"I picked it up from watching TV shows," Aria lied calmly. "Go and open the door for Sam. He'll have a million questions for me otherwise."Landon ran his hands through her hair and stood up. He didn't believe her for a second, though. When Landon opened the door, he saw the caution etched on Sam's face. Sam worried Aria would do something reckless because she was smitten with Landon's face. He noticed the deepening darkness in Landon's eyes. Sam glanced down at his wrist, wondering if the rosary beads were losing their effect.Landon raised an eyebrow. "Is it just you?"Sam pointed downstairs. As smart as Landon was, he caught on quickly, "Your grandmother is eating breakfast downstairs, so she asked you to come look for us?"Sam nodded in confirmation. Landon smiled slightly. "You came at a bad time today, so I won't give you any money." Sam was bemused by his statement. Landon ushered him inside. "I'll pay you if you don't visit mornings and nights."Sam made a gestur
Aria needed to gather her thoughts before explaining to Landon. However, Landon was sensitive and caught on to the key points quickly. "Do you think I'm in danger on the highway?""Yes," Aria said, meeting his gaze.Landon smiled at her. "I believe in everything you say."His words made Aria blink slightly. "Be careful of the people around you.""Okay." Landon tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "If you need anything from me about the Carvers, let me know. I've been in Janovin longer than you and might be more helpful."Aria decided to be direct. "I need you to schedule an appointment with an interior designer for me.""Who?" he asked.Aria handed him a name card. "It's a foreign interior designer named Augustus Babel."Landon's gaze darkened. "The Babel family again?""You know them? That would be helpful. He designed the Carver residence, and I think he did a fantastic job. I'd like to understand his inspiration," Aria replied absentmindedly. Landon took the card,
The man's thick Janovin accent was unmistakable as he introduced himself. "Ms. Carver, this must be your first time here. You can just call me Will."As soon as he finished speaking, a shout came from the side. "Mr. Weller, you're here! I got some good stuff today!"Will gave a firm nod, his voice exuding authority. "I'll check it out later.""Alright, I'll hold it for you then!"Aria asked with a smile, "Mr. Weller?"Will fanned himself with his hand. "Just a local courtesy. My full name is Will Weller. By the way, Mr. Carver Senior mentioned you were looking for topaz for your house. Any specific requirements?""No." Aria glanced at Sam, who was scanning the street with pursed lips. It was clear Sam was familiar with Panne Street. Aria had brought him to use his skills; he excelled at finding things quickly."Honestly, Ms. Carver, you came a little early," Will said as they walked. "But it's understandable. You probably don't know Panne Street's history."Aria offered a playf
Will initially thought Aria, coming from the countryside, would be naïve. However, her composed demeanor made him doubt himself.Will reminded himself that Warren had the ultimate authority on who was recognized. It was pointless to heed anyone else's opinion.Meanwhile, Aria maintained a distinguished smile, not bothering to discuss Owen further with Will."We're here," Will said, glancing around. "We need to line up."Indeed, a large crowd filled the shop. Those with appointments formed a line that snaked from inside to outside. The shop displayed various antiques.A man excitedly exited the shop clutching a piece of paper. "Mr. Windsor said this prescription guarantees a son if I consume it!""He even knew you wanted to have a son?" The crowd was stunned."That's right! I'm so impressed by him!"The people in line got more anxious when they heard him. Just then, two young men emerged and announced, "The fortune-telling slots are full today. The unfortunate ones, please ret
Will gasped when he heard Blake say it was better for Aria to leave Janovin. He wondered if Blake had figured out that Aria was the missing daughter of the Carver family.Just as Will was about to speak, Aria beat him to it. "If that's the case, may I know if there's a way around it?""It'll be difficult for you to break the curse," Blake said. "Some hardships aren't your fault. You lacked love as a child, and people often misunderstand you. This builds resentment."Aria swirled her coffee cup, a playful smile on her lips. "Resentment?"Blake narrowed his eyes. "Yes, resentment fuels your pain. You unconsciously struggle against it. It makes you wonder why others have what you don't."Sam shifted in his seat, his eyes hardening dangerously.Unfazed, Aria let out a long sigh. "A fortune teller once told me I'd live a blessed life and that any swindlers who crossed my path would be unlucky.""I didn't believe it before." Aria let out a smile. "However, I believe it now after meeti
Will was stunned. Aria had cleverly steered the conversation toward her education, exposing Blake as a phony fortune teller!Will had shelled out over a million dollars to Blake over the past few years. He grappled with disbelief, forcing himself to stay calm.Blake's gaze remained fixed on Will. "Mr. Weller?"Will bellowed, "I won't buy it!"Blake's composure faltered. Will's defiance was clearly unexpected. Just then, a burst of laughter erupted from behind Will."Mr. Weller, you've really changed. You're even disrespecting Mr. Windsor now." The people who sauntered in wore the newest designs from top designer-brands.Each of them had a unique style. Some had dyed their hair, while others were well-groomed. However, they shared the same affluent background.Sam was very interested in them, given his keen sense for money. He glanced at Aria as if trying to ask if they should dupe their money.Usually, Aria wouldn't be interested in them. However, she recognized one of them. It
While Will was thinking of a way to get Philip to back off, Aria had already spoken. "You might be disappointed. Compared to my fiancé, you're quite ordinary."Philip, stunned, instinctively blurted, "How good-looking can your fiancé possibly be?""He's indeed handsome." Aria was about to leave after putting it out there. However, Kenny, who was about to have his fortune told, looked over with narrowed eyes, "Miss, please be more polite when you speak. This is Janovin."Aria chuckled. "Are you telling me what to do?"Kenny eyed her. Although she was beautiful, he couldn't tolerate her ignorant attitude. Did Will not teach her about Janovin's rules?"Mr. Weller, please handle it." Kenny refused to say anything more. To him, Aria was a foreigner who didn't know better. She was acting all arrogant after his brother just paid her some attention. Kenny's disdain for her was written on his face.Philip, however, knew he had crossed the line. "I'm sorry, miss. I was just joking around
Kenny's expression turned grim. "You've misunderstood, then. Not all citizens of Janovin know each other.""Kenny!" Philip elbowed him. "Go and get your fortune read by Mr. Windsor. Stop meddling here!"Kenny sneered. "Should I let you befriend this nobody too?"Though apprehensive about escalating the situation, Will knew whose side to be on. "According to Mr. Wagner, I shouldn't be here either. After all, the Wagner family considers themselves superior."Kenny also realized that his grandfather, Yonah Wagner, was in a tricky position. Thus, he would rather keep a low profile and avoid any trouble.Regardless, Will's words caused him to clench his fists in frustration. He conceded grudgingly, "Mr. Weller, there's been a misunderstanding. Everyone is different. I never saw you as an outsider."This was his way of backing down. Will accepted the apology. "Then let's consider the earlier comment a misunderstanding. Go ahead. I'll take my niece elsewhere.""Hold on a moment." Ari
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.