After introducing Shelia, Liam left. Carole, who looked down on everyone, unexpectedly stepped forward to praise Shelia."Graduates from prestigious schools are indeed different. I'll need to learn a lot from you!" Carole said.Shelia responded with a polite smile on her face, but a hint of pride flashed in her eyes.Debra, uninterested in the flattery around her, was about to leave when Shelia suddenly called out to her, "Debra, I didn't expect you to be interning at this company too. Can you join me for a coffee after work?"Carole glanced at Debra, then at Shelia, asking, "Do you two know each other?"As Shelia was about to speak, Debra quickly interjected, "Not really acquainted." After that, she left abruptly.Shelia briefly showed embarrassment on her face, but Carole dismissed it. "She relies solely on her looks and looks down on everyone. I can't stand such women!""Don't be so quick to judge. Maybe she has her reasons. I remember hearing about some incidents involving
Sheila sneered, thinking Debra was just trying to save face. She said, "We didn't use condoms that night. If I get pregnant, you won't have a choice but to divorce him! Why embarrass yourself like this?""Get your facts straight. I'm not the one unwilling to divorce now. You should talk to Juan about that."Debra glanced at her watch. She really shouldn't waste time with Sheila here.As Debra left, Sheila couldn't help but feel suspicious.Could it be that the one who had been unwilling to divorce all along wasn't Debra, but Juan?In the evening, as Debra hurriedly arrived at the McKinney Group's entrance, a figure suddenly lunged at her from behind.Startled, Debra looked up and saw Juan in front of her. She was momentarily stunned. "Juan?"With a scent of tobacco and alcohol on him, Juan's cheeks slightly flushed, appearing somewhat unclear-headed. "Debra, you finally come.""Are you out of your mind?"Glancing at the McKinney Group and then around to ensure no one was the
Debra walked into the company, while Juan's face was deathly pale. Joe, who had just arrived, draped a cloak over Juan. "Mr. Nichols, it's too cold out here. You've drunk a lot. Let's get you home quickly.""She knows everything...""What?""She already knows about me and Shelia..."Juan's voice was barely above a whisper. He had thought that by cutting ties with Shelia, he could forget about what happened that night. But now it seemed that what was done couldn't be undone."Mr. Nichols, let's leave first..."Joe felt sorry for Juan. Juan's expression darkened. "Why is Shelia at Tyson Enterprises? Find out for me.""Mr. Nichols, why not ask Ms. Miles first?""I don't want anything to do with that woman anymore!"He blamed himself for being kind and helping Shelia back then. He had only felt pity for the girl and, considering her talent, had shown her some extra care. But he never expected Shelia to have other intentions.Meanwhile, Debra had just entered the preside
"Marion, that's nonsense!"Debra quickly handed the family emblem to Marion.The emblem of the Houston family was so important that even an outsider like her knew it, yet Marion had placed such a crucial emblem in her hands."Debra, whatever I give away, I never take back."Marion placed the emblem on Debra's chest.The Houston family's emblem represented the head of the Houston family. With this emblem, one had absolute authority within the Houston family.Marion looked at Debra with a smile and whispered, "You're the wife I have chosen."Debra's heart pounded, unsure how to respond.In her previous life, she had always been focused on Juan and had never been decisively chosen.But Marion's words stirred something in her heart."I..."Just as Debra was about to speak, Randy's voice suddenly came from outside the door. "Marion, the things you asked me to buy..."Randy's voice abruptly stopped upon seeing the scene inside.Debra hurriedly distanced herself from Marion.Ran
"The McKinney Group is clearly trying to take a piece of our cake. Why don't we resort to extreme measures?"The directors whispered to each other.Unable to confront The McKinney Group openly, they resorted to underhanded tactics behind the scenes.In the past, Juan might have readily agreed without hesitation.But now, Juan fell into silence.That evening, driven by intuition and alcohol, he visited The McKinney Group and indeed encountered Debra.Could Debra truly be connected to The McKinney Group?Or perhaps, is there a connection between Debra and Tracy?Rubbing his temples wearily, Juan sighed, "I have matters to attend to. Let's discuss this later."With that, Juan got up and left.Beside him, Joe suggested, "Mr. Nichols, how about taking a sobering pill first?"After consuming a fair amount of alcohol the previous night, Juan's state of mind was visibly off."I tasked you with investigating Tracy. Have you found anything?""Not yet. His information is well hidden.
Joe said to Liam, "Mr. Tyson, you can go and deal with your work. Mr. Nichols will finish questioning soon and leave.""Great! The conference room is just ahead. It should be all set up. Please!"Liam glanced at Debra as he said that.He really didn't know what the relationship was between this intern and Juan.Shouldn't Shelia be the one most closely related to Juan?The relationships in this circle were truly complicated!Arriving at the conference room, Debra said, "You came all the way to Tyson Enterprises to see me. What else do you have to discuss?"She thought she had made things clear during their last meeting.Juan asked in a deep voice, "What's your relationship with the McKinney Group?""You already asked that yesterday," Debra replied. "Is it because Mr. Nichols drank too much yesterday and doesn't remember?"Frowning, Juan said, "Debra, I'm doing this for your own good. Tracy is a ruthless businessman. If the Frazier family cooperates with him, you won't end well
In the meeting room, Juan approached Debra and whispered, "Debra, I'm doing this for your good. Stay away from Marion, and people like Tracy. They have ulterior motives when they get close to you."Debra didn't respond but instead took a step back. "Mr. Nichols, if there's nothing else, I should leave now."Debra was the first to exit the meeting room. As soon as she pushed the door open, she saw employees in the work area craning their necks to watch.A hint of jealousy flashed in Sheila's eyes, but her expression changed when she saw Juan coming out of the meeting room.Walking in high heels, Sheila approached Juan with a bright smile, "Juan, hi!"Frowning, Juan didn't want any interaction with Sheila. He was about to bypass her when she reached out and grabbed his arm. She behaved like a girlfriend being affectionate with her boyfriend."Juan, did you come to see me?"Sheila's eyes were full of anticipation, as Debra, not far away, silently observed the scene."Debra, do y
Debra's indifference was a mirror of Juan's callousness. She used him just as he had used others. They were cut from the same cloth.Juan cast a frosty glance towards Shelia, his voice dropping to a low growl. "I'm warning you, Shelia. If you dare employ any underhanded tactics to harm Debra, I won't stand idly by."Shelia blanched and reached out to grab his hand. "Debra doesn't spare you a thought. She doesn't care for you at all. But I truly love you. Remember the joy we shared that night?""Enough!" Juan snapped, shaking off her hand.His eyes flashed with a dark intensity. "Never mention that night again. If you value your position at Tyson Enterprises, cease testing my patience. Otherwise, I'll ensure that Arcane Academy kicks you out."Shelia froze in place, knowing Juan wasn't issuing blank threats. His actions were always harsher than his words.Juan turned on his heel and strode away, leaving Shelia rooted to the spot, a dejected figure in his wake. Joe glanced at her a
"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