When a teacher saw Lettie coming out, she immediately gestured for Amara to stop talking. However, Amara didn't care if Lettie heard her or not. In fact, she would have preferred it if Lettie had. Amara felt annoyed just seeing her around the house. Plus, Amara wanted to remind Lettie that marrying into the Hendricks family was a blessing she didn't deserve. Thus, Lettie should be grateful and keep quiet.Amara was completely different from her husband, Don Hendricks. Her husband rarely cared about things at home. After all, Don's years of engagement in archaeology had made him more indifferent to worldly affairs.Lettie had overheard Amara's words. Despite her clenched hands, Lettie tried to remain calm. "Mom, I have something to discuss with you."Amara had never tried to hide her disgust for her. Glancing at her, Amara replied, "Didn't you see that I'm busy? What do you want to talk about?""It's about Daisy." Despite things getting out of hand, Lettie didn't want the situat
Amara only had one thought in mind, so she spoke without holding back. "Besides, what do you have to compare to others? You can't even give birth to a son. It's not like our family didn't give you time."You look like an old hag. Why don't you ask if Daisy likes you? She's the one who wants to go. Why are you causing a scene?"Lettie couldn't believe it. "She wanted to go? How could it be…"With a click, the door suddenly burst open. Daisy stood there with a look of frustration. "I was the one who wanted to go. Celestia is really nice and plays with me. "Mom, you're overthinking it. Why are you fighting with Grandma over this? Celestia and Dad are only friends.""Celestia is really nice and often plays with you?" Repeating her daughter's words, Lettie felt like someone had stabbed her in the back.Daisy took a sip of water. "That's right. Celestia isn't as old-fashioned as you either. She would accompany me shopping, bring me to Tisneyland, and even give me a plushie."Dad alre
This caused Daisy to furrow her eyebrows. "Mom, what are you talking about? I didn't mean it!"Lettie didn't even look at her. She couldn't understand what kind of child would turn against her mother like this. Daisy wasn't a baby anymore. She was old enough to understand Paxton's mistress was just buttering her up.Lettie could accept her failed marriage. However, she was devastated that her own child, who she had given birth to, would look down on her like this. Lettie regretted giving birth to her.Lettie stared at Amara. "When I got married into the Hendricks family, I was the author of a famous book. I've been earning royalties for years, but where is that contract? Return it to me, and I'll get a divorce with Paxton now."Upon hearing that, Amara sneered. "Are you being delusional? Your book? My son wrote that book! What does it have to do with you? What a psycho!""He said he wrote the book?" A mocking sneer appeared on Lettie's face. "He sure knows how to bluff."When A
"Get her to apologize to the Hendricks family now! Nobody in our family has dared to get a divorce before. If she does, I'll never acknowledge her as my daughter anymore. How dare she!"Lettie could hear her father's furious tone through the phone.Her father had always been like this for as long as Lettie could remember. When she didn't act as he wanted, she was considered disrespectful. Lettie used to think she should respect her parents. However, she understood now that this only applied to her and her sister, while her brother could do whatever he wanted."Haha! How ironic." Her head was bleeding, but she couldn't stop laughing. Her eyes seemed to be covered in a later of thick black mist."The world is vast, yet I have nowhere to call home. I have a question to ask. Am I not your daughter? Why did you give birth to me if you don't love me? Is it solely to pave a future for your son?'The voice in her last sentence didn't sound like Lettie's. It seemed to come from the room
Aria tilted her head in confusion. "Graduate? I can graduate anytime."Amara sneered. "Hah! Sure. Let's see if you'll still be so laid back once my husband returns."Aria raised an eyebrow. She revealed a hint of mockery in her expression when she understood Amara's intention. From Amara's tone, it was clear this wasn't the first time she had done something like this.Although Aria had never attended college or been a postgraduate student, she knew some lecturers would threaten students by postponing their graduation. However, Aria didn't expect the Hendricks family to do such a thing.Aria narrowed her eyes. "Go ahead. I won't go anywhere. I'll sit here and wait for Mr. Hendricks Senior to come back."After saying that, Aria helped Lettie to a chair and sat down. Then, Aria checked her pulse and expression.Amara was furious. "Who are you? Did I invite you inside? How could you make yourself comfortable like this?"Lettie was also shocked by the person who suddenly appeared to
Aria gripped Lettie's shoulder. "You can't fight them, but I can. I'm a Carver. Nobody will be able to fight against me when it comes to family status. And we can compete in other ways too." Aria seemed to be speaking to Lettie's soul, "Together, we'll take back what's yours." Lettie froze as she looked up with her vacant eyes. "Carver? Isn't that one of the most prominent merchants from Farshya?" Lettie was not the only one who reacted to Aria's words. Amara stumbled backward too. Her face was filled with shock as she grabbed for support and gasped. "Yes." Aria slowly drew the darkness from Lettie's body into her fingertips. Others could not see this, but Nyx could. It stepped forward and tried to stop Aria. Aria already carried too much bad karma and was now trying to take on even more. Nyx worried that something might happen to Aria if this went on. After all, karma always demanded payment. Lettie started to feel hopeful. "I want everyone to know that fraud's true face.
But Aria had seemed not to understand Amara's hints. Weren't people who managed businesses supposed to be clever? Why couldn't Aria understand what Amara was asking for? Now, Amara's feelings about the Carvers were complicated. But she still wanted that connection, so she stepped forward. "I've met the Carvers' adopted daughter. May I know who you are?" Before Aria could respond, one of the others burst out, "Amara!" She turned, puzzled. The person pulled her close and whispered, "I remember now! That's why she looked familiar. She's the one!" "The one?" Amara did not follow. "She's the real heiress of the Carver family. I heard she runs the whole Carver Group now. Didn't she just film something with Don?" Amara did not follow entertainment news, and Don did not mention anything about filming. "Just don't say anything else. Whatever you do, don't offend her." Amara's heart sank. She was now regretting her harsh words earlier. "Ms. Carver, please forgive my foolishne
"I..." Daisy was just about to say something, but Aria cut her off, "Your mother was young and beautiful too before having you. Everyone knows that childbirth takes the greatest toll on a woman." Aria's gaze bore into Daisy, her presence terrifying. "Yet your mother endured that pain to bring you into this world just because of how much she loves you. Despite knowing the pain, she risked everything for your existence. "She asks about your meals because she cares about your feelings." Aria's eyes darkened. "Looking at how poorly raised you are, it just proves how you don't deserve her love and sacrifice at all. "It's common for society to blame women when men cheat. They would blame her for not improving herself, maintaining her looks, or keeping her figure. "But when it's clear that the man has cheated, the wife shouldn't be the one getting blamed. I'm here today to right these wrongs for your mother. Since your father thinks he's so powerful with his family background, I'll ex
In that moment, Cormac couldn't afford to care about pride or appearances. His survival depended on severing all ties, especially with a traitor."I don't have a daughter like you!" he snapped, slapping Aliya again. "Do you even realize what you've done? Trafficking human organs—do you think that's something you can walk away from?"Aliya collapsed to the floor, stunned. A chill unlike any she'd ever felt seeped into her bones. She stared up at her father in disbelief, watching as he bowed his head respectfully toward Aria, the very woman she had just mocked.In Aliya's world, her father was the state government. She had grown up believing that their family controlled everything, that Cormac Windham's influence extended far beyond his office, even as retirement loomed.But all of it was crumbling before her eyes.Outside his office, word had already begun to spread. Though muffled, the sharp sound of a slap echoed faintly through the corridor.Everyone understood what that meant—
The group dared to be reckless as Amos was Ludwiten's lieutenant governor. They were peas in a pod and did corruption together.However, they didn't know that their support had already collapsed. Aria was not in a rush to capture Amos' lackeys as her target was in the state government. She didn't go alone either, for Aliya also went with her.Shortly after, Aria issued a new command. "Seal the premises. No one is to leave. Tell everyone to remain in their seats."A request like that, especially directed at the state level, would typically require an exhaustive process—dozens of forms, layers of red tape. Even in cases involving fatalities, senior officials were rarely detained on the spot.But Aria followed with a second message, one that sent chills down spines. "This case involves foreign infiltration. Someone has betrayed the country."Those words landed like a thunderclap. No one dared raise an objection. No one wanted to be associated with treason—not ordinary citizens, and
"Grandpa, it's not convenient for me to get in touch with all of you right now. Remember to take your medicine on time. I have to pretend that I'm locked up. Uncle Eamon and Uncle Waymond have to seem fretful so that the enemy wouldn't be alerted. I'm sorry, Grandpa."Aria didn't reveal what she had encountered in the message. This was because the Special Missions Unit was bound to a confidentiality contract when making decisions. What Aria said was almost pushing the limits.Aria only agreed to get locked up just to see how people would react when the Grisham family was in trouble.When the opponent placed their attention on this incident, they would let their guard down and give Aria a chance to secure evidence of their crimes.If the Grisham family retained its usual influence, the mastermind wouldn't show himself so easily. As Aria felt sorry for her family and worried about Clyde's health, she immediately sent a message to apologize after the auction. However, she couldn't s
There was no way Aria didn't know that the conviction was unfair. Furthermore, Percy specialized in handling economic cases. He knew there was no way Aria would be locked up so quickly. Yet, her crime had been publicly declared without prior warning. Percy was absolutely furious. He tugged his tie and declared the system was corrupted. While Fergus was also helping to find connections, Warren had just landed from Janovin.Clyde had sought out all sorts of connections, even his ex-colleagues in the education field.Fiona clenched his hands. "They promised to help Dad look into it." "They're just trying to fool Mr. Grisham Senior. Their higher-ups have already warned them about it." Nisa suddenly lowered her voice. "They're trying to make his health relapse again. If that happens, the Grisham family is done for."At this moment, a low voice sounded from the door. "So that's what happened. I was wondering why there was no progress with Aria's side after a whole day."It was Eamon.
Because Amos' arrest was part of a covert operation, the news didn't reach anyone outside the circle. That meant Durand remained completely unaware. He was still riding high on the thrill of his plan, blinded by the pleasure of watching the Grisham family fall.That night, he raised a glass of wine in early celebration, his mistress seated beside him. He didn't know that the move he'd made would become the greatest regret of his life.Elsewhere, Nisa couldn't bring herself to be as heartless. That was why, under the quiet cover of night, she made her way to the Grisham residence—not to see Clyde, but to speak with Fiona. She knew Clyde would shut her out immediately, but Fiona… Fiona might just listen.They weren't close. Not the way Fiona was with Priscilla. But they had once shared a few polite meals, floated in the same social circles. Enough to warrant a conversation—barely.When they sat down, Fiona's expression was cool, even distant. She hadn't forgotten the things Nisa had
Lucas could hear the pride in his mentor's voice for Aria. After all, his mentor had taken Aria in Southbury and even owed her his life. Lucas didn't dare to inform his mentor that Aria was being suppressed in the political world. He understood his mentor well. He was devoted to the country and couldn't stand such injustice.Therefore, Lucas didn't tell the truth to prevent his mentor from worrying. If someone with his position made a move, it would become a huge issue. That was why Lucas hid the truth from him. The former had to play along with the other politicians and endure them spouting empty promises. Before Lucas set out, his mentor stood on top of Old City and looked at the vast mountains. "Do whatever you need to, just like what you had done in Southbury. I'll be waiting for you and Aria's return at Janovin."These people didn't deserve his mercy at all!"You used your authority to disregard people's lives." It was the first time Lucas had shown his emotions so open
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