"Alright," Juan responded.Across town in the Nichols family's house, Melody shot up from her seat, her face a thundercloud."What? Juan is at the amusement park with Debra?""That's not all. I heard Juan booked the entire park. And he invested one billion in Potter Entertainment just to convince Debra to go with him," Hester reported.With Shelia out of the picture, she'd seized the chance to worm her way back into the Nichols family. But Juan, fixated on Debra, barely acknowledged her existence.She'd only found out about today's escapade when she overheard whispers at the Nichols Group headquarters."That foolish boy," Melody fumed. "What is he thinking?"Now that the Frazier family was broke, Juan shouldn't waste any more time on Debra. He was supposed to divorce her as soon as possible.Melody said, "Call Joe. Tell him it's an order from me. Juan should come home now.""Yes, Mrs. Nichols Sr." Hester eagerly pulled out her phone.Joe hesitated for a moment before answerin
The moment the words escaped Debra's lips, she wished she could reel them back in.She'd seen the affection in Juan's eyes, unchanged and unyielding. He'd gambled everything on her once, and she knew he'd do it again in a heartbeat."If you want, they're all yours," Juan said without the slightest hesitation."What if I'm not joking?""I'm not either.""Forget it. I'm tired of this game. What's next?"Debra marched towards the amusement park exit, leaving Juan stunned in place.She tossed over her shoulder and said, "Don't tell me this is all you've got planned."Juan always had a backup plan. And with a grand gesture like renting out an entire amusement park, there had to be more. After all, he had even conquered his acrophobia."There's more," he said, following her lead.Whenever he tried to get closer, Debra would step forward just in time. The distance between them seemed to be as unbridgeable as that single step.Across town at Marion's place, Randy catapulted off the
"Happy birthday, Debra!""Thank..."Before Debra could finish her sentence, a voice like nails on a chalkboard echoed through the mall. "Booking out the whole mall? Quite the spectacle."The crowd parted as Melody Nichols swept in, her eyes locked onto Debra like a hawk zeroing in on its prey. Behind her, a squadron of bodyguards swiftly secured the area, drawing curious stares from onlookers.Debra's smile faded faster than a snowflake in summer."Ms. Frazier, wasn't it you who was so eager to divorce Juan? And now, here you are, coaxing him into throwing you this lavish birthday party. Is your family fortune running dry? Hoping to weasel your way back into the Nichols' good graces?" Melody scoffed, her eyes flashing with contempt. "Keep dreaming."Juan's expression darkened like a storm cloud. "Grandma..."Joe rushed in, taken aback by the scene unfolding before him. Melody, it seemed, had strong-armed her way into Juan's financial records and tracked them down to the mall."
"Joe, escort my grandmother out," Juan commanded, his voice as hard as steel.Joe hesitated before stepping forward. "Mrs. Nichols Sr., please, let's go.""Get lost!" Melody snapped, swatting Joe's hand away.She planted herself squarely in front of Debra. Her eyes were cold, her smile colder. "Listen here, Debra. I know your family's broke and you're desperate for cash, but Juan and you have filed for divorce. So, you're not weaseling your way back into our family. Not on my watch. And you won't see a dime of the marital assets."Juan's anger boiled over. "Grandma, that's enough."Joe advised her, "Mrs. Nichols Sr., you should really leave now. Mr. Nichols is already upset."Just then, Debra spoke up. "Fine. Let's clear this up. Please have Juan sign the divorce agreement as soon as possible. I've sent over dozens of copies, all torn to shreds by him. I don't know if he has a masochistic streak. I've been very clear, yet he still refuses to divorce me."Melody, who always cared
Debra strode out of the mall. A sense of defeat washed over Juan, and he rubbed his temples."Who leaked the news?" he demanded."It seems it was Miss Vargas," Joe said hesitantly.He arranged everything personally—the venue, the gifts, the party. Only a handful of people from the company knew. He wondered how Hester got wind of it.Juan's gaze remained fixed on Debra's disappearing form."Do you think I've lost her, Joe?""Sir..."Juan hadn't seen any affection left in Debra. And when she spoke about that dream, her eyes held a world of bitterness and resignation.Outside the mall, Debra cursed under her breath. She'd forgotten to bring her car, and now she was stranded in the busiest part of Seamar City.Suddenly, a sleek black Porsche pulled up in front of her. The window rolled down, revealing Marion's grinning face. "Get in."Debra quickly slid into the passenger seat, her eyes meeting Marion's."How did you know I was here?"Marion didn't answer. Instead, he reached o
Debra stirred, the scent of saltwater tickling her nose.She thought she was still adrift in dreams, but the sunset painting the sky in hues of orange and pink was very real.She was on a cruise ship. The sea stretched out in all directions, and the sun was dipping below the horizon."Are we there already?" she murmured.Except for Marion and her, there was no one on the ship.She found Marion in the kitchen, wiping down a knife. The aroma of cooked meat filled the air."We've been here a while," he said. "I didn't want to disturb your sleep."Debra then noticed she was lying on a big bed. She got up, and Marion draped a blanket over her shoulders. "The sea breeze is a bit cold this season, but it looks great."The ship had the heating on, so she didn't feel cold. The sunset outside bathed her in warmth."Did you bring me here for my birthday?" she asked.Marion took a step back and gave a small bow. "Ms. Frazier, would you do me the honor of dining with me this evening?"Sh
"What papers?" Debra was puzzled.Marion, with a flourish, produced a document adorned with stamps and signatures. "It's a voluntary gift. No strings attached.""You...""It's all official. These are yours now."He knelt before her, took her hand, and slipped the ring onto her finger. The sapphire gleamed in the candlelight, casting a soft glow on her fair skin.He pressed a tender kiss onto the gem, his eyes never leaving hers."This ring is called 'Loyalty,'" he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I pledge my unwavering loyalty to you. I'll stand by your side for life."The candlelight flickered, casting dancing shadows and bathing them in a warm, intimate glow. Debra's cheeks flushed, the heat from Marion's touch sending electric jolts through her.The ship swayed gently, and the only sound the rhythmic lapping of waves against the hull could be heard.After a long pause, she finally found her voice. "Did you forget something?"Marion was confused.Debra hesitated, h
Erica's voice blared through the phone, loud enough for Marion to hear.Debra's cheeks flushed pink as she glanced at him, whispering into the receiver, "Did he arrange a dinner for me?""Yep, it's all set up at the Royal Grand Hotel. We're just missing the guest of honor. Randy and I are en route to pick you up. Where are you?" Erica chirped.Debra cupped her hand over the phone and mouthed to Marion, "Did you plan something at the Royal Grand Hotel?"He shook his head, and realization dawned on Debra. Erica and Randy were behind this surprise."Is Marion with you?" Debra asked, suppressing a laugh.Erica stammered, "Of course. He's waiting at the hotel.""But if Marion's with you," Debra said, grinning, "then who's sitting next to me?"There was a pause, then a burst of noise from the other end. Then Erica and Randy exclaimed in unison, "What? You're with him?"Debra heard the screech of brakes, followed by Randy's exasperated voice. "Why didn't you tell us you were together
"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