Chapter 39

As dusk painted the sky in shades of orange, Jonah Pierce and the trainees swiftly set up the barbecue grill in the courtyard. Soon, wisps of smoke curled upward, carrying the mouthwatering aroma of roasting meat.

Aria Bennett had marinated the meat earlier and prepared a special seasoning blend—her secret recipe. Standing to the side, she guided the trainees as they took turns grilling.

The moment the meat hit the sizzling grill, its rich fragrance burst forth.

"Oh my God! This smells incredible!" Jonah couldn't resist sneaking a bite, his eyes lighting up. "This seasoning is amazing!"

Kieran Doyle, flipping the meat with pride, grinned. "See, Jonah? My skills are top-notch."

"Dream on!" Jonah rolled his eyes. "It's all Aria's seasoning doing the work."

The trainees burst into laughter, but Kieran only puffed his chest out. "Exactly! That just proves how amazing our Aria is!"

Mid-sentence, he quickly snatched another piece and popped it into his mouth. His eyes widened. "Holy—this is unbelievably good!"

"Hey! No stealing!" Mason Bell lunged forward, wrapping an arm around Kieran's neck in mock outrage.

Leo Brooks and Elliot Hayes immediately joined the playful scuffle, turning the courtyard into a lively battleground. Owen Parker and Eli Carter, carrying plates of freshly grilled meat, dragged Aria and Damian Cross into the chaotic food fight.

Laughter echoed through the air, and even the livestream audience couldn't help but feel the infectious joy.

On the other side, Serena Blake bit her lip as she watched the lively scene. She tugged at Nolan Reed's sleeve. "Nolan, should we—"

"No." His reply was cold, but his gaze involuntarily trailed after Aria.

Their trainees ate their simple meals in silence, casting envious glances toward the other group. Serena's team, in particular, had been slipping in popularity rankings—something none of them dared to voice.

At eight in the evening, a knock at the gate interrupted the courtyard's cheerful noise.

The Lowe couple stood at the entrance, their child in their arms. The moment they spotted Aria, they bowed deeply. "Miss Bennett, Mr. Cross—thank you so much!"

The director immediately signaled the cameras to focus on the scene. This was prime content for the show.

The little boy's eyes sparkled as he reached out for Aria. Her heart softened, and she took him into her arms before pulling out a yellow talisman folded into a triangle from her bag.

"This is a protection charm. Keep it with him."

Mrs. Lowe accepted it with both hands, handling it as if it were precious. After what had happened earlier that day, she believed in its power without question.

Once the family left, Jonah sidled up to Aria, curiosity brimming. "Aria, you can actually make talismans?"

"I know a little," she replied modestly.

"Do they really work?" he asked, half-skeptical.

Aria explained, "They enhance the wearer's luck and can ward off a single major disaster."

"That’s incredible!" Jonah's eyes widened, and he opened his mouth to ask for one—only for Caleb Monroe to subtly pull him back.

Noticing this, Aria turned to Caleb. "Mr. Monroe, avoid water tomorrow."

Caleb blinked, then nodded with a smile. "Got it. I'll remember."

As the night deepened, laughter and chatter filled the courtyard. No one noticed Nolan's lingering gaze, fixed on Aria's slender figure, his expression unreadable.