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
Fiona was very respectful to Ian. "You're right."Standing nearby and leaning on his cane, Warren gazed intently at Fiona. With a meaningful tone, he asked, "Fiona, I couldn't quite catch what you said from upstairs. Are you really considering divorcing my son?"Ian frowned. "This is a matter for the younger generation. You shouldn't interfere.""Ian, I'm not interfering. I'm just asking," Warren replied with a smile. "It has already come to this point, after all."Fiona felt a deep sense of guilt toward Warren. Since she had married into the Carver family, her in-laws had treated her as their own daughter, understanding that she was far from her own family and offering her unwavering support.This had been the case for many years. Even when Aria was kidnapped, Warren's worry for her had taken a toll on his health.Fiona knew that bringing up divorce on such a joyous occasion could humiliate Warren. Yet, she decided to take a chance. "Yes, Dad. I want to divorce Owen."Gasps rip
Owen's hatred simmered, but he couldn't confront them. His dignity was at stake.Mindy grew anxious. "Dad, you should make amends with Mom. I doubt she'd really go through with a divorce.""She can do whatever she wants!" Owen snapped, loosening his tie as sweat beaded on his forehead and his fists clenched.Mindy couldn't comprehend why her usually shrewd father didn't grasp the severity of the situation. If the divorce became final, Mindy dreaded what her future might hold.The information had reached Fiona at just the right moment. Without it, she might not have resolved to divorce Owen today. This move also cut off any chance for Mindy to use Owen and Fiona to forge ties with the Carver and Grisham families.Even Leon was puzzled. "Mom, what made you suddenly decide?"He and his brothers expected Fiona to take time before settling on divorcing Owen. After all, they had loved each other since their youth. They hadn't anticipated this decision would come so swiftly.Percy ca
Owen's trust in Ian had Aria thinking of him. However, Nyx and the twins quickly dispelled those musings.Aria was lost in contemplation. She had only heard Agnes' voice at the banquet in her dream, but the other voice still eluded her.Was the commotion not significant enough? Aria pressed on her Charm Coin, subtly scanning the room. Owen was still struggling, Mindy looking pitiful as she pleaded, "Dad, don't be like this.""Can you tell what's wrong with her?" Aria asked, casually picking up a wine glass.Nyx leaped onto her shoulder, bouncing twice with a flicker of impatience. "I don't sense anything out of the ordinary. But you humans are quick to fall in line with her whims. My lord, there's a secret spell whispered in the depths of Netherrealm, one that can bend thoughts to its will.""A spell?" Aria replied nonchalantly. "Are you referring to what's recorded in the Durin scriptures?"Nyx blinked, her expression thoughtful. "I haven't read them firsthand. I only know of
No one knew who was in the video. The footage only showed a marble floor, clearly filmed with the intention of obscuring the subject's identity.Immediately, all attention was drawn to the livestream."Mr. York is the one who broke off the engagement with the Carver family. How could he be pursuing her now?""How do you know she's the one spreading the rumors?"The voices of the two women were altered, making it impossible to identify them."I recorded the person spreading the rumors," one of the women said, pointing her phone at the screen.Will appeared on camera, wearing a coat and holding a birdcage. He said, "You've only heard one side. Mr. York is actually the one pursuing her.""He talks as if he witnessed it himself," the person on the screen said. "Everyone knows he is Mr. Warren Senior's subordinate. It goes without saying who spread the rumors."It's hilarious. How shameless could she be to spread rumors that Mr. York is pursuing her? Can't she see the difference bet
"Mrs. Carver, how do you explain what Will said? There's even a video!" Kylie demanded, her voice sharp with accusation.Agnes, who had been about to intervene, let Kylie continue. She was enjoying the spectacle of Fiona's daughter embarrassing herself.The pressure was squarely on the Carver family."Since Will is the source, it's difficult to refute.""Ms. Aria is probably behind the rumors," someone suggested. "She must be scared that Mr. York might break off the engagement again.""Clearly, the York family looks down on a country bumpkin like her. If they didn't, they would have shown up," another person remarked."That's right. Plus, Will has followed Mr. Carver Senior's instructions for years. It looks like Ms. Aria likes to stir up trouble.""I'm worried that even Mr. Carver Senior's reputation might be tarnished by this," someone else added.Kylie's satisfaction grew with the rising chatter. "Mrs. Carver, please clarify who taught Will to spread those rumors. Was it som
Landon, a renowned socialite and tyrannical figure in Janovin, commanded respect and fear. When healthy, he would ruthlessly punish those who dared to provoke the York family. His reputation ensured that no one would dare to cross him, as doing so would be equivalent to seeking their own demise.His imposing stance caused one of the CEOs to say, "Mr. York, your fiancée doesn't need to socialize with anyone. People should be the ones buttering up to her!"Landon acknowledged the comment with a nod. "You're right, Mr. Gagnon. I hope my fiancée remains unblemished and unexploited. That's why I arrived a bit late."Kylie couldn't help but shake her head. "No! I don't believe it. How could you like her?""She's beautiful, kind, and innocent. Why wouldn't I like her?" Landon replied, his gaze indifferent.Beautiful, kind, and innocent?Everyone turned their eyes to Aria. While she was undoubtedly beautiful, her innocence was in question.Landon paid no mind to the gazes directed at Ar
A single thought consumed Laura's mind—she had to find a way to make her husband dislike Aria.She had always hesitated to play the villain, but when she heard Aria wanted Jett to trade stocks with her, she couldn't hold back anymore.Choosing her words carefully, Laura said, "Eamon, I don't know what Aria is thinking. Could this just be an impulsive decision, like her father back then? Is she dragging people along without much thought?"Of course, I don't think Aria is as calculating as Owen. But people say the stock market and real estate are part of a bubble economy. The Grisham family didn't build their fortune through these channels."She doesn't have anyone guiding her, yet she's rushing into this. It makes me worried."She lifted her gaze. "Honey, you know these markets are different. If something goes wrong, people won't come after Aria—they'll come after Jett. Whether it's financial trouble or a mistake he makes…"She clenched her teeth and pressed on. "I don't want Jett
Waymond was never one to speak carelessly. He had already ordered his subordinates to investigate the Fitzroy family's accounts.In his eyes, Laura Fitzroy's biggest mistake was her continued loyalty to her family despite everything that had happened.Still, this was Eamon's family matter, and Waymond had no intention of letting the younger generation get involved.But Aria was no ordinary junior. The moment she heard Waymond's words, she already knew where the problem lay.Jett's phone had been ringing non-stop; most calls were from his mother. Aria wasn't some naïve newcomer to society—she understood what those calls meant. Laura didn't want Jett following her, and there were plenty of reasons for that. But Aria had no interest in meddling in their family affairs. The best way to handle it? Pretend she didn't know.Meanwhile, Laura was too anxious to eat. Jett wasn't answering, and Magdalene's words left her deeply unsettled.Laura had never had an issue with Aria before. In
The higher-ups had already released the official documents, though they lacked detail.As the head of a listed company, Waymond handled things differently from Jett. "If you want to acquire land, you must deal with the relevant government departments. Your cousin's connections won't be enough—I'll go."He worried that Aria might be taken advantage of. The industry had its own unspoken rules, after all."No need, Uncle Waymond. Don't worry. I'll ask for your help if I need it, but I'd like to try reaching out first." Aria smiled.Still, Waymond sensed that she had something else in mind. After a brief pause, he said, "Mr. Barron left behind many connections in Ludwiten—people from all walks of life."One of them is an old-timer, Cassian Merrick. His influence runs even deeper than the Grisham family's. Want me to reach out to him for you?"Aria had heard of Cassian ever since she set foot in Ludwiten. Though over a hundred years old, he hardly looked it.Back then, his name carri
Landon cast a glance at Aria, curious about how much she actually knew about the stock market. She had always been modest about her knowledge, but he suspected there was more to her than she let on. The only one oblivious to Aria's true capabilities was Jett. Yet, he dared not refuse any request she made. Without hesitation, he tapped into his social circles, pulling strings where needed.Less than an hour later, Orion received word. A slow, chilling smile spread across his face. "So, the Grisham family wants to dip their hands into real estate too?"Arlo handed him a report. "Just as you predicted. It's not just real estate—Ms. Carver's making moves in the stock market as well. Fortunately, you already set a trap for Mr. Jett in advance."For the first time in days, Orion’s tension seemed to ease. A dark glint flickered in his eyes. "Fine. Let them struggle their way in. I don't care how they do it, but make sure the Carver family is crushed in the stock market.""Understood." A
Jett asked, "What exactly are you after? There's no need to bring down the Draycott family so quickly. It's not like you can win. Didn't you join the Chamber of Commerce to take things slow? You just arrived in Ludwiten. Why the rush?""Am I in a rush?" Aria asked. She wasn't after the mastermind behind the Draycott family. If she were, she would've tied Orion to the financial building and let people take pictures all day—no need for mind games.The situation was too tangled, too many people involved. The Draycott family had managed to cover up something as blatant as that incident at the bar. Someone had to be cleaning up after them.Finding a few scapegoats would have been easy, but Aria wanted more. She wanted to uncover everyone who had spread rumors about Fiona in the past.And for some reason, despite their focus on the Grisham family, it felt like they were up against the Carvers. Whoever was behind this didn't want the Carvers to regain control of the Chamber of Commerce.
Jett grew more agitated as he spoke, waving his hands as if he wanted to tear Owen apart. Aria promptly stopped him. Otherwise, passersby might think he was an escaped patient from Ludwiten's mental asylum.Owen had done many foolish things, which Aria only discovered after arriving in Ludwiten and conducting her own investigation. Warren carried guilt toward Clyde because of Owen. And while Jett was normally timid, his words weren't wrong.When Owen first came to Ludwiten, he thought he could make it big, recklessly using the Grisham family's funds and resources. But he had been deceived by several people and lost everything.Not only was he foolish, but he was also malicious—leaving behind a disaster for the Grisham family to clean up. "Jett, calm down," Aria said. "I know Owen dragged the Grisham family down. He's already been punished and won't be coming out anytime soon."You and I both despise him, but let's stop dwelling on the past. He's not worth it."Jett had never
With Landon monitoring the stock market, Aria could walk right into Orion's trap. This way, Orion would let his guard down. When people felt confident, they invested more. Aria, well-versed in the stock market, understood this all too well. She had never intended to get rid of Lily. However, things were different this time. There was a limit to how much one could withstand another's viciousness. Aria doubted Lily could predict the market flawlessly—it was impossible, just as it was impossible for her to know everything.The logic was simple. If something fell outside one's area of expertise, even the most attentive observer would only grasp the outcome, not the details. Thinking it over, Aria realized Lily only knew about major events. The smaller ones seemed to escape her notice.If she put herself in Lily's shoes, it was like remembering which lottery would have a winner but not the exact numbers drawn.After all, no one knew when they would be reborn. The only way to acce
Malcolm did not know why Aria was asking, but he remembered the details clearly. "It was after that day." Aria tapped on the desk. "No wonder the Draycotts suddenly changed their market strategy. I get it now." What was she talking about? Before Malcolm could ask, Aria continued, "Some people are trying to cheat the system. Keep an eye on things, but stay safe. If anything happens, come to me first. "Like you said, they've got deep connections. Don't bother with the police—just keep the evidence." "Got it." Before hanging up, Malcolm asked, "Should we still watch the stock market?" Aria smirked. "Yes. They're not the only ones who can play dirty." Lily had probably been reborn too. But whatever Lily knew, Aria knew as well. She had never thought to use that knowledge this way before since it hadn't seemed necessary, but things were not the same now. If her dreams were real, then in her past life, Lily had only made it to Janovin. She had played the star medical student at
After being together all this time, Aria suddenly had a thought. Were she and Landon too distant from each other? No, "distant" was not quite the right word. It was more like they did not know each other well enough. Landon always felt just out of reach, like there was a fog between them. Simply put, he was not being straight with her. The thought left her feeling uneasy. Before she could say anything, her phone rang. It must be news about the Draycotts. It had to be something big for them to call so urgently. Aria glanced at the pair. Landon smiled. "If you have questions, Jett, feel free to talk with my manager, Ms. Virelle." Manager? Seraphina caught on quickly. "Mr. Grisham, shall we step outside?" Jett was still trying to process everything. "Wait." Balancing business and personal matters as usual, Aria held her phone up and said, "I heard Ms. Virelle used to work at the Draycotts' club. Let's have a chat later." Seraphina froze, glancing at Landon. Seeing his bl