A swarm of black-clad men followed Marion into the office. Many of them looked like they'd been specially brought in from overseas."Holy crap! Marion's pulling out the big guns," Randy gasped.A few men in suits and ties walked in. "Madam, Mr. Houston sent us to help handle all kinds of affairs."Marion appeared soon after. "Let them handle the work. They're professionals hired from overseas. Some projects can't wait. We'll handle the important ones ourselves, and they'll take care of the rest.""If only you had told us earlier. We wouldn't have been sweating bullets for an hour," Randy said.Drake snapped his file shut and stood up. "Let's go, Kale."Debra called out, "We've got dinner tonight. Where are you going?""I've got a new house. Need to grab my stuff from the Potter Mansion," he replied.The room fell silent.During the month Debra spent recovering in the hospital, no one brought up the Potter family.Even though Debra hadn't said anything, everyone could tell she
Debra remained silent the entire way.Once they arrived at the Potter Mansion, Drake drove the car into the underground garage.He asked, "What do you say? Can you finish packing in half an hour?""I've already packed everything," she whispered. "Thank you."Drake acted like he hadn't heard her. "Come back within half an hour. My time is valuable."Debra nodded, realizing he was giving her time and space.She opened the car door and entered the house. It was as grand and solemn as before but felt so empty now.Andrew had been gone for a month. No more people were running up and down the stairs delivering documents. No doctors or specialists were hanging around. There was nothing left.Everything in that dream was still vivid in her memories. When she had run from the backyard to the living room, she had been greeted by warm smiles.She walked upstairs. When she reached the door to Andrew's study, her steps faltered.Inside, Andrew had been standing by the window. Basked in
Marion had told her to give him time, but he still hadn't given her a clear answer.She hadn't asked, but it didn't mean she didn't want to know.Drake and Marion had worked together. She believed Drake must know more than Robert."How would I know?" Drake threw away his cigarette. "If you want to know, ask him directly."Debra fell silent. Drake looked at her through the rearview mirror."Is he treating you poorly? Want to leave him?""Nonsense. I'd never leave him."Drake leaned back against the window. "Well, if that's the case, why do you care about some secret? You're important to Marion, and that's all that matters, right? I'll tell you this. He's never been this good to any other woman."Debra leaned back in her seat. "It's not that I care about the secret. I'm just afraid we might one day end up fighting because of it.""You're overthinking it. If Marion wanted to, he could keep that secret his whole life. Since he decides to tell you, he will. Just give him time."De
Debra frowned. "That's reckless. Street racing is illegal. What if someone gets hurt?"Marion chuckled, "Relax, no one's getting hurt."Debra wanted to argue, but when she looked back, she noticed something surprising.Despite the racing, everyone was oddly polite. They yielded to other cars and signaled properly. But when it came to racing each other, they went all out.While everyone else stayed within the speed limit while showing off their driving skills, Drake played by his own rules.By the time they reached Marion and Debra's new house, the usual 20-minute drive had been cut down to 13 minutes.Debra glanced outside, and those cars were parked perfectly in place."I'm first." Drake stepped out of his car, grinning.Erica got out of hers. "You cheated."Drake shrugged. "No one said cheating wasn't allowed."Randy quickly stepped in. "Forget about this guy. You're the real winner."Theda and Robert got out of their car, followed by Jordan. Chace's group arrived last.O
Erica asked, "What dream?""I mean... Fermin passed out, too. But he woke up faster than all of us," Debra replied.She had been planning to ask why she didn't see Fermin in the dream, but the whole thing had to do with rebirth. With everyone around, she didn't want to bring up the topic.The power of the four gems was unbelievable, and rebirth sounded absurd. Besides, after everything happened, her gems were gone. The one in Jeffrey's possession had disappeared, too.Maybe they vanished after running out of energy, or Fermin had taken them away.According to Jordan, he had stepped away for a while to bring reinforcements. Fermin could've left during that time.Randy changed the subject. "Let's not talk about this on such a happy day. Anyway, our biggest threat, Jeffrey, is dead. Juan has made it clear that he won't target us anymore. From now on, we all live in peace and head toward a bright future."Erica snorted, "That last part doesn't sound like something you'd say, does it
"So, the threat still exists.""Exactly.""Who is their leader?""I don't know. But I think the person is right around you."Debra looked back at the cheerful group. She didn't want to doubt any of them.Her eyes fell on them one by one. She trusted every single person there. If one of them was the traitor, she didn't know what to do.She ended the call and went back. Randy and Erica urged her to sit down.The conversation carried on, but Debra couldn't focus.Michael sensed her unusual behavior and pulled her outside while the others were drinking their rounds.Enjoying the cool night air, he asked, "Was it Juan who called you?""How do you know?" Debra glanced at him.He was looking into the distance. She immediately understood. "You're like another version of me in this world. We've worked together for so long. I'd be surprised if you didn't know."Everyone there was her friend, but only Michael had understood her from the very beginning.Other than Marion, he was the f
The photo showed a piece of clothing Jeffrey had worn before. It was a white mask paired with a black cloak.The mask looked horrible, with sunken eye sockets that gave off an unsettling vibe."During your time abroad, have you ever seen anyone dressed like this? Usually, they'd show up at special banquets or balls. Overseas, there are plenty of those, especially with wealthy crowds. You've probably attended quite a few. Have you seen this before?"Michael took the phone and glanced at the photo. "There are a lot of masquerade balls, and plenty of people dress like this. The mask looks like something from an opera. Give me some time. I'll look into it.""Take your time. The treasure in Seamar City is gone now, so whoever's behind this probably won't show their hand too quickly. Just keep an eye out. If you find anything, don't approach them directly. It'll get messy if you're caught."Debra still remembered the terrifying atmosphere when Cathryn trapped her and Liza at that banque
When Debra and Michael returned to the room, everyone was chatting happily around the table.Marion was the quiet type, not really engaging in the conversation. He would only speak up occasionally.When Debra came back, he relaxed and smiled.Debra didn't smile back this time. She just walked over and sat down beside him.Marion had peeled shrimp for her because she never liked to eat anything with shells.She casually picked up one and popped it in her mouth. Soon, the next one was ready."What's wrong?" he asked, looking up. "Don't you like the food today?""Juan called me," Debra said quietly."I know.""Aren't you going to ask what he said?""Other than congratulating you on being discharged, I can't think of anything else."His tone was thick with jealousy. In the past, Debra would've laughed and reassured him that she only loved him. But now, a million questions flooded her mind.When Marion first started pursuing her, he didn't message her that often. He would ghost
"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