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
Thankfully, Mindy came forward and steadied Owen. "Dad, you have a weak heart. Don't get so worked up."Mindy's gaze shifted to Aria. "Dr. Genius," Mindy said, her tone laced with condescension, "you may be skilled at manipulating people, but you underestimate the depth of my father's love for my mother. Don't make baseless accusations. The whole company knows how much he loves her."Aria, unfazed by Mindy's attempt to discredit her, turned to Fiona. "Does he love you?" she asked directly.Fiona stared into Aria's eyes, a flicker of recognition sparking at the sight of the familiar beauty mark. A surge of unexpected strength coursed through her. "So-so."Everyone sucked in a deep breath when they heard her answer.Owen's expression turned grim. He reached out to take Fiona's hand, but Aria intercepted him. "Mr. Carver," Aria said coolly, "I believe you heard what she said."Owen glared at Aria, his disgust evident. "What tricks did you use to bewitch my wife? She's clearly mental
Owen's expression froze in an instant. His head throbbed, and a buzzing filled his ears as he stared at Aria.Meanwhile, the managers standing behind him were in an uproar."It's Mr. Carver Senior!""What does he mean by calling her Rainbow?""She's Ms. Carver?"Philip and Ignatius were stunned upon hearing that. They couldn't believe their ears. The country bumpkin the Carvers had taken in, the one they'd been gossiping about, turned out to be Aria?Ignatius wanted to slap himself for talking dirt about Aria in the group chat, even comparing her to Mindy. He wondered if it was too late to take them back.Philip was also at a loss. His first reaction was to look at Will. However, by his calm demeanor, it seemed the latter already knew all along.When Philip considered it further, Will had always been alone. He never mentioned any distant relatives, and he treated Aria with obvious deference. Ignatius had initially assumed Will's special treatment stemmed from Aria's talent. N
Owen's head throbbed, his expression etched with pain. He stammered, "Rainbow, I never meant for things to turn out this way. I only spoke harshly because I never met you. I didn't know it was you. I—"Aria cut him off, her voice firm. "Mr. Carver, your daughter is standing right next to you, not me."Owen faltered, blurting out, "Rainbow, how can you say that?"She raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in her eyes. "What else am I supposed to say? Should I embrace you as my father with open arms?"Owen's brow furrowed. "Rainbow, you can't hate me for a minor misunderstanding. I am your father."A smile graced Aria's face. "I'm afraid you'll be disappointed then. Holding grudges is one of my strongest suits."Panic flickered in Owen's eyes. He finally understood that Aria had no intention of acknowledging him.Taking a step forward, he poured out his heart. "I know I messed up. I've been searching for you ever since you returned. But no one told me your identity or whereabouts. I
Cold sweat broke out on Paxton's back as realization hit. Percy was here. Judging from Aria's attitude now, could Percy be handling the divorce case? Panicking, his earlier confidence crumbled. Paxton hurried toward the parking garage. Daisy yelled at him from behind. She was crying so hard she lost a shoe. "Dad! Dad!" Paxton suddenly exploded and said, "Stop following me, you useless waste! You can't even repeat simple instructions! All that money on your education, and this is what I get? Where's your brain?" Daisy froze, her face draining of color. She had never seen her father like this. Though rarely home, he always brought her dolls and chocolates from abroad. Her classmates envied her, and Amara called her Daddy's princess. As she uncertainly reached for his shirt, he shoved her away. "Go find your grandmother! Idiot!" Daisy stood stunned. Paxton had not even noticed her scraped foot bleeding. Her eyes widened in recognition. This was just like how things were with Ama
"I... I..." Daisy faltered as she was unprepared for Aria's words. Paxton and Daisy had come hoping to manipulate Lettie as they always had. In marriages, visible violence might draw outside sympathy. But such psychological torture of exploiting Lettie's maternal love, pushing her boundaries, and destroying her self-worth was far more terrifying. As a doctor, Aria's expertise went beyond healing bodies. She specialized in psychology. Lettie's condition wasn't just trauma; it was long-term emotional abuse. Aria had seen Lettie's sleeping pills. With her pregnancy affecting hormones, they needed to address her emotional pain. If not, Aria worried Lettie might break. Aria touched her amethyst pendant. Sometimes, abandoning all illusions was the only way to start over. For mothers, children were their deepest attachment. It was better to see clearly now than suffer endless emotional manipulation. "I'm not going back with you two. I want a divorce, and I will get one." Lettie's ha
Indeed, Lettie hesitated. She looked at her daughter instinctively. After all, blood ties could not be easily broken. Paxton seized this moment to step forward and hug her. "Lettie, I knew you couldn't give up on our family. I've really learned my lesson. We'll move out and keep Mom from interfering. Please?" His movements were too quick for Lettie to react. Aria sat there with a smirk, her gaze drifting to the window. It was a great photo spot indeed. It would be a perfect picture of an adorable daughter, a caring husband, and a forgiving wife. This would become a narrative of quick reconciliation that would betray the public's support. Aria had even thought of headlines for Celestia's post. Too bad she hadn't come inside. If she had, seeing Aria's face might have shaken her confidence. Lettie didn't let Paxton's embrace last. Once she recovered, she shoved him away. Then, came the slap. "You're absolutely shameless!" Lettie could not believe his act, even now. Glancing a
As Amara stood there trembling, it drew stares from onlookers. She could not believe her son would speak to her this way. It was Paxton who had begged her to help, saying Celestia wanted to meet Daisy. He even asked her to arrange it so the girl would accept them when the divorce happened. That way, Don would not interfere too much. As a mother, how could she ignore her son's troubles? He had gone on about Celestia's background—how cultured she was and how her parents were prestigious lawyers in Ludwiten. Amara had been impressed. A simple housewife like Lettie could not possibly compare to a Ludwiten socialite. Through Amara's investigation, she found out that the Norwoods were renowned in legal circles. Daisy's grandfather was even a senior judge. That was the kind of woman worthy of her son. She had done everything to help him seize this opportunity, but how had she become the villain? Amara clenched her fists. She understood what Paxton meant now. He was making her the sc
"Now more people would hate mothers-in-laws like us." "My daughter says this isn't over. Just wait; she'll get what's coming to her." Amara had planned to go to the supermarket but ended up hiding at home, afraid to go downstairs. Don was still at the university studying his latest archaeological finds, unaware of everything. She trembled thinking about what he would do to her when he found out. Panicking, she grabbed her coat and followed them. "Paxton, let me come with you. I'll make sure you don't get taken advantage of." "Mom!" Paxton's tone became impatient. "Look how many people are outside waiting to mock us! If you come, our whole family will end up all over social media. I could take Daisy to the café unnoticed, but not you. People can't stand the sight of you right now." Amara gritted her teeth. "They can't stand me? These people have nothing better to do than meddle in our family affairs! What's wrong with our family not wanting Lettie anymore?" "Mom! How can you
Celestia still had no idea what awaited her. She had been a bully since middle school, and her family would always clean up her messes. To her, Lettie was just some washed-up housewife who couldn't possibly understand how to harness social media's power, unlike herself, since this was her bread and butter. She knew the online community craved plot twists upon plot twists. Before leaving the car, Celestia gripped her phone, nervous about all her hidden misdeeds. But if she could destroy Lettie's image, she could profit from this viral outrage. Paxton picked up Daisy, who couldn't stop crying. "Dad, is Mom really divorcing you? Everyone online is attacking me. They're saying I'm a terrible daughter and not worth keeping. Even my classmates are laughing at me. Dad, please make up with Mom!" Paxton massaged his throbbing temples. "Daisy, that's why I'm here to pick you up. You have to make up with your mother. To stop the online hate, you need to act in a way that makes your mother
Then, Celestia could immediately post a video claiming she never knew he was married when they met. That would be the best way to shift the narrative. Paxton thought about it and said, "Fine, I'll go sweet-talk her." They needed to reconcile, or the book "Voices" would no longer be his. He could lose his job, but not that book.Nobody in Farshya knew how much money it was making overseas. It had earned 50 million in annual royalties, and film studios were already showing interest. He would never give up this book! Paxton lowered his gaze. "I'll bring Daisy along. Lettie can't stand seeing our daughter suffer, so she'll back down for her sake." But this time, Paxton's calculations would surely prove wrong. Celestia stood up. "I'm coming too. I'll wait outside." She could not stay here anyway. Paxton frowned. "Don't let her see you." "I'm not stupid. I'll take photos of you two making up and post them online. That will make it credible." Celestia knew her game. "Remember, d
In that moment, Paxton felt real fear. His throat became too tight to speak. Kaiden's voice hardened, "I don't care how you do it, but contain this matter. Your personal drama is causing too much negative publicity. You can forget about that promotion. As for Mr. Hendricks Senior, you can explain this to him yourself." Kaiden did not want to get involved, but Don was once his mentor, guiding him when he needed it most. It was through family connection that Paxton's career had advanced so smoothly. His mind was in chaos now. The higher he climbed, the harder he would fall. "I'll explain everything. Don't worry! I'll apologize to my wife right away!" Hearing this, Celestia exploded. "Apologize? What about me?" Her shout drew stares across the hotel lobby. Terrified of attracting more attention, Paxton covered her mouth. "Please, keep your voice down!" Kaiden heard the commotion too. "Who's with you? Where are you now?" "I..." Paxton tried to lie. But Kaiden did not want t
Celestia's face turned white with panic. Terrified that her photos would be screenshotted, her fingers moved faster than ever, but she couldn't keep up. She posted nearly three times a day, and now, the floodgates had opened."What do I do? What can I do?" Celestia was so anxious that she pulled at her hair. "Private account! I'll set it to private right now!" But it was too late. People were already taking screenshots and screen recordings, and within a minute, comments flooded Paxton's page. "I knew I recognized this homewrecker—I've seen her content!" "You've seen her content? What do you mean?" "She's a fashion influencer! She does street style and promotes clothes, bags, and beauty products! Her handle is @CelestiaNorwood." "No way! Didn't she just preach about women's independence and not relying on men? How the tables have turned!" "Wow! Her private account shows quite a different life!" "This can't be true. No influencer would date such an old guy." "Honey, tha