Debra, who had kept her phone on mute the whole way, took it out and saw two missed calls from Ralph.She raised an eyebrow. "He sure finds out things fast."Randy asked curiously, "Who is it?""My uncle," Debra replied. "Looks like I won't be going back to school today. Could you guys take me to his home?"They understood what she meant.Ralph wanted a piece of the cake."I'll take you there," Marion said.Debra was surprised.Marion didn't have to do this for her."What? You don't trust my driving skills?""How could I? I just feel bad troubling you so many times."Randy couldn't hold back a laugh. "Really?""I'll never forget your help," she said, glad to have Marion escort her.Marion drove her to the Frazier family's house and even opened the car door for her.Word of this quickly reached Rosalie's ears.Rosalie couldn't believe it. "Who did you say? Marion Houston?"The servant nodded.Ralph heard it and asked, "What's going on? Marion is here? We've never offend
Rosalie was not happy about the revelation, but she didn't think Debra would reject Ralph's request.That was a piece of land measuring 60 thousand square meters.She didn't want Debra to benefit from it.Debra feigned surprise. "Green zone? Why wasn't I informed?""Because you've never been involved in these matters. Ralph is looking out for your best interests. This large piece of land will make us rich," Rosalie said, her eyes sparkling.Anyone with brains knew the value of the land once the municipal document came through.Debra sighed, "Ralph, why didn't you tell me earlier? It's too late now.""What do you mean?" Rosalie tensed up.Ralph stammered, "You wouldn't have...""I sold it three hours ago.""What?" Rosalie exclaimed."In fact, I bought it on a whim. Later, I regretted it because it turned out to be in a sewage area. It was a hot potato I was trying to sell, but there were no buyers until Marion found me today. He wanted it, and afraid he'd change his mind, I s
"I've reserved a private room at Maple Hotel. Come on and get in the car," Marion said."Thank you!" Debra said.In the afternoon, Juan was headed to a banquet with Joe. As they passed by Arcane Academy, he glanced at the students bustling on campus, and Debra's image involuntarily came to his mind."Pull over," he said.He surprised himself by giving that command.Joe promptly pulled over and asked, "Sir, do you want to pick up Miss Miles?"Juan remained silent.Joe asked again, "Should I call Mrs. Nichols?"Juan lifted his head, his eyes cold in the rearview mirror. Joe immediately shut his mouth.At the school gate, Wendy spotted Juan's car and nudged Shelia. "Shelia, isn't that your boyfriend's car? Is he here to pick you up?"From afar, Shelia recognized the license plate and blushed at Wendy's words.Carrie teased, "Guess you can't dine with us today. Next time, you're treating.""Okay, I'll catch you guys later," Shelia chirped, hurrying towards Juan's car.It had b
"Check out the menu and see if there's anything you like," Marion said, handing the menu to her.Debra casually browsed through it. "Let's have everything Randy mentioned."Marion chuckled, and Randy exclaimed, "See? Marion never picks wrong! Those are all your favorites!"Debra looked at Marion, who didn't seem inclined to explain."Sorry sir, the crab just ran out. We can offer you a substitute of equal value. How about..." The waiter trod carefully, not wanting to upset Marion.Randy frowned. "What's going on? I made a reservation in advance. How can it be unavailable?" He prided himself on managing such matters impeccably, and this was like a slap in the face."We're really sorry, but the crab was already reserved by another guest. The clerk made a mistake, and we could compensate you with two other dishes. Please accept our apologies, sir.""Is this a matter of compensation? Who reserved it? I'll go speak to them!" Randy said.Debra stopped him, saying, "It's okay. The c
Dave was puzzled.That was great news for the real estate industry, and everyone in the business had learned about it.Juan furrowed his brow as he realized he hadn't contacted Debra since this morning."Mr. Clark, let's drink."Shelia knew Juan was thinking about Debra. She poured him a drink despite her uneasy feelings.Juan stood up abruptly and left the private room without a word."Mr. Nichols?"The room fell into confusion, and Shelia fretted.She found it hard to believe the land had ended up in the green zone.In the bathroom, Debra finished washing her hands and noticed her phone vibrating on the sink. Seeing it was Juan calling, she answered, "What's up?""Where are you?" His tone wasn't friendly.Confused why he was upset again, she replied, "Having a meal with friends. Can it wait until tonight?"Shelia's timid voice came from the other end. "Juan, come back. Everyone's waiting for you."Debra hung up without another word.She found it absurd that he asked abo
Shelia returned to the room, her pale face catching attention.She struggled to compose herself as she sat down. Juan noticed her pallor and asked, "Are you feeling unwell?"In a hushed voice, Shelia replied, "Mr. Nichols, I-I think I just saw Debra.""Debra?"Shelia nodded, hesitating as she continued, "Not only did I see Debra, but I also saw the two men from the auction the other day. One of them seemed very close to her."One name instantly came to his mind: Marion.His eyes glinting with coldness, Juan stood up and strode towards the door.Shelia followed him, leaving everyone else bewildered."It's right ahead," she pointed, leading the way.Juan pushed open the door to the private room and saw Marion and Randy inside. They were toasting each other.Randy looked puzzled. "Juan?"Disappointment washed over Shelia as Debra's absence registered. But soon, she noticed the third set of utensils on the table. "Mr. Nichols, the utensils are still here."Juan also spotted the
Caleb doted excessively on Erica."I'm sorry, Miss Mathis. I didn't mean to. I...""Enough!"Erica frowned, turning her attention to Juan. "It's you, Juan. You better keep your mistress in check. How dare a poor student who latched onto a wealthy man be so insolent in front of me?"Being labeled a mistress, Shelia couldn't hold back her anger. But before she could retort, Juan intervened with a grim expression.Shelia was frightened by his demeanor, not daring to utter another word."It's a misunderstanding. Let me cover the expenses of your meal. Please don't take offense.""No need! The Mathis family is rich enough."Erica bluntly rejected his offer. "I'll remember this. Show them out!"Several bodyguards then escorted Juan and Shelia out of the room.Juan could easily handle these people if he chose to fight. He didn't because he was in the wrong.Once outside, Juan looked sullen."Juan, I really didn't..." Shelia started."Alright, let's not talk about it again," Juan
Debra heard the door creak open, and a streak of dim light shone through."Debra?" Juan's voice was low.Debra pretended not to hear.Juan raised his voice a bit. "Debra?"Debra frowned but kept her eyes closed. "Why are you disturbing my sleep in the middle of the night?""Get up!" Juan's tone carried suppressed anger.Frustrated, she got up and looked at Juan, who was standing at the door. "What's your problem?"Juan rushed forward and pinned her down on the bed, catching her off guard.The dim light from the doorway cast a subtle glow over him.Her breath caught in her throat, but she quickly regained her composure. "What are you trying to do?""Where were you tonight?""Having dinner with my friends.""Who?"Debra frowned. "I don't owe you an explanation. Remember, we're just using each other for benefits.""Oh really?" Juan sneered.Debra sensed trouble as Juan began to tear at her nightgown. "Legally, you're my wife. Don't you think you should fulfill your duties?"
"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