Chapter 198

Aria Bennett leaned against the champagne table in the corner of the gala, her gaze locked on Silas Kane as he entered the room.

Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, he moved through the crowd with effortless grace. People approached him for conversation, and he responded with just the right smile.

Half an hour later, Silas finally extricated himself and walked alone toward the terrace.

Aria set down her glass and followed.

"What a coincidence," she said, standing beside him, twirling her champagne flute between her fingers.

Silas visibly startled before flashing a delighted smile. "You're here too?"

Aria studied him discreetly. The last time they'd parted, she had specifically drawn a protective talisman for him. Yet now, there was no trace of its energy on him.

Stranger still, his features seemed more indistinct than before.

Most alarming of all—the curse within him had vanished.

"The company just relocated back home. Too many social obligations," Silas suddenly leaned in, his breath carrying the rich scent of red wine. "Aria, are you single now?"

That familiar tone instantly reminded her of the man from her past life who had called himself "Kane Ji."

"And if I am?" She took half a step back.

"Be my girlfriend," he said with a roguish smirk, though his eyes remained cold.

So it was him.

Aria let out a cold laugh. "Not interested."

As she turned away, she could feel the heat of his gaze burning into her back.

Returning to her seat, she immediately texted Silas: Where are you?

He replied quickly: Out. Why?

Aria glanced at the terrace—the "Silas" there was deep in conversation, his phone untouched.

She swiftly arranged to meet at their usual café at eight that evening.

Just as she set her phone down, Walter Lowe approached with three men in tow.

"This is Master Aria," he introduced respectfully.

The middle-aged man on the left extended his hand. "I've heard so much about you. I'm Mr. Graham. I hear you have an interest in Briar Mountain?"

Aria studied his face for a moment before saying bluntly, "You've been having a streak of bad luck lately, haven't you?"

Mr. Graham's smile froze.

"Perhaps we should speak privately?" he murmured.

Aria nodded and turned to her mother. "Mom, wait here for me."

Evelyn Bennett smiled gently. "Of course."

That smile left the men momentarily stunned. No one would have guessed this elegant woman, who looked barely thirty, was Aria's mother.

On the terrace, Mr. Graham finally dropped his façade.

"Master Aria, what you said earlier—"

"The son you've raised for twenty years isn't biologically yours," Aria stated plainly. "Your wife refuses a divorce, your family has suffered one misfortune after another, and your company projects keep failing."

Mr. Graham paled.

These were things he had never told a soul.