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
The ladies felt a surge of anger, wishing they could tear those bitches apart!Aria, however, remained composed, a plate of pastries in hand as she observed the unfolding drama. Her calm demeanor reminded them of Fiona, and they couldn't help but admire her self-control.Yet, not everyone shared their perspective. Verona, for instance, felt a strange tug of sympathy for Mindy despite understanding the situation. She had to pinch herself to suppress the peculiar feeling.Even Leon was affected. Had Landon not rebuked Mindy, he might have fallen for her trap. Leon was confused and conflicted, drawn to pity her despite his disdain for her. He began to question his own sanity, wondering if he had contracted some sort of illness.Leon decided to discuss his feelings with Aria later, unaware that she was already privy to the situation.Nyx, who had teetered on the brink of rebirth across countless lifetimes, only to be denied reincarnation each time—even in the warmth of his mother's wo
Aria replied with a measured tone, "There's no haste. He's within reach. We might have to rely on modern means to bring him to light."As she spoke, Aria glanced at her watch. "It's 8:10 pm. We can identify the culprit if we check all the guests who arrived around this time.""How should we investigate?" Despite their maturity, the twins were still just kids.Aria smiled. "It's easy. We'll just hack into the surveillance system."But first, Landon needed to return Sam to her.Just as Aria was about to approach, Owen intervened. "Landon, you've misunderstood. I've raised Mindy since she was a child, so I know her well. She likes you, but she's never been clingy. You're crossing the line by publicly condemning her."Owen, already considering himself Landon's father-in-law, expected Landon to show him some respect and let the matter slide. But Landon's smile only grew wider. "Mr. Carver, I'm engaged to Aria. Everyone saw how those two made things difficult for Aria before I arrived.
Dorian reached out instinctively, but he was too late. Magdalene hit the ground hard, her forehead bruised. How she wished she could just faint and escape this nightmare. But reality was merciless. With her head throbbing, she could only look at Dorian and the chaos engulfing the Fitzroy Group.Dorian's knees trembled with fear. "Mom, what should I do? That bastard must have exposed me! He'll pin everything on me. Mom—""D-Don't worry. As long as I'm here, I'll get you out of this," Magdalene said, though she was barely holding herself together.But the SWAT team would be here any second.Dorian's face turned deathly pale as a sudden realization struck him. "Mom, you told me to do everything. You said helping the Draycott family tamper with Waymond's financial statements would give us the upper hand!"Magdalene froze. Her outstretched hand dropped as she coughed up blood. "Y-You—!""Don't worry, Mom. Even if you go to jail, I'll come visit you. You're already old, but I still h
Dorian steadied Magdalene, helping her sit down. "Mom, what if Laura refuses to apologize? We need to put an end to this mess online before someone digs too deep.""Don't worry. Your brother is the one involved, and he's already on the plane. No one will link the Grisham family's accounts to you. Even if the police conducted an investigation, they'll only interrogate your brother." Magdalene took a deep breath, but it did little to calm her. Her clothes were stained with Laura's blood, making her feel utterly repulsed. Meanwhile, Dorian relaxed, reassured that he wouldn't be implicated.To him, his half-brother was nothing but an obstacle—a liability who competed for the inheritance. Though Dorian had joined the Fitzroy family late, he had Magdalene's support.Neval, on the other hand, had been nothing but a disgrace, sinking deeper into his gambling addiction. Now, at last, he served his purpose—as a scapegoat.Just as Dorian was savoring that thought, a frantic voice broke thro
Eamon never loved Laura, but he had always respected her. He fulfilled her requests, supported her family, and never strayed. While other wealthy men indulged in affairs, Eamon remained distant and polite, just as he had been in college.Their marriage wasn't filled with passion, but his world still revolved around her, Jett, and his work. Laura had a life many envied—a stable family, a respected position—yet she had only realized its worth too late. Tears welled up in her eyes. If she had been more decisive, things wouldn't have come to this. She could have continued her life as Eamon's wife, reaping its privileges whether love was present or not. Instead, she had listened to her mother and lost everything—her family, her son, and the Grisham family shares she had once taken for granted.She had never even desired those shares. So how had it come to this?Regret twisted inside her, making it hard to breathe. Clutching her shirt, she barely registered the voices around her unt
Magdalene's voice rang out, sharp with indignation. "What an ungrateful wretch! If not for my husband, you wouldn't have achieved any of this!"The PR manager remained unimpressed. "And yet we stayed here for his sake. Otherwise, with their so-called capabilities…" His gaze flickered toward Dorian, who stood frozen in shock. "Your youngest son is a fool blinded by women. He lacks competence and knowledge."As for your eldest, he has potential, but you raised him to be useless. I've been in this business too long to be deceived. You're only doing this to hold on to power."Magdalene's breath hitched. His words cut deep.The PR manager added, "Now that Fitzroy Group belongs to you, clean up the mess yourself."Her hands trembled with fury. She lifted a finger, pointing at the departing figures, but no words came out.Dorian leaned in, his voice hushed yet frantic. "Mom, what do we do? The Guetta family won't even pick up our calls."Magdalene bit down so hard on her lip that the t
The deeper people dug online, the more they painted Eamon as the perfect man—handsome, intelligent, scandal-free. Many began to feel it was a waste for him to have married Laura in the first in the first place. As for Magdalene's accusations, the public remained skeptical. They weren't entirely convinced by her words but were eager to hear the Grisham family's statement. No matter how attractive Eamon was, cheating was unacceptable.Aria stayed out of the online chaos, but she knew exactly who was orchestrating it—Eamon.Since the Fitzroy family refused to acknowledge their wrongdoing, Aria saw no need for restraint. It was time for the final blow."Expose the Fitzroy family's IP addresses," she ordered. "And have the one who photoshopped that image apologize. If he refuses, the dark web forum will make sure he regrets it."Online smear campaigns often relied on bots, just as the Fitzroy family had used them to fabricate rumors about Eamon's infidelity. After tossing out a few mi
Laura's marriage to Eamon had turned her into a laughingstock in Ludwiten. How could that heartless man transfer their marital assets ahead of time? What had she even gained from wasting years in this sham of a marriage?"I want that jerk to pay! Aren't feminists trending right now? Just spin the narrative like they do!"The Fitzroy Group had always been a family-run business, but aside from Magdalene, none of her descendants were competent enough to keep it afloat.The PR manager had long known this. Most senior employees remained loyal out of respect for the late CEO, but after hearing Laura's words, they could only exchange helpless glances. Did these spoiled heirs truly believe the internet could be so easily manipulated? That people would blindly believe whatever was fed to them? How delusional.The reality was damning. The video clearly showed Laura drugging Eamon. Instead of conducting themselves with the dignity befitting an esteemed family, they had resorted to illegal s
The Fitzroy Group's reputation was in shambles, battered by relentless criticism online. Dorian Fitzroy, the so-called CEO, had once boasted that he would triumph over Waymond and the Grisham family. Yet now, he was scrambling just to save himself.The Fitzroy family's underhanded tactics had been thoroughly exposed, with the internet tearing apart their every move.While the previous three generations of Fitzroys had been capable leaders, everything changed once Magdalene took over. Their successors had become mere opportunists, riding the coattails of others rather than proving their worth.Even within the company, employees had no idea what Dorian's actual skills were. Aside from exploiting his connections and bribing officials, he was utterly useless.Now, overwhelmed and powerless, he refused to even leave his office. When his secretary knocked, he stayed silent, praying for Magdalene to rescue him.Meanwhile, the prestigious families who had hoped to use the Fitzroys to el
"How did the video get leaked out? Did Eamon know about this beforehand and prepared for it? All you know is to cry! If I can't secure the Grisham family's shares, you'll soon be worthless!" Magdalene's voice was sharp, sending a chill down Laura's spine. The words cut deep, leaving her eyes brimming with resentment. But Magdalene had no patience for her daughter's emotions. "Who released this video? Why hold onto it for so many years? Did Eamon do this to take you down? Does he not care about Jett at all?"Laura didn't have the answers. All she felt was a deep, throbbing pain. Her phone buzzed nonstop—messages from high-society women, all pretending to be concerned but prying for gossip. Their insincere probing only intensified her hatred for whoever had exposed the truth."Mom, what's the point of yelling at me? I had no idea an old video like this would resurface. Before Jett was born, Eamon did..." She trailed off, her mind suddenly dragging her back to a buried memory.It was
Magdalene had never encountered such humiliation before. Gripping the chair for support, she trembled with fury, her face dark and rigid. The anger surged within her, rendering her speechless—only her heavy breaths betrayed the storm raging inside. People had always feared her. With her status, no one dared to raise their voice at her, much less hurl insults. In the past, when others struggled to survive, she stood above them, indifferent and untouchable.Raised in an elite family, Magdalene had long believed in class superiority. To her, the so-called common folk had no right to challenge her, let alone condemn her.Yet now, they all turned against her. Their scorn was relentless. They called her a vile, greedy old woman who leeched off her daughter's success. Some even accused her of being capable of far worse than drugging someone.Her expression darkened as she read their words. Taking a deep breath to suppress her growing panic, she swiftly contacted Neval."Board the plane