At this moment, Lisa's patience was completely drained. She told the fans behind her to stop clamoring forward and pushed the fans beside her. Looking annoyed, she spoke into her mic, "He's always working so hard to maintain his public image. Why isn't he getting into the car yet? Is it really that fun to pretend he's so popular?"She said this in a low voice so the fans around her didn't hear and remained focused on their idol.Leon didn't linger for long. After receiving letters from his fans, he got into his car, rolled down the window, and told them to head home early and stay safe.Aria didn't join him. Now that her bodyguards were with her, she wanted to address some issues with Leon's work environment. "You go on ahead, Leon. I have a few matters to take care of here," she said.Leon didn't question her. Aria was different from him; she handled the bigger picture.Leon's fans, assuming she had left for the filming studio, had no idea that Aria stayed behind.Once Leon le
"You've misunderstood the situation." Lisa, the double-faced woman she was, was still smiling. "She recorded some videos that show Kina in a bad light, so we wanted her to delete them. We didn't do anything."Aria raised a brow. "Really?"Lisa leaned in, whispering as if her earlier rude behavior had been part of her job. "You're new here, so you might not know, but some fans don't really like Leon."Aria looked at her. "If you're talking about those videos, I've recorded a few myself."She glanced sideways, gesturing for her bodyguard to play the videos on speaker. Unlike the typical movie portrayal, her bodyguard wasn't dressed in black with sunglasses. He had an ordinary appearance and had blended in with the crowd, holding a banner like one of Leon's male fans.But Lisa recognized him. He had been standing right next to her when she was badmouthing her boss. Before Lisa could react, the video started playing. The images were sharp, and her words came through loud and clear.
Lisa and Jake opened their mouths to protest, but Aria cut them off coldly, "You're fired."Lisa, taken aback, snapped, "What right do you have to fire us? You're a nobody. Only Clary decides who stays or goes!"Aria didn't even glance back. "Feel free to ask Clary if I have the authority to kick you out."At her signal, the bodyguard ushered Lisa and Jake out of the building.Aria then turned her attention to Peggy, helping her up. "Thank you for standing up for my brother. He asked me to come by because he was worried. I'll handle everything for him moving forward. Allf of you should go home for now. Let's catch up online at tomorrow's variety show premiere."Aria's decisive actions caught the attention of Leon's fans, strengthening their bond with him. It was the perfect illustration of fan culture. Just as fans supported Leon, he, in turn, protected them. His fan community grew tighter and more united as a result.Aria understood Leon's concerns well. Fame brought public scru
Clary was in disbelief that they had nearly ruined the top idol she had worked so hard to groom. Her fury was evident as her eyes reddened."Find out who else behaves like that and fire every single one of them!" she ordered.Her assistant, Maddy Simpson, lowered her head. "Okay."Lisa, who was normally used to Clary's easygoing nature, was stunned. "Clary, you can't do this to us. Think about our family—"Clary's anger flared even more. "The biggest mistake I ever made was letting you people into this company! Wait, Maddy—don't just fire them. They've been with Leon for a long time. Check their phones."Maddy knew Clary wasn't going to be lenient this time. With the Farshyan variety show set to premiere soon, Clary had to put things in order. However, if they fired the staff too abruptly, Leon could face another wave of public backlash.Suddenly, the door burst open. "Ms. Danton, Leon's fans are demanding we restructure the company. Look at these screenshots—they show conversati
Clary seemed distressed after the incident. "I'm not a qualified manager. Ms. Carver, you can deal with me however you like.""That's not necessary." Aria glanced at her and placed a hand on her wrist. "My brother's career is all thanks to you. You even hired my mother back then. You aim to provide jobs for women and those from the countryside. You're not responsible for their evil actions. However, by doing so, you're fostering nepotism."Aria neither fully criticized nor praised Clary. Instead, she calmly analyzed the pros and cons. "Your personality is better suited for handling public relations. "You should leave the back-end operations to professionals. I doubt Carver Group and York Group would struggle to manage a large celebrity company."I'm sure you've noticed that Leon is growing. We'll soon need to address the international market. Now is the right time for you to remove those incompetent employees with ill intentions." Aria placed a hand on Clary's back as she spoke an
Philip chuckled. "No! I just saw a lot of negative news about you online. Aria has been getting a lot of attention too. You two should take care of yourselves and watch out for those around you—especially—Oh, I'm going through a tunnel now. I'll get cut off. Bye!"Leon furrowed his brow as Philip abruptly ended the call. It was clear that Philip had more to say, but what had triggered this sudden change in his demeanor?Yet, Leon had no time to dwell on it. He needed to ensure he was well-rested for his recording tomorrow."Exploring Farshya" was not like other variety shows. There was so much for Leon to learn. He couldn't just rely on Aria to answer everything; he needed to hold his own and make her proud!Leon pulled up numerous photos of cultural relics on his computer. After labeling each one, he began memorizing them. Warren had mentioned some previously, and they had others at home, but Leon focused on the older items that he needed to study more closely. Even if they were
Numerous media outlets gathered outside the Farshya Channel building, eager to capture the latest hot topic before filming began. Their goal was to get a glimpse of the student of a renowned cultural relics expert who had captured everyone's interest online.Owen had anticipated this frenzy, even ordering a custom dress for Mindy. She didn't disappoint him; she embodied the image of an innocent young princess while exuding an air of nobility.Instead of her usual Chanel ensembles, Mindy wore a green and white dress inspired by Farshyan elements, perfectly suited for the occasion. Owen had also leveraged his connections to secure a limited-edition Rolls-Royce, ensuring her entrance was nothing short of spectacular.Owen had nearly drained his savings. Without the support of the Carver family, he encountered obstacles at every turn. Yet, he remained resilient and resolute, confident that some individuals would be willing to collaborate due to their shared interests.He was confident
The latest round of interviews commenced, with every journalist eager to secure an exclusive story.Owen and Mindy beamed with pride, reveling in the long-overdue recognition. Their faces flushed with a sense of accomplishment. They felt no shame in leveraging the Carver family's fame.Mindy found validation in her years of calling Owen "Dad". As he often pointed out, Aria would pale in comparison as long as she made a name for herself in a noteworthy show.Her confidence soared with the increasing support from the audience. Given the audience's fondness for traditional styles and nostalgia, Mindy was determined to capitalize on this trend.With a growing smile, she turned her head to showcase her emerald hair clip, ensuring everyone noticed her carefully chosen accessories.This move ignited a buzz online, propelling the Carver family into trending discussions.The entire Carver Group was baffled by the sudden buzz. Had Leon or Aria inadvertently revealed their identities?Howe
From the revelation of Leon's true identity to the announcement of his new project with Elijah, it was clear he was about to join an elite production team—a dream for any actor.This team's success stemmed from its screenwriter, a highly skilled individual whose works consistently became massive hits, not only domestically but also internationally. However, the screenwriter was known for their strong opinions and high standards. They weren't swayed by money or connections, making it impossible for capitalists to influence casting decisions.In short, the screenwriter held absolute authority over their work, which made it all the more surprising that Leon, a relatively inexperienced actor, had been chosen.Clary found herself reflecting on this peculiar situation. She had always believed that Leon's priority was to complete his current project, yet she had been easily swayed by the opinions of others. Perhaps it was because she had long been curious about the person who had made Leon
The more one cared about someone, the less one would want to know about them. After all, as long as one pretended the person didn't exist, it wouldn't hurt.Watching Fiona walk away, her figure growing distant, Alaric made a call. "Tell the Draycott family I'll be at the Chamber of Commerce tomorrow."The voice on the other end sounded surprised. "Yes, boss."Alaric smiled, his tone shifting. "On the condition that they invite the Carver family."The person hesitated, clearly stunned. "I-Invite the Carvers to the Chamber of Commerce?""Is that difficult?" Alaric asked coolly, his slender fingers absently twirling the ring with his family crest. "The Carver family is arriving soon, isn't it? It shouldn't be hard for the Draycott family to extend an invitation.""Well... Boss, I don't think it's a good idea to invite them. Many of the members are opposed to them. The Draycott family—"Alaric interrupted before the person could finish. "If the Draycott family doesn't agree, forget
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