Jeffrey stepped back into the elevator.Juan remained silent, knowing that Jeffrey hadn't told him the whole truth.At the very least, Juan believed he hadn't been reborn. Then those memories of his past life must have been implanted in his mind while he was unconscious, likely by Jeffrey.If Jeffrey could do it to Juan, he could do the same to others. Juan decided to dig deeper to uncover what Jeffrey had been up to over the past 20 years.Melody had been confined in her room for days. At that moment, she was fuming."Where is Juan? He's back but hasn't come to see me. Does he plan to keep me locked up like this forever? Go tell him to come see me immediately," she sulked.Sophie said, "Mr. Nichols has been busy with work recently, so...""Is work more important than me? Does he no longer respect me?" Melody scowled, disappointed in both Jeffrey and Juan.Just then, the door swung open.Sophie froze, and Jeffrey gestured for her to leave. Still in shock, Sophie was eventually
"Claudia wasn't an entertainer," Jeffrey snapped. "She was kind and beautiful. She loved everything about this world. It was you, treating her like a pawn for your alliances. For this damn family, I've sacrificed enough."The rims of Melody's eyes reddened. "Everything I did was for this family. I've devoted my entire life to the Nichols legacy, and what did I get in return? Two ingrates! Get out! I don't have a son like you."Mid-sentence, she clutched her chest, collapsing into the chair. Jeffrey stared at the woman who had ruled his life with an iron fist for decades.His expression remained glacial. "Your devotion is for your greed and vanity. You're a narrow-minded, ruthless relic. I should have sent you to the grave to beg Claudia's forgiveness. But since you're my mother, you'll only need to spend your remaining years bedridden. Don't worry. I'll ensure you receive a proper funeral."Tears trickled down Melody's cheeks. She could no longer speak or move, her body frozen in a
Melody realized Jeffrey had gone mad for Claudia. She regretted ever allowing Claudia to get close to him.Later, when Jeffrey decided to leave, she had a terrible argument with him. In the heat of the moment, she swore that there would no longer be a place for him in the Nichols family.After that, she poured all her energy into raising Juan. Just like Jeffrey, little Juan was intelligent, rational, and steady.When he grew up, she made careful plans to arrange a suitable marriage for him. This time, she would not let things go out of hand. Debra then came into view. She was from a prestigious literary family with a history spanning a century. She was a perfect match for Juan.The Frazier family was on the verge of decline, but that was even better. A woman from a struggling family would know her place, be content with her role, and dedicate herself to taking care of her husband.Most importantly, Juan didn't like Debra, which pleased Melody. It meant he would never abandon the
Sensing her hostility, Jeffrey settled onto the sofa across from her."Take it easy, Debra," he said, his tone coaxing. "I mean you no harm. My actions are driven by necessity."Debra remained silent, and he continued, "Everything I do is for my wife. I hope you can understand. If Claudia were alive, she'd like you. It's a shame Juan failed to cherish you.""I don't quite follow you," Debra said indifferently.No longer a naïve girl, she wasn't to be swayed by hollow sentiment. Hypocrites like him only made her sick.Jeffrey leaned forward, fingers steepled. "My marriage to Claudia was arranged, yet we loved each other deeply. If it weren't for Melody, we would have lived together happily. I know what Juan did to you in your past life, and I'm sorry."His gaze intensified. "The day Claudia died, I misunderstood her and didn't go to see her. I couldn't get over it in the past and this life. All I want is to make up for my mistake. I think there are misunderstandings between us. If
"I believe Melody played her part," Debra said evenly, "but without your tacit approval, how could she have harmed Claudia so precisely? How could she have imprisoned Claudia so effortlessly?"She met Jeffrey's gaze unflinchingly. "You know the truth better than anyone. You were the head of the Nichols family. If you wanted, you could have easily saved her."Jeffrey lost control and slapped her. Blood trickled from the corner of her lips, but her stare never wavered. Claudia used to look at him in the same way."Lies." Jeffrey staggered back, his voice fraying. "You know nothing.""Don't I?" Debra dabbed her mouth. "Search online, and you'll see. Everyone in Seamar City knows about your story. Claudia gave up her career for marriage. What kind of life did she live? There was no makeup and no dancing, just a hollow shell playing housewife."She smirked and continued, "Will you blame Melody for that too? A man who lets his mother brutalize his wife isn't a man at all. Face the music
After Juan left the room, Debra let out a long breath. She leaned back against the bed, her mind chaotic.Jeffrey's appearance had given her a lot of valuable information.First, he had been reborn. Second, Seamar City's treasure was linked to rebirth. Third, he was the one responsible for the deaths of all their parents.Before she could think further, a sharp pain shot through her head.Jeffrey believed she knew the location of the treasure, but she didn't know. She wondered if she had forgotten something crucial....At the Potter Mansion, Andrew sat by the window, lost in memories of a time long past.Little Debra ran up to him and threw her arms around his leg."Brother, what are they doing?" "They are protecting this city.""Is this city dangerous? Why does it need protection?""Many people desire what we guard. They will stop at nothing to take it, losing all reason in their greed. Our duty is to ensure these things remain hidden from the world."His thoughts were
Juan had a certain guess in his mind.He had always known about the strained relationship between Melody and Jeffrey, but he never imagined Jeffrey could go to such extremes."You can go.""But Mrs. Nichols Sr...""Leave!"Sophie exited the room, closing the door behind her.Staring at the closed door, Juan was reminded of a similar scene from over a decade ago. Melody had shut the study door just like this."You are not to leave this room until you finish reading these books," she had commanded.Then the scene shifted to when Melody was thrashing him with a whip. "If you don't work hard, you won't amount to anything. And if you don't amount to anything, you won't be able to protect this family."Juan endured the pain and humiliation with bitter resentment. From that moment on, he learned to hide his emotions. He couldn't afford to have likes or dislikes. Besides the Nichols Group, nothing and no one else mattered.Melody had always prided herself on being an educator, boasti
Thunder rumbled through the fifth-floor room as Juan staggered inside, his clothes drenched in blood.Jeffrey's gaze remained fixed on the portraits on the wall. "Well? Did she talk?"When no answer came, he turned and froze. Juan's clothes were a crimson mess. A bloodied knife clattered to the floor between them."She's dead," Juan said, his voice glacial."What" Jeffrey's composure shattered.He seized Juan's collar. "I told you to interrogate her, not kill her. Did you get the location of the treasure? Answer me." Juan's eyes were piercing with clarity. He could see through Jeffrey's every thought.All of Jeffrey's earlier talk about reuniting the family had been nothing but a facade. The only thing he cared about was the treasure's location. To achieve his goals, Jeffrey would gladly use his own family as pawns."You killed Melody, didn't you?" Juan's sudden accusation cut through the tension.Jeffrey released him, smoothing his jacket."You already knew that.""You've
"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