Landon had indeed become a little different than usual. The closer he got to where his soul was, the stronger the evil energy around him grew. Someone in Ludwiten was exploiting the power of his soul fragment, which he had previously lost. How foolishly reckless that person must be. Landon toyed with the rosary bracelet on his wrist, his fingertips almost translucent in their paleness. He could not recall any past dealings with the Draycotts. However, after so much time, certain memories might have faded. Sam sat beside him, visibly annoyed at Aria's arrival. He gestured emphatically. "That talking crow disappeared again! Next time I catch it, I'll skin it first." The crow had actually been Landon's wandering soul from Netherrealm. It wondered if Chaos ought to regain some clarity. Even if the tribulation had scrambled his mind, shouldn't he still recognize friend from foe? Since he was always threatening to eat the crow, it wondered what would happen if he met the Cerulean
Landon hadn't known Aria had investigated him before. Hearing her comment, his gaze shifted toward her. "You wanted to see my photo, right?" Before Aria could respond, he added, "Was it because of our engagement? Did you just want to see if I met your standards?" "Actually..." Landon chuckled softly. "There's no need to look. Your taste might be questionable anyway." Aria was speechless. She wondered who had upset him. No one had provoked him—he simply had some unpleasant memories that had been somewhat enriched by his encounter with Sky. Combined with his soul fragment in Netherrealm, it was natural for him to feel agitated. Whoever borrowed his power must have burdened him with considerable karma. Realizing this, Landon closed his eyes, trying to calm the surging darkness within. Aria wasn't some naïve and dramatic woman who would throw a fit when her boyfriend was upset. On the contrary, as a doctor, she could discern someone's condition from their breathing patterns up
Landon did not say no to Aria's suggestion. In his current state, visiting the Grishams would not be wise, especially not with Sam around. If Landon continued to stay in the car like this, it would only drive Chaos to madness. As Sam got out with Aria, his eyes remained fixed on Landon. Aria noticed this. "What's wrong? Did you see something?" Sam gestured with his small hands. "He's even more dangerous now! Whoever crossed him is going to suffer!" "Others will suffer?" Aria asked. Sam nodded, so Aria said, "Ah, then there's nothing to worry about." After all, others would suffer instead of Landon. After Sam took a few steps, he looked back. He felt that the man's energy was strangely familiar. It felt just like someone he trusted the most and was the closest to. Sam thought he must be going crazy to mistake his boss like this. He shook his head and hurried to catch up with Aria. Even while working the case earlier, she had not forgotten to buy him fried chicken. Now th
Following the maid's lead, Aria walked through an ornately decorated hallway. Traditional lamps adorned both walls, casting a gentle glow. They had turned on the lights early as sunset approached. Though partially hidden by large clusters of roses, the place did not seem too dark at all. Instead, they filled the air with floral fragrance. The villa maintained its original architectural style. Sunlight filtered through intricate window lattices onto the floor. The complex yet elegant patterns on the vintage carpets complemented the surrounding décor, which was a clear reflection of the owner's refined taste. During turbulent times, Clyde had studied in Nobeeta. Their mansion showcased masterpieces everywhere. Throughout their walk, the maid kept studying Aria. She had initially expected Aria to be someone unsophisticated. She'd also wondered why Cecil Woody's colleague would dress so casually and bring a child for a medical visit. But now, she appreciated Aria's discerning e
Watching this scene, even Aria found herself clenching her fists. She had not felt this way even when reuniting with the Carvers. Now that she was at the Grisham residence, how should she break the ice facing her uncle? She had to think of something. Though she only resemblanced her mother slightly, Aria knew both her uncles were sharp. They would not dismiss this as mere coincidence. Just then, Waymond paused his phone conversation, his eyes flickering as he began to turn. Suddenly, Orion's deep sigh from the other end recaptured his attention. "Waymond, what's making you hesitate? We're like brothers who grew up together. Which doctor out there can treat your father's condition? "Let's just minimize his suffering. When I met Lennox recently, he also brought up your father's illness. His advice was immediate surgery; it can't be delayed any longer. "The longer we wait, the worse it gets. You know your father's condition better than anyone. "I know you can't decide about
Meanwhile, Orion was in high spirits after his call with Waymond. There had been too many issues recently—the medispa, the club, and, for some reason, the Sloanes' insistence on inviting the Carvers to the Chamber of Commerce—which had put him in a difficult position. But now things were looking up. That old fool from the Grisham family was getting weaker, desperately needing Lennox's treatment. If Waymond wanted to keep his father alive, he would have to obey Orion at the Chamber meeting! Another point of pride for Orion was Lily, the expert introduced by the Wagners. He had never won so dramatically in the stock market before. Everything he bought doubled in value. Most importantly, he had been nervous when the so-called "New God of Parker Street" from the Carver family arrived. He had feared Warren might give him trouble in this unfamiliar territory. But looking at the banquet now, there was clearly no room for the Carvers and Grishams. Orion, wearing a bespoke suit, strod
It was sunset at the Grisham residence. The Nobeetan wooden door opened. Aria's first impression was one of waning vitality. The interior was cozy with embroidered tablecloths, ornaments, and strategically placed wall sconces in every corner. Still, Aria sensed the room's declining energy. It was an unsettling feeling. Poor air circulation mixed with faint traces of rose fragrance. Then she heard coughing—deep, heavy coughs with labored and raspy breathing. It sounded like an infection in the trachea, bronchi, and lungs. Unlike her usual ease in examining patients, Aria felt tense. This patient was her grandfather, whom she had never met. Once a titan of industry, Clyde now required care in his illness. His condition was severe. Before checking his pulse, she could not be certain if there was still hope. She had kept Sam outside. Chaos' dark energy would harm someone chronically ill. Besides, Aria could tell Clyde's condition had not developed overnight. It would be fine
Today, Clyde felt that his illness must be affecting his mind. This young doctor was far too young to be his daughter, Fiona. How could he actually think that Fiona had returned to life for a moment? Clyde shook his head gently. Their looks were also different. Fiona possessed a delicate beauty reminiscent of ancient paintings, while this young lady had an ethereal coolness about her, though not off-putting. She seemed composed and professional. Clyde found himself unusually calm, which was probably because of the acupressure points she had massaged. "This treatment approach is different from the usual." Though Clyde's breathing remained labored, his eyes showed no trace of illness-induced cloudiness. They still reflected the refined gentleman of his youth. No wonder Warren had said, "Your grandfather was the most scholarly gentleman I'd ever met." Indeed he was. Aria smiled softly. "Dr. Woody practices modern medicine, while I practice traditional medicine. Our approaches
Clyde seemed to have noticed their gazes and walked toward them. Orion quickly masked his thoughts and forced a smile. "Waymond, why didn't you inform us that your father is feeling better? I could have prepared a more comfortable chair for him."Clyde glanced at him, clearly drawing boundaries as his elder. "There's no need to worry. You've been concerned about my health for a long time, Orion. However, you don't need to be anymore. Just proceed with the Chamber of Commerce as usual."Orion's gaze darkened. It seemed Clyde was still used to issuing orders as if the Draycott family remained under his thumb.Turning away, Orion shot a meaningful glance at the person beside him.Rex immediately understood. He said loudly, "Mr. Grisham Senior, we can't start just yet. There are still invitees who haven't arrived."Clyde turned to look at him, and Rex smiled. "You might not be aware, Mr. Grisham Senior, but the Carver family of Janovin has returned. Since the late Mr. Carver was one
Aria didn't wake up until around 11:00 am. She felt a lingering grogginess as she glanced to the side. The line between dream and reality blurred, leaving her uncertain of what she had experienced. It had been her first sensual dream, and to her surprise, the person involved was none other than her striking fiancé. The emotions she felt were hard to place, but the dream had been startlingly vivid.Fortune tellers could never see their past life or predict their current life. Aria had never thought about what her past life was about. Even if Tobias had told her a bit about it, she never really wondered about it. Aria figured that reincarnations existed for their own reasons. Besides, she didn't like to dwell on the past and preferred to look ahead. Therefore, she had never been interested in her past life.However, after receiving the Soul-Summoning Plaque, strange memories surfaced, leaving her eager to meet Tobias. But now, she wondered why he hadn't sought her out. Before she
Back then, Orion had no means of contacting the Royal Hotel. Yet, his achievements in Ludwiten over the years had earned him a rightful place in the Chamber of Commerce. With its storied past, the Royal Hotel was the most enigmatic establishment in Ludwiten. Not even the powerful York family or the Chamber of Commerce could influence its operations. The force behind the Royal Hotel was undeniably formidable.It was whispered that only Barron could enter the hotel's inner circle. However, he kept all matters to himself, never revealing a word to the outside world.This secrecy weighed heavily on Orion. Despite his prominence in Ludwiten, many in the Chamber of Commerce looked down upon him.He had overheard people say it would be better if Barron were around. It struck him as odd that a man who had been dead for years could still hold such influence.Orion would never forget the Carver family's near fall from grace, nor how they had manipulated Owen upon his arrival in Ludwiten. H
Orion originally intended to use Clyde's health to pressure Waymond and secure his influence in the Chamber of Commerce. However, Waymond unexpectedly claimed that Orion's connections were unnecessary.This meant the Grisham family could not be swayed and would reject his terms, completely derailing his plans.Logically, no doctor in Ludwiten should be able to treat Clyde—Orion had already confirmed this with Lennox. Lennox had assured him that he was the foremost expert in the field, with no one in Farshyan's medical community able to compete with him, thus making him the authority in the matter.So Orion wondered who had replaced the doctor assigned to the Grisham residence and convinced them to change their minds. He racked his brain but couldn't come up with a solution. There were always those in Ludwiten who thought they could challenge him, like the Hawke family, who had previously opposed him but were now begging for mercy. Beyond that, no one dared cross him. Only the Ca
The frosted shadows stretched across the bed, their movement rippling across the vast lake. Yet, aside from Landon, only Aria remained in the room. A faint ringing echoed from Aria's ankle, the soft chime of the bell attached to a gold chain that bound her. Every movement she made caused the bell to tremble.Despite her frantic efforts to escape, the chains held tight, offering no freedom. Her breath came in shallow gasps, dragging her deeper into helplessness.The man's voice, low and seductive, whispered in her ear. "Relax a little, master." His tone was smooth, but his grip on her waist remained firm, unyielding.His warm breath traced a path up her spine, sending a shiver through her. Aria's brow furrowed almost instinctively in response.Their reflections danced on the lake's surface, distorted by the ripples. Aria's eyes, tinged with a faint red haze, gazed back. Her fair skin contrasted sharply with the disarray of her clothing—a robe slipping loosely at her waist, giving
Landon glanced at her face, his brow furrowing slightly. He couldn't tell what she was dreaming about. Reaching out, he gently guided Aria's lips to his neck. Without thinking, she instinctively drew nourishment from his body. The soft bite of her teeth, delicate as it was, gave the impression that she was hunting for sustenance.He let her tug at his collar, feeling the slow drain of blood from his body. With one hand on her waist, it appeared as though he was composed, unaffected by temptation. But deep down, his Adam's apple bobbed, and his breathing grew heavier.Aria, meanwhile, seemed completely indifferent to the situation. If it had been anyone else, she might have woken up, but Landon's presence held her in place.Her eyes narrowed slightly. She was caught between the haze of dream and reality, struggling to understand what was happening.Her eyes moved to her disheveled robe, then to the familiar face beside her—one that, despite his unwillingness, she recognized as her
Aria shared the story with Landon about a person who, in their youth, had many friends but only truly cared for one.Landon's response was nonchalant. "I spend a lot of time online too. When someone says they're asking for a friend, it's usually for themselves. What does this have to do with the Sloane family?"Aria realized that Landon was skilled in many areas, except for his lack of imagination. "Just pretend the person with unrequited love is you."Landon's thoughts shifted suddenly. He remembered a time on a mountain when she always seemed to prefer men who were lean and fair, unlike himself.With a snap, the quill in his hand broke. The two men standing beside him stiffened at the sound.Landon sneered, and Aria was puzzled by the sudden cold laugh. "I should've figured you've never experienced unrequited love," he muttered.Realizing Landon struggled to empathize with Alaric's situation, Aria decided to provide some clarity.Landon adjusted the ring on his thumb and glanc
If one were to describe it simply, Alaric was a playboy on the surface. But in reality, he might still be holding onto his first kiss, a gift reserved for Fiona.Aria pondered this as she looked over her phone conversation once again. The more she examined it, the clearer it became. Despite the attention from his girlfriends, they never grew too close. Though surrounded by women, he often drank and smoked alone.The photos might have been old, but they sparked an epiphany in her. Alaric had once nearly entrusted his entire family to Fiona, still worrying that she'd see him as less than pure.Aria thought it was all rather intriguing, rubbing her chin in contemplation.Meanwhile, Fiona couldn't quite understand Aria's sly smile, attributing it to a generational gap.Aria grinned. "Mom, don't mention our conversation just yet. Let me meet Mr. Sloane at tomorrow's meeting.""Of course," Fiona replied, always ready to indulge her daughter's wishes.A thought struck Aria. "By the w
Society's expectations toward women were inherently unfair because they demanded them to be everything all at once. Women were expected to be perfect mothers and corporate elites. Upon marriage and motherhood, the world often expected them to abandon their careers and stay home.Even if they didn't regret their choices, others would regret it for them. People would claim the woman was only fooling herself and that regret would come sooner or later.And it was true. Eventually, most would regret their decisions.But they made those sacrifices out of love. Even knowing the possible regrets, many mothers chose to become full-time housewives.Were they certain that they'd find happiness for the rest of their lives. Of course not. But they did it willingly anyway.There would always be some who, years later, might say, "I didn't divorce because of you."People said many things. For some reason, the success of a woman's marriage became a measure of her worth, an ironic yet undeniable