At that moment, Celestia reveled in her own brilliance. A smug smile spread across her face as she watched her followers soar. Everything was unfolding exactly as she had planned.Sitting in the car, she felt a surge of satisfaction. She knew that an old hag like Lettie wouldn't stand a chance against her.Just as Celestia was about to reply to some online comments, a few screenshots suddenly appeared in her feed.Her smile faltered, and her face drained of color. Her hands shook so violently that she nearly dropped her phone.The screenshots revealed her private conversations with Derek and several other men, including male classmates who had been pursuing her.Celestia had intended to explain things to Derek once the situation died down, but she never anticipated that such a personal exchange would be exposed to the public.Her eyes widened as she stared at her phone, frantically deleting the comment. But more and more identical comments appeared, and soon, even her fans had no
Derek ended the call with a sharp click, the sound of the disconnection echoing like a slap to Celestia's face.For the first time, Celestia felt a deep, paralyzing fear. If she couldn't clear the air, her entire career would be destroyed. Years of hard work, of carefully cultivating her popularity, could all vanish in an instant.Not only was Derek actively searching for her, but even the loyal followers she once called "simps" were beginning to question her. Her phone buzzed incessantly with messages.Simp 1 was still in disbelief. "Celestia, the screenshots online are fake, right? That old hag is just trying to ruin you. I know you're not materialistic. You've never even accepted the gifts I sent you."Celestia knew she needed someone to vouch for her. She changed his nickname and sent him a screenshot. Then, with a pleading tone, she recorded a voice message. "I don’t understand why these rumors are spreading. This is what my actual screen looks like."As expected, Messiah sto
001 continued, "The reason why she didn't accept your money is because she thought it was too little, and she turned down your takeout because it wasn't to her taste. You really are a simp, aren't you?"Her words immediately set off a firestorm in the comments section. After all, no one had dared to reveal their identity after spilling such gossip before.At this point, both Celestia and Messiah found themselves under intense scrutiny. Messiah's face flushed with embarrassment. Sitting in front of his computer, he was about to defend himself when the screenshots and videos Aria sent made him realize he had been the fool all along.Celestia had thought of him as nothing more than a simp. Meanwhile, Messiah, unable to believe the girl he loved could treat him this way, repeatedly called her, but she refused to answer.What he didn't know was that Celestia didn't have the time to explain. She was focused on getting her parents' help to get her out of this mess.Celestia couldn't st
Derek continued to explain himself online, "I'm a scumbag through and through. To show my remorse, my wife and I will make my mistress repay the money I spent on her. Additionally, I'll donate all the money to Ms. Lettie Newman and Hope Manufactures."The online community was confused by the mention of Lettie Newman."Lettie Newman is the author of 'Voices'. She's the wife of the person involved in this mess.""This world is strange. His way of handling things is... unique," someone else commented."Right? It looks like Celestia's been destroying other people's families for a while now!"Celestia felt her mind unravel. She couldn't understand why Derek was helping Lettie, especially when he was demanding money back from her."Celestia, what's going on? Did something happen again?" Audriana asked, worry evident in her voice.Celestia broke down. "Mom, what should I do now? I don't know what to do!""Come home first and stop engaging with people online. We're here for you," Audri
The truth had finally come to light, and justice prevailed.Celestia, who had always believed her fame could shield her from the consequences of her actions, was now facing the backlash. Her arrogance, manifested in her contempt for ordinary people—whom she often insulted as "old hags" or "nobodies"—had backfired. Even her loyal fans had remained silent. Meanwhile, the online focus had shifted to the Hendricks family.Amara, frantic, called an ambulance, hoping to wait for her husband's support. Her neighbors, however, were left speechless, advising her to lay low for the time being.Don, who had been unaware of the incident until later, learned of it through his students. Upon hearing the full details, his face darkened. He leaned heavily on the table, muttering under his breath, "I can't believe this."Without wasting a moment, Don returned home. As soon as Amara saw him, she prepared to vent her frustration about Lettie. But Don didn't give her the chance. His hands trembled a
"I'm aware of it. I'm the one who did it." Aria didn't hide anything. "You asked me to take a look at something previously, and I have some clues for it now as well."Don was stunned momentarily. Then, he sighed and said, "You did the right thing, Ms. Carver. My son is truly a huge jerk. Never have I thought he would turn into someone like this. "It's bad enough that he didn't take any responsibility for the family, but he actually snatched the glory that was rightfully Lettie's. I felt sorry for our ancestors to have a descendant such as Paxton.""The way I see it, it's no mere coincidence," Aria responded. She pulled out the stuff Don had given her before. "The wrath on it is gone, and so is the ones in your place."However, you have a choice to make now." Aria's eyes narrowed. "Make Paxton apologize to Lettie properly and return the novel's copyright to her. "He also has to admit that he cheated on Lettie. Then, he's going to return all of the marital assets and go through wi
Amara stood next to Don with tears in her eyes. After what had transpired, she thought he would divorce her. After all, she came from a rural area. He could've done it any time he wanted. In fact, Amara had felt inferior in her heart. That was the exact reason all of this happened. She lacked love and a sense of security. What was more, she felt the constant need to prove her self-worth. All of these contributed to her inferiority complex. That was how she came to raise someone like Paxton. Lettie saw the change in Amara. Although it didn't mean that she could forgive the latter, she didn't intend to make things difficult for Amara either. Lettie had exacted her revenge. More importantly, Aria showed her that justice would prevail in this world. That was enough for her. Now, it was time for Lettie to forge her own future. From here on out, she and the Hendricks family would never cross paths again. Now that everything had come to a close, Aria should've been happy about it.
No one understood what Aria was talking about, except Landon. "You're suspecting that someone was orchestrating the whole thing and setting up a trap for you.""It's not just for me. That mastermind used the same tricks on the Carver family and the Hendricks family. They sought the incompetent sons in both families and worked their angles there."Aria lowered her voice. "If my grandpa hadn't been a tough man, my brothers might've met the same fate as Daisy. Just look at how closely Paxton and Owen resemble each other. Although they weren't similarly aged, they could've been poker buddies if they got together."Landon's lips couldn't help but curl into a grin when he heard what she said. It looked like a clue had just made itself seen. "You're right. We have to think about this carefully. I think everything's settled here. How about I ask Sam to come back and make sense of the situation? It'll be a little troublesome, though. He's still recovering at Mount Dracotigris."Such as th
The aged voice was filled with indifference. "It seems like she reached a dead end."Amos sneered. "I don't understand why these peasants like staying in the city. Still, it's fortunate for us. Otherwise, it'd be hard to get our hands on them.""Amos," the person cut in sharply, as if reminding him of his place.Amos only dared to speak so harshly when no one was around. If word got out, his image as the perfect secretary would be ruined.He quickly calmed down and fell silent. The caller didn't press the matter, simply saying, "You need to change the way you speak and act from now on."Since she's already agreed, give her the money. Don't treat her requests as a nuisance. The more requests they make, the less likely they are to cause trouble later."After picking her up tomorrow, send a few men to check if her grandparents need any help. Make sure everything is done properly."Amos nodded. "I understand. You always see the bigger picture. We'll continue looking after them."Poo
"I promise it won't happen again!" To an outsider, it might've sounded like Amos was talking about the cafeteria mishap. But the truth was much darker. What Amos really meant was that incidents like this could continue, just never publicly. Once the media's attention died down, they could go back to doing whatever they pleased. But for now, the performance had to be flawless.The man on the other end of the call seemed satisfied. Though his voice was flat and monotonous, there was a noticeable shift; it was now less stern."She's been manipulating the stock market," he said. "It's caused major damage to several of Luwditen's corporations. We can't let her walk free."Amos removed his glasses, a grim look on his face. "That's exactly what I told the Securities Regulatory Department. It doesn't matter who comes to plead on her behalf. Even if she's the late Mr. Barron's heir, she has to face the law."She's confessed. No one's going to let her off the hook now. You know what jail'
At first, Eden didn't understand what Aria meant. But as night fell, Aria lowered her head and started fumbling with something. When she looked up again, Eden was stunned—Aria looked exactly like her.Eden's eyes widened in disbelief. She'd only seen something like this in movies. But now, it was unfolding right in front of her. So there really was such a flawless disguise technique in the world."Aria, you…""Since I'm using your identity, I have to be you," Aria said with a soft tug of her mask, smiling. She had always been bold, yet precise. Working in the Special Missions Unit meant secrecy was second nature to her—this part was routine."Stay home and rest tonight. I'll leave first thing in the morning. Once I'm gone and the coast is clear, take your grandparents and leave."Eden opened her mouth, unsure of how to respond. She didn't even know when the people watching them would leave."My team will come get you," Aria reassured her. "What's important is that your grandparent
Eden nodded. "Okay. I'll do as you say, Aria."She sent the text just like Aria instructed. Moments later, her teacher replied—everything had been arranged. A car would pick her up from home. There was no need to return to school.A cold shiver ran down Eden's spine. They knew where she lived. They'd been watching all along. Not just the school—they were everywhere.Eden didn't linger at school. Outside the entrance, the main topic of conversation was the officials' arrival for an investigation and the school's public exposure.Everyone knew the cafeteria was a mess. Students had complained countless times, but each time inspectors came, the food improved just long enough to pass the checks. Then it would all revert. It had become the norm—something they were forced to accept.Eden was no different. She just wanted to get home. She needed to see her grandparents. She feared something might happen to them next.Every step on the way home, she stayed alert, scanning her surroundings
Eden listened closely, her brow furrowing. Her teacher wasn't speaking Farshyan. School was no longer a safe place, and Eden didn't know who she could trust. Her classmates were too caught up in mocking Aria to notice anything was wrong, all assuming Eden was lucky to have been chosen.She considered calling the police, picking up her phone, but then paused. What could she even say? That there was a mole at school? Her face turned pale as she remembered how close the principal was to influential people. The authorities might not believe her, or worse, they might be involved.Despite the headlines claiming Aria had been arrested, Eden felt a spark of hope. Aria had promised she'd show up if Eden ever needed her. Taking a deep breath, Eden dialed the number Aria had given her.She didn't expect anyone to answer. But then came a cool, familiar voice. "Eden? What's wrong? Did someone give you trouble again?"Eden's heart soared. "You're not arrested! The news is fake, isn't it? I knew
Lucas gave Amos a sidelong glance. "In that case, let's do as Mr. Lune suggested—punish everyone involved."Announce to the public that Oakvale Academy will be used as a test case. We'll be conducting surprise inspections in all middle and high schools."As for why Mr. Kelsey encountered two completely different scenes during his visits—well, that's easy to explain." Lucas' gaze swept across the room. "Someone tipped off the school before your visit. If any other school received advance notice, every one of you will be under scrutiny."Though Lucas spoke with a smile, none of the seven present—including the three officials—could return it. The smile, in this context, was more chilling than rage. This was a warning. Amos, in particular, felt deeply unsettled. He had come intending to redirect Lucas' attention away from Oakvale Academy. Instead, the incident had blown up. With public attention turning toward the school, transferring Eden would soon become impossible.Still, Amo
Now that Miguel, who was an expert in covering up, was gone, the long-standing issues in the school were exposed.The group stood frozen as they watched a cafeteria worker pour something into a large pot. A closer look revealed it was leftover mushroom soup. But that wasn't the worst of it. The soup reeked, clearly spoiled, yet it was still being reheated for the students.Things only got worse when they entered the kitchen. Hygiene standards were appalling. Not a single chef wore a mask, and some were even smoking while cooking.Amos' expression darkened immediately, even before Lucas could react.One of the chefs noticed them and slammed his ladle onto the counter. "What are you doing in here? Outsiders aren't allowed in the school—don't you know that?"Unlike other schools, Oakvale Academy had somehow always slipped through the cracks during routine inspections. When required to present something, they staged it well enough to fool a camera.So, the staff never expected a surp
Aria understood that this was all the person could offer. The real mastermind would never reveal himself so easily—not even to his most trusted subordinates.Those in power never needed to explain themselves. Those who understood them would earn their favor; those who didn't were destined to remain at the bottom.Her thoughts raced. She needed hard evidence to capture whoever was behind Amos. Baseless accusations would only alert the enemy and push them deeper into hiding.Allowing herself to be arrested had been part of Aria's plan. She needed the mastermind to lower his guard. After all, she had been too visible in Ludwiten lately. With eyes constantly watching her, she couldn't make any real moves. But she couldn't let the incident at Oakvale Academy go unresolved. Her instincts told her it was the key to everything.Before Philip found his family, she had to act—and that meant changing her identity to save Even.Just then, the person's phone buzzed. He turned the screen towa
"Boss!" Weston rushed over the moment he finished dealing with the other officers. Aria arched an eyebrow, flexing her wrists. "He's the mole?""Yes." Weston nodded. The Securities Regulatory Bureau, dispatched by the Securities Regulatory Commission, was tasked with auditing listed companies—particularly sniffing out insider trading and market manipulation.While not everyone in the bureau could be corrupt, it was common for a few to be compromised.The officer who had been interrogating Aria was of a minor rank, but the one Weston had just exposed held real power.Aria looked over at the trembling man. His legs had given out, sending him to the floor. His phone lay discarded beside him as he shook uncontrollably.They had met before—at a Chamber of Commerce meeting. To him, Aria had just been a clever heiress with some market luck, thanks to Landon's influence. No one would have expected her to single-handedly bring down the Draycott family.No one would logically believe