"It was you who called for an ambulance, wasn't it? Moses must have called you that day to leave a record." Ignatius looked at Philip. "Here's what I think—if he said on the phone that Mouse was the one who hit the other car and there's a record of this on your phone, it could clear his name. "Moses wanted to drag you into this too, but you called for an ambulance instead."Ignatius' hands trembled as he smoked. "I don't want to believe Moses could be so cruel, but people can do terrible things to save themselves. You're a Wagner, so you're safe. Lamond and I have no way out of this."Philip knew this was true. No one would talk about the accident publicly. It happened on a foggy mountain road, and both cars' dashcams were broken. The Whits and Furlers wouldn't let Lamond and Ignatius testify.The key to clearing Moses' name was that phone call. Moses had lied, and that phone call had indirectly turned Philip into an alibi Moses desperately needed to salvage the Layne family's nam
Aria had no idea that Fiona had been asleep since returning to the hotel. Her phone had been taken from her, and it had been set to silent mode.While Owen wouldn't lower himself to check Fiona's phone, the constant barrage of messages from a certain scammer irritated him. He tossed Fiona's phone onto the table. Owen sighed as he watched Fiona sleep. "Your problem is that your heart is simply too kind."Concerned about a potential overdose, Owen called their family doctor.The doctor reassured him, "Mrs. Carver is having a normal reaction to the medication. Due to her recent episode, she hasn't slept much in the past two days. She's just exhausted."Relief washed over Owen. "I'm glad she's okay."The doctor envied their relationship. "You're such a good husband to Mrs. Carver. I'll hook her to an IV so that she can get her nutrients in."Owen nodded. Before leaving, he turned on the aromatherapy diffuser in the room. He decided to wait until tomorrow to have Dr. Kent examine
Mindy cast her gaze down; sadness etched on her face. Her cousin, Marty Carver, said, "Don't worry, Mindy. We won't become friends with that country bumpkin. She can't hold a candle to you. Kenny and Moses said that no one in our circle would accept her. She's just a joke to us."Mindy snapped her head up. "You shouldn't talk like that in front of Grandpa, Marty." "Grandpa Warren's favoritism is so obvious." Marty curled his lip. "Why can't I? If my grandpa were head of the family, that country girl wouldn't be back." Looking at the two men standing behind Marty, Mindy chided, "You shouldn't call her that, Marty! She's your cousin! Anyone else can, but not you!"Marty was perplexed. "Why are you still defending her at such a crucial time? Why is Grandpa Warren so insistent on kicking you out before she returns? Moses analyzed the situation and suspected she poisoned Grandpa Warren's mind against you. She's jealous of you, even before stepping foot back in the family!"Owen's fro
A gnawing worry settled in Owen's gut as he left Ian's. What could have happened to the Laynes? Owen thought he ought to have Troy look into it. However, upon returning, Troy was nowhere to be found. When Owen called, Troy's voice cracked with sobs as he spoke, "My nephew Howard... he's gone."Howard Jepson was the young man Philip and his friends called Mouse.After learning of everything that had happened, that feeling of unease lingered. Owen's head felt like it was close to bursting, and he thought of his wife, who acted unusually from time to time. Abruptly, he instructed his driver, "Turn around. We're going to Mr. Windsor's place.""Yes, sir."…Blake was swamped that day as every noble family in the city sought his services except for the Wagners. Philip was looking for the young woman he'd met. "Are you telling me you knew nothing about this, Mr. Weller?" Philip demanded, disbelief lacing his voice. "Look at Ignatius' eyebags! Please, tell us, where is your niece?"W
The elderly neighbors huddled together, their voices laced with confusion. "Wasn't that ball supposed to be indestructible?""I recall that as well. It was quite scary, too.""Anyone who tried to step on it would fall. And didn't we hear strange noises at night? I think they came from that thing.""This yard is empty, so what could be making a noise? The sky's turning dark, and I'm concerned about Sam getting spooked. Let's drop this."Spooked? Sam looked up, squeezing the ball in his hand with an innocent expression.The old folks stood speechless, a sense of dread settling over them like a shroud. There was something off, something deeply unsettling about the situation."Perhaps that's normal," one of them ventured. "Didn't Aria say he was skilled at dealing with the supernatural?"Meanwhile, Georgina bustled around the yard, setting up a table laden with snacks, fruits, and a steaming pot of tea. She planned to invite the neighbors over for a board game. It was a remarkab
Ignatius didn't expect the expert Philip spoke of to look like this. She was young and beautiful. She was also currently grilling meat over a fire. She didn't resemble a fortune-teller; rather, she seemed more like a celebrity.Aria raised her brow slightly. "Are you here because of the car crash? You want me to deal with your predicament, don't you?"Both Philip and Ignatius were in awe. How did Aria know when they had said nothing at all? The Laynes would keep this incident quiet, meaning Aria must have foreseen it.Ignatius looked at her with a desperate plea. "You must save me, Ms. Aria, please!""I won't get involved," Aria drawled. "You need to make amends on your own until your debts are settled."Ignatius' face drained of color. He turned to Will, pleading, "Please, Mr. Weller! Help me put in a good word or two!"Will dared not interfere with Aria's decision. "If she doesn't want to help, there's nothing more to be done."Anxious, Ignatius trailed after Aria. "I know I'v
Philip was filled with disappointment. He and his friends had been part of the same social circle for over a decade, always following Moses' lead. They never expected Moses to drag them down with him just to survive this ordeal.Aria casually flipped a coin, remarking, "Your other friend is probably having it the worst."Once they entered the yard where Sam stood, no spirit or ghost dared approach.Tobias had told Aria that fetuses denied life before birth, especially those who should have been born but weren't, harbored immense vengeful energy.With Philip and Ignatius' arrival at Aria's mansion, the vengeful spirit's targets dwindled from three to one. One could only imagine Lamond's torment.Philip was desperate to save his friend. "What should we do?"Just then, Lamond called. He said, "I feel so cold, Philip. Can you come over? I'm so scared."Cold at this hour? Desperate to help, Philip didn't notice anything unusual in Lamond's words. Before he could respond, Aria took hi
"I hold a mean grudge myself," Aria said nonchalantly. "It'd be unfair of me to stop you."The spirit perked up. "I'll let this Lamond guy off the hook for your sake, my lord. I'll head over to the Layne residence immediately.""Wait." Aria bit her finger till it bled before pressing it against the phone. "Someone's performing a ritual at the Layne residence. If you ever get into trouble later, tell me. I'll come save you."This was the spirit's first time hearing this—someone expressing their desire to save him. He paused, unmoving in midair. For the first time, he understood what it felt like to be cared for.He contained his vengefulness. Not only did the tension ease for Philip and Ignatius outside but also for Lamond, who was on the verge of jumping from the second floor.In the midst of his family's cries, Lamond finally stopped harming himself. Instead, he told his grandfather, Steven Whit, "It's the Layne family's doing, Grandpa. They were guilty of something and wanted to
The aged voice was filled with indifference. "It seems like she reached a dead end."Amos sneered. "I don't understand why these peasants like staying in the city. Still, it's fortunate for us. Otherwise, it'd be hard to get our hands on them.""Amos," the person cut in sharply, as if reminding him of his place.Amos only dared to speak so harshly when no one was around. If word got out, his image as the perfect secretary would be ruined.He quickly calmed down and fell silent. The caller didn't press the matter, simply saying, "You need to change the way you speak and act from now on."Since she's already agreed, give her the money. Don't treat her requests as a nuisance. The more requests they make, the less likely they are to cause trouble later."After picking her up tomorrow, send a few men to check if her grandparents need any help. Make sure everything is done properly."Amos nodded. "I understand. You always see the bigger picture. We'll continue looking after them."Poo
"I promise it won't happen again!" To an outsider, it might've sounded like Amos was talking about the cafeteria mishap. But the truth was much darker. What Amos really meant was that incidents like this could continue, just never publicly. Once the media's attention died down, they could go back to doing whatever they pleased. But for now, the performance had to be flawless.The man on the other end of the call seemed satisfied. Though his voice was flat and monotonous, there was a noticeable shift; it was now less stern."She's been manipulating the stock market," he said. "It's caused major damage to several of Luwditen's corporations. We can't let her walk free."Amos removed his glasses, a grim look on his face. "That's exactly what I told the Securities Regulatory Department. It doesn't matter who comes to plead on her behalf. Even if she's the late Mr. Barron's heir, she has to face the law."She's confessed. No one's going to let her off the hook now. You know what jail'
At first, Eden didn't understand what Aria meant. But as night fell, Aria lowered her head and started fumbling with something. When she looked up again, Eden was stunned—Aria looked exactly like her.Eden's eyes widened in disbelief. She'd only seen something like this in movies. But now, it was unfolding right in front of her. So there really was such a flawless disguise technique in the world."Aria, you…""Since I'm using your identity, I have to be you," Aria said with a soft tug of her mask, smiling. She had always been bold, yet precise. Working in the Special Missions Unit meant secrecy was second nature to her—this part was routine."Stay home and rest tonight. I'll leave first thing in the morning. Once I'm gone and the coast is clear, take your grandparents and leave."Eden opened her mouth, unsure of how to respond. She didn't even know when the people watching them would leave."My team will come get you," Aria reassured her. "What's important is that your grandparent
Eden nodded. "Okay. I'll do as you say, Aria."She sent the text just like Aria instructed. Moments later, her teacher replied—everything had been arranged. A car would pick her up from home. There was no need to return to school.A cold shiver ran down Eden's spine. They knew where she lived. They'd been watching all along. Not just the school—they were everywhere.Eden didn't linger at school. Outside the entrance, the main topic of conversation was the officials' arrival for an investigation and the school's public exposure.Everyone knew the cafeteria was a mess. Students had complained countless times, but each time inspectors came, the food improved just long enough to pass the checks. Then it would all revert. It had become the norm—something they were forced to accept.Eden was no different. She just wanted to get home. She needed to see her grandparents. She feared something might happen to them next.Every step on the way home, she stayed alert, scanning her surroundings
Eden listened closely, her brow furrowing. Her teacher wasn't speaking Farshyan. School was no longer a safe place, and Eden didn't know who she could trust. Her classmates were too caught up in mocking Aria to notice anything was wrong, all assuming Eden was lucky to have been chosen.She considered calling the police, picking up her phone, but then paused. What could she even say? That there was a mole at school? Her face turned pale as she remembered how close the principal was to influential people. The authorities might not believe her, or worse, they might be involved.Despite the headlines claiming Aria had been arrested, Eden felt a spark of hope. Aria had promised she'd show up if Eden ever needed her. Taking a deep breath, Eden dialed the number Aria had given her.She didn't expect anyone to answer. But then came a cool, familiar voice. "Eden? What's wrong? Did someone give you trouble again?"Eden's heart soared. "You're not arrested! The news is fake, isn't it? I knew
Lucas gave Amos a sidelong glance. "In that case, let's do as Mr. Lune suggested—punish everyone involved."Announce to the public that Oakvale Academy will be used as a test case. We'll be conducting surprise inspections in all middle and high schools."As for why Mr. Kelsey encountered two completely different scenes during his visits—well, that's easy to explain." Lucas' gaze swept across the room. "Someone tipped off the school before your visit. If any other school received advance notice, every one of you will be under scrutiny."Though Lucas spoke with a smile, none of the seven present—including the three officials—could return it. The smile, in this context, was more chilling than rage. This was a warning. Amos, in particular, felt deeply unsettled. He had come intending to redirect Lucas' attention away from Oakvale Academy. Instead, the incident had blown up. With public attention turning toward the school, transferring Eden would soon become impossible.Still, Amo
Now that Miguel, who was an expert in covering up, was gone, the long-standing issues in the school were exposed.The group stood frozen as they watched a cafeteria worker pour something into a large pot. A closer look revealed it was leftover mushroom soup. But that wasn't the worst of it. The soup reeked, clearly spoiled, yet it was still being reheated for the students.Things only got worse when they entered the kitchen. Hygiene standards were appalling. Not a single chef wore a mask, and some were even smoking while cooking.Amos' expression darkened immediately, even before Lucas could react.One of the chefs noticed them and slammed his ladle onto the counter. "What are you doing in here? Outsiders aren't allowed in the school—don't you know that?"Unlike other schools, Oakvale Academy had somehow always slipped through the cracks during routine inspections. When required to present something, they staged it well enough to fool a camera.So, the staff never expected a surp
Aria understood that this was all the person could offer. The real mastermind would never reveal himself so easily—not even to his most trusted subordinates.Those in power never needed to explain themselves. Those who understood them would earn their favor; those who didn't were destined to remain at the bottom.Her thoughts raced. She needed hard evidence to capture whoever was behind Amos. Baseless accusations would only alert the enemy and push them deeper into hiding.Allowing herself to be arrested had been part of Aria's plan. She needed the mastermind to lower his guard. After all, she had been too visible in Ludwiten lately. With eyes constantly watching her, she couldn't make any real moves. But she couldn't let the incident at Oakvale Academy go unresolved. Her instincts told her it was the key to everything.Before Philip found his family, she had to act—and that meant changing her identity to save Even.Just then, the person's phone buzzed. He turned the screen towa
"Boss!" Weston rushed over the moment he finished dealing with the other officers. Aria arched an eyebrow, flexing her wrists. "He's the mole?""Yes." Weston nodded. The Securities Regulatory Bureau, dispatched by the Securities Regulatory Commission, was tasked with auditing listed companies—particularly sniffing out insider trading and market manipulation.While not everyone in the bureau could be corrupt, it was common for a few to be compromised.The officer who had been interrogating Aria was of a minor rank, but the one Weston had just exposed held real power.Aria looked over at the trembling man. His legs had given out, sending him to the floor. His phone lay discarded beside him as he shook uncontrollably.They had met before—at a Chamber of Commerce meeting. To him, Aria had just been a clever heiress with some market luck, thanks to Landon's influence. No one would have expected her to single-handedly bring down the Draycott family.No one would logically believe