It was Percy. He shrugged off his plain-looking coat and walked out of the corner.Compared to Jeffrey and Leon, Percy seemed more like a typical corporate elite. He wore a diamond wristwatch and had a stylish backcombed hairstyle. His well-defined face was adorned with a gentle smile."Percy!" Leon's eyes lit up.At this moment, even the company owners made way for him.After all, Percy wasn't merely the Carver family's son. He was extremely famous among the Hemingway Legal Elites in Ludwiten. No business owner dared to offend a lawyer of his stature.Percy glanced briefly at Leon before locking eyes on Aria. He couldn't resist reaching out to brush a strand of Aria's long hair. "With your talent, you should be celebrated. I can't believe anyone would slander you like this."Aria stiffened, feeling uneasy under Percy's touch—the words she had prepared to say suddenly caught in her throat.Seeing her like this, Percy thought it was the Aria he knew best. His smile grew. "This is
As soon as Percy spoke, everyone in the banquet thought there was something wrong with Kylie.Aria couldn't help but raise her head and look at Percy. His words had been sharp, leaving no room for the Wagner family to retreat without humiliation. They would openly admit their lack of decorum if they refused to apologize. The tension only deepened.Sure enough, Agnes became anxious. "Percy, it's just a misunderstanding."She turned to Kylie with a steely tone. "If you don't apologize today, don't bother coming back home!"Kylie, now realizing the gravity of the situation, felt a wave of fear. Agnes wasn't bluffing."I-I'm sorry." Tears welled up in Kylie's eyes. Though she harbored resentment toward Aria, she had no choice but to bury it. With trembling hands, she bowed slightly, head lowered in submission. "I shouldn't have assumed things without knowing the full story. Please forgive my ignorance and foolishness."Aria, unmoved, glanced at Kylie and spoke coldly. "From what I've
Unexpectedly, as soon as the young Aria opened her eyes, she spat at Agnes, leaving her utterly disgusted. The grown-up Aria was even more insufferable than before. The Carver family should never have brought her back.Though her thoughts were venomous, Agnes maintained a look of regret.She knew she had to say something today. Otherwise, the Wagner family's reputation would be damaged. So, she turned to Owen with calculated concern. "Owen, please speak on behalf of the Wagner family. We truly mean no harm. Mr. Wagner Senior has always reminded us of the Carver family's kindness.""I know that," Owen responded, trying to be benevolent. "Do we even need to clarify how close our families are? Aria just returned, so she's just overthinking things. But Kylie should still learn to control herself." Although Owen appeared to scold Kylie, he subtly downplayed the situation."Kylie, you speak without thinking about the consequences. You're lucky I'm here to smooth things over. I'm sure Ari
Everyone froze at the sound of the familiar voice. No one had expected Fiona to make an appearance at such a grand event. Memories of the last banquet were still fresh in their minds.Most of the women, especially Agnes, assumed Owen had already admitted Fiona to a hospital. They had wholly dismissed her, not even considering the possibility of her presence.But now, she stood there, wearing a burgundy fishtail evening gown that drew every eye in the hall.Fiona had fair skin and a pair of deep, clear eyes. There were practically no traces of age on her face. She was still as elegant and indifferent as ever. People used to call her Ludwiten's Red Rose, as she was delicate yet fiery.By comparison, Aria seemed worlds apart. At first glance, no one would suspect they were mother and daughter.As Fiona approached, however, the striking resemblance in their gestures and expressions was obvious. It was then that everyone realized they were truly mother-daughter.Before Fiona arrived,
"The Carver family has always been shrouded in mystery. Something feels off, especially since Mr. Carver failed to mention that Mrs. Carver has recovered."It was a strange phenomenon indeed. Owen had always portrayed himself as a doting and loving husband to Fiona. Yet, he appeared clueless about his wife's recovery.Everyone present at the banquet was sharp-minded. Plus, all the ladies shared a common hatred—absent husbands who appeared loving in public."Why do I sense something fishy about Owen's obsession with adopting Mindy?"Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, Owen moved to intervene, eager to control the narrative as he had before. But his sons didn't give him the chance."I'm your father!" Owen roared, losing his usual composure.Percy chuckled. "You don't have to be. If Mom is unhappy, I can be her lawyer."With that statement, they revealed their hand. The three brothers had held back, fearful of upsetting Fiona. But now, with her on their side, restraint was no long
"Our sister is, and will always be, Rainbow. I've told you that more than once. We held back before because you were a girl, and we didn't want to publicly humiliate you. We worried about your pride."But you've gone too far, slandering my sister just to boost your ego and meddle in things that don't concern you. Dad may be lenient, but we are not him."If I can't protect my sister, then I don't deserve to be part of the Carver family!" Leon declared.The entire banquet erupted in chaos.The three Carver brothers had always fiercely protected their younger sister.Fiona quickly took Aria's hand. She remained as poised and formidable as ever, silently sending a message—anyone who dared to bully Aria would have to face the Grisham family first.After all, Fiona wasn't just Mrs. Carver; she was also the beloved daughter of the Grishams.With that unspoken warning, the room fell into a hush. Meanwhile, Verona's convictions were shattered. For years, she believed she was helping Fion
Unexpectedly, Fiona held her hand affectionately. "You're right, Mrs. Furler. As mothers, we shouldn't condone our children harming others. However, when others try to harm our children, we won't stand by. They better not test us!"Elizabeth was a bit nervous being held by such a beautiful lady. "Oh, yes. You're right."Fiona's eyes rested on Owen for the first time with sharp clarity. "Everyone believed my condition was stable because of the child my husband brought home."She continued, addressing the room, "Like everyone else, I trusted him. All of you have witnessed the love I've shared with my husband, especially Mrs. Wagner."Fiona wasn't one to let things slide when they concerned her daughter. She would have overlooked it if someone had been against her. But they hadn't hesitated to target her daughter, using her illness as an excuse. They were no different from the faceless critics online who had gone after Leon.Her illness had given them the chance to attack her child.
Divorce?The room fell silent, even Owen frozen in shock."Divorce?" Owen stared at Fiona, disbelief etched on his face. "You want to divorce me?"Owen knew the Grisham family well. They were known for their adherence to traditional values, so hearing Fiona suggest divorce so casually was shocking. Why hadn't she discussed this with him privately? Why humiliate him in front of everyone?It was as if Owen no longer recognized Fiona, his gaze filled with evident fury."You're having an episode again!" Owen reached for Fiona. "Come with me to the hospital!"An episode? How could Fiona's mention of divorce considered an episode?As most looked on in confusion, Aria tightly gripped Owen's wrist. "Mom kept the documents private to avoid affecting the Carver Group's stock. Be sensible and leave now."Owen gritted his teeth, glaring angrily at Aria. The fortune-teller was right. Aria was indeed a threat to the Carver family! He needed to find a way to handle this situation. Though he