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
Jeffrey muttered, "A shame. She was promising."Pulling a blanket over Debra's face, he turned to Juan. "The four families will retaliate now that she's dead. Clean this up.""How?""Burn her. Suppress the news of her death. Let no word leak tonight."Without hesitation, Juan strode to the bedside, flicked open a lighter, and set the curtains ablaze. Flames crawled hungrily across the sheets, engulfing the figure beneath the blanket. Only when fire fully consumed the body did Jeffrey nod and exit....At dawn the next day, Melody's funeral procession began.Pallbearers carried the coffin through the mist-shrouded gates. The air seemed to thicken with foreboding.The first gunshot tore through a pallbearer's chest before anyone registered the danger."It's Marion Houston!" someone shouted.Marion emerged from the fog, his forces fanning out behind him. Bullets rained down as the remaining bearers collapsed. The Nichols family guards rushed forward, only to fall under crossfire
"I'm gonna kill you!" Marion shouted.He raised his gun and fired three shots at Jeffrey.But Jeffrey seemed to have already anticipated Marion's move. With just a quick motion, he pulled Ivan in front of him.The three bullets hit Ivan right in the heart. Ivan slowly looked down at his chest. It was only then that the pain hit him all over his body. He finally realized he was dying.He turned to look at Jeffrey. His lips parted, but no words came out. By the time he collapsed, Jeffrey's men had surrounded Marion.Marion's hand tightened around the bloodstained ring. He had come for a bloodbath. If he couldn't save Debra, he wasn't planning to leave alive.Juan spoke up. "Save your energy. No matter how much you fight, the result won't change. You might as well think about how to make your exit.""He's not leaving," Jeffrey said, turning to Marion. "Your bullets have run out, and I won't give you a chance to reload. Everyone who came here is going to die."At his command, sever
"How could this be?" Theda smiled faintly. "We just want to take our people and avoid any casualties. That's all.""If that's all, I might consider it," Jeffrey replied, looking at Marion. "But someone might not want to leave."Drake stepped forward. "We can settle the score later. Even if we don't take your life now, we will eventually."Marion knew Drake was telling him to leave. His hand, clutching the ring, was already bleeding.Drake and Robert noticed and grabbed Marion's arms."Let's go," Robert said firmly.They had to leave now. Otherwise, mutual destruction was unavoidable.But Marion refused to move.Finally, Drake said, "If you don't leave, we'll all die here. I'm not ready to die yet. Don't drag me down with you."Oscar said, "Mr. Houston, let's go. We can save Mrs. Houston another time. If we keep this up, we'll just be making useless sacrifices."Marion still held his ground.Robert frowned and struck Marion on the back of his neck."You guys talk too much,"
William fidgeted at the sight of so many big shots in the room. Robert's presence alone sent a shiver down his spine.Earlier, when Marion was carried in on Robert's back, he didn't dare utter a sound.William cleared his throat and rolled his shoulders, trying to muster some courage.Standing on the side with Chace, Oscar spoke up. "Do we need medical equipment? I can have some brought over.""No need. This house has everything," William replied.He stepped forward and worked on loosening Marion's stiff arm. It took quite a while before he finally pried open the tightly clenched hand.Blood had pooled in Marion's palm. William let out a low whistle. "What an iron!"He pulled the bloodstained diamond ring from Marion's grasp and studied it. "That's a huge rock. Must've cost a fortune."Everyone's gaze fell on the ring."Wait... Isn't that Debra's ring?" Erica rushed inside. "Why is it covered in blood? Is she..."Drake snatched the ring from William's hand and inspected it. "
Randy exclaimed, "This is fake. Who did this? I'll tear them apart."Erica chimed in, "This news can't be true. It must be a smokescreen to confuse us."Theda looked at the ring in Robert's hand. "Could Marion's desperate actions today be because of this?"Everyone was taken aback....Jeffrey read the news. "Well done."Juan asked, "Aren't you sad about killing Vickie after training her for so long?""Dying as the daughter of the Frazier family is a blessing for her," Jeffrey replied indifferently. "Debra's body has been burned to ashes, and Vickie is no longer useful. Sacrificing her to create chaos and shake the Four Great Families was a brilliant idea."He paused and added, "Send the body to the Potter Mansion. I want them to understand that with Debra dead, their resistance is meaningless.""Got it," Juan replied, slowly retreating.In the basement, he dismissed everyone and looked at the lifeless woman in the coffin. "Once you're back, don't show up again," he whisper
"Debra is back from the dead!" Randy screamed.Erica smacked him on the back of the head and snapped, "Look closely. She's not dead.""Not dead?" Randy pointed at Debra's face. "But her face..."Debra wiped her face with the sleeve. The grayish powder came off, revealing her bare skin."It's just makeup," she said."Almost gave me a heart attack. I thought you were..." Randy gaped.Drake's lips curled up, and he poked Debra's head. "Why didn't you wake up sooner? Wanted us to mourn you?"Debra explained, "There were spies outside. If they found out I wasn't dead, Juan would be in danger."Erica froze. "Juan? What's this got to do with him?""Let me explain later. I need to wash my face first." Debra stood up and looked around. "Where's Marion?""He passed out," Robert replied. "I used almost all my strength. It'll take him some time to wake up."Debra furrowed her brow. "Why did you hit him?""Ask him," Robert said. "He rushed to the Nichols Mansion, got into a gunfight, an
"Alright." Debra got up from the bed.Juan added, "Give me your ring."Debra looked down at her ring and took it off.Juan said, "I'll give it back later."Debra left the room, knowing Juan didn't owe her anything anymore.Juan sat down and looked at the dim table lamp. His mind drifted to the previous night when he invited Vickie there.When she arrived, Vickie took in the surroundings and frowned. "What do you want to see me for?"Juan looked at her face, which resembled Debra's, and felt a wave of disgust. In his mind, one could replace Debra, and no one else could have that face."You've always wanted to take Debra's place, right? I'm giving you that chance," he said, tossing a set of clothes to her. "Put these on. You know how to look more like her.""What are you getting at?" Vickie asked suspiciously."Debra is dead," Juan replied. "From today on, you are her.""Really?" Vickie's face lit up with joy.She had suffered so much only for this moment."Yeah." Juan nodde
"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