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
Disregarding families of similar status, even those lower in rank wouldn't dare to flatter the Wagner family again.Agnes was still contemplating her next move. Both Mindy and Kylie struggled, but the York family's bodyguards were different from those of other prestigious families. They were fiercely loyal and only followed orders from their employer. Owen had failed to prevent their actions and was forcibly pinned to the ground.Red wine splattered onto his white suit, leaving him disheveled.Unable to tolerate the situation any longer, Owen shouted at Fiona, "Mindy is also our daughter. Even if she's not our biological daughter, she has been by your side for years. How can you do this to her?""No, I have never acknowledged her," Fiona retorted with fiery eyes. "Owen, you were exploiting me when I was vulnerable! People may call me heartless today, but I will never tolerate someone who has continuously plotted against Aria and tried to replace her. I'd already held myself bac
When Warren made his announcement, everyone was stunned. The announcement was also the last thing Owen heard before he got dragged away. Surprisingly, no one objected. This was Warren's plan all along. Owen finally understood why Warren had waited so long to announce Aria's return. This wasn't a reunion; it was a trap set for him.If Warren had announced this a month ago, many shareholders would have opposed it. They favored Owen, who had maintained good relationships with them. However, even disregarding the Grisham family, no one would dare to defy Landon or the York family.Warren had hidden his trump card well, using it against Owen. Did Warren not see Owen as his son? Why didn't Warren hand over the company to him? Warren had remained guarded, refusing to step down even when ill. Yet, the moment Aria returned, Warren handed the company to her.It was clear Warren had no faith in him.Even knowing that today's events would completely cut off Owen's chances of inheriti
Aria decided to talk to Verona later.The others present all raised their glasses. "Congratulations to Aria Carver, the new head of Carver Group!"As the host applauded, every spotlight focused on Aria. She was undoubtedly the most striking person in the room. Information about the new head of Carver Group had also become one of the most searched topics. Although no photos were released, news about Carver Group occupied all news sites' headlines in the business segment.Many wealthy young ladies sneered at Aria after learning of her background, assuming she was an unsophisticated country girl clueless about fashion and luxury—nothing compared to them.They were certain she'd embarrass herself at the banquet and that Landon would surely dismiss her.They even schemed a few pranks, eager to ridicule her and enforce the unspoken rules of their social circle.What they didn't expect was that three of her six brothers would attend the banquet solely for her. Even Landon, typically s
Landon's sudden appearance wasn't just a coincidence. With Aria's intelligence, she would figure something out soon—he knew that. He hadn't planned on revealing himself like this. But something that belonged to him was here, and the demonic energy in this place… Aria couldn't face it alone.She studied him from head to toe, her hand still in his. His grip was firm, protective."There's a lot of mist ahead," he said quietly. "We'll need to tread carefully."Aria tilted her head. "You speak like you know this place well.""I do," Landon replied with a calm honesty. "I was deathly ill once. My soul wandered into a place just like this. Homer pulled me back."His voice made it sound like a distant memory, and Aria gave a soft laugh, tightening her hold on his hand. "You really are full of surprises. I guess it's true—handsome men are the most dangerous."But Aria's thoughts were racing. Why had he come after her like this, knowing it would reveal parts of himself he'd tried to keep h
Landon was still handling the stragglers behind Aria when he paused, his gaze flicking upward. Cameras were mounted in every corner—too many eyes. Vanishing without a trace wasn't an option.He glanced in Aria's direction, then lowered his head. His lips moved in a whisper, but the sounds were incomprehensible—something rhythmic, otherworldly. It was less like a speech and more like a chant—an exorcism.Meanwhile, Dave descended into the underground, calm and unrushed. That place reeked of foul energy, dense and suffocating. His master had cast a spell over it—one designed to kill anyone who dared to enter, no matter their strength. Dave wasn't afraid. He had more pressing priorities—destroying documents, erasing traces, minimizing damage.His bodyguard stayed close, watching for anyone who might try to stop them.Aria, moving swiftly, reached the lower floor—only to halt. Mist curled along the ground, thickening with every step. The air turned icy. And the corridor behind her…
"Why would there be people outside?" asked Dave. He had been disguising himself as a doctor for years, and that was the first time he looked so anxious. After all, if someone did approach their building, the villagers would have informed them about it. However, they received no news this time.Dave wondered what was going on."Dr. Dave, what should we do now? I think we're surrounded!"He was still in his coat as he slightly clenched his fists. "Let's move out. Bring the girls in the basement with us.""T-They're not in the basement."When Dave heard that, he looked furious. "What do you mean they're not in the basement?""Someone took them away, and I'm guessing it was her fault!" The bodyguard pointed at Aria, who was standing on the highest point, showing off her skills. With swift, lethal kicks and a taser turned weapon, no one dared get close.Whoever touched Aria would die, and no one dared to approach her at all.As for Landon, he still had his mask on as he stood behind
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