"Mr. Xavier, we have to go," Julian Grant said, leading Aria Sterling away without another word.
Damian Xavier stood rooted to the spot, his face dark.
Too bad for him, Aria Sterling paid Damian Xavier no mind whatsoever, letting Julian Grant lead her away.
Back in the car, Julian Grant looked at Aria Sterling with concern. "Aria, are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Aria Sterling managed a faint smile. "Sorry to trouble you, but could you take me back to the Sterling residence?"
"It's no trouble."
Julian Grant wanted to say something more, but he ultimately held his tongue, started the car, and drove Aria Sterling back to the Sterling residence.
Meanwhile, Damian Xavier left the reception with Mya Walsh at his side, his expression grim.
Mya Walsh couldn't help but ask, "Damian, is it... that you don't like me?"
"Why would you say that?" Damian Xavier looked at Mya Walsh, confused. "If I don't like you, does that mean I like Aria Sterling instead?"
Hearing that name, Mya Walsh's face paled.
She bit her lower lip, looking at Damian Xavier with a fragile expression. "Didn't you notice? Your reaction to Aria Sterling just now was really strange."
"Damian, you seem to care a lot about Aria Sterling."
After speaking, Mya Walsh lowered her head. Her pitiful appearance made Damian Xavier's heart ache, and he pulled her into his embrace. "Don't overthink it. You're the only one I care about."
Leaning against Damian Xavier's chest, Mya Walsh heard his words, closed her eyes in relief, and a triumphant smirk played on her lips.
Half an hour later, Aria Sterling arrived back at the Sterling residence. She thanked Julian Grant, "Thank you for tonight."
"Thank me for what? I didn't do anything." Julian Grant shrugged, reverting to his usual devil-may-care attitude. "If you really want to thank me, I wouldn't mind if you offered yourself in return."
"Get lost."
Aria Sterling rolled her eyes and turned to enter the villa.
Julian, meanwhile, remained in the driver's seat, watching until Aria had entered the villa before driving away.
Aria Sterling walked through the living room with a placid expression. Just as she was about to head upstairs, Freya Langdon's sarcastic voice came from behind her. "Tsk, tsk. That dress looks expensive. Where did you get the money to buy it?"
"Don't tell me... you slept with some man for it?"
At her words, Aria Sterling stopped and turned around. She looked at Freya Langdon with amusement, her charming smile hinting at danger. "It seems my dear aunt didn't learn her lesson yesterday."
"What?" Freya Langdon's face instantly turned sour.
Seeing Aria Sterling walk towards her, Freya Langdon gritted her teeth and forced herself to appear calm. "Aria Sterling, I'm warning you, don't try anything funny! I'm your aunt!"
Aria Sterling chuckled, crossing her arms and looking at Freya Langdon mockingly. "And how would you know I'm going to 'try anything funny,' Auntie?"
"You... you..." Freya Langdon pointed a trembling finger at Aria Sterling, speechless for a long moment.
Just as Aria Sterling was about to get closer, Freya Langdon yelped in fear and scrambled away, tumbling off the back of the sofa.
THUD!
Freya Langdon landed on the floor, a pathetic sight.
But she didn't stay on the floor for long. She scrambled to her feet and fled in a panic.
Seeing this, Aria Sterling pursed her lips, finding the whole display dull, and turned to head upstairs.
Back in her room, Aria Sterling opened her laptop. A small red dot indicating an unread message hovered over her email icon.
She clicked on it. Inside was a list of names.
Aria Sterling's lips curved into a smile, a dark, inscrutable light glinting in her exquisite eyes.
...
「The next day. The Sterling Group.」
As Colin Sterling arrived for work and entered the company, he was greeted by a particular scene.
A crowd of employees was gathered outside the CEO's office, whispering amongst themselves.
"This Ms. Sterling really throws her weight around. Firing so many people on her second day in charge."
"She's so terrifying. So beautiful, but I never expected her to be such an iron lady."
"Yeah, I know! And those were all Mr. Sterling's people. She fired them just like that. She's got guts."
Hearing this, Colin Sterling's face instantly darkened.
He pushed through the crowd and entered the office, where he found Aria Sterling, just as he'd expected, signing termination papers.
His face paled, but he had to maintain a polite tone. "Aria, what do you think you're doing?"
"Oh? Are your eyes not working, Uncle? Can't you see what I'm doing?"
"You!" A vicious glint flashed in Colin Sterling's eyes.
'He'd given Aria Sterling plenty of chances!'
Colin Sterling's eyes were filled with frost as he said coldly, "Aria, what you're doing... I'm afraid it isn't appropriate, is it?"
"What's not appropriate?" Aria Sterling said dismissively. "I'm just helping you clean out the useless freeloaders, Uncle. You should be thanking me."
"Aria Sterling!"
Colin Sterling's gentle facade shattered. He glared at Aria Sterling with venom. "You're doing this on purpose!"
"Oh!" Aria Sterling gasped, covering her lips in mock surprise. "I can't believe you figured it out, Uncle."
Hearing this, Colin Sterling nearly exploded with rage.
He slammed his hand on the desk, his tone no longer friendly. "I was being polite to you because you're my niece, but did you really think I didn't know you have no evidence? That you're just bluffing?!"
"Huh?" Aria Sterling tilted her head, feigning confusion.
'When did she ever say she had no evidence and was just bluffing?'
Colin Sterling didn't notice the way Aria Sterling was looking at him like he was an idiot. He continued, "What happened back then had nothing to do with me! Stop trying to threaten me with these baseless accusations!"
After speaking, Colin Sterling took a few heavy breaths and sneered, "Aria Sterling, I suggest you bring back the people you fired immediately. Otherwise, don't blame me for not being a 'nice uncle' anymore."
"Is that so?" Aria Sterling was completely unfazed.
She slowly opened a cabinet, took out an envelope, and casually pulled out a few photos. "Why don't you take a look at these first, Uncle, and then we can talk about who's not being nice."
"What is this?"
Colin Sterling took the photos from Aria Sterling's hand.
When he saw their contents, Colin Sterling's face went deathly pale, and his legs felt weak.
He stared at Aria Sterling in horror, as if looking at a monster.
'How could she have these photos?'
Colin Sterling's lips trembled. 'He had hidden it so well. How could Aria Sterling have this evidence?'
Aria Sterling was in no hurry. She enjoyed the sight of Colin Sterling's face turning pale then dark, and said with a grin, "So, Uncle? Do you still want to stop being nice to me?"
COUGH! COUGH! COUGH!
The words made Colin Sterling choke.
He looked at Aria Sterling sheepishly and hurriedly tried to make amends. "Aria, dear, your uncle was just a little anxious just now. That's why I spoke to you that way. Please don't take it to heart."
"Mmm-hmm." Aria Sterling nodded.
Just when Colin Sterling thought the matter was over, the light in Aria's eyes shifted, and she issued an icy warning. "If you want to keep your seat as chairman, Uncle, then don't go stirring up trouble. Understand?"
The sharp glint in her beautiful eyes made Colin Sterling's heart tremble. He submitted instinctively. "Yes. I understand."