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
Agnes tried to pull Kylie away. "Kylie, are you crazy?"Kylie couldn't possibly be that foolish! Didn't she see how Landon acted? He came here just to support Aria!However, Kylie seemed to have lost her mind. "Mom, listen to me. There's no way he would fall in love with a country bumpkin. They have nothing to talk about. He's such a dignified person!"Agnes wished she could slap some sense into Kylie. Yet, Kylie was surprisingly strong, making it impossible for Agnes to restrain her.Seeing everyone look at her as if she were insane, Kylie felt a chill in her heart. She rushed over to Mindy, grasping her hands. "Mindy, you know him best. We've observed him for years. He's rejected you time and again. There's no way he'd be interested in an outsider. Please, say something, Mindy!"But Mindy's mind went blank when Landon arrived at the banquet. She hadn't expected him to come.The Carver family had hosted many events in the past. On her birthday, Owen had personally invited the
However, Landon had already made his move, leaving no room for Mindy to turn things around. Whether Mindy was a bitch or not didn't matter to him—it wasn't his concern. But with Aria involved, Landon wouldn't hesitate to expose Mindy."Someone once said that the most important thing for a woman is having manners."Landon's gaze shifted to a wealthy woman who typically went unnoticed. "Ms. Yallaton, both of these individuals openly express their admiration for me. Do you not see a problem with that? Yet, when it comes to my fiancée, you're quick to criticize. Why is it acceptable for these two to act this way but not for her?"Felicia Yallaton tried to respond. "That's different. For so many years, Mindy—""Yes, it is different," Landon cut her off, his tone indifferent. "Aria is my fiancée. As for those two… I've rejected them countless times in private, never showing any interest. Their actions have been affecting my life for too long."Landon's expression hardened. "If my fiancé
A Chamber of Commerce member advised Orion, "This seems like a major policy. Otherwise it wouldn't take this long." "Right, Mr. Draycott. Don't worry. Apollo is definitely unavailable during a meeting." During meetings, everyone would turn off their phones, and Orion knew that. He was puzzled as to why Tommy would not answer his calls. "Fine. We'll wait!" It was already midday. Everyone waiting here was the boss of their own companies, so sitting hungry here was seriously embarrassing! But thinking about what was about to be theirs made everything feel balanced. They continued reassuring each other that the meeting was still being dragged on. Finally, someone from Apollo's level, Manny Danson, emerged carrying a takeout container. Government offices typically ordered lunch delivery these days. Their faces immediately darkened. "Mr. Danson. Where are you going? Is the meeting over?" Orion was known as a charitable local businessman and a regular in their circles, so Manny
On the other hand, the land Orion bought at a high price wouldn't be developed or used for the next ten years. That was as good as useless! The policy could have landed on any piece of land. Why did it have to be the exact plot Aria wanted? Everything was totally over! Apollo couldn't control himself and tugged at his hair. He pretended to be unwell as he pressed his hand to his forehead. In reality, his mind was racing. A piece of land that had sat untouched for so long was suddenly being announced for development. Was heaven playing a joke on him? Danny finished announcing the news and set down his pen. "We've been incredibly busy lately, and some of our colleagues are inevitably tired. "When people get tired, they're prone to mistakes. So I want to remind everyone not to think they can get away with anything. "Alright, I have another meeting this afternoon. Have an internal meeting to digest this information and implement the development policy as soon as possible. Meeti
The relevant documents lay spread out before everyone. Apollo had just arrived, and his eyes immediately locked onto the sealed file. He knew better than anyone what was inside, and his gaze never wavered from the document. Someone beside him noticed his reaction and teased, "What's got you so worked up today, Apollo?" Apollo hesitated for a moment, worried about raising suspicion. He quickly waved his hand. "Oh, I've just been having some stomach issues lately." "You've got to take care of yourself at this age then. Health comes first." Apollo nodded quickly before reaching for the teacup on the table. Drinking water was just another way to mask the look in his eyes. He was well aware that the policy about to be announced was most likely related to the land Orion had secured. Now, he just had to wait for the announcement. Before long, a middle-aged man in a white shirt and black pants walked in. Everyone immediately stood to greet him. "Good morning, Mr. Arterton." Dan
The groom, Dirk Baugher, did not stop Leena. He just seemed a bit confused. After paying, they left the gold store. Leena spoke first, "Honey, it'd be amazing if we had just been a little earlier. The price of gold actually jumped 60 dollars per ounce in just a short while. But it's good news. "Don't be mad about me buying extra. I used my own money, and I'm sure gold prices will keep rising!" Dirk reached out and ruffled her hair. "No worries, Leena. Now that we're married, I'll let you handle these decisions for our family. There's no need to use your own money; I've got cash to cover it." The kind of husband who respected his wife like this truly deserved all the happiness. Not many men were this considerate these days, after all. After Dirk and Leena left, some jewelry and gold bars were completely sold out. Shoppers in the mall were stunned by the gold store's situation. About ten women approached the store manager. "You're the manager, right? We'll be back tomorrow; t
"The government meeting will wrap up this morning, and then they'll announce the land requisition," Lily spoke quickly, worried that Orion would find her no longer useful. Orion was a profit-driven businessman. Hearing this, he instantly changed his tone. "I was too hasty earlier. Don't take it personally, Ms. Kent. "Christina, make some extra soup for her. Maybe a good mood will help her remember more details." Lily was sharp. Knowing her predictions held weight, she seized the moment and said, "I've had too much soup. I want to go out, walk around, and clear my head." After some investigation, Orion found out that Lily was vain to her core, loving to shop and show off. Coming from her background, she needed photos to brag on her social media feed. He wasn't opposed to it. For long-term cooperation, Lily was his golden ticket in business. "Go ahead. Whatever you want, put it on the Draycott Group's check." Her face lit up. She had made good money playing stocks, but who wo
Arlo pushed open the door with a grim expression. Seeing his face, Orion furrowed his brow. He quickly hung up the phone and turned to Arlo. Arlo glanced around the room. He made sure the only ones here were people they could trust before speaking up. "Mr. Draycott, we've got a serious problem. The gold stocks aren't dropping." The members of the Chamber of Commerce erupted before Orion could respond. "What? That's impossible." Arlo wiped sweat from his forehead. "It's true. They're holding steady." The group looked ready to explode. "Ms. Kent guaranteed gold would tank. We even coordinated with overseas capital to make sure this would happen. How could the stocks not drop?" "Calm down, Rex." Orion was caught off guard too. His champagne suddenly felt undrinkable. "So there's no movement at all, right? What about the other three stocks?" Arlo mumbled softly, "Same thing. They're exactly where they closed on Friday." "Well, that's normal." One of Orion's bootlickers jump
At the top of the corporate tower, Orion had Arlo keep watch of the time. He wanted Arlo to drop by his office and update them the moment the market started. At half past nine in the morning, the trading floor in Ludwiten buzzed with investors waiting for the market to start. Someone yelled, "We're live! The market's open!" Cassy, who had jumped in on Aria's stock tip, bolted to check on gold. Her friend said, "It's moving! My stocks are doing something!" Cassy looked over at her friend. "What's up? Is the gold taking off?" "Gold? Not even close," the friend replied. Cassy went pale; this was a serious bet. Back on Thursday, she had heard rumors about gold tanking. She had been ready to bail, but seeing people flash cash made her think gold might actually spike. Gold prices were climbing everywhere else. So why was the stock market playing dead here? Worried sick, she contemplated for a bit before calling Aria. "Aria, these gold stocks are just sitting there." Aria's tone
One of the members of the Chamber of Commerce said, "Mr. Draycott, Rex and I came this early just to tag along and see what's happening!" "Hahaha! Don't worry. When it comes to making money, we're all in this together." Orion laughed heartily. In the office, the group was already planning their champagne celebration for the evening. Little did they know, something weird was brewing by eight-thirty that morning across shopping centers citywide. Before stores even opened, lines were already forming. The entrance to Golden Valley Mall—the most famous mall in town—was especially crazy. People were holding boxes and had credit cards stuffed in their pockets. The place was buzzing with excitement.Half an hour later, security guards finally opened the doors. The crowd of shoppers outside was ready to storm in. The guards scratched their heads in confusion; the weekend crowds hadn't been nearly this intense. What was going on? The shoppers charged in with laser focus, heading str
"They want me to pull out my investment, don't they? Not a chance!" Jett said as he slumped on the leather couch, already half-drunk. He tilted sideways, mumbling like he was lost in a memory. "I have a little sister now, and her name is Aria. She wears this cute tiger-themed hat. But Leon wouldn't let me near her, always saying she's his sister and not mine." Aria stood nearby. Her hand froze when she tried to wake him, so she took his card instead. A slight smile crossed her lips as she whispered a promise. "I'll invest for you. After Monday, no one will think of you as just another useless member of the Fitzroy family. "You're Jett Grisham, the eldest grandson of the Grisham family." His steady snoring was the only response. And outside the window, the night sparkled with scattered lights. …Monday arrived in the blink of an eye. The trading floor buzzed with excitement as everyone waited for the market to open. Orion woke up in high spirits. Their plan for the gold mar