Aria weaved through the throng exiting the hall, her baseball cap pulled low to obscure her face. She acted as if everything that had happened had nothing to do with her. Shiloh, bewildered, caught up beside her. "Who's behind all this, do you think?"Aria said casually, "No idea."Shiloh scratched his chin. "You've got a point. There's no way you'd know something Malcolm hasn't heard a whisper about, right, Malcolm?"Malcolm, who was lost in thought, mumbled a distracted, "Hmm, yeah."Aria glanced at him, her voice nonchalant. "They got what they deserved. As long as you haven't done anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about."Shiloh nodded confidently. "I'm not scared. I'm hopeless at medicine, and all Grandpa does is drink. He wouldn't touch something like this with a ten-foot pole."Malcolm finally looked up. "I'm not afraid, too. I believe in my grandfather."A faint smile touched Aria's lips. "Grandma always told me Dr. Lowe Senior is the only one who treated her l
Yannick began, "The hacker is cunning, constantly shifting locations and masking their IP address. It has been three grueling days, and the Technical Department only managed to narrow the location down to Southbury."Yannick furrowed his brow. "As for the other person, we can't find them no matter what we tried."It was rare that someone could render the HOU completely helpless. The last time this had happened was three years ago.Landon retracted his gaze. He drawled, "Perhaps you can approach it from another direction and start by investigating the Gunther family's enemies.""The Gunther family's enemies?" Yannick understood what he meant immediately. "Are you suggesting this is because of a personal feud, Mr. York?"Landon looked down. "No organization has publicly claimed responsibility for this debacle. Besides, the person behind this chose to take up the role as a whistleblower; they don't seem like a righteous hero who's doing this for no reason.""That's true." After some
Titus observed Landon's face. "You seem like you're in a good mood."Landon paused in the middle of his actions. "Huh?"Titus picked up his teacup. "Someone hacked into your house, and you're still smiling despite that. What else could be the reason for that aside from a good mood? Brat."Landon knew that Titus was still cross at him for not seeking proper treatment for his illness. He poured another cup of tea. "Solo must've told you about the state of my body recently and also… someone I've met."Titus looked up in defiance. He refused to acknowledge Landon's statement. "Solo's your bodyguard. Why would he tell me details about such things?""You're right, Grandpa," Landon said with mirth in his voice. Titus couldn't be bothered to engage in this verbal back-and-forth with Landon. The Yorks tended to prefer going straight to the point, except for Landon, who always had something brewing in secret."Fine, just tell me. Which one out of the doctors who came today is the Dr. Gen
Master Revelare had said, "Landon possesses extremely great fortune, so great that it will bring upon him an early death."Feeling a surge of helplessness, Titus had let Landon have his way. The Carver family hadn't found their missing granddaughter, anyway. Titus decided they could make the call about the marriage when, or if, they ever found her.Landon was an exceptional young man, yet he'd never had anyone by his side since childhood.Titus sighed, a rare flicker of guilt crossing his features. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have—""Grandpa," Landon interrupted him, smiling, "You know that I've never blamed you. If someone from the York family must shoulder this, I'd rather it be me."Titus' hands were shaking as he supported himself on his walking stick. He said nothing for a long time, watching as Landon heaved a sigh.Everyone envied the York family for their wealth, oblivious to the heavy price that came with it. Landon had carried this burden for years, a silent guardian.
Karen shot to her feet, her voice laced with panic. "What happened to you, Lily? Why are you out here alone? Where's Dr. Gunther?"Lily grabbed her arm and said in a low voice, "We'll discuss this after we get back home, Mom."Karen wasn't that dumb; she realized that something serious had happened. She said to the wealthy ladies, "She's anemic again, so I must take her home quickly."The wealthy ladies exchanged skeptical glances. Anemia? Or was Lily perhaps one of the unfortunate ones who hadn't made the cut?Sensing their doubt, Lily crumpled dramatically into Karen's arms. "Mom, I can't breathe!" she gasped. "But don't worry, I didn't embarrass you. The consultation is over anyway."There was no way the consultation could continue after such a scene. Lily, ever the quick thinker, had effectively shut the crowd down.Less than five minutes later, the doors to the inner hall swung open, and a procession of doctors emerged. Only then did the wealthy ladies lose interest in Karen
"How many times did I tell you Aria's not your elder sister?" Karen's voice boomed, her denial more vehement than ever. "Lily, you're young and naïve. Poor people will use all sorts of tricks to get ahead. You said Aria changed? That's just her way of surviving."Lily furrowed her brow. "But she's undeniably skilled. Even Mr. York Senior showed her respect."Karen was stunned. "The Yorkschose her?"Lily bit her lip. "Well, no. She was on a team with the Lowe family. Malcolm was the one who stood out."A sneer contorted Karen's face. "So she curried favor with the Lowes. What a clever old bat. Using her connections on her deathbed, no less!"Lily fell deep in thought. "So Grandma is a skilled doctor, right?"Karen scoffed, "She caused someone's death. Even if she's skilled, her reputation is ruined. Only the Lowes would still give her the time of day."Lily lowered her head in consideration.Karen squeezed Lily's hand. "Don't worry, Lily. Even with the Lowes' help, that old woma
Shiloh's eyes widened in astonishment. "Mr. York? Why would he be seeking her out?"His question prompted several onlookers to glance back, incredulous at the notion. They found it difficult to believe that Landon would be searching for the imposter posing as a Kent.The black-clad bodyguard spoke succinctly, "We need to return something belonging to the Kent family."Upon hearing that, the bystanders quickly grasped the situation. After all, it was inconceivable that Landon would know a "knock-off" like her. Malcolm stepped forward, blocking Aria. "I'll accompany her."Malcolm had promised his grandfather to safeguard Aria and intended to uphold it. However, the bodyguard remained resolute. "I'm sorry. Mr. York specifically requested Ms. Kent's presence.""My last name isn't Kent, but I'll follow along." Aria tapped on her phone before speaking, her eyes holding a captivating allure.Aria pondered whether Landon's interest stemmed from discovering Sam's existence. Perhaps sh
Having written the message, Aria clutched the wooden box as she exited the room. Her handwriting was atrocious, seemingly indifferent to whether the recipient could comprehend it. Yet, politeness was all that mattered to her.A sudden gift from Landon sent shivers down her spine. It felt like he was onto her. Aria was determined to distance herself from him. Consequently, she couldn't help but admire the diamond-studded pen—a testament to intellectuals' wealth.Meanwhile, Landon remained oblivious to the unintended consequence of his gesture. Exhausted from hours of surveillance footage review, he entered the room just after Aria's departure. His black-clad security guard approached him."Mr. York," the bodyguard reported, "Ms. Carver only took the Whisperwind Herb."Landon's eyebrows arched upon hearing her name, finally learning it, finding it remarkably beautiful.Entering the study, Landon removed his rosary bracelet, scanning the remnants left behind. He inquired casually, "S
Amos was too stunned to react. One side of his face throbbed with pain, and fish oil clung to his hair, glistening from the dish he had been slammed into.He had always eaten fish a particular way—only one side. No matter how expensive the fish, he refused to flip it over, believing that leaving it untouched brought good fortune.But today, that superstition had been smashed—along with his pride. Pinned to the table, Amos hadn't even found the time to get angry. Confusion flickered in his eyes as he struggled to rise.Then Lucas spoke, his words crashing down like a stone wall."Amos Lune, you conspired with the Draycott and Fitzroy families to crush honest entrepreneurs. You've abused your position shamelessly."Lucas didn't stop. His tone cut sharper with each sentence."We also have evidence linking you to a human organ trafficking ring in Bellebrook. You've disgraced the people who supported your rise—and the country that invested in you."Lucas had been suppressing his ange
Lucas shook his head steadily. "Not yet."Amos, still basking in the glow of his "victory", had no idea what was coming. He answered Durand's call with a smug smile. On the other end, Durand's laughter rang out loud and triumphant."Mr. Lune, you should've seen the Grisham brothers' faces! I bet they never expected to be abandoned like that!"You played it brilliantly. One quiet move, and boom—the Grisham family's out of the Chamber of Commerce. From here, it's just a slow bleed. They'll lose everything."Amos kept his tone cool. "This isn't enough. Keep pushing the online chatter. The narrative needs to focus on how their precious granddaughter cost so many investors their savings. And don't forget her carefully crafted persona—it's about to unravel."He paused, voice crisp. "Reach out to the other businessmen. Now that the Grishams can't offer any benefits, it's time for everyone to take a bite. You understand, don't you, Durand?"Durand took a moment, then replied, "Right. Got
Cormac even thought of leaving some of his influence behind after retiring. This way, he could still have some power over decisions. He thought he could remind Lucas that not just anyone could do his job well. Therefore, Cormac remained calm after receiving the note. He was already so used to handling his daughter's troubles.Cormac strode into his lounge and asked Pedro, "Is it drunk driving again? Don't you know how to handle it?""It's not drunk driving." Pedro still seemed out of it.Cormac's expression darkened. "It's not drunk driving? Was she on drugs again? I already reminded you numerous times to get someone to keep an eye on her. Which stage of the process is she at right now? Call the people from the drug-testing institution.""No. That's not it." Pedro took off his glasses and his badge.Cormac finally realized that Pedro seemed off. "What happened? Just tell me. I doubt she'll kill someone. Although my daughter is troublesome, she won't do something like that. I kno
Aliya had never heard of the Special Missions Unit until today. But after seeing Pedro's panicked reaction, it didn't take long for her to realize that this was a group with more authority than even her father.Still, some people lived so long in privilege that they convinced themselves they were untouchable. Logic no longer applied to them.Aria was done entertaining Aliya's ignorance. With a flick of her wrist, she signaled someone to silence her. Then, she turned to Aliya with icy disdain."Don't worry," Aria said. "I'll take you with me when I pay your father a visit. Then we can ask him together what his name truly means in this state."Her voice was calm but sharp."You seem to have forgotten that his power—any power—comes from the people. And now, you're using that power to treat their lives like currency. To buy yourself a life of superiority."She stepped closer. "Organ trafficking is illegal here. That's the crime we've confirmed so far. But don't worry. We'll find the
When Pedro heard that it was the Special Missions Unit, his forehead was covered in sweat immediately. Even his mind had gone blank. At that moment, all he could think about was how doomed they were!Others might not have heard of the unit before. However, as a state official, there was no way Pedro wouldn't know them. In fact, the Special Missions Unit was something they had no control over.Technically, the Special Missions Unit had way more clearance than they did. After all, they were in charge of big cases. Sometimes, they would even work with the special troops.The Special Missions Unit belonged to the country, and they were extremely mysterious. Even people with high clearance wouldn't know who they were in real life.Pedro only managed to find his voice after a long time. As he wiped the sweat off his forehead, he chuckled awkwardly."Oh, this is all a misunderstanding. May I know who I am speaking to? I never expected the Special Missions Unit to be carrying out a missio
Aliya had never met Aria before, but this was the first time she'd seen a young woman more poised—and far more arrogant—than herself. That only fueled her rage. And the fact that Aria was stunningly beautiful didn't help either.Scoffing, she snapped, "Do you dare let us make our calls? Let's see if you still look so smug after that."The other wealthy attendees stiffened. None of them moved. With Aria in the room, they had the sinking feeling that calling in favors wouldn't end well.Aria merely tilted her head and smiled. "Of course," she said, then turned to her team. "Please hand this lady her phone. Let her make her call."The members of the Special Missions Unit didn't question her. They knew Aria well enough to understand what she was doing—she wanted the bigger fish. The call would be recorded, and with any luck, it would lead them straight to someone higher up the chain.Aliya was momentarily thrown off by Aria's easy agreement. But she quickly chalked it up to ignorance.
Aliya squinted at the unmasked man beside Aria. Now that his face was fully visible, something about him sparked a flicker of recognition. She lowered her gaze, trying to recall where she'd seen him before.Then a sharp gasp cut through the air."He's from the York family… Janovin's York family! Wait—was he Mr. Crow? Were they working together the whole time?"Even though they were all wealthy people, they weren't in the same ranks. No one dared to mess with the York family at all.If the circumstances were different, the arrogant, wealthy people from earlier would've tried to exchange contacts with Landon. That way, they could've partnered up in the future. However, with what had happened that day, those people were in a daze.Meanwhile, Aria knew those people still had no idea what was going on. So, she just removed her disguise and showed them who she really was.Aliya was stunned by what Aria had done. When she saw who the latter truly was, her gaze was filled with jealousy.
The wealthy clients that were left behind at the auction had connections to powerful people, and Dave didn't think Aria was capable enough to deal with every one of them. Although Farshya was well-developed, it had always been a country that focused on connections.Power meant everything, and Dave wanted to see how Aria and her team would deal with his guests. If he remembered correctly, Aliya was the daughter of a great leader in the state. She wanted a womb from a young lady because she wanted to have children.Before the clients got what they wanted, Aria had offended a lot of big shots. Dave thought about it for a second and hoped Aria would suffer as much as he did.Dave was right about one thing. Aliya wasn't anxious at all when someone infiltrated the auction and took control of the event. She was only stunned for a moment at first. Once everything had settled down, she calmed down and even looked a little proud."I suggest you talk to your leader first before deciding to cu
Dave had escaped, but just barely.He'd saved his life, nothing more. The documents he needed to destroy were still intact. Everything had gone completely off script.Every exit had been sealed. If he hadn't killed a villager and disguised himself with a spell, he would've died at the auction. He didn't receive any news about the ambush and was caught entirely off guard.He wasn't in Janovin, and security was that tight there. With his connections, he could've found out what was going to happen in advance. However, that wasn't the case at all.Slipping into a grimy back alley, Dave cursed his luck. Most of his men had been rounded up in the village. He could only hope a few had managed to slip through. But with sirens wailing in the distance, he knew hope was thin."Who the hell was that?" he muttered, wiping dirt off his face with a shaking hand. Normally a stickler for cleanliness, Dave was too rattled to care. "And where's the real Eden?"His mind snapped into action. The scho