Fergus sighed deeply. "Enough about her. Let's discuss our matter." He was playing his part perfectly for Aria's plan by doing things he would normally avoid. "Granduncle Ian, Grandpa has always disapproved of Poeta. Only you can persuade his stubborn mind." After some thinking, Fergus still decided not to hold Poeta's hand when he told Ian, "I want to marry Poeta." Poeta's heart raced with excitement. She could barely conceal the greedy gleam in her eyes! "Ferg, you finally—" Catching Ian's warning glance, Poeta quickly changed course, "Bringing up marriage now will only strain things with your grandpa. I can wait, so don't fight with him because of me." Fergus gazed at her deeply. "It's not for you. It's for myself." He left those words hanging. He had to thank Aria for letting him witness everything firsthand. Ian had always protected them from Warren whenever Warren was being strict, even saving Fergus from drowning once. This planted a good impression of Ian in Fergu
Ian set down his teacup as if making a grave decision. "I'll talk to Warren. But stay calm and don't argue with him. Mind his health—he's had difficult years. "Aria has only just returned, so there's much to handle inside and out." Ian added casually, "Some shareholders think she's too young to manage things. As you know, they are all seasoned businessmen. Will they really accept Aria? I doubt it." Ian sighed. "Warren must worry about this too. I need to ask him why he'd give such a huge enterprise to Aria instead of you." Ian patted Fergus's shoulder. "I know your struggles overseas. You're best suited for business in the Carver family. Regardless of whether you want to lead Carver Group, Aria would be overwhelmed by having control over so many employees. She's still just a child." He sounded concerned with the bigger picture, but he actually aimed to stir conflict between the siblings, just as he had done with Owen before. But he overlooked one thing—Fergus was not the same a
Anywhere with water needed energy-gathering features such as water wheels, rock gardens, or circulation systems. Aria inspected the pond where three fish swam beneath an ornate fountain. It all seemed normal enough. But she realized something was off as she looked higher. The water's path carried strange protective energy. She glanced beyond the wall. Bracing her leg against a tree trunk, she threw her chain over the top. The chain had a function of disrupting the electricity. With professional agility, she perched on the wall and looked down at Simon. "Follow me." Follow? The supposedly mighty beast of fortune was not exactly graceful at wall-climbing. When Simon finally landed, the sight stunned him. What a vicious formation. Not only was it blocking the entire district's fortune, but it was channeling negative energy toward another location. This meant someone else was bearing the consequences of Ian's evil deeds—Warren. Aria's eyes darkened as she looked in that directi
"Why are there two more over there?" A voice could faintly be heard amidst the sound of gunfire."Stay hidden, you guys. I'll go over to take a look!" When Aria turned around, she saw a male soldier with his face covered in ashes. He quickly dragged her and Simon away."Come with me! The enemy might ambush us anytime. Follow me to stay hidden."The soldier pulled them away forcefully. He was afraid the two children might not make it out alive if he didn't.Aria didn't resist, even picking up a sniper when he was dragging her along. It was clear a battle had just ended there. There were sounds of gunfire not far away, signaling there might be a second wave of attack soon. Aria needed to find the conjurer or the object forming the Earthbound Manifestation in a short amount of time. The soil around the battlefield was crumbling as the fighter jets roared above them. Just as it was about to fall on their heads, the male soldier pushed them away at the right time. Aria’s e
However, Xander had a gun now, and it was the most advanced one.Xander said excitedly, "This is the enemy's sniper rifle. It has excellent accuracy and is said to be equipped with night-time silencing and infrared vision.Suddenly, Xander became a bit depressed. "I don't really understand the specifics, but this is the gun that injured Mr. Gagnier. Thankfully, he dodged in time. He only hurt his arm. Miss, where did you get this gun from?""I picked it up just now, thinking you guys might need it." Aria was from the Special Missions Unit and carried out missions at the border. Thus, she knew guns from the back of her hand. Naturally, her photographic memory was to thank as well. Upon hearing that, Xander asked again, "Are you really giving it to me?"Aria looked into his eyes and smiled. "Based on the calluses on your hands, you've trained a lot. A good sniper is important to have in a team. However, not everyone can become one."While your outgoing personality may not suit the
The female student glared at him. "What are you saying? Evander, it's fine if you've forgotten. Stop running your mouth."Evander Fenwick also realized how insensible his words were. "Of course, we won! Plus, we had a perfect victory!""Yes! The Krowonians even admitted defeated by themselves. I remember this well," the female student chimed in.Upon hearing that, the female soldier's eyes lit up. She immediately asked, "Will the Krowonians really admit defeat? It's currently 1940. Will they surrender this year?""I think so." They realized how little knowledge they knew when they really needed it. They seriously couldn't remember.The female student wearing a Krowonian traditional outfit, Astrid Storme, remembered a little. "I'm pretty sure it's not this year. Let me recall back."The hope in the female soldier's eyes dimmed. Xander couldn't stand it and stepped in. He questioned harshly, "How could you not remember? It's such an important incident for us. I…I…" His eyes reddene
His companions begged, "Miss, please let him go. He just has a foul mouth. He doesn't mean anything bad."Aria raised her eyebrows. "Oh? The words one says without thinking are the truest reflection of one's inner thoughts. I don't care if he means harm or not. If he continues taking bullshit before you guys return, I'll make him stay here forever."It was at that moment the students realized Aria's attire clearly meant she wasn't from this era."Look at her shoes! It's a limited edition!" Astrid exclaimed.Even at this moment, the only thing she cared about was whether Aria's shoes were limited edition.Aria always thought people have different values in life. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many twisted criminals or people proud to be homewreckers in this world.However, Aria hated these people the most. She glanced over at the female student. "The Krowonians would love someone with your make-up and attire. Why don't I send you over to buy us some time?"Astrid turned pale. "W
Paggie could barely conceal the excitement on her face. "Miss, is everything you said true?" she couldn't help but confirm.Aria nodded. "That's right. They came here first. I'm sure they had already filled you in about future events."Paggie smiled. "That's right. They told us Farshya would have airplanes and cannons that are more advanced than those outside our country in the future."When our unit saw these students, we were quite stunned. We couldn't understand some of the things they said, like mouse, laptops, and the internet. They said they got here while surfing the internet, and honestly, I don't know what they're talking about."Their clothes do seem quite fashionable. I thought they returned from overseas when I first saw them. When they said they came from the future, we all thought they weren't in their right minds from the bomb blastings."I already talked with them before you came here. I still think it's quite unbelievable they're from the future."Paggie handed a
Dorian reached out instinctively, but he was too late. Magdalene hit the ground hard, her forehead bruised. How she wished she could just faint and escape this nightmare. But reality was merciless. With her head throbbing, she could only look at Dorian and the chaos engulfing the Fitzroy Group.Dorian's knees trembled with fear. "Mom, what should I do? That bastard must have exposed me! He'll pin everything on me. Mom—""D-Don't worry. As long as I'm here, I'll get you out of this," Magdalene said, though she was barely holding herself together.But the SWAT team would be here any second.Dorian's face turned deathly pale as a sudden realization struck him. "Mom, you told me to do everything. You said helping the Draycott family tamper with Waymond's financial statements would give us the upper hand!"Magdalene froze. Her outstretched hand dropped as she coughed up blood. "Y-You—!""Don't worry, Mom. Even if you go to jail, I'll come visit you. You're already old, but I still h
Dorian steadied Magdalene, helping her sit down. "Mom, what if Laura refuses to apologize? We need to put an end to this mess online before someone digs too deep.""Don't worry. Your brother is the one involved, and he's already on the plane. No one will link the Grisham family's accounts to you. Even if the police conducted an investigation, they'll only interrogate your brother." Magdalene took a deep breath, but it did little to calm her. Her clothes were stained with Laura's blood, making her feel utterly repulsed. Meanwhile, Dorian relaxed, reassured that he wouldn't be implicated.To him, his half-brother was nothing but an obstacle—a liability who competed for the inheritance. Though Dorian had joined the Fitzroy family late, he had Magdalene's support.Neval, on the other hand, had been nothing but a disgrace, sinking deeper into his gambling addiction. Now, at last, he served his purpose—as a scapegoat.Just as Dorian was savoring that thought, a frantic voice broke thro
Eamon never loved Laura, but he had always respected her. He fulfilled her requests, supported her family, and never strayed. While other wealthy men indulged in affairs, Eamon remained distant and polite, just as he had been in college.Their marriage wasn't filled with passion, but his world still revolved around her, Jett, and his work. Laura had a life many envied—a stable family, a respected position—yet she had only realized its worth too late. Tears welled up in her eyes. If she had been more decisive, things wouldn't have come to this. She could have continued her life as Eamon's wife, reaping its privileges whether love was present or not. Instead, she had listened to her mother and lost everything—her family, her son, and the Grisham family shares she had once taken for granted.She had never even desired those shares. So how had it come to this?Regret twisted inside her, making it hard to breathe. Clutching her shirt, she barely registered the voices around her unt
Magdalene's voice rang out, sharp with indignation. "What an ungrateful wretch! If not for my husband, you wouldn't have achieved any of this!"The PR manager remained unimpressed. "And yet we stayed here for his sake. Otherwise, with their so-called capabilities…" His gaze flickered toward Dorian, who stood frozen in shock. "Your youngest son is a fool blinded by women. He lacks competence and knowledge."As for your eldest, he has potential, but you raised him to be useless. I've been in this business too long to be deceived. You're only doing this to hold on to power."Magdalene's breath hitched. His words cut deep.The PR manager added, "Now that Fitzroy Group belongs to you, clean up the mess yourself."Her hands trembled with fury. She lifted a finger, pointing at the departing figures, but no words came out.Dorian leaned in, his voice hushed yet frantic. "Mom, what do we do? The Guetta family won't even pick up our calls."Magdalene bit down so hard on her lip that the t
The deeper people dug online, the more they painted Eamon as the perfect man—handsome, intelligent, scandal-free. Many began to feel it was a waste for him to have married Laura in the first in the first place. As for Magdalene's accusations, the public remained skeptical. They weren't entirely convinced by her words but were eager to hear the Grisham family's statement. No matter how attractive Eamon was, cheating was unacceptable.Aria stayed out of the online chaos, but she knew exactly who was orchestrating it—Eamon.Since the Fitzroy family refused to acknowledge their wrongdoing, Aria saw no need for restraint. It was time for the final blow."Expose the Fitzroy family's IP addresses," she ordered. "And have the one who photoshopped that image apologize. If he refuses, the dark web forum will make sure he regrets it."Online smear campaigns often relied on bots, just as the Fitzroy family had used them to fabricate rumors about Eamon's infidelity. After tossing out a few mi
Laura's marriage to Eamon had turned her into a laughingstock in Ludwiten. How could that heartless man transfer their marital assets ahead of time? What had she even gained from wasting years in this sham of a marriage?"I want that jerk to pay! Aren't feminists trending right now? Just spin the narrative like they do!"The Fitzroy Group had always been a family-run business, but aside from Magdalene, none of her descendants were competent enough to keep it afloat.The PR manager had long known this. Most senior employees remained loyal out of respect for the late CEO, but after hearing Laura's words, they could only exchange helpless glances. Did these spoiled heirs truly believe the internet could be so easily manipulated? That people would blindly believe whatever was fed to them? How delusional.The reality was damning. The video clearly showed Laura drugging Eamon. Instead of conducting themselves with the dignity befitting an esteemed family, they had resorted to illegal s
The Fitzroy Group's reputation was in shambles, battered by relentless criticism online. Dorian Fitzroy, the so-called CEO, had once boasted that he would triumph over Waymond and the Grisham family. Yet now, he was scrambling just to save himself.The Fitzroy family's underhanded tactics had been thoroughly exposed, with the internet tearing apart their every move.While the previous three generations of Fitzroys had been capable leaders, everything changed once Magdalene took over. Their successors had become mere opportunists, riding the coattails of others rather than proving their worth.Even within the company, employees had no idea what Dorian's actual skills were. Aside from exploiting his connections and bribing officials, he was utterly useless.Now, overwhelmed and powerless, he refused to even leave his office. When his secretary knocked, he stayed silent, praying for Magdalene to rescue him.Meanwhile, the prestigious families who had hoped to use the Fitzroys to el
"How did the video get leaked out? Did Eamon know about this beforehand and prepared for it? All you know is to cry! If I can't secure the Grisham family's shares, you'll soon be worthless!" Magdalene's voice was sharp, sending a chill down Laura's spine. The words cut deep, leaving her eyes brimming with resentment. But Magdalene had no patience for her daughter's emotions. "Who released this video? Why hold onto it for so many years? Did Eamon do this to take you down? Does he not care about Jett at all?"Laura didn't have the answers. All she felt was a deep, throbbing pain. Her phone buzzed nonstop—messages from high-society women, all pretending to be concerned but prying for gossip. Their insincere probing only intensified her hatred for whoever had exposed the truth."Mom, what's the point of yelling at me? I had no idea an old video like this would resurface. Before Jett was born, Eamon did..." She trailed off, her mind suddenly dragging her back to a buried memory.It was
Magdalene had never encountered such humiliation before. Gripping the chair for support, she trembled with fury, her face dark and rigid. The anger surged within her, rendering her speechless—only her heavy breaths betrayed the storm raging inside. People had always feared her. With her status, no one dared to raise their voice at her, much less hurl insults. In the past, when others struggled to survive, she stood above them, indifferent and untouchable.Raised in an elite family, Magdalene had long believed in class superiority. To her, the so-called common folk had no right to challenge her, let alone condemn her.Yet now, they all turned against her. Their scorn was relentless. They called her a vile, greedy old woman who leeched off her daughter's success. Some even accused her of being capable of far worse than drugging someone.Her expression darkened as she read their words. Taking a deep breath to suppress her growing panic, she swiftly contacted Neval."Board the plane