Upon seeing the students, Dylan almost collapsed to the floor on stage. Aria glanced at him before turning to the stage. "I did what I promised you. Also, you don't need to worry about your degree certificates. Mr. Hendricks here will ensure that you're treated fairly."Don had already gotten an approximate idea of what had happened. He nodded. "I'll be in charge of helping you."None of the seven students expected this from Aria. Not only did she not resent them for accusing the Carvers of doing something they hadn't, but she'd also carefully considered their futures.Don was a real scholar, one they'd never dream of talking to. "Thank you, thank you!" they said in unison. Barty bowed first, and his juniors followed.Aria didn't forget who had tried to ruin the Carver family's reputation. Warren and Barron had always supported students from poverty, and they'd never tried to take the life someone rightfully deserved away from them. The Carvers would even put more resources int
It was normal for different people to approach a topic differently. Some of those excessively kind people would always have excuses ready. The line between good and evil was blurry for many people to start with, and things had changed now compared to the past. Although Mindy wasn't a daughter of the Carver family by blood and had done many evil deeds, numerous folks still found her pitiful.The support offered by those people would usually be converted into fuel for Mindy, enabling her to borrow more fortune. She'd wanted to manipulate the public's way of thinking like how she'd always done, but it didn't work because the crowd was huge. Also, she couldn't make use of the fortune surrounding her no matter what she did. Was it because of those students whose prospective careers she'd taken for herself? Mindy realized that this was a pivotal aspect of it. She turned to look at the students.Was their appearance here not purely coincidental? Did the country bumpkin also arrang
Carver Group's legal representative was present, and he told everyone else that Owen had been kicked out of the Carver family. Mindy, the sponsored student, also had nothing to do with the family from now on. They had only succeeded in doing those evil deeds in the name of the Carvers because the average person had no way of knowing the family's internal affairs.It wasn't as if the Carvers could tell everyone that something was wrong with the previous head of the family. He'd insisted on adopting a student they sponsored, stirring up dissent within the family. Now, through this variety show, everyone finally came to realize that Owen was a useless man who kept on bringing down his own biological daughter, Aria. His so-called adoptive daughter was also guilty of more despicable wrongdoings. Everyone, whether through the Internet or in person, demanded justice for those who were wronged.Mindy shuffled toward the exit, her face covered, but she failed to leave because of the
"No! I can't just sit here and let this happen!" The man extinguished his cigar, grabbed his keys, and left his villa.…At the same time, the smile that Mindy had plastered on her face disappeared. She looked somewhat twisted, even, prompting the audience to realize that something was wrong with her face.They hadn't noticed this before, but now that her hair was disheveled and she no longer maintained that gentle, meek façade, she looked menacing from a certain angle. It was as if this wasn't her original appearance, and she'd had her face altered. There was no other explanation for her protruding forehead. Cosmetic surgery? This was the audience's first reaction, given how common it was. Why wasn't this clearly visible before today, though? Weird. Just as everyone was wondering about that, someone said, "She probably got surgery in her childhood.""That bad? Surgery in her childhood?"What was she after, for her to get surgery on her face at a young age? The audience
Leon was pushing Aria's baby stroller. Everything was going great until he reached out to pay for something. Aria disappeared soon after, and no one responded no matter how loudly he yelled her name. Mount Salam was so crowded he had no idea who had taken her away. He ran with all his might when he noticed someone suspicious, but his legs were too short, and he couldn't catch up to the suspect no matter how hard he tried. As he fell to the ground, a van disappeared into the traffic.Leon had always wanted to compensate for his mistake. He didn't want Fiona to feel so sad, and he'd rather he was the one who got abducted. However, he fell short of his brothers regardless of his efforts. He was good at nothing but singing and dancing, and he—"I was abducted because of you," Aria said to Mindy, pulling Leon behind her. "You orchestrated everything. I'd be abducted regardless of who was watching over me. "The fact that you got cosmetic surgery to look like me further proves that.
It was very likely that Mindy was the child of human traffickers, sent here to destroy the Carver family.Aria also suspected that she wasn't Farshyan. Where would she be from, then? The audience's first reaction was that she was from Krowo because Owen was working with Krowonian business.Mindy and Owen were trending on social media because of hateful comments aimed at them. Nobody had seen anyone so venomously evil like Mindy before. Leon's fans exploded when they heard what Mindy had said about him. "What she said was honestly insane. Mindy Carver—bah! She isn't worthy of the last name Carver! When she talked earlier, I felt the hairs on my arm stand up.""She seemed unhinged. I feel like she was gaslighting Kina. Do you think Kina grew up hearing all that?""Why does she walk around so arrogantly when she's merely a student sponsored by the Carvers? What did she mean by 'just singing and dancing', huh? Kina is an international superstar who has done a lot to bring Farshya
Everyone relied on that master as well. Problems had arisen on Mindy's side, but the shareholders would never give up on all the wealth and power close to their reach—not before the master had shown up. They were already so close to taking over Carver Group, which they'd later divide between themselves, and they'd never give up on that. They realized only now that they should have kept an eye on Aria, the young woman the Carvers had brought home from the countryside. If everything didn't work out, they had their ways of dealing with her. A simple manifestation by the master was all they needed for her to disappear from this world, leaving no trace behind. They would know, especially when they'd previously done so to that annoying reporter. …Mindy was forcibly taken away from the building. She released spell after spell, but nothing budged. With her hair wild and eyes wide with fear, Mindy's heart raced. This shouldn't have happened. The master had told her that she could
Dylan screamed and yelled beside Mindy, filled with regret. Grabbing onto the police car, he pleaded to stay, insisting he could provide more leads.Owen was the only one who stayed after his lawyer's intervention. However, judging from the current situation, leaving with the police might be the better choice.Everyone looked at him in contempt. After the commotion, his bespoke suit was wrinkled, and his leather shoes were dirty with footprints.Despite that, no one planned on letting him leave. "He calls himself a father, but he's worse than an animal.""He was trying to blame the young lady for everything he did. He basically delivered his daughter to the human traffickers with his two hands!""We demand an apology!" they chanted.Begrudgingly, Owen could only say to Aria, "I'm sorry. I failed to perform my responsibilities as a father. I hope that you can forgive me.""Oh, I won't." Aria did what she wanted. "How about you, Leon?"Leon said coldly, "Same on my end."Owe
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