The twins and Nyx's appearance proved a point—a master in the esoteric arts was behind everything. While Aria had encountered Blake before, her knowledge of him indicated he was incapable of such chaos.Judging from the manifestations Aria had seen, the conjurer was considerably skilled. Aria realized she would need to consult the Dracotigris Order about the number of powerful masters they knew of. …Meanwhile, Warren was playing chess with a man older than him at home. The other man was wearing a bracelet and had a shock of white hair. "You're still so hot-tempered despite your old age. Can't you discuss the matter civilly? He's your son, after all.""As if I want a son like him, Ian." Warren drank some tea. "Now that Aria's back, I don't even want to bother with him. He can do anything he wants as long as he doesn't try to adopt some random young woman."Ian chuckled, shaking his head. "You're saying things you don't mean again.""I do mean what I said," Warren said proudly,
"Of course we'd do it after you asked, Kylie. The Carvers may be rich, but our families aren't lacking either. They want us to suck up to a country bumpkin they randomly took home, like, are they serious? As if she's worthy of that.""Okay, stop there. Just mentioning her ruins my mood. I don't know if my grandpa has gone senile. He's repeatedly told me that we should show the Carvers some respect regarding this matter because her six brothers back her up.""Everyone knows those brothers don't care about their family matters. Except for Leon, they all dote on Mindy too. They won't just stand by while a country bumpkin is brought into their family."This was what Mindy heard when she walked over. She paused in her tracks for a moment so the person behind her wouldn't hear the conversation inside. She took a step back deliberately, seemingly to accommodate the owner of the gallery. She said with a smile, "Thank you, Verona, for connecting me with the other party. I would've been at
"I know. I'm happy that my sister's back too." There were no flaws in Mindy's smile. "The banquet will be held tomorrow. Grandpa doesn't know that you're back yet, I think, or he'd surely send you an invitation."Verona's hand flew to her head, her emerald ring catching the light. "The Carvers sent me a letter, but I haven't gotten the time to open it… I thought it was from Owen. Ahem… I'll check later.""You still don't think much of Dad, Verona." Mindy shook her head. "He's having a hard time, to be honest, all because of me. No one understands him."It was obvious that Verona didn't want to talk about Owen. She merely said, "I'm jealous of everyone who took Fiona from me."Mindy couldn't help but laugh. However, she then cast her gaze down, seemingly worried. "There's something I'm unsure I should mention, Verona.""What can't you tell me?" Verona gently fixed Mindy's hair.Mindy bit her lip. "I'm afraid saying this might seem like I'm stirring trouble, but I'm worried my sist
Verona loved the scent. "Thanks for the aromatherapy pendant. You're always thinking of me, Mindy."She'd been doubtful of Mindy, but that was already a thing of the past. "Mr. Carver Senior is a bit too cruel. Why didn't he invite you? Rainbow is his biological granddaughter, but you've also done a lot for the family over the years.""It's nothing, Verona." Mindy smiled. She cast her gaze down, concealing the calculating glint in her eyes. "Let me put it around your neck."Verona nodded with a smile. "I don't know why, but none of the many fragrances I've used overseas can compare to this one. They all fall short in some way.""You're always busy with work and don't get enough good-quality sleep. This aromatherapy pendant helps with relieving stress." As Mindy spoke, the sinister intent behind her smile grew. Verona didn't notice she was inhaling the scent like an addict.Mindy hadn't wanted to infuse the pendant with too much of the addictive herbs because extended exposure to
Mindy held Kylie's hand. "Let's not talk about this, Kylie.""Why not? I've never seen anything like this," Kylie snapped. "Don't worry. We'll take you in with us even if you aren't invited. Mr. Carver won't just stand by as someone else does this to you. If you aren't there, how will you watch that country bumpkin embarrass herself?""She's right, Mindy," someone else said. "You should go so that the country bumpkin knows how inadequate she is compared to you!""We still don't know how ugly she may be. Now that she doesn't have a gown made, she might have no choice but to wear some random dress she got from Temu. Now that'd be embarrassing."The young ladies laughed unanimously. Mindy did the same thing as always—she'd say it wasn't appropriate, but she'd do nothing to stop them. She needed to let some emotions fester, and they'd serve as nutrients for those herbs. Mindy looked at the hair accessories they were wearing and finally felt more at peace.Kylie said, "I asked Phil
Aria was still thinking about how she'd catch those people in the act during the banquet. Procuring a gown and jewelry paled in comparison to that.She had someone install a sewing machine in the mansion. The jewelry was easy to deal with—she hadn't unboxed the dozens of gifts a certain person had given her, and she was sure there were priceless jewelry pieces in them. Aria mulled over what style to choose for her gown. She hadn't sketched anything new in a while. The one she'd hastily put together recently was praised to no end, but she personally thought it was overly detailed.Warren was still fuming. "Those ladies are simply too underhanded. How could they do that?"As Georgina worked on ascertaining his condition, she said, "Hasn't Aria said that she'd deal with it? Stop getting worked up over it. You can't lose your temper if only for the sake of your health."Despite what she told Warren, Georgina was concerned about Aria's situation. Thanks to her past experiences working
Georgina resolved to never let Marshall know about Aria's wealthy family. She didn't know what Marshall would do otherwise. He'd probably latch onto Aria and insist that the Carvers repaid them for their efforts in bringing Aria up for the past decades. Georgina knew very well that Marshall wasn't a good man and didn't want him to negatively impact Aria's life again. However, someone else had planned to make that happen. The first thing Mindy did after leaving the art gallery was to contact the Kents. Thanks to Dorothy's past connections, it wasn't difficult for her to reach Marshall. She couldn't expose who she was, so she went through a few hoops just to inform Marshall about the banquet the next day. Marshall hadn't paid the messages he'd received any heed until they came the second time. "I heard you've been looking for your ex-foster daughter, Mr. Kent. What if I tell you now, Mr. Kent, that she's doing well for herself now that she's in Janovin and planned on kicking yo
"The number of infants involved is unusually high, yet the higher-ups remain oblivious to this operation. Strangely, no directives have been issued regarding it too."Aria raised a brow. "Should we dig deeper, boss?" the agent asked.Aria thought about Nyx's words, and her gaze darkened. "No, don't. Send me the information, and I'll do it. Remember, don't involve yourself in anything related to the hospital."The conjuror who'd injured Nyx was undoubtedly skilled in the arts, and Aria was never one to let people close to her take serious risks.She constantly felt that a massive web was being spread out, and the Carvers weren't the only prey caught in it.Aside from the Carver family's fortune, the people behind the scenes also wanted something else. However, Aria still hadn't figured out what to be exact, seeing as the other party concealed themselves well. The Special Missions Unit was independent from the system. Even the HOU didn't have the right to command them because th
Priscilla twirled her long hair and took a sip of her coffee. "I didn't have much confidence back then. I always followed you, never daring to try things on my own. It's only now, after trying for myself, that I've realized some things."She added, "Opening a medispa has always been my dream, and that's how it all started. Now, all the wealthy women in Ludwiten come to me for fillers and anti-aging treatments. If you're interested, you should come by. I can even fix your nose a little."Priscilla smiled. However, her smile was a little off, perhaps from a recent treatment. She pressed her fingers to her eyes. "I can't smile too much, or I'll get wrinkles. I envy your flawless, youthful face, Fiona. What's your secret?""Probably just staying indoors and avoiding the sun," Fiona replied, carefully omitting the fact that her soul had entered a manifestation.Priscilla's expression darkened, her voice tinged with frustration. "It's all Owen's fault! How could he be so cruel? You're no
Leon typed so quickly that Aria suspected it was a result of his experience arguing with his online haters. Aria couldn't get a word in as Leon flooded the entire group chat. She was speechless—his typing was even faster than a hacker like her. Celebrity Carver: "I'm worried about Aria. I should have gone on the train too!"Aria freed one hand to reply, "No need to worry. Fergus is with me."Celebrity Carver: "Fergus has never been in a relationship himself. What does he know?"Boss Carver: "Leon, aren't you getting too full of yourself lately?"Leon kept his head down, continuing to type. He was filled with worry for Aria.Unbeknownst to anyone, a mysterious person watched Leon with intense focus. The gaze was unsettling as if the person were ready to explode with hatred at any moment.The person only looked away when Leon entered the VIP lounge. Then, they went to the washroom, and standing before the mirror, revealed an eerie smile. There was no rush. After all, there wo
Their positions were reversed in an instant.Landon was pinned down, a few stray strands of hair falling over his face. His long, dark eyelashes gave him a somewhat coy expression. Aria, on the other hand, appeared dominant, with one hand pressing down on his wrist and the other on his shoulder. This was the scene the attendant walked in on. She cleared her throat slightly before speaking, "Sir, here are your fruits."The attendant's voice caught the attention of Fergus, who was seated in the last row. He put down his tablet and glanced over. What he saw was Aria playfully pressing down on Landon's wrist. Fergus couldn't help but rub his temples, unsure how to express his current feelings.When Leon mentioned that Aria was pursuing Landon, Fergus hadn't thought much of it. However, seeing for himself, he could only think of ways to keep Landon around for Aria.But Aria couldn't be too forward as they weren't married yet. At the thought of that, Fergus deliberately coughed.
It was the first time Aria had ever felt this way. The sensation made her dizzy, yet she couldn't get enough of it. Every inch of her mouth was filled with Landon's scent, and his fingers felt astonishingly hot. The sounds around them faded, leaving only the rumble of the train as it passed through the tunnel. There was an undeniable closeness between them. His soft kisses and teasing bites on her lips made her feel a little lightheaded. With her eyes covered, Aria instinctively sought something to steady herself. The rhythmic thump of his heartbeat echoed in her ears, its force making escape seem impossible. His kiss, commanding and intense, contrasted sharply with his calm demeanor. It seemed as though he was determined to pull her deeper into his embrace. Yet, despite the overwhelming sensation, Aria couldn't bring herself to resent it. Instead, she found herself surrendering to it. The sounds around them slowly returned as they emerged from the long tunnel, light creepi
Landon raised his hand and spoke calmly before ending the call. "Go and tell your boss that only Farshyans can manage the Chamber of Commerce."When Westin tried calling back, no one answered. For years, foreigners had enjoyed preferential treatment in Farshya. As Westin mentioned, some universities favored foreign students, offering them special care. Foreigners received priority access to events, complimentary ice cream, and exclusive show tickets at car exhibitions. Many Farshyans were thrilled just to exchange a few words with them.Westin's best friend even had a Farshyan girlfriend who was utterly devoted to him. She tolerated their insults with a smile as long as he promised to take her abroad and secure her permanent residency.This sense of entitlement made foreigners like Westin feel superior to the locals. Westin, in particular, had been flattered by Farshyan businessmen for so long that he'd never experienced such outright rejection.Other suppliers and port officia
Despite the shifting tides, some stubborn members of the Chamber of Commerce clung to their cunning ways, refusing to yield.Previously, Westin had assumed that his target, known for being money-obsessed, would agree without much resistance. But upon arriving, he found himself drinking far more than discussing business.Two days and a relentless hangover later, Westin realized he'd been played. That wily old man! Refocusing his attention on the task at hand, Westin addressed the screen with renewed determination. "Mr. York, it's not just Ludwiten's companies interested in partnering with us. Even the Wagner family from Janovin is eager to collaborate. "If there's something holding you back, let me know. But remember, opportunities don't wait. I urge you to reconsider—going solo carries significant risks."As Westin spoke, Landon listened calmly, his expression unchanging. He even shifted slightly to make Aria more comfortable in her seat. Nearby, an attendant whispered with a
Aria lay on her side, with Landon seated on her right. She wondered if the York family would grow uneasy about his prolonged absence from home. Landon was clearly in the middle of a meeting. His deep, pleasant voice carried a hypnotic quality, occasionally interspersed with authentic Nobeetan phrases. He spoke so softly that those further away would struggle to hear him, yet his tone was laced with an understated menace that no one could ignore.The person on the other end of the meeting dared not contradict him. Landon's calm demeanor masked a chilling authority. He wasn't the kind of superior who exploded with anger—those were predictable. The truly terrifying ones were those whose moods were inscrutable and whose actions were ruthlessly decisive."We won't pursue a joint venture then. The York Group will proceed independently." Landon chuckled before continuing politely, "Let me remind you, this is Farshya—not the early days when we were inexperienced and desperate for capital.
At first glance, Kael's youthful face and wide, innocent smile made him look like a naïve fresh graduate. Yet, Aria knew better—beneath that façade was someone exceptionally skilled at navigating the intricate social dynamics of aristocratic families. "Mr. Warsaw has truly entrusted me with his most valuable apprentice," Aria said with a soft chuckle.Kael, ever attentive, refused to let her carry any luggage. "Mr. Warsaw feels more at ease knowing I'm with you. I'll take good care of you when we reach Ludwiten. You've been too exhausted lately."Watching Kael's efficiency, Fergus realized the extent of Stephen's meticulous planning. Kael handled matters with a precision that even surpassed Fergus' own assistant."Ludwiten is complicated. Whatever you do, prioritize your safety," Warren had warned them before their departure. For Warren, nothing was more important than the safety of his grandchildren. The world of high-stakes investments was fraught with hidden dangers. One miss
Those weighed down by darkness find no rest at night.An old cottage in Ludwiten stood cloaked in shadows, its walls overrun with vines and its history etched into the crumbling façade. The oak tree outside swayed in the moonlight, its rustling leaves carrying an eerie whisper that seemed to pierce the silence."Sir, I don't understand why you're hesitating. If we could seize the Carver family's fortune, why not do the same to the Grishams?" The speaker was wearing a black cloak that obscured his face. "We've successfully fooled Mrs. Kincaid, and everything is in place. The saintess is growing impatient—so why are you still hesitating?"The old man responded with a scoff, his cough rasping through the veil of white fabric that shrouded him. "Your flawed information caused me to miscalculate the Carver family's fate. And now you dare to rush me?"The cloaked figure flinched, his fear evident. "You've misunderstood, sir. I meant no disrespect. It's just... opportunities like this are