"I can cover your airfare," Juan replied."I'm not leaving," Liza sulked. "I'll stay here. Tell Fermin to come see me, or I'll..."Jeffrey's voice came from upstairs. "Or what?"Liza shivered and looked over. The man was looking down at her from a commanding height.She had seen Jeffrey in that cave, but she hadn't felt anything unusual at the time. Now, his presence was so overwhelming that she found it hard to breathe.Jeffrey then turned to Juan. "Miss Eaton is a guest. Give Fermin a call and tell him to come over."Juan nodded and ordered the maid, "Prepare a room for Miss Eaton."The maid quickly went to prepare the room. Liza restrained her arrogance and followed behind the maid.Late at night, Liza was tossing and turning. There wasn't even a bottle of water in the room.Suddenly, footsteps in the hallway broke the quietness of the night.A wave of fear swept over her. She was afraid that some freak from the Nichols family would come to harm her. She quickly ducked bac
Feeling someone behind him, Fermin swiftly turned and struck out.Juan dodged but saw a dagger hidden in Fermin's sleeve."Mr. Eaton, aren't you being a bit too cautious?" he said.Fermin smiled, but his voice was cold. "I don't like people sneaking up on me. Next time, this knife might slit your throat."Juan threw his hands up. "I mean no harm."Liza tugged at Fermin's sleeve. He looked down at her and slowly lowered the dagger. "I'm taking her with me. If Jeffrey has any problems, he can talk to me."He went inside and grabbed Liza's suitcase."I don't..." she protested."Don't want to go?" Fermin pinched her cheek. "Say that again."Liza held back her words. "I'll go with you."Satisfied, Fermin let go of her cheek.Juan suddenly spoke up. "Mr. Eaton, do you have time for a private talk?""There's nothing to talk about between us," Fermin said flatly.Liza glanced at Juan and blurted, "Just talk to him."Fermin raised an eyebrow. "Why do you speak up for him?""I nee
"No." Liza shook her head. "I'm just curious."Fermin put a finger on his lips and whispered, "Kids shouldn't be so curious."Liza stopped talking and left with him. She noticed the guards' fearful looks and asked, "Why are they all so scared of you?""The weak fear the strong. That's the rule of society." Fermin paused, looking at her. "But you don't need to worry. With me around, no one can bully you."Liza leaned forward. "Can you make peace with Debra and her people?""Oh?""You shot her.""Look, I didn't kill her for your sake.""But she was kind to me.""So, I only shot her in the shoulder.""That makes me upset.""Well, next time, I'll let her shoot back."Fermin opened the car door, placed her favorite pink pillow on the seat, and adjusted it to her liking before letting her get in. Then he helped her buckle up.Liza pouted. "You're making me lose all my friends."Fermin, driving with one hand, asked casually, "Who is more important, your friends or me?""You're
At the Potter Mansion, Marion was bandaging Debra's wound.She saw his careful look and teased him, "Relax. You're hurting me more like this."He stiffened, and she smiled, "I'll do it myself."She reached for the bandage, but he gently stopped her hand. "You don't have much time to heal."She nodded. "I know."Marion looked up. "I believe they'll make a move soon.""I have the same feeling.""So, we need to come up with a plan.""Indeed."Debra's voice dropped even lower. The past few days, she had been feeling like their time together was running out. Jeffrey's appearance was a threat to their lives.Among them, only she knew about rebirth. If Jeffrey managed to reset everything, she didn't know if they could still remember everything that had happened. She and her friends might forget each other.She didn't want to lose Marion or any of her friends.Marion took her hand. "Rest for a few more days and leave everything to me.""Okay." Debra nodded.Barton knocked on the
"I'll get it done by tomorrow noon," Marion replied."No." Andrew shook his head. "Everyone needs to be gone right after the funeral."Marion nodded. "Have Barton give me a roster. I'll make sure no one stays behind."Andrew added, "Also, I need your help gathering forces and weapons.""Don't you have weapons?""We do, but we need more. And Debra will stay with me tomorrow. Do you have a problem with that?""Can I?""No, you can't."Debra tugged at Marion's sleeve. "You'll be busy tomorrow, and I'll be safer with Andrew."Marion understood her point. "I'll leave someone to protect you.""No, you can't," Andrew insisted. "No one else stays."Marion frowned. "What are you planning?""Barton will assist you tomorrow. Come back at six in the afternoon," Andrew said. "Everything is arranged. You can go rest now."Debra chimed in, "I still don't understand."Marion cut her off. "Got it. I'll handle everything."He took Debra's hand and led her to leave.Debra asked, "Why didn
Debra wheeled Andrew into the elevator, and he pressed the B2 button.Once the elevator stopped at the second underground floor, Debra wheeled him out.She had never been to this floor before. She had expected a parking lot or a wine cellar. Surprisingly, it was an archive room filled with old filing cabinets.Each one had its numbering system, and the dust on them indicated that no one had been there for a while."Is this your intelligence station?""Yep. This used to be the intelligence database from decades ago. But it's useless now."In the digital age, old-school places were outdated. One computer could handle all the data, and no one would bother with the time-consuming task of organizing physical files anymore.Debra wheeled him forward. "Are we waiting for someone here?""Correct," Andrew replied. "Someone will be coming soon. We just need to hide and wait."He then pointed to the back of the room, where stood a row of file cabinets. "Let's go there."Once there, Andr
Firstly, Juan didn't think Claudia would want to reunite with Jeffrey.Secondly, he had long given up on the idea of a complete family.He was used to being alone, and even if the world started over, nothing would change. Jeffrey's regret could not save their family."Let's save these words for after we succeed," Juan said, leaving the study.In the hall, his men were already gathered. Jordan looked up at him."Everyone's ready. When do we leave?""Anytime, but you can't come.""What do you mean?""Only my father and I can go in. I need you to guard the outside."Jordan was unhappy. "If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have located the treasure. Now, do you want to burn the bridge and keep it all to yourself?""Not at all," Jeffrey interjected, walking up to Jordan and patting his shoulder. "We need you to guard the outside. It's a crucial task. I promise you'll get your share of the treasure."He paused and added, "I know you don't want to live in Andrew's shadow forever. On
Joe was about to open the iron door when Jordan spoke up. "Hold on."Joe froze, his hand still on the door.Jordan stepped forward and explained, "The residents of the place may be gone, but their security is still top-notch. If this door gets forced open, it'll trigger the alarm system and the traps inside. Things will get very tricky."He faced the scanner and input the password. Although he had deflected, his data was still in the system. This door could not stop him.Jeffrey, who had been worried about traps, finally relaxed. After all, with security like this, anyone who tried to force their way in would not end well.Once the door was open, Jordan said, "You guys should follow me. Just don't touch anything."Jeffrey raised his hand, signaling his men to follow Jordan's lead.When they finally reached the hall, everyone was amazed by what they saw. The Potter Mansion had always been mysterious because the hosts never entertained outsiders.And now? A glimpse of the family'
"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