Despite being one of the most popular actors, Leon found the comments online weighed heavily on him. At night, he often questioned the meaning of his path. However, he turned to Aria today and asked, "Do you think it's right?""What do you mean?" Aria asked, lowering her gaze to look at the score sheet. Leon averted his gaze. "Being an idol and not considering my future."Seeing Leon's timid expression, Aria was reminded of his final moments in her dream, causing her heart to ache.She wouldn't feel this way if she had not encountered Leon in her dream and learned more about his struggles. He was a vibrant young man who overcame numerous challenges in pursuing his passion. Despite his considerable effort to make it onto the world stage, a conspiracy ultimately brought him down.Moreover, the vile Owen had consistently belittled Leon."You are a shining star," Aria said as she looked at him dotingly. "Leon, you were born for the stage. You're incredible. How could you doubt it?"
Aria had never met Fergus before, but Percy mentioned that Fergus wanted to come back for the reunion banquet. Unfortunately, the overseas partner refused to sign the contract if Fergus wasn't around.Aria had heard that Fergus was quite renowned on Parker Street. Everyone talked about Fergus Carver, a Farshyan known for his remarkable intelligence and who was acclaimed as the best CEO for managing the company.If Aria's dreams were indeed glimpses from her past life, she wondered why the brilliant Fergus hadn't helped Warren to save Carver Group. After all, Fergus was overseas overseeing Carver Group's subsidiary.As Aria pondered this, Stephen led Fergus inside while pushing two suitcases.Perplexed, Leon's brows quirked when he noticed the two suitcases. There was a breeze when the door was pushed open. This was the first time Aria laid eyes on her eldest brother, Fergus. He looked every bit the elite businessman in a meticulously tailored suit, with short, tousled hair and
Worried that Aria might be out of the loop, Leon leaned in and whispered to her. "She is Fergus' first love, Poeta Summers. They were madly in love but broke up because Grandpa disapproved of them.""I can see that," Aria whispered.Leon looked surprised. "You can tell?"She could. Body language revealed a lot, and their conversation made it even more apparent. But what really caught her attention was Warren's demeanor.Noticing their quiet exchange, Fergus asked, "Leon, what are you whispering to Aria about?""Nothing much," Leon replied casually, sliding a hand into his pocket with the grace of a celebrity. "We were just talking about how flowers can still bloom, but we can't be young again."Peota couldn't help but say, "Leon, you're as funny as ever."Leon smiled politely, and from that, Aria could tell Poeta was familiar with him and his brothers."I was so surprised to see your posters overseas," Poeta added, her eyes brightening. "Your fans really adore you. Who would've
Poeta could feel how much Aria meant to the Carver family, especially to Fergus. Back then, he only had eyes for Poeta whenever she was around, but now, all his focus seemed to be on Aria.Maybe it had been too long. They hadn't seen each other since their breakup at university. Poeta had only come back after hearing Fergus was still single.The pot was still piping hot. Poeta was considerate. Knowing the Carver family had plenty to talk about, she didn't butt in afterward.As they ate, Leon added some meat to Aria's plate and advised, "Aria, look at how Fergus doesn't listen to Grandpa now that he has a girlfriend. Lovesickness is dangerous. I know you like that bad boy Landon, but be careful. Don't marry him just because he's good-looking.""Leon, for once, you make sense," Percy said, adjusting his glasses. Like the lawyer he was, he advised, "Aria, you should think it over. You need not rush to get married. Besides, you've just come back to Janovin."Elijah was even more dir
Seemingly fearful to offend Aria, Poeta quickly explained, "Aria, I'm sorry. I misspoke. I didn't mean it like that. I just want Mr. Carver Senior to know how serious I am about Ferg."Poeta followed her words with a sincere bow to Warren, a clear display of her modesty.Compared to Lily, Poeta was harder to read. Her sincerity made it difficult to find any fault with her.Warren, who had felt suffocated moments before, could now breathe easier.Warren found it hard to explain the events from back then. Poeta's behavior often seemed off, but he knew telling Fergus would fall on deaf ears.Giving Poeta that sum of money back then had been a mistake. Warren's aim was to gauge her resilience, yet the credit card had since become a thorny issue. He regretted listening to Leon. In the end, it looked like he was the one who had made the wrong choice!When Warren glanced at Leon, the latter guiltily turned his head away, his handsome face betraying his guilt. Who could have predicted th
As the trio departed, Poeta turned to Stephen with a smile. "Mr. Carver Senior has really changed. It must be because of Aria's return.""Has he?" Stephen responded politely. "Mr. Carver Senior has always been reasonable. He was just overwhelmed with responsibilities in the past. "This way, Ms. Summers. Mr. Fergus is occupied with an international meeting. His room is down this hall. Let me know if you need anything."Poeta smiled brightly. "Thank you, Mr. Warsaw."The Carver residence was massive, and the bright lights scattered throughout gave it a cozy, inviting feel, even though it was already late into the night. The study remained lit, a beacon of activity.Instead of seeking out Fergus, Poeta made a phone call before heading off to sleep.Warren meant it when he said he no longer cared. His focus now was solely on listening to Aria's plans for Leon."His contract is still tied to the York family," Warren commented with a smile. "That cunning Landon clearly recognized Leo
Warren slept soundly that night, while a certain someone wasn't as lucky. Aria was exhausted after dismantling manifestations one after another. For some reason, Nyx and the twins hadn't dared to come out of Aria's arcane implements, especially after arriving at the Carver residence.Nyx said, "Your family's heavenly fortune is overwhelming, my lord. It makes us feel unwell."Nyx and the twins were all evil spirits once, so they would naturally be on their best behavior in a patriotic merchant's territory.From this, one could infer how unstable the Carver family's foundation had once been. Certain evil presences had taken the opportunity to undermine the family.Aria said nothing. After taking a shower, she used a special method to make three sleeping bags so that the spirits could use them. She wasn't good at handicrafts, but according to Tobias, she was very talented at designing those items. Other people would have to perform spells and create the shapes immaculately for thos
Dream-Poeta didn't return to the family with Fergus, unlike in real life. They exchanged a hasty goodbye at the airport once before reuniting when Fergus attended a banquet.It was like how things would go in many novels—Fergus often found himself thinking about Poeta whenever he saw her. Perhaps his first love was simply too unforgettable, and he wanted to get to the bottom of why they'd broken up. Perhaps he wanted to ask Poeta himself why she'd chosen to leave when they'd been deeply in love.Poeta refused to say anything no matter what Fergus did, so he sought Warren out. He told Warren that he'd get by alone without the family's support, almost similar to what he'd said in Warren's study in real life. Warren would never let Fergus get tangled up in trivial romantic affairs. Carver Group was at a critical juncture, and Fergus' priority was to manage the company so that the unemployment rate could be salvaged.This was why Warren forcibly intervened in their relationship. Unl
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
Dave smiled, clearly enjoying the desperation on Lewis' face. "Also, you won't be getting any more orders. Your supervisor is going to help us delete every report you've ever submitted. What a shame, Lewis. You risked your life on the front lines, only for someone else to reap the rewards behind your back. If I were you, I'd stop being so loyal. Wouldn't it be better to join us?"He was trying to manipulate Lewis, planting doubt and betrayal like poison. As Aria listened, her fists clenched slowly. Nothing crushed a person's spirit more than destroying their belief in what they stood for. They had exposed Lewis on purpose—to break his faith in the uniform he wore.The masked clients settled back into their seats, returning to their arrogant ease. They were reminded that they were above the law within these walls. No one from the outside could enter the premises, and if someone did, they wouldn't leave intact.These people had powerful connections. To them, the undercover cop was a
Aside from Aria, who had initially refused the food, everything had seemed normal to Stephanie. After all, Aria eventually accepted a drink, and nothing else appeared out of the ordinary.But the more Stephanie thought about it, the deeper her frown became. A sense of unease crept in, and she instinctively lowered her microphone, ready to rush to the basement to check things for herself. Seeing her reaction, the wealthy clients began to panic.The woman in the fox mask stood up, clutching her bag tightly, and made for the exit. She feared she would actually be arrested if she stayed any longer. She had no intention of ending up in jail just for attending an auction, especially one like this. Most importantly, she couldn't afford to have her reputation tarnished.Like her, the rest of the crowd shared the same instinct—flee.Meanwhile, Aria narrowed her eyes as she subdued a bodyguard with one hand. She maintained firm but measured pressure with her left hand, ready to act the moment
When Sasha heard the man mention the rare gem, her eyes narrowed slightly. Very few people knew about it. Only Dave and a handful of higher-ups were aware. She immediately wondered who had leaked the news.But the man's words had already ignited excitement across the auction floor."What? A rare gem?""It's been ages since we've seen one! I can't believe there's actually one today!"To these people, a rare gem referred to someone whose body was considered exceptionally valuable, blessed with natural fortune, vitality, and unmatched physical condition. It was believed that such a person couldn't fully harness the luck they were born with. But if someone else could acquire it...Not only could they preserve their youth and beauty, but their careers and fortunes could be transformed. The idea sent a thrill through the room, and their greed quickly became impossible to hide.Sasha realized the situation was slipping out of her control. She reached for her communicator to contact Dave,