Chapter 530

The New Year celebrations were always a lively affair. Every household was adorned with lanterns and festive decorations. Even with your eyes closed, you could feel the thick, intoxicating atmosphere of the holiday. This year, as usual, many from the branch families had come. As the future matriarch of the main family, Ariana naturally became the center of attention for countless wives eager to curry favor. Of course, most were also trying to gauge what kind of person she truly was. After all, she was still so young—someone who might get carried away by a few compliments and lose her bearings. Typically, such a new matriarch would be the easiest to manipulate. Unfortunately for them, Ariana was not so easily fooled. Throughout the event, she smiled effortlessly, maintaining perfect poise in every conversation. Her demeanor was so measured that no one could quite pin down her true temperament, leaving many wary and uneasy. Some vaguely recalled that last year’s Ariana had been quite dif