Debra couldn't suppress her excitement. "If everything you're saying is true, then it's not just you and me who have been reborn?""I'm not sure," Theda replied. "I tried to figure out the cause, but it felt like a gift from God to make up for my regrets. I just don't know why it was me. Later, someone approached me for cooperation."Debra asked, "The one behind all of this?"Theda nodded. "He's the hand of God, controlling everyone's fate. He told me that I was chosen and brought back to life by him. And indeed, he helped me a lot. From gaining power in the Buchan family to establishing Buchan Entertainment, it was all because of him."Debra frowned. "So, the rapid rise of the Buchan family over the years was his initiative.""Not entirely," Theda replied. "He did teach me a lot. After being reborn, I realized the importance of learning, so I studied like crazy, absorbing knowledge I never bothered with in my previous life. It helped me secure a foothold in Wrastow City."She pa
Theda shook her head. "I had the same doubt, but this is the truth. They spent years and countless resources chasing the treasures. Sometimes, I felt it wasn't worth it. But they did it anyway."She smiled bitterly, "Honestly, I'm grateful to them. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't have been here today or even have met Robert. He is my lucky star."Debra fell silent. She could relate. Becoming who she was today and meeting Marion were her greatest blessings. On top of that, she had made so many friends along the way.Theda continued, "If you need our help on this journey, we'll do everything we can. But I'm selfish. I cherish this new life and would not risk it. I can only promise to help you if it doesn't endanger Robert or me.""Alright," Debra nodded. "I'll agree to that.""Thank you," Theda smiled.Before long, they came back downstairs.Theda helped Robert up from the sofa. "Now that everything's been said, can I take Robert and leave?""Go ahead." Debra nodded.Erica's
"I don't have your level of curiosity," Marion replied nonchalantly."But shouldn't a normal husband get mad if he finds out his wife is hiding something?" Erica asked. "Why aren't you reacting at all?"Marion repeated what he'd just said. "If she doesn't speak, I won't ask."Randy muttered, "You're hopeless.""Let's go upstairs. I'll change your bandages," Marion suggested, walking over to Debra.She nodded. After all the chaos, she was feeling a bit dizzy.Just then, Garland and Liza poked their heads out from the second floor.Debra froze, wondering when they had come back."Is the commotion over already? That was quick," Garland muttered.He had been eavesdropping on the ruckus. Not sure about the situation, he had stayed put until things quieted down."Everything's fine. I knew it," Liza chimed in, nonchalantly approaching Debra.Then she noticed a bandage on Debra's forehead. "Wait a minute, how did you injure your head?"She reached for the bandage, but Marion quickl
"Spill it. What does Juan send you here for?" Erica demanded, shoving Garland onto the sofa.Garland sweated nervously. "You're mistaken. Juan? I barely even know him."Randy crossed his arms. "Come on. We're not deaf. Don't try to weasel your way out of this."Seeing no way out, Garland clenched his teeth. "Fine. I'll tell you. Honestly, I've been suspicious of Juan's intentions for a while. As your friend, I decided to do something about it. I got close to him on purpose, trying to figure out what he was up to."Erica narrowed her eyes. "Really?""Of course," Garland replied proudly. "I'm the CEO of the Eaton Group. This identity commands respect from Juan."Randy was skeptical. "So, you're not working for him?""Come on. Juan doesn't run the Nichols Group anymore," Garland reasoned. "Why would I take orders from him? Does that even make sense?"Randy blinked, processing the logic."You have a point," Erica said, exchanging looks with Randy.But she wasn't convinced yet. "T
Garland heaved a sigh of relief. Thankfully, Juan didn't take the bait."We've discussed most of it. As long as you're ready, we can start our collaboration anytime," Garland replied smoothly.Juan faltered, "Recently, my financial situation has been a bit tight, so this partnership could benefit both of us. I'm sure you wouldn't have any objections, right?""Of course not. It's an honor to work with a great businessman like you," Garland replied, then realized his mistake.It was Juan who should feel honored to work with him.Luckily, Erica and Randy were too focused on the conversation to catch that.Juan replied, "You flatter me, Mr. Eaton. It's my honor to work with you. Let's discuss the contract next time. Something comes up, and I need to go."The call ended, but Garland's heart hadn't fully settled.Randy remarked, "Looks like you did contact him for us. I'm impressed."Erica chimed in, "Sorry for doubting you.""No worries, guys. We're all friends. I won't hold it ag
Erica stared at Garland suspiciously. "Just a second ago, you were saying you suspected Juan. Now you're defending him. Which side are you on?"Garland was at a loss for words. Under the pressure, he could only lie through his teeth. "Of course I suspect him. What I said earlier was just based on my interactions with him. Does that prove anything? It just shows our enemy is too powerful. Juan is way too good at hiding his true self. He's definitely the mastermind behind the scenes."Erica patted his shoulder. "That's the kind of awareness I like to see. You're smarter than I thought. No wonder you're the boss of the Eaton Group.""I'm flattered," Garland replied with a forced smile.With that, he headed upstairs, as if nothing had happened.Liza followed him, still harboring doubt. Garland shut her down. "Give me a break. I'm going to bed.""I..." She still had questions to ask him.Back in his room, Garland's heart was still pounding. He pulled out his phone and dialed Juan's n
Juan paused. "Help me keep an eye on Ivan.""Sure," Garland agreed."Debra is smart, but she trusts the people around her too easily. She's not ruthless enough. Sooner or later, she's going to get hurt by this," Juan sighed."Not ruthless enough? Where did you get that from?" Garland asked, puzzled.He had spent quite a bit of time with Debra. Marion was supposed to be the decisive one, but from what he saw, Debra called the shot.Marion was tough on others, while Debra was tough on herself. It only meant she could be even tougher on others.Juan was silent for a moment. "With Marion by her side, I'm not worried. But things in Seamar City are chaotic. Your father was right to keep you at home. It's not too late now. You can still go back.""Uh... How chaotic are we talking about?""Bloodshed."...The next day, at the Royal Grand Hotel, Drake adjusted his suit."How do I look?" he asked.Kale nodded. "You look great.""Good," Drake said. "Make sure to bring more people. To
Debra asked, "What happened?"Randy's expression was grim. "There was a shooting. It sounds serious. Drake is in the hospital."Debra quickly looked at Marion, whose brows were knitted together."Let's go find out," she said urgently.Randy hurried to catch up. "Wait for me."Garland came out of his room, wondering what was going on."Drake? That arrogant, overbearing man?" he muttered. "He got hurt? Could this be the bloodshed mentioned by Juan?"A chill ran down his spine. If someone like Drake could get shot, the rest of them would stand no chance....At the hospital, two operating rooms were in use.Debra and Marion arrived to see the red lights glowing.A nurse approached them. "Both patients are in surgery right now. You'll have to wait outside.""How serious is it?" Debra asked."Very serious," the nurse replied grimly.Moments later, one of Drake's men approached, looking shaken."We didn't see this coming. We were keeping watch downstairs when we suddenly heard
"No biggie. I'm just that sharp," Randy grinned."Don't flatter yourself." Erica smacked his arm, turning to Debra. "If that's the play, we'll set up around the valley early.""We scoped it out last time. Here's the terrain map Marion roughed out. Memorize the basics, just in case," Debra said.Jordan spoke up. "I'll plant people inside to learn the lay. If things go down, we'll back each other up."He paused, frowning. "But we've only got one path. Without the full picture, it's still risky.""Got it here," a voice called from the door.Everyone turned to see Theda walking in with Robert. A map was in her hand."It's you guys." Debra was surprised.Theda had been busy with her business. She barely had time to breathe, not to mention show up there."This mess is huge. If the Illuminati takes Seamar City, my business is done," Theda said.She'd seen Jeffery's crazy side. The Illuminati couldn't be anything good.She unrolled the map and stuck it on the board. "This is the val
Liza eased up, knowing Debra was always faithful.She would help if she said so."Is the Illuminati really that bad?" Liza asked, having never seen Fermin cornered like that."Yeah," Debra said flat-out.Liza fought back her tears. "I'm not as smart as you guys, but if I can help...""You've done plenty," Debra said, patting her head.The once-bratty lady had grown into someone brave and kind. They'd all seen her change.But this was too risky. They couldn't bet on her life."Everything's set," Marion said, striding in with Jordan.Liza blinked at their suits. They looked solemn, as if ready for a last stand.Debra nodded. "Alright, let's go over everyone's setup and run through the plan."Randy wheeled in a blackboard that showed the outskirts map.The Four Great Families had owned Seamar City for ages. Their eyes and ears were on every corner.They'd linked up north, south, east, and west, with Juan's lines tied in.According to intel, the Illuminati hadn't sunk deep ro
"Just listen to me and go," Fermin said, pulling his hand free.The next thing she knew, he yanked her toward the emergency exit."Fermin!" she yelped.The restaurant staff, loyal to Fermin, hustled her into the stairwell. By the time the guards outside caught on, she was gone."Get her," the guards barked.If Liza slipped away, Michael would have their heads. But before they could chase, Fermin's crew boxed them in."You know what this means?" one guard spat, dropping all politeness.They knew he was just a puppet. If he broke free, Bert's life would be done."Kill them," Fermin ordered, turning back to the restaurant.A waiter dropped a tray, the crash drowning out muffled screams from the stairwell.Liza was already in a cab. She tried to turn back, but a staffer blocked her. "Miss, you can't go anywhere but Seamar City. The Potter Mansion is your safest bet. Think of what Mr. Eaton's doing for you."Her stay overseas made her a hostage. While she was here, Fermin was lea
The driver hesitated but complied. "Sure, Mr. Eaton. How long do you plan to stay? There's a meeting this afternoon.""An hour," Fermin replied.From their conversation, Liza caught on that their family was under the Illuminati's thumb. The driver would not grill Fermin about his schedule otherwise."Who're you to butt in? He'll hang out with me for as long as he wants," she snapped.The driver bit back his gripes. "My bad. Sorry."Liza clung to Fermin's arm, heart pounding. She had been pampered her whole life, and her family had always been untouchable. She never imagined they'd be under someone else's boot.The car stopped by the mall. Liza and Fermin got out.When the guards tried to follow, she whirled. "My brother and I are going shopping. What're you tagging along for?""Protecting you and Mr. Eaton," one said.She opened her mouth to argue, but Fermin cut in. "They can carry bags for you."She hesitated. With these guards tagging along, they couldn't talk about the si
"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