"I'll give you a ride," Marion offered.Debra agreed. Marion hurried downstairs to get his car, and she followed closely.She quickened her pace after leaving McKinney Group. However, as she descended the stairs, her foot slipped, causing her to fall backwards. Instinctively, she closed her eyes, expecting to hit the ground hard, but in the next instant, she found herself in someone's arms.She opened her eyes to see Marion's smiling face.In a low voice, he said, "Take it easy. You won't be late."Debra blushed and quickly got into the car.Marion took the driver's seat, a faint smile on his face."Fasten your seatbelt and hold on tight," he said.Before Debra could fully grasp his words, he hit the gas pedal.If she hadn't held on, she felt like she might have been launched out.Not far from the apartment building, Debra saw Joe's car just arriving.Unable to enter the gated community without a key card, Joe could only wait outside.Debra picked up her bag. "I'm gonna hea
By now, Juan should have received the false information leaked by Debra.Calling her back now indicated his dissatisfaction with the investigation's results."I've never heard of Tracy McKinney before," Juan said, observing her expression.Debra remained composed, giving away nothing.Tracy was her, and she was Tracy.She had used a fake identity, so it was normal that Juan couldn't find anything."Me too. Maybe some foreign entrepreneur." Debra casually diverted the topic. "Did you call me back just to ask me this? I don't have time for such boring questions."With that, she got up. Juan took a deep breath and asked helplessly, "How much longer are you going to keep this tantrum?"It had been three months since Debra came home. He thought giving her some space would make her give in, but he hadn't expected her to stand firm this time."I'm not throwing a tantrum. Since you don't want a divorce, I'll have to force your hand."Her words ignited Juan's anger. "Is that what you
Debra pushed herself up from the sofa. Her eyes held a cold sarcasm towards Juan. "I've told you what you want to know. Can I leave now?""Hold on!" Juan grabbed her wrist. "Where are you going? To find Marion?""Let go!" Debra shook off his grip. "Where I go is my business, none of yours!""Don't forget that you're my wife." Juan stepped closer, adjusting his tie. "You used to like me, remember? You wanted to be with me. Now I'm giving you what you wanted. You're not going to see Marion.""Have you lost your mind?" Debra snapped."Maybe I have. Only a madman would let you run around like this."Juan held her wrist firmly, pushing her back onto the sofa. His eyes burned with possessiveness. "Tonight, you're not leaving this house.""Let go of me!"Her struggle only served to fuel Juan's anger."Let go? Weren't you eager for this before?"Juan tore at her dress, revealing her fair skin and a scar on her chest that heightened his desire.Juan's gut churned with a fiery intensi
After all, the person Tracy rejected wasn't just anyone. It was Juan Nichols.No one else in Seamar City dared to defy him like this.In his office, Juan was reading the news with a sullen face.The topic of the Nichols Group CEO being rejected by the McKinney Group CEO was trending.Everyone wondered who was behind the suddenly prominent McKinney Group, daring enough to snub Juan publicly."Sir, this news was leaked intentionally. I've already instructed an investigation. We'll have results soon," said Joe, noticing Juan's grim expression."This is definitely linked to the McKinney Group," replied Juan.He had simply wanted to meet Tracy, but the latter had played entirely out of turn, even turning this into a trending topic.Tracy was trying to ride on the Nichols Group's reputation to boost the McKinney Group's visibility."Sir, the trending topic should be taken down before it affects the company's image."To everyone, the Nichols Group was the undisputed leader in Seamar
Debra extended a finger, saying, "One more thing, spread the word that Tracy will be there to enjoy the masquerade with everyone."Randy was puzzled, but Marion understood her intent.Debra fiddled with the badge in her hand.Over the past few months, she had made Tracy's name well-known and shrouded in mystery.It was all for this day.At the banquet, Juan watched the crowd with no trace of happiness on his face.Joe reported, "I've had people count. All the major business owners are here, except Tracy."Juan hummed indifferently.Joe asked hesitantly, "Sir, do you have concerns?"Juan remained silent for a moment and asked, "Any moves from the McKinney Group?"Joe shook his head. "There's been no news of them making any moves. Perhaps they know they've offended us, so they're keeping quiet."Juan frowned, not believing Tracy would just be a sitting duck.His current counterattack was a declaration of sovereignty over Seamar City, and surely Tracy knew that.If Tracy rema
Juan's indifference surprised Shelia.Joe came up and said, "Miss Miles, please come with me upstairs to change."Shelia lowered her head and replied softly, "Okay."As she turned to follow Joe, Juan's voice cut through the air. "Remove your makeup too."Her heart lurched. "But...""You're still a student, Shelia. This mature and flashy makeup doesn't suit you," interrupted Juan.His words stung, and she felt a pang of bitterness. She had spent hours perfecting her makeup, hoping to impress him.'Is it so unbearable?' she thought."Is the dress really that bad?" she asked Joe, seeking some form of validation.Joe looked back at her, his expression bland. "Mr. Nichols prepared this dress for his wife."Shelia was shocked by the revelation. "But the gatekeeper said it was sent by you for me.""That must have been a mistake in communication," Joe replied, his tone cold. "Miss Miles, you weren't supposed to come today."The words hit Shelia like a slap, leaving her feeling mort
Debra was worried that Jordan might cause trouble. She quickly said, "Don't get upset. Actually...""I don't care. I'm going to teach Juan a lesson he won't forget," Jordan cut her off.The line went dead. Debra was dazed, a sense of foreboding washing over her.Erica looked up from her phone, noticing Debra's distress."What's wrong? Who was that?" she asked, sitting up on the bed. "Where are you going?""To Maple Hotel.""To attend the banquet?" Erica's eyes widened. "But you didn't want to go just now.""Jordan's going to confront Juan. I'm afraid he'll cause a scene," Debra explained, her brow furrowed with worry.She knew Jordan's temper and, with Andrew absent due to illness, there would be no one to rein him in."That hothead is reckless, still fighting at his age," Erica said, putting down her snacks.She grabbed her bag and led the way out.They sped towards the hotel, only to be halted at the entrance by security."Please show me your invitation."Erica scoffed,
"So, what's happening now?" Erica chimed in."Well..." Joe hesitated.Before he could finish, Debra pushed past him and stormed into the room. "Jordan! Jordan!""Madam, wait!" Joe protested, but Debra was already inside.Tracing the sounds of a scuffle, she found Juan towering over Jordan, his fist connecting with Jordan's jaw."Stop!" She rushed forward, placing herself between them.Juan was surprised by her arrival. "What? Are you going to protect him?""Move aside! I'm going to teach him a lesson," Jordan snarled, trying to push her aside.Debra rebuked him, "Shut up!""Juan, I'm so scared," whispered Shelia.Across the room, Shelia was huddled on the bed, wrapped in a blanket, her shoulders shaking with sobs. Juan's coat was draped over her. She glanced at Debra, her eyes filled with tears, before quickly looking away.Debra turned back to Jordan, lowering her voice. "What happened here?"Jordan took a deep breath, trying to rein in his anger. "I came to see what these
"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