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
One day, Aria woke up from disorientation and had since developed intermittent explosive disorder (IED). For a long time, she had been lost in a labyrinth of fragmented memories, her past a puzzle she desperately needed to solve. The only anchor in this sea of forgetfulness was the image of an old man. Aria believed the pendant she wore as a child held the key to unraveling the mystery. As Olivia had gone delirious, Aria couldn't get any useful information out of her, and Grant didn't seem to know much about Olivia despite their years of marriage. He had no clue who paid her to mislead the Carvers. A quick investigation into Olivia's finances revealed a spotless bank statement. The perpetrator, meticulous enough to use cash, was likely someone of considerable influence.With these thoughts swirling in her head, Aria drifted off to sleep. Meanwhile, the Barter family was having a hard time with Landon around. This was especially the case with Dick, whose mental state had deteri
Mindy had been the beneficiary of the Carver family's generosity since a young age. Consequently, she excelled in art, boasted a prestigious overseas degree, and possessed a keen understanding of finance, economics, and social etiquette. Her beauty was only surpassed by her sharp intellect, a formidable combination.Aria, in stark contrast, was painted as an uncultured local graduate. Clueless, she struggled to navigate the social minefield of high society. Mindy, ever the gracious soul, took Aria under her wing. The former tried to bridge the gap, introducing Aria as the Carvers' long-lost daughter, dispelling any awkwardness.Despite Mindy's efforts, Aria felt like a clumsy duckling amidst a flock of swans. Every gala felt like an ordeal, with Mindy effortlessly conversing while Aria struggled to decipher the rapid-fire exchanges.The stark differences became increasingly apparent, casting doubt on Aria's rightful place as an heiress. Whispers of "country bumpkin" swirled arou
"Didn't the doctor say it would be best if Mom finished three years of her treatment?" Mindy asked.Owen chuckled. "Your mother misses you so much that she can't sleep well. That's why she wants to come back and see you. Plus, your birthday is coming up soon. As your parents, how could we miss out on it?"Owen harbored a sliver of hope that seeing Mindy would improve Fiona's condition. Fate, it seemed, worked in mysterious ways—Mindy shared the same birthday as their lost daughter. Gazing at Mindy's face, a near replica of Fiona's, Owen's voice softened. "Mindy, I heard about what happened in Janovin. I'll find a time to talk to your grandfather. It's not right for him to favor an outsider and make you sad.""Dad, it's not Grandpa's fault. The entire incident happened because of Dorothy. She's been with me for so long, and it probably bothered her to see me bullied. That's why she was rude to Grandpa's doctor. I deserved Grandpa's scolding."Dad, please don't upset Grandpa over s
"When will my grandfather treat me like this?" Malcolm felt jealous looking at the order form.Aria scanned the form and replied flatly, "You're charging him too much.""Boss, think about it. How can we convince the rich that we offer high-quality clothing if we don't charge them like this?" He couldn't understand Aria's sudden shift in perspective. During their initial market analysis, she'd been fiercely business-oriented.Aria tied back her long hair. "The Carvers aren't your typical rich people.""How about we give them a 10% discount?" Malcolm suggested.Aria splashed water on her face, droplets cascading down her flawless skin. "Make it 90% off. Tell them the clothes are on the house if they purchase jewelry from us.""Huh?" Malcolm wondered if Aria had been possessed. However, he didn't dare question her. Even with a 90% discount, they would still make a few million dollars from the Carvers.After finalizing the quotation, Malcolm couldn't help but voice his curiosity. "I
Malcolm, ever the information ferret, was always eager for gossip. "That's not the whole story! The Carver family is indeed wealthy. However, it's a blessing that you're their long-lost daughter. Anyone else would have a tough time fitting in. It's like walking into a lion's den."Aria, unfazed, countered with indifference, "It's just a label, Malcolm. Doesn't change anything. Did you find anything on Mr. Weller?"Malcolm's fingers flew over the keyboard. "Mr. Thomas Weller of Southbury hails from three generations of antique dealers. Officially, that's his public persona. His grandfather was a grave robber. They shifted to dealing with antiques when Thomas was born."By handling artifacts others avoided, they expanded their business internationally. Most of their current exhibitions are held in Janovin."Aria remained neutral. "What do you mean by handling artifacts others avoided?""Artifacts most likely dug up from somewhere they shouldn't have been. Boss, do you think there ar
Warren's grip tightened on his walking cane as Owen continued speaking, unaware of the growing anger. "Dad, Fiona and I discussed it—it's not fair to keep Mindy in such a precarious situation. We were thinking of officially adopting her during the family meeting. What do you think?"Warren's eyes narrowed into slits, his walking stick threatening to splinter under the pressure. "Absolutely not! Have you forgotten you have a biological daughter?"Owen stiffened at that. Then, he replied hoarsely, "Dad, it has been so many years. Can we really find her? Perhaps she's already—""Shut your mouth! How did I raise such a callous son?" Warren roared before abruptly hanging up.Owen sat on the couch for a long time, staring at his phone. He didn't want anyone to replace Rainbow, but she had been missing for so long. They needed to move on.He scrolled through his phone's gallery, his finger lingering on a picture of his daughter. "My little Rainbow," he murmured, his voice thick with emot
Warren didn't mind at all. He laughed heartily. "Come over here, Rainbow. Look at what I've prepared for you. This burger was your favorite when you were little. "All your brothers are established in their careers. They were ecstatic when they heard that you'd been found. They wouldn't dream of competing with their little sister for the company. That's what weaklings do."Keith chimed in, "Mr. Carver Senior speaks the truth, Ms. Carver. Mr. Jeffrey insisted on seeing you as soon as he woke up this morning. He would have pulled out his IV needle if the doctor hadn't stopped him."Warren nodded. "Jeffrey wants nothing more than for me to pass the company down to you. When he was a kid, he used to carry you around on his back all the time. Leon is also acting in movies to save up for your wedding.""Grandpa," Aria said, handing Warren a mug of warm water. "Let's talk about this later. Your health should be your priority right now. It's time for you to take your medicine."Warren was