"Hurry! Where's the dress for the toast?" Erica rushed to find the next set of clothes for Debra.Just as they reached the changing room, a staff member handed Erica a white dress. Without looking closely, Erica was about to pass it to Debra.The staff member quickly intervened, "Miss Mathis. That's not for the bride. It's for you.""For me? Do bridesmaids need to change clothes too?" Erica asked, surprised.Liza hurried over. "What about me?""I'm sorry, Miss Eaton, this one is for Miss Mathis," the staff member explained.Liza grumbled, "We're both bridesmaids. Why does Erica get to change and I don't? I don't care. I want to change too."The staff member looked troubled. If she couldn't complete the task Randy gave her, her career was over."Here, you can change into this one," Debra chimed in, handing Liza a white gown.The staff member was relieved, admiring Debra for her foresight.Debra added, "Come with me. This one is a bit tricky to put on.""I usually don't share
As the whiskey was brought over, Randy quickly downed it in one gulp.Drake saw it and snorted, "Coward.""What? Who are you calling a coward?" Randy spat, pointing at Drake. "Don't think just because you've known Marion longer, I won't dare to punch you. Let me tell you, I'm Marion's best friend.""Who cares about your friendship? You want to hit me? Go ahead and try."Just as Randy was about to make a move, Garland quickly checked him. "Calm down. You don't want to ruin Marion and Debra's big day.""You're right," Randy said, grimacing. "But how did Marion, a lone wolf, manage to get married? While I'm still stuck with nothing."Unsure how to comfort him, Garland patted him on the back, which caused him to retch.A strong smell of alcohol wafted through the air. Garland, who hated bad smells, immediately felt queasy and almost gagged from the stench."What the hell?" He shoved Randy away in disgust."Sorry." Randy wobbled.Drake couldn't help but roll his eyes. 'What kind o
"This is Mr. Lowe's territory," Debra said, glancing at Marion. "We should toast him for providing such a great venue for our wedding."Marion picked up his glass and clinked it against Drake's.Marion downed his glass first, and Drake followed suit.Debra smiled and looked around. Everyone was there except Andrew."Erica, where's Andrew?" she asked quietly.Erica looked around, but there were no signs of him. "He disappeared after entering the venue. Maybe he had something urgent to attend to and left early?"Garland chimed in, "He sent such an expensive gift but didn't even stay for a drink? Is this guy nuts?"Erica kicked him. "Watch your mouth. If his people hear you, you're finished.""You're beating me up before they even get the chance," Garland muttered.He was just speaking the truth. Who would just show their faces at the wedding and then leave?Debra said, "It's okay. Andrew is always busy. He's never left Seamar City in all these years. The fact that he came perso
Randy's voice was so loud it brought the entire room to silence.Erica froze, and so did Randy.He had only meant to ask her to be his girlfriend. But with the alcohol clouding his head, his true feelings had slipped out.Before he could backtrack, the crowd around them began to cheer, "Say yes."Erica was flustered, glancing at the ring and then the onlookers.She blushed and stammered, "This is Juan and Debra's wedding day. What are you doing? Get up.""I don't care. If you don't say yes, I'm not getting up," Randy insisted, playing the rogue.To stop the farce, she extended her hand and said, "Alright, I'll say yes. Just get up already."Randy lit up with joy, quickly slipping the ring onto her finger.Debra burst out laughing. "Randy, you've got it all wrong. She agreed to your proposal, but she didn't say she's ready to have the wedding right now."Randy's face turned crimson. He hurried to take the ring off, but Erica grabbed him and bolted from the stage. The crowd c
Debra laughed with amusement, and Jordan laughed along."Alright, I can't stay long. Congrats on the wedding. Remember to open the gift when you get back.""Got it."He put on his helmet, and she saw him off with a smile."What are you doing there alone?" Erica rushed over, holding up her dress.Debra looked at her still-flushed face. "Did the confession go well?"Erica blushed even more. "Did you know about it all along?""Of course," Debra grinned.Erica pouted. "How could you let Randy do something so crazy? Who proposes at someone else's wedding?""He's not an outsider," Debra said, smiling. "Besides, we're all happy for you two."Just then, Liza came up and said, "What are you guys doing here? The bride needs to change clothes."Debra's smile faltered, and Erica teased her, "You've got 12 outfits to get through tonight. No slacking off."She then dragged Debra to the dressing room.In the hall, everyone was full and tipsy by the time Debra emerged in her 12th outfit.
Debra didn't expect Erica to be so eager to open the gifts."How about you open them for me?""No way. That's something you have to do yourself. You never know, you might open a gift and find the price of an entire building inside."Debra couldn't help but laugh. She knew all the guests were wealthy and wouldn't be stingy with their gifts. But finding the price of a building in a gift? That seemed a little crazy.Just then, an attendant knocked on the door."Come in.""Madam, Mr. Houston said he's waiting for you in the lobby.""Got it. I'll be right there."Debra had changed into a more comfortable black dress. As she walked toward the lobby, an arm suddenly draped around her neck and pulled her into a corner.In reflex, she bit down on the arm, and Drake cried out in pain.When Debra realized it was him, she quickly released her bite."What are you doing?""What are you doing?""Sorry. I've had a bit of a reflex from being kidnapped before. I'll be gentler next time."D
"What the heck?" Debra felt the envelope and found a key hidden inside.She held the key in her hand and looked at the address again."A house?" she muttered incredulously.By the time Debra walked out of the hotel, Drake was nowhere to be seen. Only a car was parked by the entrance.Marion stepped out of the car, wearing nothing but a black shirt. He walked up and took her into his arms.He was reeking of alcohol, and she muttered, "Stop messing around. People are watching.""Let them watch," Marion chuckled. "They don't have a wife as good as mine.""Knock it off," Debra said, feeling the driver's gaze on them.Just as she pushed Marion away, he wrapped his arm around her waist and lifted her off the ground."Hey! Are you drunk and acting crazy?""Who says I'm drunk? I just like you so much."He then carried Debra into the car. The driver cleared his throat and pretended not to see anything.Back at the wedding venue, Garland and Liza couldn't find the bride and groom any
Erica stepped forward and started opening the gifts. "There are so many gifts. My hands are going to be sore from opening all these."Marion interjected, "Open them somewhere else. Don't interrupt our wedding night.""No way. The biggest event on a wedding night is opening the gifts," Randy chimed in. "You can go to sleep once we're done."Marion wanted to kick them out, but Debra spoke eagerly. "It sounds fun. Let's do it, Marion."Marion couldn't reject her proposal. "Alright."The five of them sat on the bed, with Marion helping Debra collect the opened envelopes."This one is from the postal bank. This one is from the commercial bank, and that one is from the agricultural bank," Erica muttered, sorting them.Debra was surprised to see so many bank cards."Wow, someone sent cash," Liza laughed, holding up an envelope. "Which idiot did this? 500 dollars? That's a lack of respect.""That idiot is me." Garland snatched the money, stuffing it into his pocket. "Who knew these bi
"Dad." Liza rushed to the bed, grabbing Bert's hand.In her mind, Bert was a stern old grump. He was always tough and sharp.But now, the illness had taken a toll on him. He had shrunk, and his hair had gone gray overnight.Fermin stood behind her, watching with pain.In fact, Bert had been ill for a while now. He had been grooming Fermin for years.But once he'd caught wind of Fermin's plans, Bert would rather kill him and trash their legacy than let him join the Illuminati.Fermin knew this day was coming. Liza didn't. Bert never wanted her to.She froze, feeling like his hand had twitched. She stopped crying and spun to Fermin."Did you see it? Dad moved..." she exclaimed.Fermin clapped a hand over her mouth, a move that confused her.He shook his head, warning her off. She nodded fast, signaling she'd keep quiet.Fermin checked the door and eased his hand off. "Dad's fine. Let's head home, alright?"Liza glanced at Bert with reluctance but wiped her tears. "Okay.""Co
Drake's mouth hung open, but no words came out."I swapped the drug for saline," Juan said. "You're on your own tonight. You've only had one dose, so there might still be a chance. If you don't wanna die here, suck it up. Don't let Kale die for nothing."Juan dropped that and left the room.Drake slumped on the bed. Old memories came flooding back, from their first meeting to their camaraderie. They had been through thick and thin together.If it hadn't been for him, Kale wouldn't have been dead....In the hospital, Liza kept watch outside the ICU where Bert lay.Two black-suited guards blocked the door. Even after surgery, they wouldn't let her in."When can I see him?" she asked, clenching her fists.The guards stood like statues, ignoring her."That's my dad," she shouted, pounding their chests. "I need to be with him. Move. Get out of my way.""Stop it." Fermin strode up, grabbing her swinging fist. "You're an Eaton. Act like it."He turned and slapped a guard hard. "Y
Juan arrived at a villa on Seamar City's outskirts. It was where Drake was locked up.It was pitch black in the room, with only a bed. The windows were nailed shut.The moment Drake handed over the stone, he'd guessed his fate. The Illuminati had rules for traitors: the blessing ritual.But that "blessing" was just injecting their latest drug into turncoats. They would be used as free guinea pigs. Death was the best outcome. Surviving meant real torture.It didn't hurt. Rather, it felt like heaven. That was why they called it a blessing."When did they shoot you up with that stuff?" Juan asked.Drake leaned back on the bed, nonchalant. "I gave them the stone. It doesn't matter to you. Just give me the drug."By night, he was a mess.The stuff could ease the pain for an hour. Then hell would kick in. Once the cravings hit, it felt like ants gnawing his bones.The pain wired into his nerves. At its worst, he'd bash the wall, tempted to bite his tongue off.He couldn't leave wit
To the bishop, Debra and her crew were small fry.A hundred years ago, the Four Great Families might've been untouchable. But now? Their roots were shaky.The Illuminati, on the other hand, had grown unstoppable.For the stone, he'd see them and let them feel the Illuminati's might. It was something callows like them couldn't touch."Tell them I pick the time and place," he said. "Get the stone ready. If it's fake, they'll get the harshest punishment from God.""Yes, Master," Michael replied, turning to leave.Lara stood up to protest, "I'm against this. We should take the chance to wipe them out and take their assets."In her mind, the four families were nothing. When they could snatch what they wanted, there was no need for deals or games."God spares all," the bishop muttered. "I'll give them a shot to live. If they bow, why kill them?"Lara fell silent, but Frederic stepped out of the shadows. He asked, "What about the stone Drake gave us?""Only one of the two stones is
Night settled in deep.Debra and the crew were still waiting for Michael's reply."Still nothing? They don't buy it, do they?" Erica paced, antsy."Give it time. They'll bite," Debra said, clutching her phone.She had promised Kale she would bring Drake back. No breaking that.A text finally pinged her phone. It was Michael.Everyone heaved a sigh of relief. Like Debra said, the Illuminati couldn't rule out her having the real stone.If theirs was fake, Michael and his crew couldn't afford the fallout."Marion, it's on you now," Debra said.The Houston family had military muscle on tap. The Potter family owned elite guards and intel. Erica and Randy were solid backups.But this meeting? Debra had to go herself."Does it have to be now? Maybe wait till you're healed?" Erica said.Debra shook her head. "Drake is at risk every day he's with them. I can't take that chance. Just like they can't risk us holding the stone.""She's right," Randy jumped in. "Drag this out, and who
"What're you looking at?" Lara asked, stepping out and spotting Michael by the window."Debra says the stone Drake gave us is fake," he replied."What? No way." Drake shot up from his seat."Are you messing with us?" Lara's sharp gaze landed on him."No. Debra's talking nonsense," Drake insisted."We'll see," Michael said, unruffled.Debra was offering the stone on the condition of meeting with their leader. It fit her style."She thinks she can just waltz in and see our master?" Lara sneered."The stone's a big deal to him. I bet he'll agree," Michael replied, shutting his phone."Don't tell me you're sweet on Debra," she hissed. "You keep letting her off. Don't wanna kill her, huh?""Unlike you, I don't get off on killing," he countered. "If she's not in my way, why bother? You're out there slaughtering, just making enemies for the Illuminati. You're venting rather than serving.""You don't get it. I'm building fear for the Illuminati," she justified herself. "They need to
Oscar set down the receiver and threw his hands up. "I'm not resisting. Don't spook my staff," he said.Chace tried to step in, but Oscar's look stopped him.This incident was major. Almost half of Flesta's people had fallen victim.Everyone at the company, Chace included, got hauled in for questioning. As the head, Oscar was the main target.The line went dead, and Debra's heart sank."Those bastards," Randy cursed, "hitting us on both sides. No wonder the Illuminati has been quiet. They have been gunning for our partners.""They're smart," Debra said. "Can't take us head-on, so they go after our allies. They want everyone to see partnering with us as a dead end. If we let this slide, we're doomed eventually.""What should we do?" Erica stomped, fuming. "We just sit here and watch them pick off our friends one by one?""They're showing us what happens if we cross them. They want us to bow. The only way out is to flip the script and strike first.""Strike first? What does th
Seeing Debra's worried look, Marion said, "You should just focus on healing and leave the rest to us. We might not match the Illuminati, but they won't mess with us randomly here in Seamar City."The Four Great Families had ruled Seamar City for a century. Although the former heads had faded, the new generation was sharper and stronger. They could hold off the Illuminati's push.Debra's phone rang. It was Oscar calling."You free? I've got something to tell you," he said.Debra put it on the speaker. No one could guess the aim of his call.In Flesta, the Odom family's business was booming again. He should have been busy with work."What's up?" she asked."There's big trouble in Flesta," he replied. "We didn't want to bug you, but it's spiraling out of control. We're out of moves.""What happened?" She had a bad feeling.Oscar paused. "A new drug has popped up in Flesta. Tons of our staff got hooked, just like regular folks. The police are on it now. We checked our products and
Debra stared at the pendant.What had happened yesterday came flooding back.Kale was gone, and the fact hit her hard."It's my fault," she said in agony. "If he hadn't gone with me, he would have been alive.""Everyone makes their calls," Marion soothed her. "If there's blame, it's on the Illuminati. I was terrified, almost losing you.""I felt like you were nearby, so I wasn't afraid," she said, leaning into him. "They'll pay for hurting Drake and killing Kale. I'll make sure of it.""No matter what happens, we're in this together," he said.Exhaustion took over. She closed her eyes and drifted off.When she woke up, it was already noon the next day. Her injury kept her from moving much.Everyone gathered outside her bedroom. William came in to check on her."You're fine. Just change the dressings on time," he said, packing up his kit. "You guys can come in now."Debra adjusted her clothes and leaned against the headboard. "Sorry to trouble you.""We're in this together,"