No, this man was probably Landon's previous incarnation. He raised a brow, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "Are you Mr. Carver Senior's granddaughter who has been studying overseas?"Aria didn't give anything away. "Yes. I've heard of you."The man's smile widened, his voice as smooth as the rustling forest winds. "This is our first meeting. When did you hear of me?""You're famous out there." Aria scanned the face of his partner. She adjusted her posture and added quietly, "I prefer the reincarnated version of you."He'd tarnished himself now, something that Aria minded. She wasn't sure if he heard the latter half of her sentence, but he chuckled softly and coughed a little. "The way you look at me is interesting.""Is it?" Aria was waiting for whoever was in the study to come out. Barron hadn't invited those people here before heading to the embassy just so she could meet them. He probably had something he wanted to pass out to these men in advance.Aria had guessed ri
As fog blanketed the windows, Viktor stood outside the embassy, awaiting Barron's arrival. He had been waiting for quite some time, intending to extend a courteous welcome. However, seeing Aria with Barron caught him off guard."Care to explain this, Mr. Carver Senior?" Viktor asked, his curiosity piqued."My granddaughter is fluent in Krowonian, so she'll interpret for me. Why? Do you have a problem with that?" Barron replied. Viktor couldn't refuse to show Aria in. "Of course not. After you."Aria, her arm looped around Barron's, remarked imperiously, "This place is tiny, Grandpa.""It is not that big compared to Carver Residence, for sure." Viktor liked Aria in terms of her appearance and family background. If only she wasn't problematic. "Please follow after me."They made a turn, which took them to a vast building connected to a soccer field."This is where the school will be. The students can play soccer after school. The classrooms are over there. We plan on hiring teach
Viktor was completely focused on Barron. Beyond the conditions he had previously outlined, his goal was clear—consume the Carver family and seize control of the Farshyan Chamber of Commerce.Viktor took his seat and commanded, "Bring young Mr. Carver here so that Mr. Carver Senior can see him."Warren was the family's weakness, and Viktor intended to exploit it to the fullest.Some semblance of emotion could be seen on Barron's face, as expected. Viktor was satisfied and had the staff prepare dinner. …The agents in black followed after Aria. She had entered and left the restroom without anything happening, and she seemed quite innocent. She smoked, too. With a hooded gaze, she asked, "Do you have a lighter?"The moment an agent handed one over, Aria disarmed him by prodding on his acupoints.The agents hidden in the shadows were oblivious to what had transpired. Aria glanced up. Under her gown, a row of silver needles was strapped to her thigh.The agent died instantly, sil
Riley suddenly clutched his head, tears welling up in his eyes. He remembered his mother pushing him into a closet, shielding him as armed men stormed into the room. Her clothes were torn from the struggle, and blood was everywhere.His father, a reporter, lay on the ground with his glasses askew. The study room was in shambles.In the end, the principal found Riley and pulled him out of the closet. He could still hear his mother's frantic screams echoing behind him.With a pale face, the boy muttered, "Mom, n-no!"Nyx covered the Riley's mouth. "Ms. Carver, there's something wrong with him."Aria tapped Riley's forehead, silencing him. Her eyes darkened as she said, "If you have any humanity left, take me to the detention room to find Bree."Riley, gritting his teeth in pain, nodded. Aria remained cautious, making him lead the way as she followed close behind.The detention room was somewhere none of the children wanted to go. The principal made it clear that only those who m
Aria's eyes flicked to the marks on the wall, which abruptly ended at the corner."These marks are weird." She tapped her left hand lightly on the ground, and a hollow sound echoed in response. The floor beneath was hollow!"Ms. Carver, what is it?" Nyx asked curiously.Aria was searching for the switch to open the door. "There's a hidden chamber."A hidden chamber?Just as Nyx was pondering, Aria noticed several books on the shelf. She adjusted them back and forth according to the marks. When the final book was in place, a click was heard.The wooden floor revealed an opening, and a chilly gust of wind emanated from it.Aria wasted no time lifting the wooden panel and gesturing for the duo to enter first.It was important for her to go last as this was the heart of the manifestation. Even if one tried hard to conceal the location, it was almost impossible for them to get rid of the smell.Aria had left a Charm Coin outside the panel to ensure a retreat path for the Earthboun
Tobias had taught Aria to guard her emotions against the influence of vengeful spirits in the Earthbound Manifestation. The events within this realm were remnants of the past, and compassion was essential when dismantling the formation.Yet Aria struggled to extend any empathy toward the Krowonians. Her expression remained dark as she stared at the syringes arranged on the trolley.Unaware of the looming threat, the Krowonians continued to laugh heartily.Aria walked to a corner of the laboratory and released the twins. "An eye for an eye," she mumbled.Immediately, the Krowonian who apprehended Bree felt a chill around his neck. It was as if someone was breathing down on him. He asked his colleagues, "Does it feel like the wind is stronger today?""Nope," the person replied while scratching his arm. He seemed unaware of the strength he used.This was until someone reached out. "Hold on. What's that?"Blood? Why would there be blood?The three of them froze instantly, their fac
Aria's eyes darkened as she recalled the unsettling events since her arrival. Meanwhile, the Krowonians in the laboratory were driven to the brink of madness by fear.Aria urgently needed to get Bree out of the laboratory. Bree was in critical condition, teetering on the edge of death from severe blood loss. However, Bree was frightened of Aria because of her white coat and wanted to flee.Aria gently grasped Bree's hand and spoke in a soothing tone. "Your elder sister and mother sent me to rescue you. They are very worried about you."Bree's eyes widened with desperation as she clung to Aria. Noticing that Bree could only whimper, Aria realized she had lost her ability to speak.After a brief pause, Aria asked, "Did you see anyone not wearing a white coat besides the Krowonian soldiers? Nod if you did."Bree hesitated as she sifted through her memories.Just then, Nyx appeared with Riley behind him. "Ms. Carver, we're running out of time."When Bree saw Riley, she gripped onto
After Nyx led Bree away, Aria checked the time on the laboratory clock before picking up an iron rod.As she ventured deeper into the corridor, the metallic tang of blood grew stronger.Riley, visibly shaken, called out to Aria with each step, but she ignored him, her gaze fixed ahead. She flicked on the light switch and said, "Just as I suspected, it's an Eight Trigrams Manifestation."From the moment she arrived, Aria had found the laboratory's layout unusual. It was circular on the outside, with energy converging at a single point. The paintings on the walls were deliberately placed, and the terrain was uneven.Determining the lowest point of the terrain wasn't difficult for Aria. After pouring a solution from a wooden rack and following its path, she discovered a well not far off. Although the water was collecting on the surface, it trapped souls beneath.Aria raised her eyebrows. This was it.Riley grabbed her hand. "Are we really going over there? It looks so scary.""It
Back then, a rumor circulated that everyone desired the Grisham family's daughter. Audriana had thought it was an exaggeration. After all, no matter how beautiful a woman was, she would inevitably age. Fiona, no matter how stunning, would eventually face the same fate.However, Audriana had come to realize that some people could indeed look like fairies. Yet, she couldn't show her envy, as Priscilla was still watching her."Why do I think she looks so average? She's not nearly as ladylike as you, Priscilla," Audriana flattered her.Priscilla merely gave her a passing glance. "You don't have to try to flatter me. I don't care about that. With plastic surgery so common these days, I can have any appearance I want."What's important is for a woman to have her own career. But I have to admit, her face is quite stunning."Otherwise, Fiona wouldn't have remained relevant for so many years. But it didn't matter now. Fiona was already married, with so many children. Once a woman became a
"Who doesn't have a career in this day and age? She's the only one with no achievements to speak of, and she even went crazy. How does she have the nerve to reconcile with the Grisham family? I don't know whether to call her naïve or just plain dumb," Priscilla remarked, her voice dripping with disdain as she spoke to the person behind her. As she spoke, the woman slowly rose, revealing her identity—none other than Audriana."Perhaps she doesn't realize that the Draycott family is almost as influential as the Grisham family in Ludwiten. Especially you, Priscilla. Everyone knows the medispa you operate. "Fiona hasn't kept up with the times. I once thought she was capable, with her title as Ludwiten's Red Rose. But now, it seems she's all show, no substance." Audriana chuckled, clearly taking pleasure in belittling Fiona while subtly praising Priscilla. Priscilla, clearly pleased, took a sip of her coffee. "It's a shame she didn't listen to me and meet Ms. Kent."Audriana raised
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.