Aria spoke slowly. "Who's that person?"Olivia seemed fearful, glancing around nervously. "I… I don't know. I can't tell you. I'll be punished."Aria sensed something was wrong from Olivia's frantic rambling. She reached out and checked Olivia's pulse, finding it erratic.Raising her chin, Aria locked eyes with Olivia. Her gaze turned cold. "Did someone put a curse on you?"Olivia suddenly went crazy and slapped herself. "The heavens will punish me for this! Why did I say anything?"Tears streamed down her face. "Lily, you must study hard. You're all I have. If you get into a good college, I'll be able to enjoy life in the city." Then, she grabbed Aria's hand. "Lily, you promised to buy your brother a house. I know you love me more—more than that useless daughter of mine!" Aria paused after hearing that. "You have a daughter?"Olivia stared at Aria. "I had difficulty giving birth. Despite all that effort, the baby turned out to be a girl! Why can't I have any sons? What bad l
Malcolm's phone clattered to the floor as he stood in shock. Memories of everything he'd said to Aria flashed through his mind.He vividly recalled their first meeting, where he treated her like his sister. He had even assured Shiloh and the others that he could protect her.Suddenly, he realized the true meaning behind Aria's smile. The weight of these memories caused his knees to buckle.He'd never imagined his mysterious boss, the one he pictured as a powerful elite running a vast empire from a luxurious office, could be someone so close to him. And to top it all off, she was even younger than him!Aria's beautiful face made her look more like an actress than a doctor. She also happened to be the "fake heiress" that the Short family had scorned. His head spun as he scrambled to pick up his phone, his fingers flying across the screen in a flurry of frantic typing. But Aria was quicker. A message popped up saying, "Investigate it now."Could it be true? Was Aria really his boss
Ever since the last examination, Cameron had not contacted Lily. However, upon hearing that they were coming to Janovin, Lily took the initiative. She booked a hotel and even planned their trip.Cameron found it difficult to reject her when she had done so much. "Don't worry. Grandpa isn't that old-fashioned."Although Abraham didn't know the details of what had transpired between the younger generation, he found it hard to like Lily. After all, she hadn't visited Georgina once despite being back for a long time.Nevertheless, politeness prevailed, and he wouldn't outright dismiss her. He beckoned Cameron over.Cameron stepped forward. "Grandpa, Lily came to visit you."Abraham nodded and offered Lily a polite smile. "Lily, I have a pressing appointment today. Unfortunately, I won't be able to spend much time." He glanced at Cameron, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. "Take good care of our guest."Cameron was clueless about where his grandfather was heading. Lily lowered he
Frank still found it hard to believe that Aria was the very person he'd been searching for. The irony of it all—he'd even tasked her with investigating Ms. Carver's whereabouts—embarrassment burned in his gut.Aria casually called out to him, "Frank."His awkwardness intensified at the sound of her voice. Aria raised an eyebrow, puzzled by his reaction.Frank regained his composure and gave her a courteous smile, though it seemed rather unnatural. "C-Can we talk privately?"Aria smiled nonchalantly. "I have a feeling I know what you want to say, but is it urgent? If not, I'd love to join your distant relative for some stew."Performing surgery was a demanding task, and the only thing she'd eaten was noodles. It wasn't exactly filling. She was famished. Besides, she needed time to process the revelation about her identity.Frank instinctively wanted to correct her that Landon wasn't their distant relative, but he didn't have the guts to do so with Landon right beside them.But Ar
Landon's slender wrist somehow managed to pull off the scrunchie with an air of elegance. Aria couldn't help but glance at it. Suddenly, she asked, "What do the Carvers think about their missing daughter?"Landon smiled as he ladled her some stew. "Mr. Carver Senior has been searching for her for years. Why do you suddenly ask?""Oh, just curious," Aria mumbled, feigning casual interest. "I thought I should know my patients better. Besides, you are, like, distant relatives, right?"Landon, mid-scoop, paused at her words. "Actually, we're not exactly distant relatives. It's more like our grandfathers knew each other. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been bethrothed to Ms. Carver in the first place."Aria only remembered about the betrothal when he mentioned it. She shot him an odd look.Landon didn't want her to misunderstand. "We already called it off, though. Especially now that they have finally found their daughter, they're willing to cancel it.""Oh." She took another bite of her s
Landon thought Warren was there for Jeffrey, so he rose to greet him. However, Warren rushed past him, his eyes filled with hope that glistened alongside the raindrops clinging to his shoulders and hair. Gone was his usual arrogance. "Rainbow," Warren's voice trembled, "I've finally found you."Landon, setting cutlery for Warren, froze. A look of utter shock, a rare sight on his handsome face, contorted his features. He immediately gazed at Aria, who maintained an indifferent expression.Rainbow? Could Aria be the fiancée he'd never met?A frown creased Landon's brow as he recalled his earlier conversation with Aria. He'd assured her the engagement was off.Landon gripped the spoon tightly, his emotions unreadable.Warren approached Aria. "You've grown up so well," he said, his voice hoarse. "I couldn't sleep after you were kidnapped. Nightmares of you being hungry haunted me. Thankfully, you're still…"Warren couldn't bear to say the word "alive."He had been the most worri
No young woman would want to become their family's breadwinner at such a young age. Life had dealt Aria a cruel hand. She should have been doted on like a princess, not treating patients and being targeted by smugglers, only to be taken back to the mountains. Warren's hand trembled violently, his body swaying precariously. Thankfully, Aria was quick to react, catching him before he could fall. However, her brow furrowed with concern as she checked his pulse. "Did someone change the prescription I gave you?""No!" Warren rasped, a fit of coughing wracking his frail frame.Frank and Keith looked on with worried looks.Aria immediately fed him a piece of medicinal candy. "Did you get caught in the rain on your way here?"Warren, finally regaining his breath, managed a shaky nod. After examining his acupuncture points, Aria noted, "There's an abnormality in your lung sounds." Then she let out a light chuckle devoid of sarcasm. "You need to take it easy, avoid getting soaked. You
Aria's brows furrowed at Landon's words. "I already told you not to believe—"Before she could finish, Landon silenced her again, his hand muffling her speech. He pulled her close, a low chuckle rumbling in her ear. "Let's talk about this privately."Aria's eyes narrowed, and her beauty mark stood out even more. Landon leaned in, his thin lips brushing chastely against her hair. "You can bite me as hard as you want later, back at the clinic. I'll help you deal with your grandmother. She must be worried sick. Even if you did escape the village; she'll still be furious that you took such a risk. I'll help smooth things over."His voice was a low murmur, coaxing and seductive.Aria was instantly mesmerized. After a brief internal debate, she nodded, oblivious to the closeness of their bodies. Meanwhile, Warren glared daggers at Landon, who in turn offered a cheeky grin. "Surely your grandfather wouldn't try to separate us, would he?"Warren bristled at Landon's attempt to paint h
Back then, a rumor circulated that everyone desired the Grisham family's daughter. Audriana had thought it was an exaggeration. After all, no matter how beautiful a woman was, she would inevitably age. Fiona, no matter how stunning, would eventually face the same fate.However, Audriana had come to realize that some people could indeed look like fairies. Yet, she couldn't show her envy, as Priscilla was still watching her."Why do I think she looks so average? She's not nearly as ladylike as you, Priscilla," Audriana flattered her.Priscilla merely gave her a passing glance. "You don't have to try to flatter me. I don't care about that. With plastic surgery so common these days, I can have any appearance I want."What's important is for a woman to have her own career. But I have to admit, her face is quite stunning."Otherwise, Fiona wouldn't have remained relevant for so many years. But it didn't matter now. Fiona was already married, with so many children. Once a woman became a
"Who doesn't have a career in this day and age? She's the only one with no achievements to speak of, and she even went crazy. How does she have the nerve to reconcile with the Grisham family? I don't know whether to call her naïve or just plain dumb," Priscilla remarked, her voice dripping with disdain as she spoke to the person behind her. As she spoke, the woman slowly rose, revealing her identity—none other than Audriana."Perhaps she doesn't realize that the Draycott family is almost as influential as the Grisham family in Ludwiten. Especially you, Priscilla. Everyone knows the medispa you operate. "Fiona hasn't kept up with the times. I once thought she was capable, with her title as Ludwiten's Red Rose. But now, it seems she's all show, no substance." Audriana chuckled, clearly taking pleasure in belittling Fiona while subtly praising Priscilla. Priscilla, clearly pleased, took a sip of her coffee. "It's a shame she didn't listen to me and meet Ms. Kent."Audriana raised
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.