Dorothy stomped on her feet. "How arrogant! Who does she think she is?"Mindy furrowed her brows and grabbed Dorothy's arm. "Dorothy."Dorothy seemed intimidated and muttered, "I just think that brat doesn't know what's best for her. Ms. Carver, you've already apologized to her in front of everyone, yet she refuses to accept it."After Aria left, Frank could no longer contain his anger. "You're the one who doesn't know what's best for you! Anyone who wants my position can have it. I resign! I can't keep cleaning up after your mistakes. Why did you summon a doctor if you're not even ill? Are you just playing games?"There was a glint in Mindy's eyes at Frank's words. "Mr. Levin, please calm down. It's not worth losing your job over a doctor.""Not worth it? Ms. Carver, do you realize how highly your grandfather regards her? In fact, you should be the one to break the news to him. Dr. Genius isn't kidding. She won't change her mind about not treating your family." Frank seemed fearl
"I don't care what you do; just make sure I don't see her in Southbury anymore!" Karen angrily terminated the call, disgust evident in her eyes. She hadn't intended for things to escalate to this level. After all, Aria was someone Karen had raised. She couldn't bring herself to be so cruel to her.Regardless, it was Aria who refused to stay away from her!Suddenly, Karen recalled something and sent a text message. …As Aria parked her vehicle, the sun had already dipped below the horizon, cloaking Clearwater Alley in darkness. Back then, the functionality of the streetlights wouldn't have fazed her in the slightest. Unbeknownst to her, a few figures had followed her into the shadows that evening. Aria carried a black bag and had a half smile on her face. The half-smile didn't quite reach her eyes, hinting at a deeper emotion beneath the surface indifference. Suddenly, a tall figure emerged from the shadows at the corner, bathed in the faint glow of the second working streetlig
It couldn't be anyone from her past. Aria had meticulously hidden her identity. Whoever had followed her there had struck a nerve, especially considering her grandmother lived there.The thug's voice wavered with fear as he spoke. "I-I honestly don't know. Please, I beg you. We just take odd jobs. We'll do anything for money. I swear, I don't know who ordered us here!" The guy's speech was all jumbled up, barely making any sense. Aria, however, wasn't buying it. "Illicit work, is that it?" The thug hesitated, glancing nervously at his leader sprawled on the ground. Aria saw that and casually planted her black boot on the man's hand. A yelp of pain erupted as he curled into a fetal position."Yes, yes, alright!" he conceded through gritted teeth. "We do illicit work!"Aria released her foot, her gaze turning to the pale-faced man. "You seem to be in charge here. Tell me more about this job.""They wanted us to force you out of Southbury, no matter what. Think about who you mig
"My name is David Simmons. Miss, we only intended to scare you off, nothing more. We thought you'd leave Southbury if we just threatened you a bit," the lead thug confessed, displaying remarkable honesty and no intention of escaping. "That's right. We didn't expect you to beat us up!"This was the most absurd situation they had ever encountered in their line of work. Aria had heard enough. "You did manage to scare me, so I need you to compensate for my mental distress."The thugs exchanged nervous glances. Who exactly was the one who seemed shaken here? They were the ones sporting broken bones and bruised faces.Aria smiled. "Are you not willing to compensate? Okay, then. I can call the police, and you'll have a criminal record.""Don't! We're willing to pay up. How much do you want? We'll pool our money and even give you a cut of every future job!" David reached out his hand, hissing in pain.Aria's tone remained indifferent. "I'm not interested in your money. Since you disru
Those were the only two thugs Aria hadn't fought. David was stunned upon hearing that. He wondered how Aria knew they were doing this all because of those two. Aria said, "Whether you take on jobs or my tasks, it's all the same. Why not consider working for me? At least it's legal."David had taken on many jobs—catching cheating spouses, intimidating mistresses, even immoral ones. He had once forced an elderly man to relinquish his house for his scheming daughter-in-law. They did all sorts of things, and most people reacted with fear or at least a healthy dose of wariness. No one regarded David and his crew as good people. This was the first time they failed to intimidate someone, even getting their tables turned on them. David muttered, "We refuse to do anything too outrageous.""I'm just a doctor who treats patients. What's so outrageous about that?" Aria smiled.David opened his mouth to refute her claim, but Aria cut him off, her voice calm and collected. "That one got
"Heartbound Hall?" David found the name familiar.Simon reminded him, "It's where we got a massage last time."Aria's eyebrows shot up. "What a coincidence! You guys visited before."David was stunned. "But I recall that it was an elderly woman who had massaged our legs…"Aria remained calm. "That would be my grandmother. It used to be a massage parlor, but it's becoming a clinic starting tomorrow. How funny that you guys didn't look into your target's background." David turned red. "We were just trying to make a quick buck. Don't worry, though. We won't do this again."Aria set down her black bag. "Call me Boss from now on."David was stunned. "What?"Simon was quick on the uptake. "Boss." Aria waved her hands in satisfaction. "Just be here on time tomorrow. Now, get going. Don't let anyone from Clearwater Alley see you."Unfortunately, it was too late.Just then, Sarah roared up on her motorbike, heading for her night shift. When she saw the group of burly men, she shudd
It was obvious that Aria didn't want to continue on that subject. Aria strode forward, her long legs carrying her with practiced ease. The click of her black boots echoed in the silence, her unbound hair catching the faint breeze. Landon's gaze, however, remained fixed on her right hand."What happened?" he asked abruptly, reaching out to examine it.Aria offered no resistance. "Just a scratch from a tree branch. I wanted to avoid hitting the wrong person. It's nothing major. I'll just head back and…"She suddenly stopped halfway through her sentence.Landon, with an air of sudden elegance, dipped down. His lips brushed the angry red wound on Aria's wrist. The touch, though undeniably seductive, held a surprising gentleness. It wasn't a kiss on the hand, barely a graze, yet the cool press of his lips soothed the burning ache in its wake.Aria, unused to such closeness, instinctively recoiled. But before she could pull away, he tightened his grip on her, his gaze locking with h
"Sure," Aria agreed without much thought. After Landon departed, Aria couldn't shake the feeling that he had crossed a boundary with his intimacy. Plus, the lingering coolness on her wrist constantly reminded her of Landon's presence.Meanwhile, Landon walked to the intersection where a limited edition Maybach was waiting. The chauffeur graciously opened the car door.In this moment, Landon appeared entirely different from his demeanor with Aria. Adjusting his diamond cufflinks, he exuded a commanding presence that made the person on the other end of his video call hesitant to meet his gaze."Dispose of all of them. We'll discuss the rest upon arrival," he commanded without preamble.Removing the bracelet seemed to lift a restraint. Landon's usual indifference morphed into a dangerous glint that flickered in his eyes.Unbeknownst to Landon, Sarah, zipping by on her electric motorbike, witnessed the scene. She skidded to a stop, a frown creasing her brow. "Isn't that Aria's hands
"I'll ask Boss if she needs a bellboy!"Harry hadn't changed a bit. With his flashy gold chains and oversized watch, he was always quick to jump at any opportunity to make money. If Aria invited him to meet other businessmen, he'd be on board without hesitation.Everyone who did business with Aria shared a common trait—they would get addicted. Every entrepreneur dreamed of growth. The longer they toil in the market, the stronger their desire to expand. It was a universal truth among business leaders.For these dreamers, an investor like Aria was a godsend. She thrived on improvement, making her an ideal partner.Harry, as enthusiastic as ever, bombarded Aria with messages. Aria had planned to visit Ludwiten before, but things kept happening, delaying her trip. Her frequent nightmares and the unresolved tension between her mother and uncles weighed on her mind. Now, with Barron leaving some important items for her in Ludwiten, she had no choice but to go. Sneaking there was neve
"Honestly, you shouldn't let Boss go to Ludwiten. If she insists on going, at least send me along! It's not as if you're unaware of how messy their business circle can be. This isn't Janovin we're talking about!"Harry's voice rang loud and clear as he slammed his palm on the CEO's desk, a bold move no one else at Grand Construction Corp would dare attempt. The employees outside exchanged curious glances, whispering among themselves. What could have dragged Harry back from his vacation in such a state?Harry was worried. "We have plenty of employees. How could you let a lady like her go over there by herself? What if she gets harassed? At least here, our influence can protect her. People would think twice once they know who she is. Stop sipping that coffee and answer me already!"Tavian Montague, the vice-CEO, sighed and powered off his computer. He removed his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Harry, calm down. Do you really think Aria got this far on luck? Don't let her lo
The eight figures sat together, ostensibly discussing Aria's arrival. In truth, their agenda was far less noble—they were determined to keep the items they had long appropriated, refusing to return what rightfully belonged to others. After holding onto these possessions for so long, they had convinced themselves they were entitled to them.Their plan was to maintain a façade of respect toward the Carver family to avoid public scrutiny. However, they were equally resolute in protecting their own interests. They intended to demonstrate the influence of Ludwiten's business elite on Aria. It would be much better if she could be persuaded to invest billions in their ventures.It was a strategy they'd employed before, notably with Owen, and found it amusing.Yet Percy, despite his youth, was not so easily deceived. His calm demeanor and precise legal arguments left little room for manipulation. The Carver family's resilience, after all, stemmed largely from their grandchildren.Sti
Tobias once said that Aria was the most gifted person in the Decatorian way. Yet, for all her supposed talent, she couldn't use the Emperor Coins just by casually throwing them on her first attempt. She had to study them before she could wield them effectively.Thankfully, Leon chose the entertainment industry. If he had chosen to be inducted in the Decatorian way, the disciples of Mount Dracotigris would have been disheartened. "Leon, have you ever considered going into another industry?" Aria asked. Leon shook his head, a rebellious smirk on his face. "Aria, look at me. This face was born to be a celebrity. It'd be a crime to waste it."Aria sighed, accustomed to his narcissism. It was hard to argue—Leon's rebellious charm and striking looks had won over both women and men. Yet, his popularity brought challenges of its own."I still have Emperor Coins with me," Aria said, pulling out a beaded bracelet adorned with the coins and securing it around Leon's wrist. "Take it. For yo
Warren's eyes reddened as he gazed at Fergus, the grandson he had once hoped to raise personally. In that moment, he felt his life had been worthwhile. As one grew older, they came to understand a fundamental truth—if their descendants could grasp their thoughts, rather than dismissing the ways of the past as irrelevant, it was something to celebrate. Warren could now pass on everything to his grandchildren, finally feeling worthy within the Carver family.…Meanwhile, Leon furrowed his brows in the second-floor bedroom. "What are they talking about?""It's probably about Ludwiten. They have some business to settle. Why?" Aria had intentionally given Fergus and Warren some time to talk. As for her, she stayed with Leon in his room, playing games and snacking.When she heard his question, she smiled. "Are you interested as well, Leon?""I'm not cut out for business." Leon couldn't sit still and kept pacing back and forth. His silver hair, falling perfectly, made him look like a
That night, Warren stood before the memorial hall and spoke to his ancestors."Aria will be returning to Ludwiten tonight. Things will be different this time. There will be many obstacles ahead of her, but we must return eventually. Aria will finish what I couldn't. Please protect her."The Carver family was forced to shift their business from Ludwiten to Janovin at the time. And back then, they believed they could return at any moment. Yet, over 70 years had passed since then.Both Warren and Stephen were sentimental individuals, always hoping to return to Ludwiten. However, circumstances had shifted over the years. Moreover, the business landscape in Ludwiten had grown increasingly complex, with rising foreign investments. Their commitments in Janovin, especially after Owen married Fiona, kept them from returning.Warren had expected Owen to stay in Ludwiten, as he had promised the Grisham family. But Owen broke that promise.Warren's greatest wish had always been to return to
Although the crow was unsure of its owner's thoughts, it was indeed afraid of the dagger made out of Oracle bones.In fact, it wasn't made of ordinary animal bones. It was from the Oracle, one of the Four Perils. Most importantly, it carried spiritual energy from heaven and earth.Back then, the crow didn't expect the insignificant sect, which was consistently at the bottom of each tournament, to have the purest spiritual energy. Plus, all of their members were not to be underestimated. The crow would have never believed it if it hadn't come to live in the mountains with Landon. After all, Landon was bewitched to become the woman's boy toy. He stayed behind only because he liked the sect's spiritual energy. At that, the crow shifted its body and didn't continue to disturb Landon. Since Landon mentioned he needed the knife sheath, the crow would go and get it. Apart from the curved dagger in the wooden box, there was also a somewhat inconspicuous emerald and a turtle shell-lik
The box included a protective membrane. Carrying bones around would raise questions in modern days. Even Aria worried about inspections. Sometimes, Tobias acted just like those arcane seekers from Mount Dracotigris. When her fingertips touched it, heat surged through her bloodline. The blade felt like it belonged in her hands; even its tassel was exquisitely crafted. But she remembered something when she entered the manifestation and got the Soul-Summoning Plaque. She had been an arcane seeker in her past life, hadn't she? Could an arcane seeker use a blade? She had mostly seen them wielding swords, just like those TV shows with flying swordsmen. Perhaps she had to use a blade because she came from a smaller guild. As Aria traced the bone blade, her initial attraction grew into fascination. Tobias wouldn't leave her just any blade. Since she'd encountered it in the manifestation, it must be connected to her. "Do you like it?" Suddenly, Landon's voice came close. It was low,
Breaking the Eight Trigrams Manifestation required precision instead of force. The path led from the East Gate of Life through the Southwest Gate of Rest, finally striking through the North Gate of Opening. But this was not just about breaking a manifestation. The lock had eight marks—Life, Rest, Harm, Block, Vision, Death, Awakening, and Opening. These were the eight gates within the manifestation. As Aria studied the corresponding numbers, she was suddenly struck with inspiration. Following the sequence, she pressed them. The lock then opened with a click. She raised an eyebrow, recognizing the familiar combination. "0715, my birthday." Aria casually opened the box. "Typical of Mr. Revelare to choose that date." She knew she was born on Twilight Hallows, a day when parents would urge children home early. Owen had always believed Aria's birth signs were not the best, and he thought this was likely because of this day. People considered it the Day of Spirits. On this day, a