Aria said meaningfully, "It's nothing much, but I found a witness."Witness? Landon looked at Sabrina.Without hesitation, Aria pulled Sabrina along, handing a child over to Martha. "Ma'am, please come with us. We need to confirm some things with your daughter-in-law."The "we" included both Draco and Libbie.When Sabrina realized she was being dragged into Draco's house, her face turned pale. "I don't want to go to their house! Stop!"Libbie had kept the door slightly ajar; she wasn't expecting anyone to enter their house. Just as she was about to shut it, someone grabbed her wrist.It was Draco, who had been bedridden with a fever for days. Libbie's eyes widened as tears streamed down her face. "You're finally awake! They are—"Aria met Draco's gaze through the small gap, still holding onto Sabrina. "I'm here to fulfill my promise, Mr. Pollard." Draco was taken aback, wondering if he was still dreaming. He hesitated to rise, unsure of how he would explain himself to the Carv
Sabrina snorted. "Just drop the act. What's with the slow walking? Why are you carrying all that stuff and pretending to be so weak? You're just like that daughter of yours!" "I'm not pretending!" Libbie's eyes flashed with anger. "And don't you dare insult my daughter! Everyone knows your husband is the problem. I've told you how he always ogles women in their dresses during summer!" Sabrina knew exactly what kind of man she had married, but there was no way she would admit to her poor choice. To her, it was always other women's fault. They were the ones being immodest and trying to seduce her husband. Why couldn't they just wear pants like decent people? Sabrina scoffed. "Whatever, I'm done with your excuses. You're married to a military man, so I know to watch my step. If Martha wasn't bringing you stuff, I wouldn't even bother talking to you." As Sabrina turned to leave with her child, Aria sent a silver needle whizzing through the air. Aria said calmly, "We usually bring
Martha panicked. She clutched her grandson as she pleaded, "Libbie, please say something. You know how Sabrina is—she's just tactless, not malicious. After all I've done for you, couldn't we just—" Draco spoke up, "No. Madam Berkin, no one can forgive these actions on Shirley's behalf. Not even me." Draco's fists were clenched tight. "You talk about being good to us, and you know exactly what kind of person my wife is. Yet you turned a blind eye to your son's behavior. Don't pretend you weren't part of spreading those rumors around the neighborhood." Initially, Martha had believed Libbie was the one flirting with her son. But after witnessing something herself, she realized her son was the real problem. She had tried being nice to the Pollards to keep things from escalating. She worried about her son's reputation and career if Libbie ever spoke up about what happened. That day, she had let her judgment slip when she mentioned to others how those from out of town loved dressin
Aria showed no mercy. Some people would never change. They would apologize not because they were sorry, but because they were scared. They were scared of losing face or all the privileges they had. The son was the real monster here, yet they had let his victim suffer the consequences of their gossip. They did that all to protect his precious career and reputation, huh? Well then, she would make sure everyone knew exactly what kind of trash the son and his family were. The police came to arrest them right in the neighborhood while another team raided his workplace. It caused quite a scene at the school where he worked. Pablo Clarkson was in the middle of self-righteously criticizing "today's unmotivated youth" when the police pinned him to his desk. He was arrested for sexual harassment. At first, his colleagues could not believe it. How could this well-mannered man in glasses be guilty of such a thing? His colleagues tried to stop the police. "Officers, this has to be a mista
"Yes, I heard." Aria met his gaze steadily. Draco smiled, but it looked more like he was crying. "Shirley was stronger than anyone. When she was little, she told me she wanted to be a soldier like me. "In elementary school, she'd always stand up for classmates who were being bullied. But these people dare say she was weak! That a few words drove her to suicide!" Draco's fists clenched. "I didn't even know what was happening. My daughter was gone before I could do anything. Don't I have the right to avenge her? These people, I..." In his youth, he had poured all his energy into protecting the border. He had wanted to keep drugs out, knowing they destroyed families. He had taken pride in protecting people. After retiring, the government treated him well by offering him another job. He was grateful and happy to have a simple family life. But he soon learned how hard things were without connections. New management meant constant overtime. Without connections or knowing how to p
Just as Draco was about to explode with anger, Aria gestured for him to stay calm. She then moved Charles' hand aside. Charles felt his stomach drop. He still remembered how this master had appeared in his dream. Aria bent down with a curious look. "Could you tell me why you call Shirley poor?" Seeing this pretty woman who wore designer shoes, Molly let her guard down. "It's obvious. Everyone at school knows they're from out of town with no money or connections. What else would you call that? "Our school isn't for just anybody. I don't even know how someone of her status could get in. Of course she did not fit in." Molly spoke casually while flexing her numb arm. Aria smiled. "So you're saying anyone who doesn't fit in is poor?" "Obviously." Molly nodded. "We have very clear divisions. Everyone knows who's who. Some people know their place, but Shirley had zero social intelligence!" Middle schoolers today really spoke with more confidence than adults. Aria noticed the poo
Molly's words shocked Draco. "What do you mean she offended someone she shouldn't mess with? Aren't there teachers watching you at school?" "Sir, are you really this naïve or just playing dumb?" Molly muttered under her breath, "So what if we're at school? Nobody really cares." Draco's head snapped up. He had been to the school countless times. After what happened to his daughter, he went there almost daily. The teachers told him that since it happened during class hours, they immediately called both the police and ambulance. A few students had broken down crying as they had no idea why Shirley jumped. They cordoned off the scene and even canceled classes for a day. The teachers looked devastated too. They mentioned how they had even arranged a scholarship for Shirley. Draco pounded his head. "I asked if anyone was bullying Shirley. They said no!" "Draco." Libbie cried, hugging him. "Please don't." "She lied to me!" Draco gritted his teeth. "She was lying! Someone was bully
"Wait." As Aria turned to leave, Libbie pressed a bank card into her hand. "I'm not sure what you do exactly. Everyone calls you Ms. Carver, and you seem like a lawyer. Everything about my daughter's case needs money. "The school tried to give us money as compensation, but I never touched it." Tears rolled down Libbie's face. "I couldn't just accept that Shirley was gone. They kept coming to me, thinking I'd be the easier parent to deal with. But neither of us signed anything. "There isn't much in this account, but please take it. My daughter can't just die without anyone knowing why. I need to know what happened to her in those final days. They claimed she had depression, and said she'd been seeing the school counselor. "But I knew my daughter. She was our little ray of sunshine. Even if something was bothering her, she wouldn't just vanish like this. Right before she left for school that last time, she was talking about the birthday cake I promised to make her the following w
Today, Clyde felt that his illness must be affecting his mind. This young doctor was far too young to be his daughter, Fiona. How could he actually think that Fiona had returned to life for a moment? Clyde shook his head gently. Their looks were also different. Fiona possessed a delicate beauty reminiscent of ancient paintings, while this young lady had an ethereal coolness about her, though not off-putting. She seemed composed and professional. Clyde found himself unusually calm, which was probably because of the acupressure points she had massaged. "This treatment approach is different from the usual." Though Clyde's breathing remained labored, his eyes showed no trace of illness-induced cloudiness. They still reflected the refined gentleman of his youth. No wonder Warren had said, "Your grandfather was the most scholarly gentleman I'd ever met." Indeed he was. Aria smiled softly. "Dr. Woody practices modern medicine, while I practice traditional medicine. Our approaches
It was sunset at the Grisham residence. The Nobeetan wooden door opened. Aria's first impression was one of waning vitality. The interior was cozy with embroidered tablecloths, ornaments, and strategically placed wall sconces in every corner. Still, Aria sensed the room's declining energy. It was an unsettling feeling. Poor air circulation mixed with faint traces of rose fragrance. Then she heard coughing—deep, heavy coughs with labored and raspy breathing. It sounded like an infection in the trachea, bronchi, and lungs. Unlike her usual ease in examining patients, Aria felt tense. This patient was her grandfather, whom she had never met. Once a titan of industry, Clyde now required care in his illness. His condition was severe. Before checking his pulse, she could not be certain if there was still hope. She had kept Sam outside. Chaos' dark energy would harm someone chronically ill. Besides, Aria could tell Clyde's condition had not developed overnight. It would be fine
Meanwhile, Orion was in high spirits after his call with Waymond. There had been too many issues recently—the medispa, the club, and, for some reason, the Sloanes' insistence on inviting the Carvers to the Chamber of Commerce—which had put him in a difficult position. But now things were looking up. That old fool from the Grisham family was getting weaker, desperately needing Lennox's treatment. If Waymond wanted to keep his father alive, he would have to obey Orion at the Chamber meeting! Another point of pride for Orion was Lily, the expert introduced by the Wagners. He had never won so dramatically in the stock market before. Everything he bought doubled in value. Most importantly, he had been nervous when the so-called "New God of Parker Street" from the Carver family arrived. He had feared Warren might give him trouble in this unfamiliar territory. But looking at the banquet now, there was clearly no room for the Carvers and Grishams. Orion, wearing a bespoke suit, strod
Watching this scene, even Aria found herself clenching her fists. She had not felt this way even when reuniting with the Carvers. Now that she was at the Grisham residence, how should she break the ice facing her uncle? She had to think of something. Though she only resemblanced her mother slightly, Aria knew both her uncles were sharp. They would not dismiss this as mere coincidence. Just then, Waymond paused his phone conversation, his eyes flickering as he began to turn. Suddenly, Orion's deep sigh from the other end recaptured his attention. "Waymond, what's making you hesitate? We're like brothers who grew up together. Which doctor out there can treat your father's condition? "Let's just minimize his suffering. When I met Lennox recently, he also brought up your father's illness. His advice was immediate surgery; it can't be delayed any longer. "The longer we wait, the worse it gets. You know your father's condition better than anyone. "I know you can't decide about
Following the maid's lead, Aria walked through an ornately decorated hallway. Traditional lamps adorned both walls, casting a gentle glow. They had turned on the lights early as sunset approached. Though partially hidden by large clusters of roses, the place did not seem too dark at all. Instead, they filled the air with floral fragrance. The villa maintained its original architectural style. Sunlight filtered through intricate window lattices onto the floor. The complex yet elegant patterns on the vintage carpets complemented the surrounding décor, which was a clear reflection of the owner's refined taste. During turbulent times, Clyde had studied in Nobeeta. Their mansion showcased masterpieces everywhere. Throughout their walk, the maid kept studying Aria. She had initially expected Aria to be someone unsophisticated. She'd also wondered why Cecil Woody's colleague would dress so casually and bring a child for a medical visit. But now, she appreciated Aria's discerning e
Landon did not say no to Aria's suggestion. In his current state, visiting the Grishams would not be wise, especially not with Sam around. If Landon continued to stay in the car like this, it would only drive Chaos to madness. As Sam got out with Aria, his eyes remained fixed on Landon. Aria noticed this. "What's wrong? Did you see something?" Sam gestured with his small hands. "He's even more dangerous now! Whoever crossed him is going to suffer!" "Others will suffer?" Aria asked. Sam nodded, so Aria said, "Ah, then there's nothing to worry about." After all, others would suffer instead of Landon. After Sam took a few steps, he looked back. He felt that the man's energy was strangely familiar. It felt just like someone he trusted the most and was the closest to. Sam thought he must be going crazy to mistake his boss like this. He shook his head and hurried to catch up with Aria. Even while working the case earlier, she had not forgotten to buy him fried chicken. Now th
Landon hadn't known Aria had investigated him before. Hearing her comment, his gaze shifted toward her. "You wanted to see my photo, right?" Before Aria could respond, he added, "Was it because of our engagement? Did you just want to see if I met your standards?" "Actually..." Landon chuckled softly. "There's no need to look. Your taste might be questionable anyway." Aria was speechless. She wondered who had upset him. No one had provoked him—he simply had some unpleasant memories that had been somewhat enriched by his encounter with Sky. Combined with his soul fragment in Netherrealm, it was natural for him to feel agitated. Whoever borrowed his power must have burdened him with considerable karma. Realizing this, Landon closed his eyes, trying to calm the surging darkness within. Aria wasn't some naïve and dramatic woman who would throw a fit when her boyfriend was upset. On the contrary, as a doctor, she could discern someone's condition from their breathing patterns up
Landon had indeed become a little different than usual. The closer he got to where his soul was, the stronger the evil energy around him grew. Someone in Ludwiten was exploiting the power of his soul fragment, which he had previously lost. How foolishly reckless that person must be. Landon toyed with the rosary bracelet on his wrist, his fingertips almost translucent in their paleness. He could not recall any past dealings with the Draycotts. However, after so much time, certain memories might have faded. Sam sat beside him, visibly annoyed at Aria's arrival. He gestured emphatically. "That talking crow disappeared again! Next time I catch it, I'll skin it first." The crow had actually been Landon's wandering soul from Netherrealm. It wondered if Chaos ought to regain some clarity. Even if the tribulation had scrambled his mind, shouldn't he still recognize friend from foe? Since he was always threatening to eat the crow, it wondered what would happen if he met the Cerulean
Evening fell at the Draycott residence. Orion found himself at his wit's end as everything seemed to spiral out of control. Even the arrangements with the Grisham family had fallen through, and he couldn't fathom what Priscilla had done to cause it. Priscilla felt wronged. "Who knew the Grishams were such two-faced people? I can't believe they actually went back on their word after agreeing so readily! That old fool is digging his own grave!" "If he actually dies, what leverage would we have over Richard and Waymond? Can't you just think before you speak?" Orion gripped his phone, his face flushed with anger. "Also, clean up that mess at your medispa immediately. If it affects the Draycott family, you're finished!" Priscilla's face hardened. "You're always criticizing me, but where would your operations be without my medispa? Don't forget who cultivated those girls' vanity—it was me!" "Fine, fine, it was you. I don't want to argue. Just find a way to get closer to Fiona and