The next morning, Kane Rivers personally drove Aria Snow to Prosperity Group.
"Starting today, you'll work in my secretarial department." He said while driving, his tone as calm as discussing the weather.
Aria Snow was stunned: "What?"
"What, unwilling?" Kane Rivers glanced at her, "Or would you rather stay home as a caged bird?"
"I don't mean that..." Aria Snow bit her lip, "I just don't think it's necessary..."
"Aria Snow." Kane Rivers suddenly stepped on the brakes, pulling over to the side of the road, and turned to look at her, "Remember, you don't have the right to refuse now. Whatever I tell you to do, you do."
His gaze was so cold it was frightening, and Aria Snow instinctively shrank back: "I understand."
"Good." Kane Rivers restarted the car, "Also, I don't want to hear any gossip about your identity. To outsiders, you're just a new secretary assistant, understand?"
Aria Snow nodded, but felt a bitter ache in her heart. Five years ago, she had been his public girlfriend, his partner at various events. Now, she didn't even have a legitimate identity.
The Prosperity Group building was still magnificent. When Aria Snow followed Kane Rivers into the lobby, she immediately felt countless gazes upon her.
"Good morning, Mr. Rivers." Employees greeted him respectfully.
Kane Rivers merely nodded coolly and headed straight for the executive elevator. Aria Snow followed behind him, feeling those stares like needles piercing her back.
"Mr. Rivers, this is..." In the elevator, Kane Rivers' private secretary Drew Chen asked cautiously.
"New assistant, Aria Snow." Kane Rivers' answer was concise, "Arrange an office space for her, right outside my office."
Drew Chen was momentarily stunned but quickly returned to his professional smile: "Yes, Mr. Rivers."
Aria Snow could feel Drew Chen's gaze carrying doubt and scrutiny. She knew her arrival would certainly cause much speculation.
Kane Rivers' office was unchanged—simple yet luxurious. Aria Snow stood at the doorway, looking at that familiar desk, remembering the countless times five years ago when she had come here to bring him lunch.
"Come in." Kane Rivers sat in his office chair, "Sort through these documents."
Aria Snow walked over to receive the documents, her fingers accidentally touching his hand. That momentary contact made both of them freeze.
"By the way." Kane Rivers suddenly spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse, "There's a board meeting at three this afternoon. You'll attend too, to take meeting minutes."
"Me?" Aria Snow looked at him in surprise, "I'm just an assistant..."
"If I say you attend, you attend." Kane Rivers' tone brooked no argument.
Aria Snow said nothing more and left the office with the documents.
Just as she sat at the desk outside, she heard whispered conversations:
"What's the background of this new assistant?"
"Looking at Mr. Rivers' attitude toward her, it's definitely not simple."
"She's quite pretty though, could it be..."
"Shh, keep it down, or we're done for if overheard."
Aria Snow kept her head down organizing documents, pretending not to hear those discussions. She knew that with Kane Rivers' methods, placing her here definitely had his purpose.
The afternoon board meeting proceeded as scheduled, with Aria Snow sitting in a corner taking notes. The conference room was filled with company executives, several of whom she recognized from five years ago.
"Miss Snow?" A middle-aged man suddenly spoke up—it was Blake Wang, the company's vice president, "Are you... Aria Snow?"
The conference room instantly fell silent, with everyone's attention focused on Aria Snow.
"Mr. Wang." Aria Snow nodded politely.
"It really is you!" Blake Wang said with surprise, "I thought I was mistaken. When did you come back?"
Kane Rivers tapped the table: "Continue the meeting."
His voice was cold, and Blake Wang immediately fell silent. But the atmosphere in the conference room had obviously become subtle, with many people secretly observing Aria Snow.
After the meeting ended, everyone gradually left. Blake Wang walked to Aria Snow's side and lowered his voice: "Miss Snow, if you have time, let's chat. I have some things I'd like to tell you."
"Mr. Wang, if there's any work-related matter, you can speak directly to me." Kane Rivers suddenly appeared beside them, his gaze stern.
Blake Wang looked at Kane Rivers, then at Aria Snow, and ultimately said nothing before leaving.
"You're quite familiar with him?" Kane Rivers asked Aria Snow.
"Met a few times five years ago." Aria Snow answered honestly.
Kane Rivers said nothing more, but Aria Snow could feel his displeasure.
That evening, returning to Emerald Bay, Aria Snow was too tired to speak. Throughout the day, she felt like a monkey in a zoo, being watched and discussed.
"Tired?" Kane Rivers emerged from the kitchen, carrying two glasses of red wine.
"I'm okay." Aria Snow accepted the wine glass and took a small sip.
Kane Rivers sat across from her, quietly watching: "How did today feel?"
"Do you want the truth or a lie?" Aria Snow asked in return.
"Of course the truth."
"Terrible." Aria Snow put down her wine glass, "Everyone was talking about me, speculating about my identity. You knew it would be like this, so why did you still make me go to the company?"
"Because I want you to understand something." Kane Rivers' voice was soft, but every word was clear, "The you now is no longer the Aria Snow from five years ago. You're just my plaything, a puppet I can manipulate at will."
Aria Snow's heart was painfully pierced: "Do you really hate me this much?"
"Hate?" Kane Rivers suddenly laughed, but that smile was uglier than crying, "Aria Snow, I stopped hating you long ago. Because hating someone means you still care about them. And now, all I feel for you is disgust."
Every word cut into Aria Snow's heart like a knife. She wanted to retort, to explain, but the words stuck in her throat.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you something." Kane Rivers suddenly stood up, "Your brother is going abroad tomorrow."
"What?" Aria Snow looked at him in shock, "Felix is going abroad? Where?"
"America, to attend business school. I've already arranged all the expenses." Kane Rivers' tone was calm, "He won't be back for two years. Without Felix Snow as a concern, you can focus on serving me."
"Kane Rivers, you can't do this to me!" Aria Snow stood up, tears in her eyes.
"I can't do this to you?" Kane Rivers walked to her, reaching out to caress her cheek, "Aria Snow, there's nothing in this world I can't do. Especially to you."
His hand was warm, but Aria Snow felt bone-deep cold.
"I want to see Felix, to say goodbye." She pleaded.
"No." Kane Rivers refused without hesitation, "He's already on the plane."
Aria Snow was thunderstruck, completely stunned. She hadn't expected Kane Rivers to be so ruthless, not even allowing her to see him one last time.
"Why..." Her voice was trembling, "Why do this to me?"
Kane Rivers looked at her pained expression, his heart clenching painfully. But he quickly masked that momentary softness.
"Because five years ago, you did the same to me." His voice was cold as ice, "Leaving without a word, disappearing without a trace. Now, it's your turn to experience what it feels like to be abandoned."
Aria Snow finally couldn't hold back her tears, which fell like broken pearls.
Kane Rivers watched her cry, suddenly feeling some regret. But the words had been spoken, and he couldn't take them back.
"When you're done crying, go shower and sleep." He turned and walked toward the stairs, "You still have work tomorrow."
Aria Snow sat alone in the living room crying for a long time.
She knew that from today on, she was truly alone. Kane Rivers didn't just want her body—he wanted her soul.
And she no longer had any choice.