"She recently restored a gold-threaded silk robe. She's Mr. Cygnus Gramen's student," Clary said with admiration. "Mr. Gramen has praised her publicly countless times. She's going to be an extraordinary craftswoman in the future."Cultural relic restoration is different from our industry. It requires a vast reservoir of knowledge, immense patience, and the ability to focus deeply on your craft without distraction. Only with these qualities can they contribute meaningfully to preserve our heritage." Leon didn't want to dampen Clary's enthusiasm, but some things needed to be made clear. "She's the student my family sponsored. I'll film the show, but if she causes Aria any trouble, I'll make her filming experience hell."Clary was stunned. She knew how much Leon valued his career. People often gossiped about Leon's temper and aloof demeanor, but he typically managed to keep his emotions in check while working with others. Though he had been mocked early in his career for relying on
Clary still had a misconception about how the Carver family educated their children. Leon would never be uneducated, not when he was a Carver. A quick glance at the study in the Carver residence would reveal that the Carver family's educational focus was on historyâmore so than other noble families. Leon didn't offer further explanation. Now that Aria was there, his mind was on asking her what had happened at church. The public didn't have all the facts, but Leon knew someone had visited the Carvers' memorial hall late at night.At the studio, no one was aware of Aria's true identity. All they knew was that she was Kina's sister, who would be filming with him later."She's pretty.""Must be nice to have a brother in the industry. My sister has been an actress for years, but she's still mocked for not being talented and for not coming from a rich family."She wanted to work on this show for free, but the producer rejected her. Meanwhile, the sister of a popular idol gets to ap
Anyone who knew Leon understood how deeply he cared for his fans. He often said that he wouldn't have made it this far without their love and support.That was why he never treated his fans as mere tools for making money or pressured them to spend on useless things. Instead, he saw them as friends and genuinely appreciated their visits. Their presence fueled him with endless motivation.As Leon and Aria stepped out, he proudly introduced her to his fans, saying, "This is my sister. Don't we look alike? We're really close."However, in his excitement, Leon forgot that Aria's face was covered, so the fans couldn't see her clearly. His fans were momentarily confused but still found his honesty and brightness endearing."Her figure looks kind of familiar.""Oh! That other variety show!""I've seen clips of it but not the whole thing. She does carry herself similarly. Is she really Leon's sister?""That explains why Kina's been saying how happy he is lately. His sister's finally back
At this moment, Lisa's patience was completely drained. She told the fans behind her to stop clamoring forward and pushed the fans beside her. Looking annoyed, she spoke into her mic, "He's always working so hard to maintain his public image. Why isn't he getting into the car yet? Is it really that fun to pretend he's so popular?"She said this in a low voice so the fans around her didn't hear and remained focused on their idol.Leon didn't linger for long. After receiving letters from his fans, he got into his car, rolled down the window, and told them to head home early and stay safe.Aria didn't join him. Now that her bodyguards were with her, she wanted to address some issues with Leon's work environment. "You go on ahead, Leon. I have a few matters to take care of here," she said.Leon didn't question her. Aria was different from him; she handled the bigger picture.Leon's fans, assuming she had left for the filming studio, had no idea that Aria stayed behind.Once Leon le
"You've misunderstood the situation." Lisa, the double-faced woman she was, was still smiling. "She recorded some videos that show Kina in a bad light, so we wanted her to delete them. We didn't do anything."Aria raised a brow. "Really?"Lisa leaned in, whispering as if her earlier rude behavior had been part of her job. "You're new here, so you might not know, but some fans don't really like Leon."Aria looked at her. "If you're talking about those videos, I've recorded a few myself."She glanced sideways, gesturing for her bodyguard to play the videos on speaker. Unlike the typical movie portrayal, her bodyguard wasn't dressed in black with sunglasses. He had an ordinary appearance and had blended in with the crowd, holding a banner like one of Leon's male fans.But Lisa recognized him. He had been standing right next to her when she was badmouthing her boss. Before Lisa could react, the video started playing. The images were sharp, and her words came through loud and clear.
Lisa and Jake opened their mouths to protest, but Aria cut them off coldly, "You're fired."Lisa, taken aback, snapped, "What right do you have to fire us? You're a nobody. Only Clary decides who stays or goes!"Aria didn't even glance back. "Feel free to ask Clary if I have the authority to kick you out."At her signal, the bodyguard ushered Lisa and Jake out of the building.Aria then turned her attention to Peggy, helping her up. "Thank you for standing up for my brother. He asked me to come by because he was worried. I'll handle everything for him moving forward. Allf of you should go home for now. Let's catch up online at tomorrow's variety show premiere."Aria's decisive actions caught the attention of Leon's fans, strengthening their bond with him. It was the perfect illustration of fan culture. Just as fans supported Leon, he, in turn, protected them. His fan community grew tighter and more united as a result.Aria understood Leon's concerns well. Fame brought public scru
Clary was in disbelief that they had nearly ruined the top idol she had worked so hard to groom. Her fury was evident as her eyes reddened."Find out who else behaves like that and fire every single one of them!" she ordered.Her assistant, Maddy Simpson, lowered her head. "Okay."Lisa, who was normally used to Clary's easygoing nature, was stunned. "Clary, you can't do this to us. Think about our familyâ"Clary's anger flared even more. "The biggest mistake I ever made was letting you people into this company! Wait, Maddyâdon't just fire them. They've been with Leon for a long time. Check their phones."Maddy knew Clary wasn't going to be lenient this time. With the Farshyan variety show set to premiere soon, Clary had to put things in order. However, if they fired the staff too abruptly, Leon could face another wave of public backlash.Suddenly, the door burst open. "Ms. Danton, Leon's fans are demanding we restructure the company. Look at these screenshotsâthey show conversati
Clary seemed distressed after the incident. "I'm not a qualified manager. Ms. Carver, you can deal with me however you like.""That's not necessary." Aria glanced at her and placed a hand on her wrist. "My brother's career is all thanks to you. You even hired my mother back then. You aim to provide jobs for women and those from the countryside. You're not responsible for their evil actions. However, by doing so, you're fostering nepotism."Aria neither fully criticized nor praised Clary. Instead, she calmly analyzed the pros and cons. "Your personality is better suited for handling public relations. "You should leave the back-end operations to professionals. I doubt Carver Group and York Group would struggle to manage a large celebrity company."I'm sure you've noticed that Leon is growing. We'll soon need to address the international market. Now is the right time for you to remove those incompetent employees with ill intentions." Aria placed a hand on Clary's back as she spoke an
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 townâit'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. Pleaseâcarry 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 sayingâbut 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 biddingâcongratulations to our newest member, Mr. Tigerâ""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 couldâbut 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 toughâit 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 herâher bodyguardâwho 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 resistâhe'd seen what she was capable of.And she'd made her warning crystal clearâif 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 herâfresh, 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 classâbut 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'sâ""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 Murrayâthe 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 wayâwith 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 usâit 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 peopleâthat w