From the revelation of Leon's true identity to the announcement of his new project with Elijah, it was clear he was about to join an elite production team—a dream for any actor.This team's success stemmed from its screenwriter, a highly skilled individual whose works consistently became massive hits, not only domestically but also internationally. However, the screenwriter was known for their strong opinions and high standards. They weren't swayed by money or connections, making it impossible for capitalists to influence casting decisions.In short, the screenwriter held absolute authority over their work, which made it all the more surprising that Leon, a relatively inexperienced actor, had been chosen.Clary found herself reflecting on this peculiar situation. She had always believed that Leon's priority was to complete his current project, yet she had been easily swayed by the opinions of others. Perhaps it was because she had long been curious about the person who had made Leon
Graham Judd fixed his gaze on the exit. The moment he spotted the familiar figure, he immediately stopped his subordinate from fanning him and rushed forward. Despite his chubby frame, he moved with surprising agility. Taking Landon's suitcase with an enthusiastic smile, he greeted him warmly, "Mr. York, you're finally here! Would you like to check into your hotel first? You must be exhausted after the long train ride."Landon raised an eyebrow at the unexpected figure before him. Aria, standing nearby, glanced at him curiously. "Did you arrange this?" she asked.Before Landon could respond, Fergus approached, his gaze sweeping over the seven or eight managers standing outside, holding signs that read, "Welcome Mr. York to Ludwiten for Inspection!" or similar messages."So this is the York family's style," Fergus remarked.For the first time in his life, Landon was rendered speechless. He hadn't anticipated any of this.Aria, finding the situation amusing, answered a call. "Hi,
Fiona was well aware of Landon's health condition. Her first instinct had been to pull her Aria away, and she had even called their family doctor. However, Landon remained calm and told her, "Mrs. Carver, I'm not allergic to Aria. Maybe it's because she's just a baby." As a young boy, his manners were impeccable. On the other hand, Aria kept reaching out her arms, determined to be held by him. Titus and the other guests were present at the time, and they thought Aria's behavior was endearing. Meanwhile, Aria just stared at everyone with her big round eyes, as if wondering what they found so amusing. Perhaps because of how unusually mature he was, Landon didn't refuse. Not wanting to create an awkward situation in public, he asked, "Mrs. Carver, I've never held a baby before. Would it be alright if I held Aria?" Who could say no to such a polite young boy? Her sons watched from the side with expressions that seemed to say, "What's this guy talking about? Just because he doesn
As Fiona's son, Fergus noticed this too. He frowned at Graham, his tone turning cold. "Mr. Judd, shouldn't you be taking Mr. York somewhere to discuss company developments?" What was Graham still standing here for? Fergus' warning was clear. Aria's gaze followed, her dark eyes carrying an intimidating weight.Only then did Graham snap out of his daze. He was about to speak when Landon cut in, "Take everyone back." Graham had come with partnership projects from other companies. Could they really just leave like this? He knew they had upset Landon earlier. Even Westin, who had been so arrogant before, was now actively seeking him out. Their message was clear too—they hoped Graham would try to persuade Landon. Though Graham wouldn't dare to persuade him directly, he could at least mention it, given how generous their concessions were. Besides, their business would suffer if they really offended the Chamber of Commerce. As the head of the Ludwiten branch, Graham definitely wanted
Graham instinctively glanced at Landon's face. Sitting in the back seat, Landon's posture was as perfect as if he were modeling for a business magazine. He set down his drink, speaking with casual indifference, "Just answer whatever she asks." Graham felt surprised. He never expected Landon would allow Aria to know about company matters. Clearly, the rumors were false. People were claiming Landon was only getting close to the youngest Carver due to their prior engagement; otherwise, he wouldn't have tried to break it off before. Now it seemed completely baseless. Landon hadn't just accompanied her to Ludwiten; even his decision to sever ties with the Kincaid family during the meeting might have been for Aria. He was becoming the legendary devoted husband everyone talked about—almost to the point of handing over the company to her. An engagement gift perhaps? No way, Landon would never marry into her family. Graham shook off these strange thoughts and stopped holding back. H
At the end of the day, those socialites probably just did it for fun. But at this moment, Graham felt an intimidating pressure radiating from Aria. Her face remained beautiful, but her eyes had turned ice-cold. When she looked up, her eyes seemed to glint with frost, as if she could expose anyone's thoughts in an instant. Graham actually felt afraid. He had never experienced anything like this before. Even the famous Lily Kent, who was currently making waves in Ludwiten for her fortune-telling ability, hadn't made Graham tremble like this. For some reason, he recalled the rumors he had heard from Janovin. A recent nationwide case of returning the heroic spirit home had exposed suspicious activities at the church. But people said that the case wasn't solved by any special task force, but by Aria. They said she had worked in secret and struck so suddenly that those involved with the church had no time to react before they were all imprisoned. Otherwise, the suppression of the her
"Mr. Barron raised money everywhere. He used his influence in international business circles to gather both funds and supplies. "Many Farshyan expats abroad gave everything they could to the country. Our medications, weapons, and communication equipment all came through their efforts. Back then, Chamber members had only one thought—Farshya must not fall." "That's how the Chamber of Commerce became a contact point. It was discreet, hard to suppress, and had an extensive logistics system. We didn't have courier services then, just security transport companies. These companies helped deliver crucial supplies to aid the country. "The Chamber succeeded largely thanks to Farshyan expats' help. That's why two of the four decision-makers were Farshyan expats, two were Ludwiten merchants, and Mr. Barron held the tie-breaking vote. "Now years later, the business world has changed drastically. The descendants of those two Ludwiten merchants have gone overseas. Besides Farshyan expats, man
Aria had used this strategy on Marshall back when she took back Kent Corporation under Georgina's name. The Draycotts' method mirrored hers perfectly. The difference was that Aria had only reclaimed what rightfully belonged to Georgina, while the Draycotts did this to destroy people. Not just one company, but many local businesses had vanished this way. Aria suddenly thought of something. "Did the Draycotts have something to do with the fall of the Hawke family as well?" Others in their circle had suspected this but never dared voice it. And Graham's expression confirmed Aria's guess. "The Draycotts did many things just so they could become the decision-makers. Ms. Carver, please be careful in Ludwiten. They'll do everything to prevent your return to the Chamber. It's not that they're particularly strong, but they have too much capital backing them. "The relationship between the Grishams and the Carvers is their leverage." As Graham finished speaking, their car arrived at t
With Landon monitoring the stock market, Aria could walk right into Orion's trap. This way, Orion would let his guard down. When people felt confident, they invested more. Aria, well-versed in the stock market, understood this all too well. She had never intended to get rid of Lily. However, things were different this time. There was a limit to how much one could withstand another's viciousness. Aria doubted Lily could predict the market flawlessly—it was impossible, just as it was impossible for her to know everything.The logic was simple. If something fell outside one's area of expertise, even the most attentive observer would only grasp the outcome, not the details. Thinking it over, Aria realized Lily only knew about major events. The smaller ones seemed to escape her notice.If she put herself in Lily's shoes, it was like remembering which lottery would have a winner but not the exact numbers drawn.After all, no one knew when they would be reborn. The only way to acce
Malcolm did not know why Aria was asking, but he remembered the details clearly. "It was after that day." Aria tapped on the desk. "No wonder the Draycotts suddenly changed their market strategy. I get it now." What was she talking about? Before Malcolm could ask, Aria continued, "Some people are trying to cheat the system. Keep an eye on things, but stay safe. If anything happens, come to me first. "Like you said, they've got deep connections. Don't bother with the police—just keep the evidence." "Got it." Before hanging up, Malcolm asked, "Should we still watch the stock market?" Aria smirked. "Yes. They're not the only ones who can play dirty." Lily had probably been reborn too. But whatever Lily knew, Aria knew as well. She had never thought to use that knowledge this way before since it hadn't seemed necessary, but things were not the same now. If her dreams were real, then in her past life, Lily had only made it to Janovin. She had played the star medical student at
After being together all this time, Aria suddenly had a thought. Were she and Landon too distant from each other? No, "distant" was not quite the right word. It was more like they did not know each other well enough. Landon always felt just out of reach, like there was a fog between them. Simply put, he was not being straight with her. The thought left her feeling uneasy. Before she could say anything, her phone rang. It must be news about the Draycotts. It had to be something big for them to call so urgently. Aria glanced at the pair. Landon smiled. "If you have questions, Jett, feel free to talk with my manager, Ms. Virelle." Manager? Seraphina caught on quickly. "Mr. Grisham, shall we step outside?" Jett was still trying to process everything. "Wait." Balancing business and personal matters as usual, Aria held her phone up and said, "I heard Ms. Virelle used to work at the Draycotts' club. Let's have a chat later." Seraphina froze, glancing at Landon. Seeing his bl
Seraphina could not let her mind go there. Maybe she should've stayed in Netherrealm for a few more years. It was not so bad down there anyway. Landon barely spared her a glance, keeping his eyes on Jett with polite interest. "Won't you sit, Jett?"Sit? Jett could barely remember why he had come in the first place. Landon's voice snapped him back. "I... Mr. York, excuse me for asking, but what's your relationship with Ms. Virelle?""She works for me." Landon glanced at Seraphina. "Ms. Virelle? That's a new title."Jett stumbled over his words. "She works for you?""Yes," Landon said casually, like it was the most obvious thing. "Isn't it obvious?"Jett could not imagine the Yorks being in that kind of business. From Jett's expression alone, Landon could guess what kind of mess his people had made in Ludwiten. Since he had been dragged into it now, he figured he owed the Grishams an explanation. "I planted her in the Draycott family. The Yorks need a foothold in Ludwiten."So
Getting out of there wasn't going to be easy. Aria did not waste any time. She moved fast behind the suite divider, her laugh carrying a different note than usual. "What a shame."Landon's hand paused as he fixed her hair, his voice as smooth as ever. "I could have them leave.""Bad timing. My cousin's out there." Aria glanced at him, taking in that perfect collarbone of his. No wonder they used to call him the untouchable one, with all those socialites dying for just a smile.She had never given much thought to that kind of thing before. All those times working with patients, she had kept things strictly professional. But things felt different now, and she couldn't quite put her finger on why. Her gorgeous fiancé had a way of making her lose her head.Landon pulled his hand back while looking down. "We should meet with your cousin. I hear the Grishams like to evaluate their in-laws.""Huh?" That had not crossed her mind. He did not seem like someone who would care about app
Aria felt something wild coming off him. It was not hatred, but something close. She was too caught up to figure out what it was. She had never felt anything like this before; it was like she was floating. Her eyes were open, but she could not focus. Even his breathing felt like an invasion, starting at her ear and spreading through her whole body. When his fingers pressed into her waist, instinct made her try to push him away. That was a bad move—it only made things more intense. He lit her up like a match, heat spreading from her neck downward till she had to tilt her head back just to breathe. It reminded her of that hazy dream, the one in which she had been caught between sleep and waking, her pulse racing and her skin on fire. But it did not feel exactly the same because what she was feeling now was real. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught glimpses of the river through the massive windows. The view was blurry, but it was enough to remind her where she was. Unable t
Landon's warm lips brushed against Aria's. The touch was light as a feather yet utterly captivating. His kiss was so delicate it seemed to awaken every memory stored in her body. In that moment, Aria could swear she caught that same sandalwood scent from her dreams. Black mist and countless indiscernible inscriptions appeared, but he paid them no mind, gripping her waist as he whispered low in her ear. When he kissed her wrist without looking away from her face, his presence was impossible to ignore. His black leather gloves lay discarded to the side. To Aria, every place his hands touched felt like it was on fire. The sensation intensified when his fingertips traced the black mark on her neck. Something inside her screamed to take control, which made her grab his hand. He seemed to smile with his lips by her ear. "So, are you ready to pay the renewal fee?" Aria had never thought anyone could enchant her like this. But this was different. It felt just like seeing a fallen g
Landon asked, "You're getting water?" As his gaze drifted down to where Aria's hair fell, his voice turned rich and low. "Then why are your ears turning red?" Aria's hand froze mid-air. "It's hot in here." "What?" He raised an eyebrow. "It's only 70°F here." Aria wanted to tell him to stop talking so much. It was all because of what he had done in her dreams, making her imagination run wild now. Did he think having a handsome face meant he could do whatever he wanted? He even used all that binding stuff on her too. But she couldn't be sure it was even him. And even if it was, it must have been from a past life. As an arcane seeker, Aria knew what recurring dreams usually meant. But she had pushed those thoughts aside. A past life should not dictate their relationship in this one. At the very least, he wouldn't try anything like putting her in chains and locking her up now. That would be illegal. She would have him arrested and be done with it. Besides, her handsome fi
The atmosphere inside the room was totally different from the outside.Aria did sense the strange aura around Seraphina just now. Her beauty was otherworldly, almost supernatural. And there was something familiar about her presence—Aria felt she had encountered it before but couldn't remember where. Given how quickly Seraphina had withdrawn her hostility and turned gentle, Aria saw no point in making an issue of it. Besides, the way Landon was massaging her neck felt too good, making her mind feel hazy. As her blood flow slowed, she started to feel drowsy. The trio hiding in the copper coin did not dare show themselves; they were probably not even there. They had been especially quiet since arriving in Ludwiten, as if something here affected them. This was one of the things Aria wanted to investigate. The Wagners had used some unknown method to hide themselves after reaching Ludwiten. Even the Special Missions Unit failed to track them. All they had was that initial contact