"Why haven't they announced her grades yet?""Did she do so badly that they couldn't grade her papers properly?""She wanted you to apologize to her on your knees, didn't she? That was hilarious.""She's from the countryside. That's why she's boasting all the time. Look! She came with her grandma and the old lady stinks."Georgina heard that, obviously, seeing from how she looked crestfallen. Aria turned her gaze at the clique of students laughing and jeering at her, and the air around her seemed to have become frigid. Meanwhile, someone shouted, "Ms. Warsaw is here!"Deanie was in charge of sticking the results on the bulletin board. In order to quell dissent, she didn't dally, and she also pasted the answer sheets on the board along with the results.Everyone suddenly went quiet as they read the results, their eyes wide in disbelief. Aria scored 150 in Math and 150 in Angladian. Everything was the same as the previous time—she had scored full marks in everything aside from
Aria didn't gaze at that clique who'd just run away. Many of her classmates flocked toward her, some envious, some just here to offer their congratulations. Some students also came to offer their apologies for having misconceptions about Aria. Aria didn't care much about that, so she smiled in return. The other students were more willing to talk to Aria after that. They asked her about her studying methods and how she managed to memorize the Angladian vocabulary for the exam. Besides that, they also praised her for being able to solve such difficult questions. Aria didn't withhold any information. She wrote the process behind solving these questions on the bulletin board. The classmates, who finally understood the questions, started greeting Aria with respect. Less than half an hour had passed, but Aria had already garnered herself a legion of fans. Cameron was present throughout, and he was completely dumbfounded. He took his phone out, wanting to send Lily a message, but
Aria looked up, only to see a humble-looking couple outside the door, shouldering heavy bags and looking worn from a long trip.Aria retracted her arm. "Yes, it is."Olivia was pleasantly surprised. "Do you know Dr. Carver, then?""It'll be me. Who are you—"Before Aria could finish her sentence, Olivia covered her mouth and broke out in sobs. "Oh, Aria! My poor child! We've finally found you!"She sobbed with so much grief that she'd almost cried herself hoarse. Aria's neighbors gathered around her. "What's happening?" they asked. "Are they Aria's biological parents?"Aria stopped in the middle of her actions once again and turned her gaze to the couple. Grant Renner had dark skin from being exposed to sunlight for too long. He looked humble with the airs of an impoverished man. "Olivia missed you badly. We were afraid that she wouldn't get to see you, so we took an overnight bus here.""You shouldn't have told Aria that!" Olivia said. She pulled on Grant's sleeve, her ey
Grant pushed Olivia, stopping her from going on. However, Olivia's eyes reddened even more, which made it clear that things were difficult in her family.Georgina was sad upon hearing that. She turned to the side and looked at Aria, whose knuckles rapped on the table repeatedly, following a rhythm as she mulled over something in silence.Georgina wanted Olivia and Grant to stay after dinner, but they shook their heads and said they'd booked a hotel nearby. They left the bag to Aria before they departed for their hotel. Georgina considered the matter for a long time. She was so focused on it that she couldn't concentrate on the drama she was watching. "Your younger brother is suffering from a serious illness.""Apparently." Aria spun a teacup with her fingers. This was what she'd do when she had something on her mind. Georgina sat up straight. "Let's go to Uludon, Aria. You should meet your brother.""Sure." Aria smiled. "You're right. I should meet him."Olivia and Grant had
Grant was playing card games on his phone, a cigarette between his lips, as he said nonchalantly, "Okay, okay. Lily didn't lie to us at least—she really does have a pretty face.""The trip back tomorrow must go smoothly no matter what." Olivia frowned. "Lily didn't tell us how smart the girl is. Remember the questions she asked me yesterday? They were all subtle traps!"Olivia and Grant had worked as human traffickers for many years. Olivia was especially skilled in acting. The average person would find it very difficult to see through her disguise—only seasoned criminal investigation professionals would be able to.Grant was much less skilled, and that was why he was often reticent. He was usually in charge of transportation and other tasks. "Don't worry. We'll be taking a path we know well tomorrow. Our reunion with our long-lost daughter is a legitimate reason, so no one will look deeper into it."Olivia felt conflicted. "That one family is to blame. They've been watching us lik
As it rained outside, the raindrops pitter-pattered on the window. Georgina didn't know why exactly, but she felt unsettled. Maybe it was because Aria wasn't here with her. No matter how many patients came to the clinic for consultations, the clinic still felt empty. …While it rained heavily in Southbury, it was only cloudy in the mountains. Olivia woke Aria up. "Aria, do you want to go into the rest area and have a bowl of soup?""Sure." Aria seemed agreeable. However, she carried her bag everywhere she went, which made Grant, who was smoking not far away, pay attention. The driver they'd hired was a man called Shane Jasser. He tilted his chin at Grant, who lowered his voice as he said, "Don't get too hasty."Aria hadn't drunk any of the spiked water they'd prepared. What if she got up again when they were halfway to their destination?It would be dangerous if they tried to subdue her on the highway; they should start only after they were on the roads leading to Uludon.
Olivia smiled brightly. "Aria met someone she knew.""Really? That's great! You should come with us." Grant set his hand on Jonathan's shoulder enthusiastically.Jonathan shook his head quickly. "No, it's fine. I drove here."He turned his gaze toward Aria. "Uh, I'll be going now. While on the way… Take care!"He emphasized the two words at the end. Aria was smart; she would surely realize that something was wrong. However, Aria smiled. "Don't worry, Mr. Brooks. My parents will take care of me, so I'll be fine."She lowered her head and had some of her soup. Upon noticing that, Grant let go of Jonathan's shoulder. He said, looking touched, "Aria—"Jonathan felt anxious upon seeing how obtuse Aria was, but he couldn't say anything, not when they were Aria's parents. He could report this to the police and have them investigate the couple, but he worried he'd be affected if this backfired on him.Everyone else might not know about Perry Town, but not the local citizens of Uludo
The town chief had seen photos of Aria. Satisfied with her looks, he requested to meet Aria soon. Olivia and Grant wanted to take Aria to him as soon as they could, but they had to continue with the act lest Aria fight back. Many female students they'd brought here were initially reluctant, but they had no choice but to stay in Perry Town and care for the children after everything was set in stone. A woman would want to settle down after they'd given birth to children of her own—that was the rule.When they were almost in Perry Town, Olivia contacted the local matchmaker, and they agreed to set up a meeting tonight for fear of anything unexpected happening if they'd decided on a later date. There were few paved roads on the way to Perry Town. The roads to the town were all littered with craters, so the trip there became very bumpy.It was normal for the authorities to accidentally leave out some corners of the country during their construction efforts, and Perry Town was one
Priscilla twirled her long hair and took a sip of her coffee. "I didn't have much confidence back then. I always followed you, never daring to try things on my own. It's only now, after trying for myself, that I've realized some things."She added, "Opening a medispa has always been my dream, and that's how it all started. Now, all the wealthy women in Ludwiten come to me for fillers and anti-aging treatments. If you're interested, you should come by. I can even fix your nose a little."Priscilla smiled. However, her smile was a little off, perhaps from a recent treatment. She pressed her fingers to her eyes. "I can't smile too much, or I'll get wrinkles. I envy your flawless, youthful face, Fiona. What's your secret?""Probably just staying indoors and avoiding the sun," Fiona replied, carefully omitting the fact that her soul had entered a manifestation.Priscilla's expression darkened, her voice tinged with frustration. "It's all Owen's fault! How could he be so cruel? You're no
Leon typed so quickly that Aria suspected it was a result of his experience arguing with his online haters. Aria couldn't get a word in as Leon flooded the entire group chat. She was speechless—his typing was even faster than a hacker like her. Celebrity Carver: "I'm worried about Aria. I should have gone on the train too!"Aria freed one hand to reply, "No need to worry. Fergus is with me."Celebrity Carver: "Fergus has never been in a relationship himself. What does he know?"Boss Carver: "Leon, aren't you getting too full of yourself lately?"Leon kept his head down, continuing to type. He was filled with worry for Aria.Unbeknownst to anyone, a mysterious person watched Leon with intense focus. The gaze was unsettling as if the person were ready to explode with hatred at any moment.The person only looked away when Leon entered the VIP lounge. Then, they went to the washroom, and standing before the mirror, revealed an eerie smile. There was no rush. After all, there wo
Their positions were reversed in an instant.Landon was pinned down, a few stray strands of hair falling over his face. His long, dark eyelashes gave him a somewhat coy expression. Aria, on the other hand, appeared dominant, with one hand pressing down on his wrist and the other on his shoulder. This was the scene the attendant walked in on. She cleared her throat slightly before speaking, "Sir, here are your fruits."The attendant's voice caught the attention of Fergus, who was seated in the last row. He put down his tablet and glanced over. What he saw was Aria playfully pressing down on Landon's wrist. Fergus couldn't help but rub his temples, unsure how to express his current feelings.When Leon mentioned that Aria was pursuing Landon, Fergus hadn't thought much of it. However, seeing for himself, he could only think of ways to keep Landon around for Aria.But Aria couldn't be too forward as they weren't married yet. At the thought of that, Fergus deliberately coughed.
It was the first time Aria had ever felt this way. The sensation made her dizzy, yet she couldn't get enough of it. Every inch of her mouth was filled with Landon's scent, and his fingers felt astonishingly hot. The sounds around them faded, leaving only the rumble of the train as it passed through the tunnel. There was an undeniable closeness between them. His soft kisses and teasing bites on her lips made her feel a little lightheaded. With her eyes covered, Aria instinctively sought something to steady herself. The rhythmic thump of his heartbeat echoed in her ears, its force making escape seem impossible. His kiss, commanding and intense, contrasted sharply with his calm demeanor. It seemed as though he was determined to pull her deeper into his embrace. Yet, despite the overwhelming sensation, Aria couldn't bring herself to resent it. Instead, she found herself surrendering to it. The sounds around them slowly returned as they emerged from the long tunnel, light creepi
Landon raised his hand and spoke calmly before ending the call. "Go and tell your boss that only Farshyans can manage the Chamber of Commerce."When Westin tried calling back, no one answered. For years, foreigners had enjoyed preferential treatment in Farshya. As Westin mentioned, some universities favored foreign students, offering them special care. Foreigners received priority access to events, complimentary ice cream, and exclusive show tickets at car exhibitions. Many Farshyans were thrilled just to exchange a few words with them.Westin's best friend even had a Farshyan girlfriend who was utterly devoted to him. She tolerated their insults with a smile as long as he promised to take her abroad and secure her permanent residency.This sense of entitlement made foreigners like Westin feel superior to the locals. Westin, in particular, had been flattered by Farshyan businessmen for so long that he'd never experienced such outright rejection.Other suppliers and port officia
Despite the shifting tides, some stubborn members of the Chamber of Commerce clung to their cunning ways, refusing to yield.Previously, Westin had assumed that his target, known for being money-obsessed, would agree without much resistance. But upon arriving, he found himself drinking far more than discussing business.Two days and a relentless hangover later, Westin realized he'd been played. That wily old man! Refocusing his attention on the task at hand, Westin addressed the screen with renewed determination. "Mr. York, it's not just Ludwiten's companies interested in partnering with us. Even the Wagner family from Janovin is eager to collaborate. "If there's something holding you back, let me know. But remember, opportunities don't wait. I urge you to reconsider—going solo carries significant risks."As Westin spoke, Landon listened calmly, his expression unchanging. He even shifted slightly to make Aria more comfortable in her seat. Nearby, an attendant whispered with a
Aria lay on her side, with Landon seated on her right. She wondered if the York family would grow uneasy about his prolonged absence from home. Landon was clearly in the middle of a meeting. His deep, pleasant voice carried a hypnotic quality, occasionally interspersed with authentic Nobeetan phrases. He spoke so softly that those further away would struggle to hear him, yet his tone was laced with an understated menace that no one could ignore.The person on the other end of the meeting dared not contradict him. Landon's calm demeanor masked a chilling authority. He wasn't the kind of superior who exploded with anger—those were predictable. The truly terrifying ones were those whose moods were inscrutable and whose actions were ruthlessly decisive."We won't pursue a joint venture then. The York Group will proceed independently." Landon chuckled before continuing politely, "Let me remind you, this is Farshya—not the early days when we were inexperienced and desperate for capital.
At first glance, Kael's youthful face and wide, innocent smile made him look like a naïve fresh graduate. Yet, Aria knew better—beneath that façade was someone exceptionally skilled at navigating the intricate social dynamics of aristocratic families. "Mr. Warsaw has truly entrusted me with his most valuable apprentice," Aria said with a soft chuckle.Kael, ever attentive, refused to let her carry any luggage. "Mr. Warsaw feels more at ease knowing I'm with you. I'll take good care of you when we reach Ludwiten. You've been too exhausted lately."Watching Kael's efficiency, Fergus realized the extent of Stephen's meticulous planning. Kael handled matters with a precision that even surpassed Fergus' own assistant."Ludwiten is complicated. Whatever you do, prioritize your safety," Warren had warned them before their departure. For Warren, nothing was more important than the safety of his grandchildren. The world of high-stakes investments was fraught with hidden dangers. One miss
Those weighed down by darkness find no rest at night.An old cottage in Ludwiten stood cloaked in shadows, its walls overrun with vines and its history etched into the crumbling façade. The oak tree outside swayed in the moonlight, its rustling leaves carrying an eerie whisper that seemed to pierce the silence."Sir, I don't understand why you're hesitating. If we could seize the Carver family's fortune, why not do the same to the Grishams?" The speaker was wearing a black cloak that obscured his face. "We've successfully fooled Mrs. Kincaid, and everything is in place. The saintess is growing impatient—so why are you still hesitating?"The old man responded with a scoff, his cough rasping through the veil of white fabric that shrouded him. "Your flawed information caused me to miscalculate the Carver family's fate. And now you dare to rush me?"The cloaked figure flinched, his fear evident. "You've misunderstood, sir. I meant no disrespect. It's just... opportunities like this are