"Marion...""Tell your people to find her. I have something to take care of.""What could be more important than finding Debra?"Marion's eyes glinted with coldness. "Whoever hurts her won't get away with it."When he arrived on the fifth floor, everyone else scattered in panic.Cathryn stood her ground, yelling, "You ruined my plans over and over again. Is Debra so important that you ignore your injuries and come to save her?"At some point, Debra had crept to her side."The game's over," Debra said, a bit breathless.As soon as Cathryn turned around, Debra slammed her to the ground.Cathryn couldn't match Debra's strength. She was easily pinned down."Is playing with life fun for you? Do you get a thrill from killing? This time, I won't show mercy because of Marion and your connection. Tell me everything you know. Don't try anything stupid," Debra said, knowing this was Cathryn's last desperate struggle.Everything that happened tonight wasn't something Cathryn could've or
Marion rushed over to check on Debra, who was lying on the ground.After making sure she was uninjured, he heaved a sigh of relief. "You scared the hell out of me.""I'm sorry. I miscalculated."Cathryn was frustrated about their interaction. "You will never get the answer from me."With a bitter laugh, she stepped back, tilted her head back, and fell from the fifth floor.The crash startled Drake, who was still searching for Debra. There, Cathryn lay in a pool of blood.The scene reminded Drake of Yvonne, who had died in the same way.Maybe in their minds, suicide was a way to make the men they loved feel regret and sympathy.But in reality, it only earned them cold contempt. No one would pay attention to those who didn't even value their lives.A woman's scream suddenly rang out. Drake looked over with a frown."Boss, this woman is suspicious," reported a guard, dragging over the woman."Get your hands off me. I am Liza Eaton," she snapped, shaking off his hand.The bod
Liza pushed against Drake, tears streaming down her face. She didn't notice that with every word she spoke, his expression grew paler.Hunter's Game. The name hit too close to home. Games like this left few survivors. There was no way a weak woman like Debra could last two hours.She had found a safe zone but ran off to draw fire. Only a stupid person would do something like that."Find her!" Drake growled, barely suppressing his anger. "Tear this place apart if you have to, but find Debra."Liza collapsed to the floor, trembling. She never imagined she'd face something so terrifying in her life. Her world had been perfect, with all the glitz and glamour. She had no idea it could be so dark and horrifying."Found her!" someone shouted from upstairs.Marion appeared, carrying someone in his arms. Debra was draped in his coat, exhaustion etched on her face."Debra..." Drake started to move toward her but stopped.Debra tapped Marion's shoulder. "Put me down. I can walk now.""Al
Drake wanted to argue, but Debra simply wrapped her arm around Marion's neck and waved him goodbye.Downstairs, Liza glanced at Cathryn's body. Her former friend was now disfigured and lifeless. After a moment of hesitation, she tore off the black veil from her dress and went over to cover Cathryn's face.She had once considered Cathryn her only true friend, but Cathryn had never cared about her.Liza couldn't help but feel sorrow, but there was no point in holding onto resentment. She wiped her tears and followed the others out of the venue.Watching them leave, Drake fumed. "They just left like that? Why should I stay and clean up this mess? Is that fair?""Boss, it's not fair. We should..." Kale chimed in.Drake shot him a cold glance. "And what about here? What about the people we've captured? Do you think these idiots can handle it?"Those guards were ashamed, further lowering their heads.Drake tugged at his tie in frustration. He hated wearing it, especially when he was
Conrad realized his blunder and quickly corrected himself. "I really didn't know, I swear. I've been loyal to you for so many years.""Loyal?" Drake snorted. "Well, if you're so loyal, why don't you go down and keep your daughter company? Die for your cause.""What?" Conrad was shocked. "No matter what, I'm the head of the Sharp family. You can't do this to me. Aren't you afraid of me exposing your deeds?""You could try," Drake sneered, spreading his arms. "Go ahead and expose everything. Let's see if you're quicker than my bullet."Conrad hesitated, and Drake continued, "If you tell me who you've been working with, I might spare your life. The choice is yours. Think carefully before you answer."That was extra lenience. In the past, Conrad would have been dead even if he was willing to speak.Conrad gritted his teeth and raised his head. "There was no one else, just Miss Bernard."Drake's smile faded. "Is that so?""Now that I'm in your hands, do whatever you like. You're the
"I know you hate Conrad. If you ever get the chance to kill him, I hope you won't.""You've never been in my shoes. Don't preach to me about what's right. Do you think just because he's my father, I should spare him?""I'm not asking you to spare him. He's a beast, but you're human. Ruining your life for someone like him isn't worth it unless you think your life has lost all its meaning. If that's the case, killing him might bring you some relief. But I believe you still want to live. If you kill him on impulse, you'll regret it later.""What should I do then? Let him live as if nothing happened?""Who said staying alive is a blessing? Sometimes, living is the worst punishment."...Lara sneered at Conrad, who was eager to snatch the gun in her hand."Boss, I've made up my mind," she said. "I want him to live."Drake was surprised, but she continued, "I want him to live in hell."She then slashed Conrad's wrist with a knife, causing him to howl in pain."Hand over the Sharp f
"Does this have something to do with Debra?" Kale was puzzled.Drake turned to leave without answering. He simply ordered, "Clean up the scene. Lock them up and interrogate them. If they won't talk, just deal with them."...Outside the Jovial Hotel, Juan hobbled along, dragging his injured leg. Blood trailed behind him, leaving a winding path to the apartment building across the street.Inside the apartment, William had dozed off while waiting.A sudden noise from the door woke him up. He jumped off the couch and rushed over, only to see Juan collapse at the entrance."My God, how did you lose so much blood again?" he muttered, helping Juan up.Being a doctor wasn't easy. He had been flying all over the world to work at multiple sites. Treating the wealthy was highly remunerative, but it was exhausting."Let me check your wounds.""It's a knife wound."William lifted Juan's pants leg. His thigh was covered in blood, and the leg he used to walk on had a prosthetic. The area a
At the Lowe Mansion, Liza recounted the whole event to Garland."You have no idea how terrifying it was. Those people were after our lives. Several of them are missing. You need to talk to Dad and have him catch them all."Garland, who had been dragged out of bed in the middle of the night, felt dizzy when Liza rambled on and on in his ear. The worst part was that her story was incoherent. He had no clue what was going on."Promise me," Liza demanded, shaking his arm.Garland had a headache coming on. "Wait. Stop for a moment. Can you at least tell me who these people are?"Liza finally explained, "The leader is Cathryn.""Cathryn? Where is she?""She's dead.""What about the others?""I don't know."Garland slumped back onto the sofa. As Liza tried to persuade him again, he said, "Do you think I'm some kind of miracle worker? If Marion and Drake can't find them, how can I?"Liza had overestimated his abilities. Even if Fermin were still alive, he probably wouldn't know who
"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,"