Aria flung the pillow at Dorothy. "You're responsible for my mother's basic needs. The Carvers trusted you completely."You said you know nothing about the effects, so why is there lemon and mint inside my mom's pillow? It's clear you knew exactly what you were doing."The evidence was irrefutable, presented swiftly. Aria's words stung like a slap.Panic seized Dorothy when Aria yanked away the scented sachet. She hadn't anticipated anyone discovering the pillow.Dorothy's legs felt weak, and her eyes darted around nervously."Will you confess your accomplice now, or at the police station?" Aria pressed.Dorothy bit her lip, refusing to say the truth. "I'm loyal to the Carver family!""You've chosen to go to jail, then." Aria looked away, then suddenly smiled. "Honestly, it doesn't matter if you speak up or not. Your precious Ms. Carver will still be held responsible."Mindy felt suffocated under the weight of scrutiny. All Mindy could do was grab the hem of Owen's clothes and
Meanwhile, the crowd was still gathered in the hotel lobby.Not everyone was oblivious. Those who witnessed the scene understood what transpired. Some men even felt a pang of shame watching Owen leave so abruptly. How could he abandon his daughter and wife to defend a mere sponsee?In the past, Owen could still be described as kind-hearted, easygoing, and someone who wouldn't judge others based on their social standing. He had, after all, treated his sponsee just like his own.However, after Aria's return, Owen's priorities became muddled, leading to this unfortunate situation.The more capable managers swiftly made their decisions, choosing to stay. They wanted to observe Aria's handling of the aftermath, to see if Warren's chosen successor truly possessed the necessary qualities.After all, being decisive wasn't the only crucial aspect of running a business; astuteness was equally important.Could Aria, a young woman from a small town, truly rise to the challenge?It wasn't th
"Give me a list of people who got into the company through nepotism," Aria said coolly. "If I'm satisfied with it, you can avoid jail time." Conrad's mind went blank. "Jail?""Your aunt committed a crime for personal gain, and you secured this job through her influence," Aria explained, twirling her amethyst pendant gracefully. "You can't be entirely innocent of her actions." Conrad shrank back, his face draining of color. He wasn't stupid. If the Carver family really were to investigate what Dorothy did, there was no way he could escape unscathed. "Ms. Carver, I'll tell you everything!" he blurted out. "I know all of them, and I can identify them right now!"Aria averted her gaze from him and scanned the crowd impassively. "There's no urgency. Today's my first day managing this hotel, so I'm granting everyone a chance to redeem themselves."If you fail to do so, you'll face the same consequences as Conrad here. The Carver Group has a history of generosity toward long-term emp
A tense atmosphere gripped the senior staff of the hotel. They felt like they were dangling by a thread, unsure of their fate.Aria's arrival worried them. They knew they could always band together and complain to Warren or even expose some of the hotel's negative aspects if she decided to fire them immediately.However, Aria's decision to give them a chance to redeem themselves threw them into a conundrum. They were unsure whether to stay and try to make amends or leave and find new employment, and this uncertainty gnawed at them.Aria had anticipated this reaction. Upon entering the hotel, she recognized the depth of the problems and knew a one-day fix was impossible. Her immediate priority was Fiona's safety.Aria sought information, but Dorothy remained tight-lipped. Even as the police escorted Dorothy away, she glared at Aria and spat, "Your won't last long in Janovin. Mr. and Mrs. Carver will see through your charade, and Janovin's socialites will never accept you.""Is that
"We'll be leaving now!" It would be disrespectful to Aria if Ignatius hesitated even for a minute.However, Philip couldn't shake a feeling of worry. "Aria, is there anything we can do to help?"Aria regarded them both with a thoughtful expression. "Having you here puts you at risk. If trouble arises, I'll be responsible for your safety as well. Weren't you told by your family that people born under your horoscope need more rest?"Ignatius stammered, "N-No.""I'm letting you know now," Aria said, holding their gaze. "Keep in mind what I said. Once you're home, eat and go to sleep immediately. Don't visit any other place, particularly the Layne residence.""Even if your best friend calls you there, refuse. Otherwise, I won't be able to protect you if something happens again."Ignatius nodded fervently. "The Laynes are just trying to pin the blame on us! We wouldn't dream of going there!""Exactly," Philip chimed in, though his mind was clearly elsewhere.Aria noticed the change
Whenever Kenny brought up his grandfather, Philip would comply without question. Having lost his mother at a young age, Philip dreaded disappointing Yonah the most.This time, however, Philip disagreed. "Kenny, I'm a disappointment anyway. I'm sure Grandpa wouldn't mind since you're there. That's all for now. I'm hanging up.""Philip, are you crazy? Get to the Layne residence now! I—" Before Kenny could finish, Philip had already hung up.Kenny was caught off guard. He never expected Philip to defy him, especially under these circumstances, even after mentioning Yonah. Fury contorted Kenny's features as he gripped his phone.Led by Samuel, the Layne family approached. Samuel eyed Kenny and inquired quietly, "Is Philip not coming?""Mr. Layne Senior, I believe Philip is exhausted from the past two days. He even sounded out of sorts," Kenny promptly replied. "How about I go and keep Moses company?"Samuel refused, his grip tightening on his walking cane as a hacking cough wracked h
Philip immediately did a U-turn after switching off his phone.Ignatius asked, "Philip, aren't we heading back?""No. The safest place for me is to be by Aria's side." Philip had it all figured out.Ignatius raised his eyebrows. "What about me?""You should go home," Philip instructed, gazing at the darkening sky. "My brother will definitely come looking for me at your place. Just tell him you don't know where I am."Ignatius hesitated. "But Mr. Carver saw you today.""He's too preoccupied dealing with Mindy to bother contacting Kenny," Philip assured him, his mind racing. "Park my car at my apartment and take a cab home. Don't waste any time."Recognizing the urgency, Ignatius nodded. "Alright. Leave it to me."Philip knew Kenny well. When Kenny's calls to Philip went unanswered, Kenny started tagging people in their group chat.However, after the incident, there was an unsettling silence from all the socialites.Despite questioning numerous acquaintances, none of them had s
Moses ignored Blake. He stood up and crushed the silver cross under his foot. "People like you just enable evil! Mark my words, you can't save him. I'll drag him down with me!"Jeeves trembled in fear. "M-Mr. Windsor, he…""Time isn't up yet, so it shouldn't harm anyone," Blake said. Everything happened for a reason. Even revenge had its timing.Blake glanced at Jeeves. "Change of plans. Tell Mr. Layne Senior to find Mr. Wagner immediately!"Without Philip, Blake wasn't sure he could save Moses.Blake had meticulously planned for everything. Now, he was thrown off balance, wondering who had forced the entity from Ignatius.He clenched his fists, his gaze intense. The vengeful spirit wasn't at its peak yet, so Blake could suppress it with his current cultivation.If no scapegoat arrived by 9:15 pm, Blake would be powerless against the intense resentment and chaotic energy.Blake kept this crucial information from Samuel, pressuring them to find Philip instead.Kenny also noti