt a surge of anger, wishing they could tear those bitches apart!Aria, however, remained composed, a plate of pastries in hand as she observed the unfolding drama. Her calm demeanor reminded them of Fiona, and they couldn't help but admire her self-control.Yet, not everyone shared their perspective. Verona, for instance, felt a strange tug of sympathy for Mindy despite understanding the situation. She had to pinch herself to suppress the peculiar feeling.Even Leon was affected. Had Landon not rebuked Mindy, he might have fallen for her trap. Leon was confused and conflicted, drawn to pity her despite his disdain for her. He began to question his own sanity, wondering if he had contracted some sort of illness.Leon decided to discuss his feelings with Aria later, unaware that she was already privy to the situation.Nyx, who had teetered on the brink of rebirth across countless lifetimes, only to be denied reincarnation each time—even in the warmth of his mother's wo
Aria replied with a measured tone, "There's no haste. He's within reach. We might have to rely on modern means to bring him to light."As she spoke, Aria glanced at her watch. "It's 8:10 pm. We can identify the culprit if we check all the guests who arrived around this time.""How should we investigate?" Despite their maturity, the twins were still just kids.Aria smiled. "It's easy. We'll just hack into the surveillance system."But first, Landon needed to return Sam to her.Just as Aria was about to approach, Owen intervened. "Landon, you've misunderstood. I've raised Mindy since she was a child, so I know her well. She likes you, but she's never been clingy. You're crossing the line by publicly condemning her."Owen, already considering himself Landon's father-in-law, expected Landon to show him some respect and let the matter slide. But Landon's smile only grew wider. "Mr. Carver, I'm engaged to Aria. Everyone saw how those two made things difficult for Aria before I arrived.
"Mr. Carver, it would be wise for you to stay," Landon said, his tone dismissive. "You know what the York family's bodyguards are capable of."Owen's face flushed with anger. "Are you threatening me? This is a Carver family event!""You're right, but I'm the Carver family's son-in-law," Landon replied coolly, glancing toward the second floor where Warren stood, leaning on a cane. "I've already consulted Grandpa, and he said you should stay behind and watch."Although it felt satisfying to see Owen being dealt with, wasn't it too early for Landon to call Warren "Grandpa"?Leon turned his head, trying to see which brother shared his sentiment. However, none of them were looking at him. Instead, they were focused on Warren.Well, Warren had hidden his intentions well.Warren had always doted on Aria, so he could not tolerate what was happening. His calm demeanor was due to his alliance with Landon for the final move. As such, with Warren's decree, Owen was stuck. Owen flung his ha
The scene erupted into chaos. Whispers circulated among the attendees as they struggled to reconcile the Wagner family's strict upbringing with the scandalous actions of their grandchild.Kylie's scheme against Aria at the banquet was laid bare. Kylie claimed Aria was the one spreading falsehoods, though she herself was the true source of malice!As the crowd buzzed with discussion, Kylie's anxiety mounted.Her previous excuse of being Lamar's fan, which had allowed her to deflect blame, was no longer viable. The damning footage exposed her true intentions.No one would trust Kylie now. Everyone knew she had been plotting against Aria!Desperate to salvage her reputation, Kylie grabbed a nearby waiter and demanded, "Turn it off! Turn it off now!" Her harsh tone only highlighted her lack of grace and growing unpopularity.Agnes was mortified. She couldn't believe Kylie's audacity in targeting the York family. While the Carver family might lack the connections to delve into such
Frank, with his pudgy hands, dragged a middle-aged man forward, followed by the York family's bodyguards.With a smile, Frank said, "You wanted to confront him, so here he is."Frank tossed Reghan at Mindy's feet.Reghan looked up, desperation in his eyes. "Ms. Mindy, please help me. Mr. Levin accused me of playing a video without permission. I told him you gave me the USB drive, but they didn't believe me. Ms. Mindy—""Silence!" Mindy's demeanor had shifted dramatically. Her true nature was on full display. No longer the weak and gentle figure, her eyes glinted with malice. "The video I gave you was about Dad missing Aria! Whose orders are you following to scheme against me?"Reghan was taken aback, unable to reconcile this harsh side of Mindy with her usual considerate self. "I didn't! Ms. Mindy, you gave me the USB drive. We didn't even review it because you provided it.""That's enough!" Mindy clenched her hands. "All you're spouting is lies. Take him away!"Mindy didn't bot
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