Most annoyingly, Georgina had no idea about Lily's resentment. "If you ever come across Aria later, you should apologize properly. You and the Short family shouldn't have done that."Lily bit her lip, innocently saying, "You know as well as I do that I don't call the shots regarding that engagement. When I was in Southbury, I did everything my mom told me to."Georgina frowned as if deep in thought. Meanwhile, Lily continued, "I told Mom that it wasn't that appropriate, but she said I was out of line and that I was fortunate that Christian liked me. "I wasn't supposed to destroy the relationship between the Kent and Short families because the Kents heavily depended on the Shorts for their business."I wasn't with them for too long, and I suffered in that village. You know well about what sort of people my foster parents were. They were known human traffickers, and they'd beat me up if I showed the slightest hint of resistance. "I dared not argue with Mom because of that. I did e
Why had the threads of time unraveled so differently from what Lily had known? The unease grew with every passing moment, gnawing at her sanity. When Georgina's voice cut through the haze, Lily could barely reply, her words stumbling in a distracted haze.Georgina thought Lily was tired, so she didn't have her stay and help after dinner. Instead, she told her to go home earlier.Lily was smart and calculating in her own right. She wouldn't be doing so well for herself otherwise. She quickly raced home after leaving Aria's mansion because she had to confirm something. When she arrived home, she saw beer bottles everywhere. After Owen's downfall, the Morris family was also done for. Even after days of effort, Marshall wasn't chosen for the project at the construction site, so he was currently downing a bottle of beer morosely. He'd also invited some construction workers along. He considered taking smaller steps and taking on some renovation projects in the future. It wasn't muc
Many people were still gathered at the broadcasting headquarters even after the recording had ended. Some of them were reporters who directed their cameras toward Aria. Someone said, "Can I send in an application to Carver Group too, Ms. Carver? I'm a technician!""Will Carver Group's niche be reconstructed after this, Ms. Carver?""Carver Group has never entered the entertainment industry. If a new path is developed just for Leon alone, will this affect Carver Group's business strategies that follow?""Don't listen to him, Ms. Carver! Look at me! Give me a trending topic!"They were both expectant and ill at ease at the same time. They wanted Aria to look at them but didn't want her to develop a grudge toward them. After filming this variety show, there was nothing more to hide. Aria looked somewhat tired—this was just how she looked most of the time, like an unpleasant daughter from a rich family. However, she was smiling gently when she looked at the reporter who'd just spok
Some executives, who slacked off all day and left all the work to their subordinates, were having the worst time right now. "Wait, didn't you say that a company like Carver Group wouldn't affect us in any way?""Mr. Levington, the scale of our company is totally incomparable to that of Carver Group, and we specialize in different fields.""Why are all of them talking about resigning, then?""I-I… Ms. Carver's words were too effective.""Can't you replicate her marketing tactics?"At this point, the employee was numb. How were they supposed to copy Aria when she was in a completely different position than them?Their boss, Alex Levington, had said that Aria wouldn't be a threat—she was merely an ordinary young woman from the countryside. He'd also laughed at her for failing to join the local social circles.Aria didn't need to get to know those socialites in the first place, not when her goal was the heads of these listed companies!Carver Group had a rival company that was sl
At the broadcasting headquarters, Landon was still exchanging polite words with Reginald Tarson, the director of the TV station. One couldn't tell who was keeping who company. Reginald was still speaking with a smile, and Landon would nod along occasionally. Despite the smile on his face, he looked like an employer supervising operations at the store, although Reginald was of high status as well."You've recovered a lot. Your grandpa won't have to worry about you the whole day now," Reginald said."Yes, Mr. Tarson." When Landon talked to someone more senior than him, he did so politely. "My fiancée," Landon said with a chuckle, "the young woman onstage. She saved me."The calm, serene smile on Reginald's face showed signs of cracking upon hearing Landon's words. When he wasn't smiling, he became more intimidating than before. "I didn't know your fiancée was so good at what she does.""Yes, she is, Uncle Reginald." Only after confirming that no one was nearby did Landon refer to R
Someone said that the perpetual bad weather was the result of the Dragonlock breaking down. Forged long before the founding of Farshya, those chains had anchored the west of the country. Now, dark clouds roiled above, a shroud of gloom suffocating the sky."Did you hear about what happened behind the TV network's headquarters?" a passerby asked."Yeah. That alley... you always felt like someone was following you whenever it rained, didn't you?""Exactly. One of my colleagues came down with a fever after walking through it. It's been days, and it won't break. He keeps muttering about how he answered the wrong question.""We should leave now. Let's not wait until the afternoon. Something is seriously off.""You think Mr. Tarson would take that route?""Probably not. Even the guys working in the building across from us are taking a longer detour." "Good," the employee thought. It was unlikely anyone would venture into that alley today. But optimism was a fickle thing. Landon str
Landon said nothing. With a subtle shift of his umbrella, he cast a downward glance, cold and menacing.Draco's eyes gleamed with the thrill of a predator as he studied Landon's flawless features. "Do my eyes look like a dragon's to you?"Landon's stare swept over him briefly before turning away as if the majestic lizard were beneath his notice. His voice was frigid. "No."The black fog swirling around Draco thickened, and scales began creeping up his neck. Thunder cracked across the sky as he asked again, his voice sharper, more demanding, "Do my eyes look like a dragon's to you?""No." Landon didn't even deign to look at him this time.The majestic lizard's fury ignited, causing Draco's fingernails to darken to a sickly green-gray, and the black mist slithered menacingly toward Landon's legs as if preparing to consume him. "I'll ask you one last time. Do my—""You talk too much." Landon didn't give the majestic lizard a chance to finish. With a flick of his left wrist, he sen
Landon glanced down at the majestic lizard, raising a brow. "Do I look that stupid to you?"The majestic lizard, trembling on the ground, had no idea why Landon asked such a question. It lay prostrate, barely breathing, fearing even the slightest movement.The crow cawed. Its master was the smartest man in the world, after all, unmatched in both wit and cunning. Evidently, no one could outdo the crow in the art of flattery.Landon said slowly, "Why did the lizard lie to me?"The majestic lizard shuddered, its fear escalating as it saw lightning about to descend upon it. It screamed frantically, "My lord! Please hear me out! I-I was forced out by humans! "If they hadn't dumped toxic waste into the sea, disturbing my peaceful existence, I would've never needed to consume human spiritual forms!"Someone summoned me to harm you—that's why I emerged from the sea! I swear it's the truth!"Landon's gaze grew colder, more distant as if the majestic lizard's words held no meaning to h