Erica took out a small mirror from her pocket and began touching up her makeup.She added, "You wouldn't believe how clingy those people were. Bad for them, their opponent was me.""What exactly happened?" Debra remained confused.Erica patted Randy's shoulder and said, "Show her what we found."Randy placed a crest in front of Debra and said, "Looks familiar?"Debra frowned as she saw the Lowe family's logo on it.Randy explained, "We were ambushed on our way back. The attackers all carried this crest. They're from the Lowe family. The anti-counterfeiting mark proves it's not fake."Debra turned to Marion. "What about you?"Those people wouldn't have just gone after Randy and Erica.Marion pulled out two crests from his pocket, and Randy clicked his tongue. "Ha! Looks like the new president of the Lowe Group can't wait to kill them. It's funny, though, he only sent a bunch of incompetent fools.""I think he's declaring war on us," Erica chimed in. "But his men are weak."De
A loud crash came from Drake's room.Debra paused for a moment before opening the door.Inside, Drake was still lying on the bed, but his complexion had improved a lot.In black pajamas, he threw a dart at the TV. The screen shattered beyond repair."Looks like someone's in a bad mood," Debra said.Drake glanced at her and remained unhappy."Was faking my critical illness Marion's idea?""Yes.""Have you caught the person behind it?""Not yet.""My company was taken. It was all Marion's fault.""He did it to protect you. The assassination reveals their intention to seize the Lowe Group because they think they can't control you anymore. They wouldn't stop until you were dead. You got lucky and survived, but next time, you might not be so fortunate.""I don't need him to protect me."Debra knew better than to push him. She stepped closer and softened her tone. "I talked with Marion. What he did wasn't exactly appropriate."Drake scoffed, "You and Marion are two peas in a po
By rights, if they were to change leadership, they'd have to follow a process.At least, they should introduce the new president. Yet the new president was directly appointed without any of the proper procedures. No one had even bothered to take the shares from Drake.It was all so strange.Marion believed the Lowe Group had hidden assets and those behind the scenes held the largest share of hidden interests. To Debra, many things still didn't add up.As the head of the Lowe Group for years, Drake should have known about this.Drake spoke blandly, "When I was adopted by the Lowe family, I was busy cramming financial knowledge. I'm not like Marion. He's a rich boy from the slums, just there for the experience. I don't know these things. So, I had to work harder than others. In the beginning, there wasn't just me as the heir. I was just transferred from overseas to make up the numbers. The Bernard family wanted to get involved with the Lowe family, so they sent some people over. Mar
After hearing Drake's recount of his experiences in Orkgate, Debra frowned and said, "Great wisdom behind a dumb appearance, right?""Come on. Were you even listening to me? And do I look dumb to you?" Drake huffed."That was a compliment.""Ugh.""Alright. Leave this newcomer to us. You just focus on recovering. Once you're better, we'll need you to take back the Lowe Group."Debra stood up, ready to leave."Debra.""Anything else?""If you must suspect someone, then suspect Juan.""Juan?"Debra was surprised at first and then remembered a deal Drake had once made with Juan.Juan had stepped in, claiming to collaborate with the Lowe Group, but that was a one-time thing."Didn't you work with him?""Not me. It was a deal between the Lowe Group and him. On the night he saved you, he came to me with a proposal.""What did he promise you?""He promised to secure my position in Seamar City. The Nichols Group would be the most suitable partner for me. But that was just part o
"I'm scared." A soft, childlike voice echoed in Debra's mind.The sound jolted her out of her thoughts, and she yanked her hand back from the swing.It felt so familiar. She turned around and scanned the courtyard.She had wandered there while lost in her thoughts. This was her first time in the garden of the Potter Mansion. Yet the flowers and scenery around her felt so familiar.Barton walked into the garden. "Mr. Andrew Potter wants to meet you, Mrs. Houston.""Barton," Debra said, "this garden is beautifully designed. Has it stayed the same all these years?""Yes. Mr. Andrew Potter likes it as it is, so he's kept it unchanged," Barton replied, stepping aside. "After you."Debra couldn't help but steal a few more glances at the flowers and greenery.She had a strong feeling that she had been there before, but her memory told her she'd never set foot in the Potter Mansion.When she entered Andrew's bedroom, the sharp scent of medicine brought her back to reality.Andrew sat
Andrew said, "You've been up high for too long. In business, connections are everything. It's like when you buy goods, you need to find suppliers. If you're running a casino, you need muscles. No matter where you are, you can't fight with the locals. Their assets may be small, but they can cause endless trouble for your enemies. This is the first thing I want to teach you. You should learn to navigate emotions and make the most of every connection. A small fish could be the key to your success in the future."As she flipped through the files, he tapped one page and said, of the pages and said, "The Warwick family. Their assets are only in the millions, but they've survived in Seamar City for 50 years. They control half the resources in this city. They started from scratch, and when it comes to suppliers for the food and beverage industry, big or small, they know who offers the cheapest. They know all the entry and exit points. They've used their connections wisely, and that's why th
Standing outside was Jordan.He asked bluntly, "What are you doing here?""I came to visit Andrew," Debra replied with a frown, sensing hostility. "Anything wrong with that?"Jordan pressed his lips together. "How is he?""Not so good. He's been coughing," Debra replied, shaking her head. "I'll leave now."Barton spoke up. "Mrs. Houston, you left something behind.""Oh right, the report Ben gave me," Debra responded, walking back to the desk to grab the papers.Once she left, Jordan went into the room and closed the door behind him.Debra paused, wondering why Andrew asked her to hide his fake illness from Jordan."Hey."Suddenly, a voice startled Debra. She turned around and saw Liza standing behind her.Liza looked puzzled. "What are you staring at so intently?"Debra composed herself and asked, "What's up?""Nothing, just bored. I haven't seen you around lately," Liza pouted. "Didn't you guys get into some kind of trouble? I called my dad. Don't worry. Within three days
"Help me!"A little girl's desperate cries echoed in Andrew's mind, and he woke up from a dream.The room was pitch black and eerily silent. As if drained, he weakly leaned against the head of the bed. Fragments of a memory flickered in his mind like a haunting replay."Hold my hand.""Hug me."A sweet, childlike voice seemed to call out to him again, as if it had traveled through time to reach him. He opened his eyes and was pulled into a memory from many years ago.The summer air carried the fresh scent of grass. In the courtyard, koi fish chased one another in the pond. Sunlight bathed the entire yard, its warmth embracing everything in its reach.He was just an 11-year-old boy then. In front of him stood a little girl with a chubby face. Her little hands tugged at his sleeve.Andrew bent down, as if this moment had been predestined, and smiled at her. "What now?""Swing-swing," replied the girl, pointing at a swing set not far away."It's a swing.""Swing-swing.""Alrig
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,"
William left quickly.Marion got up to lock the door and returned to the bedside.Sitting back into the chair, he switched on a dim lamp, making sure Debra would see him first thing if she woke up."Brother..." Debra mumbled.Marion leaned in. "I'm here."Her murmurs stopped, but her hands shot up, grasping at the air. "It's so dark. Save me."He grabbed her flailing hands right away. "Don't be scared. I'm right here."But she didn't calm down. She clutched his hand, her nails scratching at his skin. "Brother, save me," she murmured, feeling like she was trapped in a pitch-black hold.Cold seawater seemed to swallow her whole. The biting chill seeped into every crack of her body. The stench of the ocean made her gag.The water was up to her chin. She stood on tiptoes, desperate for a breath in that tiny space."Save me." Her eyes flew open.Familiar surroundings came into view. Her pupils darted until they landed on Marion. Her racing heart finally slowed."Marion?" Her v
Not long after, Marion came out with Debra.William nudged Erica and Randy. "Told you it would be soon.""How's she out here fresh after surgery?" Erica gawked.Debra was supposed to recover in the hospital, but seeing her unconscious form on the stretcher, Erica figured he had his reasons."Let's go back," Jordan chimed in. "The Potter Mansion's got a top-notch medical team. If we need gear, I'll grab it.""Yeah, hospitals suck anyway," Randy said. "Let's head back. It's freezing out here."They'd planned to grab food and head in, but Erica had made them wait so Marion could have more time with Debra. Now they were all sniffling."I'm... Achoo." William sneezed again, then bolted for the car. "I'm out of there. It's freaking cold."He had treated so many patients, but this was the first time he had fallen ill.Debra, still out cold, was loaded into the back. Marion stayed close, tending to her.By the time they reached the Potter Mansion, it was the middle of the night.Wil
William rubbed his eyes in disbelief.They had taken the emergency lane to the hospital, but Marion and the others arrived right behind their heels after going through a battle."We floored it. That's not the point," Erica replied.Marion and Jordan were already striding into the hospital.Randy grabbed Erica's arm. "Come on. Let's go.""Huh? William is still here." She was puzzled.Inside, the operating room's red light glowed.Marion arrived first. The hospital director greeted him, saying, "Mrs. Houston is in surgery now. Our top doctors have assessed her. The wound's been handled perfectly, and she is out of danger."Marion's face softened a bit. Erica heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank God. She's fine now."They'd been terrified seeing Debra collapse in a pool of blood."You're wiped out. Why don't you rest a bit?" Erica said, turning to Marion."I'll wait here," he replied, his eyes glued to the red light.Until it turned green, he couldn't rest his mind at ease."Well
Michael raised an eyebrow. "My plan never included you. Does our master know you snuck here from Orkgate? And you've got the nerve to question me?"Lara glared at him, her body aching from the burns. Her face twisted with anger."Take Miss Sharp back for treatment. It will take two hours to get back, so she'll have to tough it out," Michael ordered, unfazed.Before leaving with his crew, he lamented sanctimoniously, "Such a shame, ruining a pretty face like that."Lara clenched her fists, incandescent with rage....In the ambulance, Debra coughed up another mouthful of blood. It splattered right onto William's white coat."Aw." William almost griped about the mess, holding back only at the sight of her bad condition.He had to save her, no matter what. It was a promise he'd made to Andrew.He didn't even want to think about what would happen to him if Debra didn't make it today."Maybe another shot of painkiller? We've gotta get that bullet out fast," a medic suggested."Yo