Chapter 33
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Arya looked at Finn’s cold, distant expression, and a strange feeling welled up inside her.
Other than his mother, Winona, the only person Finn seemed to genuinely care about was that little girl who had once saved him.
Before, Arya had thought she was somewhat special to Finn.
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But now Arya realized she couldn’t compare to the little girl in his heart. Even if she was that very same girl.
Suddenly, Arya stopped in her tracks, turning to face the man behind her with curious eyes.
Suddenly, a sharp ringtone interrupted her, cutting off Arya’s words.
Finn pulled out his phone and answered it. Arya couldn’t hear what the person on the other end was saying, but she saw him hang up quickly. His dark eyes turned to her, his brows slightly furrowed. “I have some urgent business to attend to. I’ll take you home first.”
Arya pulled back what she was going to say and responded calmly, “No need. I’m meeting a friend anyway. Let’s just part ways here.”
Finn gave her a long, lingering look but said nothing more. His long strides carried him out of the room swiftly.
Arya could tell he was genuinely in a rush; otherwise, he wouldn’t have forgotten to take the pendant with him.
Arya picked up the pendant and held it in her palm. Taking out her phone, she called Leroy. “Leroy, are you free tonight? Drinks are on me.”
Flodes City at night was always breathtakingly beautiful. Arya and Leroy sat by the riverbank, sipping on their drinks as the ocean breeze swept past them.
The colorful lights reflected off their faces, turning the scene into something out of a dream.
“Arya.” Winona looked at the beautiful young woman in front of her.
Earlier that day, when Leroy had been going over work with Travis at Keller Group, he had been genuinely shocked.
Leroy never imagined that such a seemingly powerful corporation would be so messed up internally.
With things in such disarray, even Travis couldn’t fix it alone. Not in just a month. Hell, even Stephen himself would struggle to set things right and increase profits by 20%.
“It’s a long story…” Arya’s gaze turned distant as she recalled everything that happened a month ago.
Back then, her uncle, Jared, would often visit her father in his study, claiming he had new clients to introduce and wanted to collaborate on a robotics project.
In her eyes, her father was always the strongest in business, No matter what storms came his way, Stephen always managed to weather them. So, she never imagined he would face a sudden financial crisis. Even less did she expect him to crumble under the pressure and jump from a building.
Why Stephen suffered such a massive crisis, why he chose that way out, and how the Keller Group became so corrupt–Ayra was determined to find out.
“Arya, from my experience,” Leroy said after listening carefully, “it seems like someone has been targeting the company for a long time. Maybe they’ve been planning this downfall for years.”
Arya nodded, her expression calm and composed, yet her eyes were sharp. “That’s why, Leroy, I don’t just need you to help me rebuild the Keller Group, also need you to help me uncover the truth behind all this corruption.”
Leroy studied her delicate features, raising an eyebrow in surprise. “You want me to help? Why don’t you just do it yourself?”
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Chapter 33
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If Arya stepped up, it would be much more efficient. After all, her abilities were no secret.
But Arya’s gaze darkened. She replied, “My family doesn’t know who I really am yet. So for now, I can’t reveal myself.”
If her mother and brothers knew she was capable of managing a company, if outsiders knew her real identity, catching the mastermind behind all this would only get harder.
Right now, Arya had to keep playing the part of the naive little girl. Only then would those people believe the Keller family was easy to manipulate. “Arya, are you really serious about marrying Mr. Barnett, or is it just to hide your identity?” Leroy asked, his tone full of curiosity.
Leroy still couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that Arya had married so quickly–and to Finn, of all people, whose reputation was less than ideal.
Arya chuckled lightly. “Do you really think staying by Mr. Barnett’s side is going to help me hide my identity?”
Arya was lucky if Finn didn’t strip away her secrets layer by layer.
“Then why did you marry him?” Leroy’s eyes went wide with shock. “Don’t tell me…you’re actually in love with him?”
Arya nodded seriously. “Yes, I am.”
Arya had indeed fallen for Finn. Maybe it was that fateful encounter in Duskwood Forest. From the moment she had him, she was already completely captivated.
Whether it was his body, his presence, his voice, or every little move he made, Arya couldn’t help but be drawn to him.
Now that Arya knew he was the little boy she had saved back then, her obsession only grew stronger.
Someday soon, Arya promised herself, she would make time to tell Finn the truth–that she was the girl who had saved him all those years ago.
“Arya…” Leroy’s expression suddenly turned serious. “If one day, Silas comes back, would you still stay with Mr. Barnett?”
At the mention of Silas, Arya’s clear eyes flickered with a hint of pain.
That boy who had been by her side throughout her youth disappeared five years ago after saving her. Silas had fallen into the ocean, and no one had seen him since.
All Arya had left for Silas was guilt. She had once promised herself that if she found him, she would give him everything she could to make up for the loss.
Even though she only saw him as an older brother, Arya knew Silás had feelings for her. Everyone in the organization knew it too.
After Silas disappeared, Arya’s heart had never truly been at peace.
Countless nights, Arya dreamed of the moment he leapt into the ocean to save her, sacrificing himself without hesitation.
That memory stayed sharp and clear in her mind.
Silas vanished without a trace. Despite countless searches, there was no sign of him in the ocean. It was as if he had never existed at all.
Five years ago, Arya had come to Flodes City on a mission because she kept dreaming of Silas telling her he was there.
But after she arrived, Arya didn’t find Silas. Instead, she found her biological family.
Maybe the whole ordeal with Silas had shaken her so deeply that Arya chose to stay in Flodes City with her family, longing for a simple life.
But now Arya understood that wanting a simple life didn’t mean she could have one.
“Arya.” Winona looked at the beautiful young woman in front of her.
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13:18 Fri, 13 Jun WO ·
Chapter 34
