Marna felt a wave of guilt wash over her, leaving her particularly anxious. "I do. I've sent goods here before, but I've never actually been inside."She lowered her gaze, feigning a search for something. In reality, she was avoiding Aria's eyes, terrified of revealing her true feelings.Upon hearing that, Aria raised her eyebrows and grinned. "You're a firm believer, yet you're telling me you didn't go inside and pray. Marna, don't you think it sounds illogical?"Seeing Marna stiffening, Aria said slowly, "Did you get the pendant from there?""I told you I got it from a fortune-teller on the train," Marna insisted. Aria nodded. "So, you still come here to express your gratitude. I wonder which god you prayed to."Marna's face drained of color at that question.The other female officers had initially been puzzled by Aria's fixation on the pendant; after all, the children's safety was their priority. But as they observed Marna's reaction, realization struck. The human trafficker
The voice coming from the little girl didn't sound like hers at all. It was as if she had been possessed.Aria's eyes darkened as she studied the girl's face. How could this be? The child was supposed to be the reincarnation of a heroic figure destined for greatness, at least according to her features.The crowd quickly gathered around, murmuring, "Sir, let Mr. Blooms take a look at her."The man mumbled a short prayer before replying, "Mr. Blooms is preparing for a class now. Everyone can remain outside and pray for this little girl."If she doesn't improve after the prayers, it means the gods above have not blessed her. She must atone for her past life's sins. Please do not make this difficult for us."With that, the man clasped his hands together and shut the hall doors. Though it seemed like advice, he was clearly leaving the girl to fend for herself.The old woman stumbled forward, tears streaming down her face. "My granddaughter is kind-hearted. Her parents are useless, so
"Leave if you're not here to pray!" the bodyguard snapped impatiently, ready to throw Aria out.But Aria wasn't about to let that happen. She swiftly grabbed his wrist and pressed a pressure point.With that, the bodyguard could no longer speak. He opened his mouth but nothing came out."How noisy," Aria muttered lazily, digging a finger into her ear. Causing a scene would make her mission easier, and this was the perfect chance to confirm her suspicions about the church.Another priest walked over and mumbled a prayer. "Your mouth is a tool of both blessing and karma. Stop what you're doing right now. You have already sinned, so please stop causing any trouble."Upon hearing that, Aria raised her eyebrows. "I'm causing trouble? Didn't you see the sick little girl right there?""If she's sick, she can rest in the backyard. We need to conduct our class," the priest said in a matter of factly.Aria chuckled. "Are you saying that praying to you all is useless?"Her words riled u
Aria had only asked because she noticed signs of fortune on Queenie's face and a noble air between her brows. Her eyes were filled with determination and purity, which caught Aria's attention.Tobias had once told her that some reincarnated heroic figures often acted differently from ordinary children. For instance, a child might suddenly tell their mother they'd been to a particular place before, but it had been in ruins, and they'd fought in straw shoes. Time was multidimensional, and it wasn't unusual for fragments of memories to linger.Most parents, however, would dismiss such claims as mere jokes. But in truth, there was a chance these children were carrying memories from past lives.Aria silently hoped they could return. Her expression softened as she lowered her gaze.Queenie looked at the woman before her. There was indeed something she didn't dare to say. She was afraid it would affect her grandmother if she said it. After all, they were at a holy church where people cl
Queenie looked at the priests before beckoning Aria to come closer."When I came here last, I saw something underneath the church. It scared me."Queenie looked worried. "They saw me too. I got sick after returning home. Miss, didn't they say nobody would hurt children in a place protected by God?"Queenie raised her head. She spoke softly, but it was still loud enough for those nearby to hear. "Then why are there Krowonian soldiers eating the offerings?"Queenie pointed her finger at the table not far away, where fresh fruits were arranged as offerings. Blood drained out of the crowd's faces when they heard her, and even Aria's eyes flickered.The crowd was in an uproar."Krowonian soldiers? How could that be?""What nonsense is this child saying?""How could there be Krowonian soldiers here? Did she mistook them as foreign tourists?""I doubt tourists would go and eat the offerings. I bet she's just lying."The vlogger also pursed her lips. "This is nonsense. If you want to
It was an unforgivable crime.The church was a sacred place where people from all across the country came to worship. Each prayer and act of devotion strengthened the spirits, giving them power.Before entering, Aria noticed the church was packed with tourists. It was no surprise that the heroic spirits had been trapped in the Netherrealm for nearly a century—Krowonian soldiers had been worshipped on Farshyan soil.No wonder Devon kept saying he wanted to return and save everyone. No heroic spirit could thrive in such a corrupted environment.Warren, Fergus, and the others had been struggling to identify the traitors mentioned in the letter. They never expected the culprits to be the priests.The vlogger taunted Aria. "Wow. You're so scary. I'm just recording my life. Go and sue me, then.""Expect a lawyer's letter then. Queenie is right. You guys can't see it because what she's seeing isn't a spirit," Aria replied calmly."What does that mean?"Just as someone wanted to ask, a
Aria moved closer. "Mr. Blooms, it seems like you have no experience in this."Maverick clasped his hands together. "I haven't received such enlightenment, so how could you compare me to a God? You truly flatter me."Aria chuckled. "Mr. Blooms, you're too modest. You have so many devoted followers who practically worship you. Even if you refuse to help the little girl, they'll still find a way to justify your actions."Whatever you do, they'll likely insist you’re right. With such support, I doubt you'll have any issue undergoing an investigation.""No matter what you do, they'll probably say you're right. Since that's the case, I doubt you'll refuse to go under investigation."I happen to be investigating a major human trafficking case. I might need your help with a few things I don’t quite understand." Aria grinned as she looked at Maverick.Upon hearing this, Maverick murmured a brief prayer, his expression remaining calm as though it had nothing to do with him.Aria pressed
The vlogger stiffened, and her previous arrogance vanished when she glanced at Aria again.Maverick, unaware of Aria's true identity, continued praising the vlogger. "This woman is a well-known travel vlogger here in Nymeria. She's kind-hearted and influential. Her words carry weight. As she mentioned, you're not just slandering our church with your lies but also hurting the locals."Turning to Aria, Maverick added, "Nymeria is a city of heroes who sacrificed for the nation. No one here would commit the crimes you speak of. Since you're so disrespectful and rude, I've no choice but to call the police to resolve this."Maverick had his own plan. He knew the police wouldn't investigate the guests staying in the prayer room. Once he mentioned the church's name, someone would discreetly remove Aria. That was why he remained calm despite her mention of the prayer room. He wasn't afraid—nothing would be uncovered.But Aria's next words made him frown. "There's no need to call. The police
When Alaric suggested having a meal with Fiona, the driver was astonished. It was completely unlike anything he had ever known about Alaric over the years. Even more unbelievable to the driver was the fact that there could be a woman in Ludwiten who would reject Alaric.When the car came to a stop, Fiona responded to Alaric, "I don't understand why Owen is involved in this. I'm sure we both know why you approached me."She continued, "I know the Sloane family wields enough influence to shape many things. The market in Ludwiten is small, and many people don't want the Carver family to have a share. But I'm not the weak link you're looking for. You've got the wrong person."With that, Fiona swiftly exited the car. The driver was taken aback. Despite Fiona's delicate appearance, she acted with decisive resolve, without hesitation.The car remained stationary after she left. Although Alaric appeared indifferent, his eyes betrayed his displeasure, as if the meeting he had carefully
"Soup?" Fiona hesitated, realizing Alaric was serious. After a moment, she replied, "I'm afraid I don't have time today. I need to pick someone up from the train later."Upon hearing that, Alaric smiled. "Who's so important?""My daughter." Fiona's tone softened as she mentioned Aria, her gaze turning gentle.Alaric studied her intently before saying, "You really do seem like a mother. It's almost unthinkable."Fiona chuckled, finding his comment odd. "Well, I am a mother."Alaric looked away indifferently. "I never expected you to adapt to motherhood and marriage so well. My impression of you was that you'd never let yourself be held back by trivial matters as such."Fiona frowned. "My daughter isn't a trivial matter."Her voice carried a trace of displeasure. Nobody could truly understand what Aria's return meant to her. She felt a deep sense of responsibility—not just toward her daughter but also toward her sons.Alaric glanced at his hands, a faint trace of mockery in his v
Contrary to the driver's expectations, Fiona remained unnervingly calm, as though everything was perfectly normal. Her beauty was striking, paired with an air of delicate indifference that belied her age. Especially her eyes—pure and unguarded when her gaze lingered. Yet, temperament was not so easily concealed. The driver could tell that Fiona was no naïve woman. She was a sheltered, affluent woman from a prestigious family. But didn't Alaric disdain women like her the most? Why, then, had Alaric asked him to stop the car from a distance?Perplexed, the driver kept glancing at Fiona.Her hair, still damp from the relentless rain, clung to her neck. She turned deliberately, avoiding Alaric's side. "Is there any tissue in the car?""Yes." Alaric chuckled, pulling out a few tissues and handing them to her.The driver frowned, finding Alaric's obliging demeanor uncharacteristic.As Fiona wiped her hair, she inadvertently exposed the curve of her neck—graceful, like a swan's. Its
Alaric Sloane's figure remained as fit as ever, especially compared to his peers. However, he had traded his signature red suit for a more mature dark gray. His demeanor had shifted too—there was an air of indifference in his gaze, a far cry from the carefree man he once was.A laptop rested on his lap as he worked. The light illuminated his sharp features, making him appear serious and composed. He no longer resembled the reckless man of the past.Fiona froze. The last time she saw Alaric was at her wedding. That day, the free-spirited man had called her during her wedding banquet, standing amidst the crowd. His voice had been teasing, laced with the unmistakable slur of alcohol."Hey, listen to me—don't marry him. Look at me. If you agree, I'll stop the wedding right now."At that time, Alaric still wasn't that fluent in Farshyan. Having grown up overseas, his accent gave him a polished, foreign charm. His classmates used to joke that it made him seem like a gentleman from abro
The entertainment industry was a place where people could rise quickly. It was a world where words could be tailored to suit different audiences, where alliances were formed with the popular, and enemies were kept in check before they could make a name for themselves.On the surface, everyone seemed friendly, but beneath the smiles, subtle rivalries festered.Back then, Fiona wouldn't have noticed such dynamics. She had never been interested in competing with other women, even in school. The term "female competition" hadn't existed in her vocabulary. Fiona simply wasn't concerned with who stood out in the crowd, so she remained unaware of the unspoken tensions around her.But now, things were different. After years of observing the entertainment industry, Fiona had become attuned to the subtle games people played. Every word Priscilla had spoken earlier had an underlying agenda.It was then that Fiona realized how much time had changed everyone. She could barely recognize the wom
Priscilla, it seemed, embodied the capitalist archetype that online critics often despised—one who saw people as mere tools for profit. Her approach to problems was straightforward, ruthless, and without compassion.She had used unapproved injections to boost her earnings, and now, when things went wrong, she wanted to shift the blame onto unsuspecting individuals.The girl's parents, though devastated, were not asking for much. They simply wanted their daughter's suffering to end and for Priscilla to cover the basic medical costs. But Priscilla wasn't concerned with such matters. The success of her medispa in Ludwiten wasn't due to any sense of ethics—it was built on ambition and exploitation.If Priscilla agreed to treat one person's botched surgery, it would open the door to countless others. She couldn't afford to make exceptions; these "victims" would only try to take advantage of her.At that moment, Priscilla reclined in the lounge, a face mask on, preparing for a full-bod
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