CHAPTER 223

ARIA’S POV

The shift in how people treated me was palpable. Almost overnight, I went from being just another face in the crowd to someone who commanded attention and respect—or at least the appearance of it. It was astonishing and, frankly, a little disconcerting. The same individuals who had once looked down on me, questioned my abilities, or outright dismissed me were now flocking to me, eager to curry favor with someone they now perceived as powerful.

Walking through the corridors of my father’s company, Wilson Paragon, was a surreal experience. People who had once sneered or ignored me were now all smiles and politeness. Their sudden change in behavior was so transparent, and while it was flattering in a way, it also felt disingenuous. The whispers of "she's here because of her father" echoed around me, similar to the skepticism I had faced when I first arrived at Neal’s company. Back then, they had assumed I was there because of a romantic relationship, not because of my capabili