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
The voice in Aria's ear was like fine wine sliding down Aria's throat, leaving her slightly intoxicated.Landon's touch was unlike anyone else, emanating a scorching heat.Aria couldn't see his face from her position. However, she could feel his breath on the nape of her neck, sending shivers down her spine.He didn't smoke, so there was no scent of tobacco on him. Perhaps it was due to his long-term medication use; the smell of sandalwood on him was oddly captivating.Though she was accustomed to the smell of medicine, she still considered his scent enticing.His hand was still clasped with hers. When he leaned down slightly, it was impossible to ignore his presence. After all, he was practically right in front of her. Aria's heart felt like it had been stung. She suddenly felt a pang of sensation that was both unfamiliar and familiar to her. It was difficult for her to put her finger on it.Aria raised her eyebrows and was about to push him away.However, he let go of her ha
Barry quickly caught on to the fact that he was being led. Thus, he puffed up his cheeks and answered, "Boss treats me and the others quite well.""Really?" Aria raised her eyebrows. It was quite a shame, for she thought she could get some useful information. However, Barry was quick to react despite being a talkative person.Barry nodded firmly. "My boss has no shortcomings!""You didn't say that just now. You said that you would be the one taking the fall," Aria spoke indifferently.Barry froze. "I was talking nonsense. I see that my boss is treating you very seriously. I'm sure he won't let you down even if there's a difference between your family backgrounds. Don't worry!""Oh? That's a shame because your boss and I are only acting. How can you tell that he's being serious to me?" Aria fiddled with her calculator and smiled absentmindedly.Barry was stunned. "You guys were acting?""Lower down your voice." Aria furrowed her eyebrows. After seeing that everything seemed norma
Perhaps the coffee had been brewed for too long. A bitter aftertaste lingered on Landon's tongue, mirroring the unease that settled in his gut. It was difficult for Landon to believe Aria would be so infatuated with someone.Landon smiled as if nothing was wrong. His deep black eyes exuded courtesy and grace. "Ms. Harris, my family isn't as complicated as you think. Nobody can make decisions on my behalf. I wouldn't make the woman I choose unhappy.""I feel relieved hearing that," Georgina sighed. Though she suspected they weren't being entirely truthful, as long as it wasn't anything serious, she wouldn't pry.Landon didn't hurry to end the conversation. He refilled Georgina's cup, his gaze drifting out the window where Aria bustled around the house.Aria was wearing black jeans and a T-shirt—the simple outfit did nothing to hide her well-proportioned figure. A wooden hairpin was tucked behind her head, accentuating her long and fair neck. Undoubtedly, she was strikingly beautiful