"Give me a couple minutes," Aria said, then turned to Ignatius. "I'm teaching them to follow the current trends."Ignatius said obediently, "I'll do it immediately.""Wait till the area is no longer barricaded." Aria handed him three cherry wood branches, freshly taken from the tree, and told him to set them in front of his bedroom window. She then gave three to Philip as well. "That goes for you too," she said.Ignatius and Philip were touched. "How can we possibly thank you, Ms. Aria?""Thank me according to the market price." Aria prodded Sam, who showed his bank account number immediately.Aria asked Will, "How much does Mr. Windsor charge for his rituals, Uncle Will?""It depends on the situation. It's as much as several million bucks if it's a big deal. He charges 600 thousand dollars minimum."Aria looked at Philip. "600 thousand dollars then. That'd be 200 thousand dollars from each of you."Ignatius paid promptly. Philip also wanted to pay Lamond's share, but Aria st
When Aria had met Fiona on the street, she hadn't expected her to be her mother. While most in their social circle knew Rainbow had been found, Warren hadn't made it public yet. But surely Warren would have told Owen about it. So why was her mother still looking for her? Had Owen not yet told Fiona that she was back?Aria narrowed her eyes coldly. Startled by the sudden shift in her demeanor, Will pulled her aside and whispered, "Mrs. Carver's sick, so she's always kept to herself. If you want to meet her, you'd need Mr. Carver's approval.""Why do I have to go through so many hoops just to meet my mother?" Aria scoffed. Before Will could answer, Ignatius and Philip approached. Ignatius cheerfully cut in, "Ms. Aria, we can arrange a meeting with Mrs. Carver. Can we, Philip?""Absolutely," Philip confirmed. "Leave it to me. I'll make sure of it.""Thank you," Aria said, grabbing her black bag. She and Sam followed Philip and Ignatius out.Now that Georgina had neighbors to ke
Fear laced Philip's voice. "It's quite scary. Mrs. Carver seemed calmer with her husband and Mindy around. The doctor said her excessive sadness affected her mentally."Hesitantly, Philip asked, "Ms. Aria, what's your take? Do you think something malevolent befell Mrs. Carver?"Aria put away her amethyst pendant. "No. Mrs. Carver is a kind and blessed soul. Evil entities wouldn't dare to approach her."Ignatius felt envious hearing that. "If that's the case, why does Mrs. Carver have this sickness?""Didn't the doctor already say it's because of her excessive sorrow?" Aria replied. However, it was obviously a lie.Will finally understood, but Philip continued to ask, "If she's just ill, why are you in such a rush to meet her?""I'm fated with her," Aria said nonchalantly.Philip became serious. "I understand! Saving those fated to you can lead to ascension, right?""You've been reading too many novels." Aria remained unfazed. "Why did you say you found a doctor to diagnose her
Philip shuddered at the thought. He immediately said, "Ms. Aria, Kenny offended you before. Could you forgive him for my sake?""You're quite good to Kenny," Aria said flatly.Philip scratched his head. "Kenny has been taking care of me since I was young. He's just a bit love-struck this time."The car stopped outside the hotel."I'm not interested in your brother," Aria replied before briskly exiting the car.Sam, clutching her black backpack, tugged at Aria's clothes. His eyes gleamed with excitement upon seeing the hotel. He signed, "I like this place!""With such chaotic energy, no wonder," Aria muttered to herself, a fortune teller's perspective revealing a troubled atmosphere within the hotel.However, she kept her thoughts to herself and entered the hotel swiftly, followed closely by Philip and Ignatius.The Carver family owned the modernly-decorated hotel.Upon arrival, the guest relations manager warmly greeted Philip, "Mr. Wagner, Ms. Carver will be here soon. She me
Will reacted swiftly, stepping in front of Aria. "Do you have any idea who you're addressing? You're nothing but a glorified attendant!""Y-You!" Dorothy's hands shook from anger.Mindy recognized Will and stopped Dorothy.Philip had mentioned bringing a doctor on the phone, but Mindy hadn't expected it to be Aria. How was Aria connected to everyone, even Panne Street's Will Weller?Mindy clenched her fists, about to speak, but Philip was quicker. "Mindy, your assistant seems rather aggressive. One would think she was a Carver by blood," he commented sarcastically.Mindy sighed. "Dorothy didn't mean any disrespect. I understand how confusing this must be.She then directed a seemingly innocent look at Aria. "Dr. Genius, perhaps you could explain why Dorothy reacted so strongly to seeing you?"Explain?Aria got straight to the point. "A dog tried to bite me, so I dealt with it.""How dare you!" Dorothy fumed, wishing she could kill Aria then and there.Aria's attention was on
Aria stood under the lights, her nonchalant expression revealing neither anger nor happiness. However, her curved lips hinted at a trace of mischief.For some reason, Owen found her face oddly familiar. This was especially true of her dark eyes, which seemed to pierce right through him, causing a disquieting sensation.He wondered if Aria knew him."You…" Owen, intending to deal with the situation, softened his demeanor. When Dorothy saw that, she shouted, "Mr. Carver, you must stand up for Ms. Carver! This young woman is the doctor from Janovin! She's the one who has been slandering Ms. Carver's reputation!"Owen immediately stopped in his tracks.Mindy's face was filled with tears as she whispered, "Dorothy, stop it. I'm fine.""Ms. Carver, I can't stay silent! I've watched you grow up. Others might not care about you, but I do."Pounding her chest, Dorothy continued, "It's all because I'm not from an influential family. Otherwise, I can stand up for you like Mr. Wagner. "
With that, the entire lobby went silent. This included the managers who had been discussing the situation amongst themselves and even Mindy, who had been sobbing the entire time.Only Will seemed prepared to back Aria. "That's right. I was about to say that too. Mr. Carver, your biological daughter is back. Why are you treating this outsider like royalty? Something's definitely fishy!""Will Weller!" Owen's anger flared. "Don't think I won't dare to do anything to you! Where are the security guards? Don't just stand there! Kick them out!"The security guards were about to make a move when Sam returned and blocked them off. He then subtly signaled to Aria that he had found Fiona.Aria acknowledged his signal with an eyebrow raised. She then prepared to leave with Sam. However, a new voice filled the lobby before she could depart."Owen, what are you doing to my guests?"It was Fiona. As usual, she wore a hospital gown, her long dark hair cascading down her back. Her pale lips acce
Before Owen could do so, Aria grabbed Fiona's hand. She looked into her eyes and asked, "Who's Mindy?""She's my daughter." Fiona clutched her long hair with one hand. "My daughter is very obedient. Tiny, too, like a baby."Aria lowered her gaze, her eyes seemingly possessing some magical power. "Mindy is not your daughter.""Mindy isn't my daughter?" Fiona went from confusion to doubt.Aria nodded. "She's not. Nobody bullied your daughter.""Nobody bullied my daughter. Nobody bullied my daughter." Fiona returned to normal after repeating the sentence. When she looked around, she found everyone looking at her weirdly."Did I have an episode again?" Fiona looked at Aria with a bitter smile.Aria held her hand. "No. You just answered a couple of my questions."Fiona could feel warmth spreading from her hand. Only Aria would describe her episode in such a calm way.Seeing Fiona composed, Aria's gaze turned steely. "Sam, bring that woman here," she instructed.Uncertainty cloud
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