Jenna attempted to defuse the tension. "Look at the new fund I invested in. It hasn't been performing well at all. Didn't Grand Construction Corp. mention investing in pharmaceuticals? Why haven't they yet? Is Mr. Ingerton going back on his words?""You met Mr. Ingerton? Did he disclose anything to you?" Karen perked up, getting back to the main topic at hand.Sophia laughed. "Do you think everyone has access to him? Even your husband might not get an opportunity."Karen scoffed. "We are supposed to collaborate with Grand Construction Corp. Besides, Mr. Ingerton's secretary, Reagan, is good friends with my husband. Meeting him wouldn't be difficult!"Sophia brushed off Karen's bragging, knowing she was merely trying to impress the others.Karen was about to retort when she noticed Sophia's disbelief.Suddenly, Jenna shouted after scrolling on her phone. "Heartbound Hall! Oh my! Mrs. Kent, look. Isn't this Heartbound Hall? It's located at Clearwater Alley, so it should be."Karen
Despite not contributing financially, Karen decided she should take control of the stream. This newfound determination propelled her to stand up, abruptly ending her massage.Just then, Marshall called, urging her to return home immediately.Marshall, still in disbelief, recounted his day's events to Karen. Karen clenched her jaw, a surge of hatred bubbling within her. "When Aria left, I should have disfigured her face!"Marshall frowned. "I told you this to encourage you to mend fences with Georgina. A happy Georgina is more likely to speak favorably of us to Aria."Disgust contorted Karen's face. "She has no standards, does she? Seducing old men for gifts? No wonder she receives so much. It must all be from Mr. Ingerton." This explanation seemed more plausible to Karen. Otherwise, she might have been forced to acknowledge Aria's ability to win people over with her medical skills.Marshall got impatient. "Enough. Now's not the time to talk about this. Are you going to Georgin
"Of course, I didn't say a word! Didn't you instruct me not to divulge anything about you two when you left?" The middle-aged woman scanned the hillside cautiously.Lily narrowed her eyes. "What if they gave you money to tell them?""I'll take the money, but I'll feed them false information. There are folks who paid me to keep her from being found, after all." A sly grin spread across the woman's face.Lily breathed a sigh of relief. "That's right, Mom."The middle-aged woman was Olivia Phildez, who had mistakenly taken the wrong child years ago.Tears welled up in Olivia's eyes. It had been a while since she heard Lily call her "Mom.""Lily, your father and I have followed your instructions to the letter. You said admitting the truth would land us in jail. It's your quick thinking that's kept us safe."Having secured the information she needed, Lily felt a pang of impatience. "Good. Mom, we still need to be cautious. Once everything settles, I'll bring you and Dad to the city."
Marshall turned to look behind Aria instinctively. However, Harry wasn't there.Aria smiled nonchalantly. "Are you looking for someone?"Marshall plastered a smile on his face. "Aria, we have some misunderstanding between us."Aria grinned. "What misunderstanding? Are you talking about the time when you almost killed me or when you forced me back to the countryside?"Upon hearing that, a discussion sparked around them. "How could you do that as her parents? What kind of parents are they?"Karen couldn't tolerate the nosy neighbors and shouted, "She's not my daughter! What do you want us to do? Why should we tolerate her? She's like a piece of chewing gum; we can't get rid of her no matter what we do!"Marshall anticipated Karen's impending outburst and hastily pulled her back. "Stop talking!"With a silent gesture, he reminded her of their purpose for being there.Yet, Karen couldn't resist the intrusive thought. "Not only is she flunking her studies, but now she's even luring
Aria didn't hold back on Marshall. He crumpled to the ground, convulsing and spitting blood. Karen, her face drained of color, watched in mute terror.Rage contorted Aria's features as she yanked Marshall up. "I never wanted to resort to this in front of Grandma," she growled, her voice laced with venom. "But you truly had it coming."Marshall whimpered, his gaze darting to Georgina. "Mom, do something!""So now she's your mother? You didn't seem to care when you kicked her out!" Aria's voice crackled with rage as she forced Marshall to meet her gaze.With a swift kick, she sent him sprawling once more, the force of it leaving bystanders trembling in fear.Aria had long suppressed her true nature, playing the role of the obedient granddaughter beside Georgina. But now, her wrath was unleashed, revealing a darker side that sent shivers down spines.Meanwhile, Sam, who was following Harry downstairs in the commercial building, suddenly stopped. Before Harry could question him, Sam'
Karen had plenty of ways to ruin Aria's reputation online.Landon's gaze shifted deliberately toward Solo, signaling his intent.As an elite bodyguard, Solo grasped Landon's unspoken directive. He began to move in Karen's direction. However, Aria intercepted him with a smile. "Grandma said to let them go."Solo hesitated, his head tilting in question. "Follow what she said, then." Landon's voice was calm. It was as if he was talking about something normal.Barry watched in astonishment, perplexed by Landon's unexpected compliance. He couldn't help but wonder about Aria's true identity.Aria, nonchalantly chewing gum, spoke with casual confidence. "Everyone deserves a chance to start anew. I happen to be quite forgiving.""Really?" Landon raised his eyebrows, fiddling with his rosary bracelet. It was obvious he didn't believe her words.Of course, Aria wasn't being entirely truthful. If Solo were to tail Karen, her plans would be thwarted. She knew that for someone like Karen,
"Yes, I've agreed." Aria was calm, not thinking too much of his question.Landon's brow furrowed. She'd shut him down flat when he offered his own investment. Yet, Harry's proposal garnered immediate acceptance.Landon smiled and leaned closer to her. The crisp scent mingled with the smell of medicine wafted into her nostrils. Perhaps it was because the weather was starting to turn chilly; his body temperature seemed cold. "Why didn't you choose me?"Aria looked up at him. Although her gaze seemed confused, she gave a reasonable explanation. "Grand Construction Corp. happens to want to invest in the pharmaceutical industry for their next project. After discussing, everything aligns well. Besides, most of the Carver family's businesses are located overseas, so traditional medicine isn't their forte."Though her explanation sounded plausible, Landon's smile deepened. However, it was devoid of any warmth. He fiddled with his rosary bracelet, seemingly lost in thought. "You're right.
If Landon seemed indifferent before, he now had a hint of a smile on his face."Nope." The usual aloof-looking Landon didn't seem to look that intimidating now. "Barry, pay up."Barry nodded and quickly took out his credit card."Remember to pay more." Although Landon's voice was calm, it didn't mask the fact that he seemed to be the one in control.Aria glanced at him and back to the obedient Barry. "Are you two even friends?"Landon didn't hide it from her. "He's a colleague from another branch.""Yes. We're colleagues." Barry straightened his posture.Aria didn't think much of it. "I don't take credit cards, but you can pay to my account here."Barry glanced slightly to his right. "How much should I pay?""You're going to ask for your friend's opinion on how much you should pay?" Aria grinned teasingly.Barry immediately transferred 100,000 over. To him, this shouldn't be too much or too little.He had considered this amount carefully, ensuring it fell within the range of
No matter the cost, Soreta was willing to grant any authority to someone who accepted it. At first, Soreta hadn't thought this way. She had always considered the Farshyans to be naïve and foolish, much like the portrayal on TV. It wasn't until she met them that she realized they were among the world's most astute investors. Farshya was definitely not to be underestimated. Soreta could no longer look down on them as she once did. This was why she treated Lily with such politeness and respect.However, Lily thought it was her own achievements that had impressed Soreta, which only inflated her pride. She began speaking loudly, reveling in the attention of the crowd. In truth, Lily wasn't entirely confident when Soreta discussed her investment plans. She barely understood the book Georgina had given her. While Lily could foresee major events, it was only because of her memories from a past life. She had no grasp of the details or any business strategies.Still, Lily was confident t
At this moment, Lily's vanity was gratified like never before. She raised her glass, clinking it with the lady's. "There are many incredible things in Farshya, such as our Five Elements and Eight Trigrams. If you're interested, I'd be happy to explain them to you anytime.""You're so knowledgeable, Lily. I've heard of your talents—saving critically ill patients, fortune telling… Am I right? I'm fascinated by how you can predict what will happen to someone. Even in the grand scheme of things, it's incredible. Do you perhaps have a witch in your family?"Foreigners were often more inclined to believe in witches and spells. The King of Nobeeta was a firm believer, and so was the woman before her.The key was, who wouldn't believe in the power that theology brought? It was something that could make people a fortune."Now that we have you, our project is bound to succeed. Mr. Wagner has truly found a gem this time."The lady, Soreta Barclay, was referring to Kenny. Unlike Lily, he kept
"I'll ask Boss if she needs a bellboy!"Harry hadn't changed a bit. With his flashy gold chains and oversized watch, he was always quick to jump at any opportunity to make money. If Aria invited him to meet other businessmen, he'd be on board without hesitation.Everyone who did business with Aria shared a common trait—they would get addicted. Every entrepreneur dreamed of growth. The longer they toil in the market, the stronger their desire to expand. It was a universal truth among business leaders.For these dreamers, an investor like Aria was a godsend. She thrived on improvement, making her an ideal partner.Harry, as enthusiastic as ever, bombarded Aria with messages. Aria had planned to visit Ludwiten before, but things kept happening, delaying her trip. Her frequent nightmares and the unresolved tension between her mother and uncles weighed on her mind. Now, with Barron leaving some important items for her in Ludwiten, she had no choice but to go. Sneaking there was neve
"Honestly, you shouldn't let Boss go to Ludwiten. If she insists on going, at least send me along! It's not as if you're unaware of how messy their business circle can be. This isn't Janovin we're talking about!"Harry's voice rang loud and clear as he slammed his palm on the CEO's desk, a bold move no one else at Grand Construction Corp would dare attempt. The employees outside exchanged curious glances, whispering among themselves. What could have dragged Harry back from his vacation in such a state?Harry was worried. "We have plenty of employees. How could you let a lady like her go over there by herself? What if she gets harassed? At least here, our influence can protect her. People would think twice once they know who she is. Stop sipping that coffee and answer me already!"Tavian Montague, the vice-CEO, sighed and powered off his computer. He removed his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Harry, calm down. Do you really think Aria got this far on luck? Don't let her lo
The eight figures sat together, ostensibly discussing Aria's arrival. In truth, their agenda was far less noble—they were determined to keep the items they had long appropriated, refusing to return what rightfully belonged to others. After holding onto these possessions for so long, they had convinced themselves they were entitled to them.Their plan was to maintain a façade of respect toward the Carver family to avoid public scrutiny. However, they were equally resolute in protecting their own interests. They intended to demonstrate the influence of Ludwiten's business elite on Aria. It would be much better if she could be persuaded to invest billions in their ventures.It was a strategy they'd employed before, notably with Owen, and found it amusing.Yet Percy, despite his youth, was not so easily deceived. His calm demeanor and precise legal arguments left little room for manipulation. The Carver family's resilience, after all, stemmed largely from their grandchildren.Sti
Tobias once said that Aria was the most gifted person in the Decatorian way. Yet, for all her supposed talent, she couldn't use the Emperor Coins just by casually throwing them on her first attempt. She had to study them before she could wield them effectively.Thankfully, Leon chose the entertainment industry. If he had chosen to be inducted in the Decatorian way, the disciples of Mount Dracotigris would have been disheartened. "Leon, have you ever considered going into another industry?" Aria asked. Leon shook his head, a rebellious smirk on his face. "Aria, look at me. This face was born to be a celebrity. It'd be a crime to waste it."Aria sighed, accustomed to his narcissism. It was hard to argue—Leon's rebellious charm and striking looks had won over both women and men. Yet, his popularity brought challenges of its own."I still have Emperor Coins with me," Aria said, pulling out a beaded bracelet adorned with the coins and securing it around Leon's wrist. "Take it. For yo
Warren's eyes reddened as he gazed at Fergus, the grandson he had once hoped to raise personally. In that moment, he felt his life had been worthwhile. As one grew older, they came to understand a fundamental truth—if their descendants could grasp their thoughts, rather than dismissing the ways of the past as irrelevant, it was something to celebrate. Warren could now pass on everything to his grandchildren, finally feeling worthy within the Carver family.…Meanwhile, Leon furrowed his brows in the second-floor bedroom. "What are they talking about?""It's probably about Ludwiten. They have some business to settle. Why?" Aria had intentionally given Fergus and Warren some time to talk. As for her, she stayed with Leon in his room, playing games and snacking.When she heard his question, she smiled. "Are you interested as well, Leon?""I'm not cut out for business." Leon couldn't sit still and kept pacing back and forth. His silver hair, falling perfectly, made him look like a
That night, Warren stood before the memorial hall and spoke to his ancestors."Aria will be returning to Ludwiten tonight. Things will be different this time. There will be many obstacles ahead of her, but we must return eventually. Aria will finish what I couldn't. Please protect her."The Carver family was forced to shift their business from Ludwiten to Janovin at the time. And back then, they believed they could return at any moment. Yet, over 70 years had passed since then.Both Warren and Stephen were sentimental individuals, always hoping to return to Ludwiten. However, circumstances had shifted over the years. Moreover, the business landscape in Ludwiten had grown increasingly complex, with rising foreign investments. Their commitments in Janovin, especially after Owen married Fiona, kept them from returning.Warren had expected Owen to stay in Ludwiten, as he had promised the Grisham family. But Owen broke that promise.Warren's greatest wish had always been to return to
Although the crow was unsure of its owner's thoughts, it was indeed afraid of the dagger made out of Oracle bones.In fact, it wasn't made of ordinary animal bones. It was from the Oracle, one of the Four Perils. Most importantly, it carried spiritual energy from heaven and earth.Back then, the crow didn't expect the insignificant sect, which was consistently at the bottom of each tournament, to have the purest spiritual energy. Plus, all of their members were not to be underestimated. The crow would have never believed it if it hadn't come to live in the mountains with Landon. After all, Landon was bewitched to become the woman's boy toy. He stayed behind only because he liked the sect's spiritual energy. At that, the crow shifted its body and didn't continue to disturb Landon. Since Landon mentioned he needed the knife sheath, the crow would go and get it. Apart from the curved dagger in the wooden box, there was also a somewhat inconspicuous emerald and a turtle shell-lik