Sam's nose twitched, and he leaned closer. "She feels abnormal, unlike an ordinary person."Aria knew that Sam hadn't fully recovered yet. However, he had sharp senses due to his nature. Anyone he determined abnormal might have an incomplete soul or be latched onto by some impure entity. Aria's gaze darkened. No matter what it might be, she couldn't just ignore that woman. It wasn't safe to let someone like her loiter around outside."I'll go there to take a look." Aria took off her helmet in a fluid action. It wasn't that late, so there were people around looking at the woman, but no one dared to step forward and offer help. After all, the woman behaved quite peculiarly, as if she was intellectually impaired. She'd grab at anyone who passed by and ask if they'd seen her daughter. Everyone else was terrified, and the hospital gown she was wearing only added to the eeriness of the sight. "Is she a patient who ran away from the mental hospital?""Doesn't seem like it. Her face
Fiona tilted her head. She had a head of waist-length hair, and her wrists peeked out under her wide sleeves. Aside from a watch, she was also wearing a silver bracelet with precious stones embedded in it. She looked every inch like the wealthy woman she was, and she said, "You're more skilled at this than you say, young lady.""I'm decent at it." Aria withdrew the needles before reminding Fiona, "The doctor should already have told you to let go of some matters. It'll make you feel better."Fiona was stunned. She suddenly smiled. "Do you and your younger brother here have anything to attend to later?"Aria had wanted to tell Fiona she'd be heading home, but Fiona's gaze told her she wanted the opposite answer.Aria shook her head. Fiona said immediately, "I'll buy you guys a drink. Children can't drink alcohol, so your brother will be having a can of Coke instead. Let's have some fried chicken, shall we?"Aria couldn't stomach fried chicken, but Sam's eyes lit up upon hearing
Aria always respected teachers. She clinked her glass against Fiona's.Fiona's grin widened. "Has anyone told you this? You're more mature than your peers, and you're likable. I feel better when I spend time with you.""We're compatible, probably." Aria grabbed a fry. She didn't let down her guard so easily in front of anyone that often. Fiona had a calming disposition, and she was open-minded and accommodating. Even Sam was docile when in front of Fiona. Aria had thought Georgina to be the only person who held themselves with such gentleness, but now she'd come across another. A stranger, no less.Aria found that miraculous as well. Fiona chuckled lowly. "No one else would like it when I'm in the middle of an episode."Aria paused in her actions. Fiona continued, "I feel sorry that you had to see me in that state, but I'm glad too, for I would've never met you if I hadn't had that episode."Aria chuckled. "Our meeting was really coincidental, that's true. Your family must h
This was Troy Jepson, whom Aria had met outside Caesar Hotel. Wasn't he Landon's assistant from before?Aria looked confused as she swayed her glass of beer. Had she saved a member of the York family?Troy didn't expect to meet the fake daughter of the Kent family here in Janovin, either. He didn't want to see her again, regardless of the circumstances. She'd saved Miles once, and Troy had reported her bad reputation to Landon. After that, Landon had reassigned him to Janovin. Someone else had said that he was fortunate, but that wasn't the case. He'd only be fortunate if he'd gotten to stay by Landon's side.After returning to Janovin, he found himself further and further removed from the York family's core influence. It got so bad that he was forced to jump ship to work for the Carvers instead, taking some information about the York family business with him. Only now could he finally stand with his head held high once again.However, his job now was different from before. H
A doctor? The fake daughter? Troy would believe that Lily, the real daughter, was skilled in medicine. After treating Yonah, the head of the Wagner family, she was now quite famous even in Janovin.Troy refused to comment on Aria's expertise. Fiona was sick and thus was far from being a normal person. Troy would just tell Owen everything after he was back. "You should go to work," Aria whispered to Fiona before she left, "If you don't want to return to your old company, you can seek me out—we're hiring."Fiona's eyes lit up slightly. She was obviously reluctant to part with Aria, judging from how wistfully she looked at Aria's retreating back. However, Aria had to go back home and couldn't stay. The moment Aria left, Owen showed up, looking harried and with a tight frown on his face. He finally relaxed only after seeing Fiona. "Didn't I tell you to stay in your room and not wander around? It's dangerous out here.""And you had a drink, too!" Owen draped his jacket over Fiona's
It was past midnight when Aria and Sam returned to the hotel suite they were staying in. Georgina was already fast asleep.Not wanting to rouse her, they went to the living room. While typing on his laptop, Sam gestured, "They're asking you when they can meet you.""Not now." Aria made a load of purchases online. They would be delivered to the mansion she'd bought. Sam replied to the message with a frowny face emoji, which thrust the group chat into gloomy sadness.However, the necessary reports must still be made. Someone said, "Tell the boss that there was a car crash halfway up a mountain involving a pregnant woman. The area is now barricaded, but I worry that something bad might happen after the area is reopened."Sam thought, "There's no need to trouble Aria over this. We aren't going to profit from this anyway." When he was about to say no, Aria took the laptop from him and typed a reply, "For you guys to be so worried… Has this led to the birth of a vengeful spirit?""I
Sam pointed at Aria's phone, a gesture that meant, "Call her and arrange for a meeting!"Aria laughed. "No need. We're going straight to her house."What was the reason behind Fiona's reluctance to return home and insistence on staying in a hotel? That was the first problem they had to get to the bottom of.Aria had never been so curious about a stranger before. "Look her up. I want information about her and her relationship with her family."Sam, also known as the hacker L, wasted no time. Leveraging his hacking prowess, he bypassed the firewall with practiced ease, granting him direct access to the system for his search.Aria reminded him to be discreet. Since they were currently in Janovin, the capital, a low profile was important. Sam understood and took a more reserved approach. He used workarounds and hid his IP address before doing the job.However, he found nothing. He turned to Aria and shrugged, palms up. Aria raised a brow. "They made her information confidential?"
"Did they move in just because the rent's cheap?""What other reason would there be? They'll regret this!""You can't be sure, not when so many years have passed since that incident."A group of elderly residents gossiped under the trees. They didn't expect the topic of their conversation, Aria, to appear with Sam, laden with fruits and herbs."Hello," Aria greeted. "We just moved in. I'm Aria, and this is my brother, Sam."Sam, sporting a colorful outfit and a baseball cap, offered a shy nod to the elders. Their fondness for children, coupled with Sam's adorable demeanor, fostered an instant connection."Oh my! You brought gifts too!" an old woman exclaimed, her impression of Aria instantly improving. While the gifts were a kind gesture, it was Aria's demeanor that truly won them over."Is the woman in the yard your grandmother?" asked Doria Quezos.Aria nodded with a chuckle. "She's a traditional healer. We've set up a makeshift kitchen outside. You're all welcome to join us
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.