Aria smiled as she watched Seth walk down the stage. Her mind buzzed with suspicion—someone high up must be behind the Uludon kidnappings. Birth certificates and DNA reports were very difficult to legitimize without the overseeing efforts of the relevant authorities.However, everything seemed perfectly normal under investigation, and this was why many people found it extremely difficult to search for their children and verify the relevant information.When the HOU tried to investigate who among the higher-ups would be behind this, they failed to uncover anything. So Seth was from the Layne family in Janovin, huh? Did he just basically serve his family to her on a silver platter?Aria's gaze darkened as she held her trophy in her hands. To Seth, she was nothing but an ordinary citizen with the audacity to disrespect him. The Layne family had been among the most powerful in Janovin for too long. They could dictate how an ordinary citizen's life would go with just a single order
With every word Aria uttered, Norman's face grew thunderous. Though she never directly mentioned his family, everyone understood the target of her scathing remarks.Norman felt suffocated under the weight of their collective scrutiny. He had underestimated Aria's eloquence. In just a few sentences, she had brought the Short family to a profound humiliation.Given her feelings for Christian, Norman had assumed Aria would be easily manipulated. According to Christian's account, Aria had harbored resentment since their annulment and had been relentlessly pursuing him. Besides, Christian also mentioned that what had happened in the manor back then was nothing but an act. Hence, Norman had attempted to flaunt his family's closeness to Kenneth's student. But Aria's ruthlessness caught him off guard.Aria coolly said, "Mr. Short, your son made it clear he wanted me ousted from the hall. Yet you were there, dismissing it all as a misunderstanding. Does this overconfidence run in your fami
The Short family found those words insulting, but they dared not retort. They had no choice but to leave with their tails between their legs.The Short family had employed many underhanded methods to ensure that Christian and Aria's engagement was broken off. They meticulously chose Lily as Christian's fiancée, believing a well-educated daughter from a wealthy family like her could match Christian. They'd made that pact with the Kents years ago to accumulate more power, and since Aria couldn't contribute to that, they called off the engagement. However, no one anticipated Aria becoming Kenneth's student.The news left a bitter taste in the Shorts' mouths. They tried so hard to hide their regret that they looked like they'd swallowed a lemon.Oblivious, Christian approached his uncles, Darren and Herbert. "Why do all of you look like you've eaten something sour?""It's all thanks to you! And yet you have the nerve to ask this question!" Darren Short, Norman's eldest brother, gritt
"Lucas, please order a roasted pork knuckle for us."Kenneth was the only person who could give Lucas such an order. Everyone feared Kenneth—this was not just a rumor.Even now, Lucas would be wound up whenever he met Kenneth, and he dared not act out of line. Aria, on the other hand, spoke to Kenneth naturally, as if he was family. "The pork knuckle is too greasy. You have high blood pressure, so you should order another dish in place of this.""We'll listen to Aria—change it to another dish." Kenneth had Aria sit down beside him. His gaze was filled with relief and worry. "You accomplished a great feat during your visit to Perry Town."Aria poured a cup of tea for Kenneth. "It was merely a coincidence. I was looking into my background at that time.""That wasn't a coincidence. Lucas here told me everything. You had someone pass a note to him before you left." Kenneth pointed at Lucas. "He's fortunate to have you, a fellow student of mine, who's more than meets the eye. "You ta
On a rare occasion, Kenneth's voice boomed with excitement. "You're going to Janovin too?""Yes. I haven't told you yet, but I found my biological parents. They're from Janovin." Aria poured Kenneth another cup of tea. "I wanted to introduce them to you formally after I arrived in Janovin. Heartbound Hall is planning to open more branches there too."Kenneth's smile widened. "That's a good idea. After opening these branches, you can help patients who find it hard to visit the clinic physically and those who live too far away from the clinic.""It's what my grandma wanted." Aria didn't take any credit for the idea. The more time Lucas spent with her, the more he admired her. "We'll meet again in Janovin, then!"Aria picked up on the meaning behind his words. "Are you returning to Janovin too, Lucas?""Not immediately, but it's definitely on the horizon." Lucas chuckled, not keeping it a secret. "My family and Mr. Kane have a plan. After three years in Southbury, I'll be moving so
Lucas finally understood why the elderly residents of Elmer had taken a liking to Aria. Despite her young age, she was perceptive and never brought up what she'd noticed. She appeared cold and aloof, but she held a burning passion.Lucas couldn't help but wonder what legends Aria would create after going to Janovin. He was very eager to see everything unfold. Some, however, remained oblivious to the current situation. …Mindy was barred from entering the Carver residence once again. Holding a bowl of hot soup, she pleaded emotionally, "Mr. Watson, this is soup is beneficial for Grandpa's health. The doctors approved it, knowing it wouldn't harm him.""I'm sorry, Ms. Carver," Keith said mechanically, "Mr. Carver Senior's health is highly unpredictable. A specialist has advised careful monitoring of his diet, and it's best he avoids anything outside what's prescribed."Mindy was on the verge of tears. "What do you mean? Are you saying this soup isn't allowed? Mr. Watson, do you u
"What misunderstanding could possibly warrant you handling it alone, Mindy?"It was Owen, looking impeccable in a crisp suit. Beside him were his doctor and secretary, all three of them dragging suitcases, clearly just off a planeMindy laughed, her face alight with surprise. "Oh, you're back, Dad! Where's Mom?""Long-haul flights are extremely tiring, and you know how frail Fiona is. She didn't want to come back to the villa, so she's staying the night in a hotel." Owen set his bag on the couch. "Did your grandpa give you a hard time again?"Mindy shook her head. "No."Dorothy couldn't hold everything in anymore. "Mr. Carver, Mr. Watson has gone overboard. Ms. Carver worked so hard to make a bowl of soup for Mr. Carver Senior, but Mr. Watson said that Mr. Carver Senior shouldn't drink it, and he barred Ms. Carver from entering the Carver residence.""Dorothy!" Mindy uttered brusquely.Dorothy muttered, "Ms. Carver, you always keep everything to yourself and never tell your fami
Warren was happily shopping online in his study. He wanted to liven up the house, especially with Aria's homecoming. Her room, in particular, deserved a cheerful makeover.Just as Warren was on a spending spree, Owen arrived. Warren used to get furious with Owen, but now he simply let him be. Warren sat silently, listening to Owen's lengthy monologue. Only when Owen's mouth went dry did he look up and say, "I won't agree to it."Owen frowned. "Why? Why can't you acknowledge Mindy after all these years?" Mindy said demurely, "Dad, please don't argue with Grandpa. It's okay if the adoption doesn't happen. He isn't feeling well, so maybe we should discuss this later."Owen was barely containing his anger. "Dad, you need to give me a reason!""It's been so many years, you say. Have you forgotten about your biological daughter?" Warren said coolly.Mindy was bewildered. This was the first time Warren had reacted this way to the topic. Usually, it ended in a heated argument. Why was
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.