Landon's heartbeat was slow and steady, unlike his health condition. Nobody could guess, from his handsome façade, that he was a patient who was about to die soon. Aria paused and looked up.Landon withdrew his hand and gazed into the distance with a smile. Suddenly, he turned and coughed violently. Some traces of blood stained his lips, leaving a sickly pallor that somehow managed to be both dangerous and strangely alluring. Then, he said, "Ms. Harris agreed."Just when Aria was about to ask what he meant, he walked away. His silhouette was as striking as a painting.Aria followed him, thinking he was about to leave. However, he suddenly stopped in his tracks, causing her to bump into his back—a hard, cold surface that reeked faintly of medicine."I have to say, you had bad taste when you were younger," Landon spoke indifferently, masking his true emotions.Aria was confused."What do you mean by that?" She raised her eyebrows, puzzled by his sudden comment. Landon looked at
Barry was stunned, observing their inexplicable compatibility. Having been with Landon for years, Barry had never witnessed the latter showing interest in anyone.Aria was devoid of softness and gentleness, possessing only a captivating smile. She showed no fear toward Landon, even teasing him about his nickname. Aria likely hadn't seen Landon's ruthless side—when his hands were covered with blood. When Landon dealt with people, his subordinates would always feel afraid. Yet, he was also known for his fairness and rationality, dispensing punishment or reward with justification. Despite this, nobody dared to approach him closely.Considering Landon's apparent fatigue, Aria didn't insist they stay for dinner. Instead, she prepared bagels and medicine for him to take home."These bagels have a special herb blend I use for added flavor," she explained, her voice adopting a professional lilt that mirrored a doctor's bedside manner. "I also wrote down some dietary restrictions you sho
"What is it?" Landon asked her, his noble and aloof demeanor highlighted by the bracelet on his wrist. Yet, it contrasted with his well-tailored suit.Aria reached out and touched his diamond cufflinks. Then, she smiled seductively. "Can I take a bite?"She had never made such requests before.Whenever she experienced symptoms of her intermittent explosive disorder, she would endure it and rinse her head with cold water. But for some reason, she wanted to use her teeth to check if his neck was actually as cold as it seemed.Normally, Landon would reject such a request. This time, he chuckled and asked, "Where do you want to bite?""Your neck," she breathed, her tongue nervously darting across her lips. Landon circled her waist and lifted her. "It'll be easier for you to bite from this height.""You're right." Aria didn't concern herself with how intimate their posture appeared, especially in such a confined space, with him pinning her against the wall and whispering to her.Ho
Aria glanced at the marks on his neck and smiled. "I told you that it would cover your medical bills. What responsibility do I need to assume?""I can pay," Landon's voice sounded a bit hoarse, perhaps due to the wind. His breath brushed against the side of her ear as he chuckled. "If you assume responsibility, you can bite whenever you want."Aria felt slightly moved. Her long, glossy hair cascaded down her back, and her eyes held a hint of detachment. "I'll consider it.""Please do. Not only do you need a boyfriend, but my family is also pressuring me to get a partner." Landon smiled.Aria raised her eyebrows. "Then why are you calling off the engagement?"She didn't forget what she heard in the hospital.Landon's voice was clear, his tone gentle. "I have the right to choose my bride. Besides, with this body of mine, do you want to make the woman I marry a widow?""That's a valid point." Aria gave a solemn nod. Landon smiled helplessly. "Anyway, I didn't expect you to answer
Landon didn't like how Aria always excluded him. She had done this with Heartbound Hall's investment and his gift. It felt like she always wanted to keep everything clear between them.People perceived Landon as aloof and distant, but they hadn't met Aria. Despite her polite demeanor, she projected a coldness that made it difficult to get close to her.Landon's fingers brushed against his bracelet. Though his expression remained impassive, his eyes darkened.Aria noticed that and didn't persist in rejecting his gift. "No, I'll accept it."She looked down at her new waist chain with a smile. "It suits me well."Landon muttered a reply, feeling less suffocated than before. The indifference in his eyes gradually dissipated as he stared at the amethyst pendant dangling on her waist. The contrast against her fair skin was even more striking that way.He involuntarily tightened his grip.Aria raised her head curiously. "What is it?""No, it's nothing. Shall we go?" He released his gr
Despite his materialistic leanings, Solo was more inclined to believe in the unknown than dismiss it entirely. His primary concern, however, was why Landon had given Aria the amethyst pendant. It didn't make any sense to him.However, Solo didn't dare to ask. Barry, on the other hand, was more audacious. "Boss, she figured out that I'm your subordinate," he revealed.Landon paced thoughtfully and chuckled at the thought of Aria's sharp mind. "No surprise there. She's always been more perceptive than most."Barry breathed a sigh of relief before expressing his loyalty. "Don't worry. I won't breathe a word about your secret to Mr. York Senior."Landon glanced at his fingers and said, "Secret? What secret do I have?"Barry thought that Landon didn't trust him, so he blurted out everything he knew. "Dr. Genius told me that you two are in a fake relationship to fulfill her grandmother's wish."Solo was confused by what was going on.Landon stopped walking, his hands dropping to his s
Back at Heartbound Hall, Aria continued to fiddle with the amethyst pendant she got from Landon. She felt a bit off today. Not only had she experienced an episode of her intermittent explosive disorder, but she had also encountered a familiar amethyst pendant. In her memories, the amethyst pendant should have been hers. Yet, it belonged to Landon. Her memories were in disarray. She pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to piece together the fragmented images.She could recall bits and pieces, but most of her memories were still jumbled and incomplete.Patience was needed, she decided, as she reattached the pendant. Then, she traced her lips, pondering the unusual effect Landon's blood had on her. Her medical expertise, honed by self-treatment with both conventional and unconventional remedies, including cultivating the potent Whisperwind Herb, should have rendered her immune to most poisons by now. Perhaps there was something more than poison in his body.Aria drummed her f
Landon was indeed not wearing designer clothing. Instead, he was wearing a custom-made suit by a renowned Nobeetan designer.Apart from the royal family, other people wouldn't even have the chance to wear haute couture clothing by that designer. However, the York family was always an exception, though.There was no way people like Karen would know something as secretive as that.Although the Layne family held influence in Janovin, Karen did not share that power.The Layne family in Janovin wouldn't even bother about Karen. However, Karen did reach out to them after Lily started studying there. After all, Karen had to gain influence in Southbury to mingle with the higher class.Marshall was a bit annoyed. "Why must you fight with that brat? She has already left and is now staying with Georgina. At least they have a small business to sustain themselves."Karen sneered and opened the livestream. "A small business? Have you ever seen a small business earning half a million a day?"M
Miguel said, "How are we rushing things at all? The list came out ages ago, so you're already behind schedule. "We need to handle your paperwork, clear things with your family, and get you seen by the scholarship committee before you miss this opportunity." Miguel made it sound like the spot was incredibly rare. "They picked you because of your top grades and all-around excellence. Once you're there, whether you impress them enough to get the scholarship is all on you." After hearing this explanation, Eden felt a little less worried. Her grades were definitely impressive since she was in the top one hundred of her year. Oakvale Academy was known for getting kids into good colleges and had solid connections with schools abroad. With Eden's academic record, being selected wasn't that surprising. What she did not realize was that Miguel said all this just to ease her suspicions. He needed her to let her guard down and follow him. Security cameras lined every school hallway. If
Laura believed that once she and Jett met face-to-face, he would surely give in at the sight of her condition. After all, no child in the world would abandon their mother, especially not Jett! As his mother, Laura understood Jett well. But after hearing her words, Nisa shook her head. "Laura, if you asked me to arrange a meeting with Mr. Grisham, I might try to help. But if you drag Jett into this, the Grisham family will hold me responsible. "I won't do anything that foolish. You should forget about any thoughts of using your son too. You'll only make the Grishams think keeping you in Ludwiten is simply troublesome." Nisa was a clever woman, though somewhat blunt. She really wanted no further contact with Laura. She couldn't even handle her own husband, let alone manage someone else's problems. The socialites had kicked Laura out of their circle, and there was just no way they would let her back in. Today, Laura finally had a taste of how cruel people could be. She had nothi
The person next to Durand widened his eyes. "Mr. Guetta, are you hiding something from us?" "Not at all." Durand kept his words guarded. "As businessmen, we need to understand what we should and shouldn't touch. The Fitzroy family's situation makes that pretty clear. "Let's see if Aria will be so lucky when facing similar circumstances." Lucky? Everyone knew the entire Fitzroy family had been arrested. Magdalene faced multiple charges with no hope of getting out. She had tried to send messages to that mysterious, powerful man; she believed her past connection with him might help. After all, that person had climbed so high due to many factors. Magdalene couldn't believe he would just watch as both the Draycott and Fitzroy families fell. Because if they did, he might not be able to retain his position too. Yet no one responded to her, and she finally experienced what it meant to have no peace. Every day, she heard Dorian cursing her for doing such terrible things. In just two
Whether in traditional business or more speculative industries, Aria had her own plans and strategies. She was truly a genius among geniuses. Today, Philip finally learned that this brilliant woman had dedicated herself to serving her country long ago. None of the people here would have ever guessed she had this kind of background. Otherwise, they wouldn't have dared to go after her or the Grishams the way they did. Even when Yonah was alive, he spoke of her with contempt. Kenny thought she was nothing but a joke. Looking back now, Philip thought that it was really ironic. They had all lived in their arrogance and were too used to looking down on others. After all, they grew up privileged. Philip thought he understood everything about Aria, but in reality, he probably didn't even know a fraction of who she really was. Just like any other young man, he had dreams of being a hero and to become someone special who could serve their country with their life. The excitement dulled
"Good," Aria said while looking at Philip with approval. "I'll remove all protection from you and leave only Nyx by your side. I'll know immediately if anything happens." Philip nodded. He understood that for all this time, he'd stayed safe only because of Aria's careful protection. That was why the Wagner family hadn't found any trace of him until now. Aria had used arcane on him and borrowed items from the Dracotigris Order to hide the negative energy coming from his body, keeping spirits away. In the past, Philip would often be followed by spirits. This hadn't happened lately because of the chain he wore on his wrist. Once all these protections were removed, he would be easily tracked down again. It might not happen right away, but with time, they would find him. With his birth signs in the Wagner family's possession, it would be even easier for that person to locate him. And if Aria stayed by his side, he wouldn't make effective bait. Philip wasn't like Leon. If something
With a smile full of pain, Philip clenched his fists. "Aria, this is unbelievable. I've spent my time in nightclubs and driving fast cars, but I never once thought my great-grandfather betrayed our country." Aria knew Philip for his honesty and passion. He was someone who would collect miniatures of their national heroes and hang their flag in his race car—he clearly loved his country more deeply than most people. She wasn't good at comforting others. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Your special constitution protects you from all this. What your ancestors did doesn't change the fact that you're a good person." Philip felt a mix of emotions. Knowing these things brought nothing but pain. Without this knowledge, he would have lived forever in what he thought was truth. He had never told anyone about the Wagners. Each time he returned to their home, he felt the sad decline of what was once a great family. "I'm making slow progress right now." Aria looked up. "So I need t
Aria continued, "My senior is coming to investigate economic crimes and corruption. We don't have to worry about the state authorities causing us troubles too—he might become the governor of Ludwiten." This was Aria's speculation, but she had good reasons backing her guesses. The Chamber of Commerce was important yet heavily corrupted. Those in power wouldn't ignore this, especially with the lieutenant governor involved. The personnel changes happening now were surely related to these matters. Everyone in the Special Missions Unit knew Aria had been assigned a senior colleague. Those authorities might not know Aria's true identity, but the Murray family had enough influence to handle things here. If all else failed, there was always Landon, who was the head of the York family. Simon had caught a glimpse of him from a distance once and found him even more mysterious than rumors suggested. Simon thought he'd stay hidden well, but Landon spotted him anyway. It was eerie—he seeme
The driver had been taking his time to drive before he got the call. But as soon as the student stepped out, she watched in amazement as he suddenly floored it, showing off driving skills smoother than a professional racer's. The car moved so fast that it kicked up wind, leaving her no time to process what had just happened. The cab driver was Stormhowl, the tracking specialist from the Special Missions Unit. His codename sounded like something from a video game and didn't match him at all. Nobody would have thought this ordinary-looking middle-aged man with a goofy smile and thick accent was someone feared by international spies. "Boss, what do you need me to dig up?" Stormhowl walked in with a cigarette between his lips, his smile growing even warmer when he saw Aria. Everyone knew that while the Special Missions Unit members didn't always see eye to eye, 001 was someone they all looked up to. This included Stormhowl, regardless of the age gap. "I'll cut to the chase. An
Suddenly, Aria looked up at the bas-reliefs. Some sources did mention that The Serpent's Succession ritual required a specific manifestation. Many thought soul transfer was easy, but that was not true. The human body had three internal flames; as long as these burned, spirits would find it nearly impossible to possess someone. Random possession wasn't possible unless there was a blood connection or, in Philip's rare case, an unusually receptive negative constitution suited for arcane practice. Based on the person's methods from the manifestation, they definitely found a compatible body and used The Serpent's Succession ritual to transfer themselves. This blood was the key. Aria's eyes darkened. This wasn't ordinary blood. Blood from the living differed completely from blood of the dead—and this was from the living. The source was impossible to trace now. After all, this place had been abandoned. Whoever did this wasn't here anymore, and the low temperature would cause profess