That was one billion dollars. There was no way Melody would let that kind of money fall into Hester's hands.The Vargas family wasn't even a big player in the business world. If they had any value at all, it was only because they'd been lucky enough to cross paths with her."Yes, Mrs. Nichols Sr.," Sophie responded.She sighed and called Debra, who was waiting in the hospital corridor for Juan's surgery to finish."Madam, how is Mr. Nichols?""The surgery isn't over yet. Why?""Well, the Vargas family came to cause trouble earlier," Sophie said, casting a glance at Melody, who was lounging on the couch nearby. "Mrs. Nichols Sr. wants him to call her once he wakes up."Debra spoke calmly. "Juan isn't waking up today. If Mrs. Nichols Sr.'s got a problem, she'll have to solve it herself.""But the deadline...""Sophie, whose name is on that contract?""It's Mrs. Nichols Sr.'s.""Since she signed it, she can pay for it herself. One billion dollars is hardly anything, right? I'm
Melody opened one of the jewelry boxes and took out a sapphire, its deep blue glow mesmerizing. "Just this sapphire alone is worth a billion. Tomorrow, you take it to the Vargas family. Let them get a good look at what real wealth looks like."Sophie blurted out, "This sapphire is an heirloom, isn't it? They say it once belonged to royalty. It's far too valuable."Melody waved her off. "I've got things in this suitcase that are worth much more. Debra wants to drain me dry, but does she even realize who she is facing? A billion dollars is nothing. Give it to her. And when I'm gone, not a cent of this will end up in her hands.""But...""Just take it away."Melody kept her composure, pretending this was no big deal. But the moment Sophie left the room, she felt a deep pang of regret.Even though her jewelry collection was worth a fortune, the liquid assets in her possession didn't amount to a billion dollars. Over the years, most of the family's wealth had gone into buying jewelry
The atmosphere grew tense. Joe stepped in to break the awkwardness."Sir, how about I go get the car? You should head back with Mrs. Nichols. She's been waiting here throughout your whole surgery.""Yeah, go get the car.""I'm not going with you."Joe advised her just in time, "Madam, the press is waiting outside. If you don't leave with us now, the tabloids might spin some nasty rumors."Debra thought about the situation. Now that she had just gotten back together with Juan. If she left alone, it would give rise to gossip."Let's go together then."Without further argument, the three of them got into the car. As they pulled out of the parking lot, a swarm of reporters rushed forward, cameras flashing and questions flying."Lose them.""Yes, sir."Joe quickly accelerated the car. Within moments, they had sped past the crowd, leaving the reporters behind in the dust."Sir, I believe Mrs. Nichols Sr. is still at the house.""I already told her to leave.""She might not want
Juan's cold response infuriated Melody. She pointed at Debra and demanded, "Is it really that you refuse to get involved, or is she stopping you?"Debra suddenly found herself dragged into the fray. With an innocent expression, she blinked and said, "Grandma, what do you mean by that? Why drag me into this? What does any of this have to do with me?""Don't you play dumb with me!" Melody's eyes were wild with accusation. "Juan was in surgery, so how could he have possibly handed over evidence to the Vargas family? Do you think I'm senile and foolish? This is clearly your doing. You're trying to drive a wedge between me and Juan."Debra just gave her a small smile. "It seems there's been a misunderstanding between us.""Misunderstanding?" Melody sneered, her voice dripping with contempt. "Don't try to fool me. I don't care what tricks you used to trick Juan, but let me remind you, Juan is my grandson. He would never choose you over me.""Enough!" Juan's voice cut through the tension
Debra pushed the door open and found Melody sitting by the bedside."Melody, are you still angry with me?""Cut the act, Debra. Don't think just because Juan likes you, you can do whatever you want in this house. Let me tell you, men are fickle creatures. He used to be all about Shelia, and now it's you. Who's to say he won't move on to someone else next? And when he stops protecting you, what will you be then? Nothing."Debra wasn't fazed. "You're right. Men are unpredictable, so it won't matter to me who Juan likes in the future.""What are you getting at?""I suppose you know what will happen to the Nichols family if I don't make peace with Juan right now, don't you?"Melody's frown deepened, her lips pursing tightly. Debra smiled knowingly, continuing, "But then again, you've spent your whole life enjoying the luxuries. You've never once bothered with business affairs, so naturally, you wouldn't be aware of how the stock has been plummeting these past few months.""Stop sp
Joe hesitated, and Debra quickly reassured him, "Don't worry. I'm just going to have a simple conversation with them. It won't drag your boss into anything."Joe bowed his head. "Yes, ma'am."The Vargas family, basking in the glow of the newly signed contract in their hands, hadn't anticipated Debra's arrival. When the maid announced her presence, the mood in the house shifted immediately.Jenson frowned deeply. "What's she doing here?"Lauren Vargas chimed in, "Maybe we should just send her away. She's Juan's wife after all. She's probably here to speak on behalf of the Nichols family."Jenson nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Let's get rid of her."But Hester interrupted, "Maybe we should let her in."Lauren turned on her, shocked. "Don't be foolish. Don't you realize why she's here? She's probably going to plead on behalf of the Nichols family."Hester shook her head. "No, that's not true. Debra reminded me to demand that contract in the first place. Without her advice, we wouldn'
Lauren was puzzled. "Then what brings you here?"Debra replied, "I came to ask the three of you. What are your thoughts on this ring?""Thoughts?" Lauren glanced at Jenson before forcing a smile. "Well, our family is modest and humble. Since the ring is already quite valuable, we see no reason to refuse it."Debra turned her gaze to Jenson. "Mr. Vargas, do you feel the same way?"Jenson was a small-time businessman who had worked his entire life without earning enough to afford a ring like this.He simply nodded. "If sold, this ring could fetch a considerable price. I have no reason to be dissatisfied."Debra raised a problem. "Indeed, this ring is worth one billion dollars. However, you'll find it difficult to sell."Lauren was confused. "Please enlighten me. The ring is in perfect condition. Why would it be hard to sell?"The ring boasted high quality and a long history. If they put it up for auction, it was bound to bring in a fortune.Debra let out a soft sigh. "Mrs. Varga
If they annoyed the Nichols, things would not turn out well for them.Debra reassured them, "Don't worry about it. Just go and demand cash. Act like you don't know its worth. I promise you'll walk away with one billion dollars."Lauren was still uncertain, but Jenson sensed an opportunity and gripped her hand."Alright, we'll do it.""Good. Take the ring. We'll meet again tomorrow."After Debra was gone, Lauren was still hesitant."Honey, do you think we can trust Debra?""Debra and the Nichols family aren't on the same side. Remember, didn't Juan have an affair recently? I think Debra's looking to get revenge on them. We might as well give it a shot.""Dad's right," Hester chimed in bitterly. "If we can get one billion dollars, at least all I've suffered won't have been in vain."With that, they came to an agreement. Early the next morning, they marched up to the Nichols family's house and created a scene at the door.Melody was woken up by Sophie's urgent knocking."What n
"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