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
Fiona wondered if she was dreaming. After all, she often had dreams like this. Aria would show up as a grown-up in all her dreams. She would assure Fiona she was doing well and tell her not to worry.But no mother wouldn't worry about their child. Fiona couldn't bear the thought of Aria disappearing again.Despite her wish, Fiona's dreams about Aria had become less frequent.Now, however, Fiona knew this wasn't a dream. Aria wouldn't talk like this in her dreams. The young lady who had saved her from the streets turned out to be her daughter! Fiona could barely believe it."You're not a jinx," Fiona said, her voice thick with emotion. "You're a gift from heaven. When you were born, all the nurses remarked on how chubby and happy you were. It's my fault for not protecting you well."Tears streamed down Fiona's face as she clenched her fists. "It's not your fault I'm sick. I'm just weak. Rainbow, honey. Why didn't I go and search for you? Why? I remember…" Fiona's thoughts were
Warren's words sent shivers down the managers' spines, especially those who had been disloyal. They kept their heads bowed, fearing Warren's gaze."Mr. Carver Senior, please don't worry. We'll cooperate fully with Ms. Rainbow!"Warren corrected the manager directly. "Call her Ms. Aria. My granddaughter's name is Aria Carver.""Grandpa." Aria only wanted Warren to know what happened, not to take over the company as its CEO. Warren's tone was doting. "You don't need to feel uneasy there. It's our hotel. You can do whatever you want. Rainbow, remember that we're the ones who owe you. Now that you're back, feel free to do whatever you want. I'll support you as long as I live."Warren's declaration had the managers rethinking their allegiances. They began to see Owen in a new light.Owen, filled with regret as he looked at his wife and daughter, realized the gravity of the situation. He wondered what he could do to mend things.Suddenly, the idea of seeking help from his sons crosse
Mindy stiffened, panic etched on her face. "Aria, you've misunderstood. I would never prevent you from coming back. You're my sister—""Sister?" Aria grinned. "You can call Mr. Carver your father as long as he agrees. However, didn't you say we had a conflict before? Why are you calling me your sister now?"The Carver family hadn't officially adopted you if I remember correctly, so you're not my sister. Let's talk about something else."Aria grabbed Dorothy with one hand. "How many of your dirty errands has this old hag done for you?""I didn't!" Mindy cried, tears staining her face. "I don't know what you're talking about."Owen also spoke up. "Rainbow, don't be so harsh on Mindy. Let me explain—""One claims to be my father, while the other declares herself my sister." Aria tossed Dorothy unceremoniously at Mindy's feet. "Let me remind you both, I have little tolerance. Don't try to flatter me."Aria's air of authority was so strong that even Owen hesitated before speaking, es
There was no denying Dorothy's eloquence. In a flash, she managed to brand Aria as unreasonable and undeserving of her status.Fiona, once a prominent socialite, understood the future implications of such labels on her daughter. Public speaking had become a distant memory for Fiona, who feared uttering the wrong word.Today, however, Fiona decided to take a stand. "How can you expect Aria to be polite to someone who labels her unreasonable and rude? I haven't been involved in family matters for a long time."Apparently, being polite to a household staff is now a requirement to earn a title in this household? The Carver family is your employer, Dorothy. If you're unhappy, you are free to leave."Dorothy stiffened. "Mrs. Carver, I—"Fiona didn't even bother looking at her. Instead, she looked toward Mindy. "Dorothy has been serving you all this time. I'm sure she's only acting like this because you permitted it. Look at her. Do you think we're blind to your intentions?""Mom, I don
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