The room fell silent.Debra picked up the car keys on the table and said, "I have my plans. Whether Mr. Andrew Potter is sincere or has ulterior motives, as long as it helps me reach my goal, I'll do it. From now on, I'll handle things on my own. You two stay out of it."She glanced at Marion and left without saying anything harsh.Marion immediately followed her. Randy and Erica exchanged uneasy glances, feeling the tension in the air.Randy rubbed the back of his neck, murmuring, "Uh, we should probably head out too. Mr. Andrew Potter, we'll catch up later."He quickly grabbed Erica's hand and whispered, "Come on, let's go."Andrew didn't try to stop them. Once everyone was gone, a violent cough shook his body. The butler was worried."Sir, you've been stressing all night. You should get some rest."Andrew's face was pale. He'd been suppressing his discomfort. "Not yet. Someone still hasn't shown up."The butler was taken aback, but before he could ask further, Jordan, who h
Last night, Debra caught Ashley trying to drug her drink. She confronted Ashley, laying out all the risks and consequences, but Ashley, blinded by her desire to get close to Drake, drank the spiked wine anyway.After they changed clothes in the restroom, Ashley was immediately whisked away by Peter's people.Debra had assumed Ashley got what she wanted, but now she was dead.A chill ran down Debra's spine. If she had been the one taken to Drake's room last night, she might have met the same fate."Madam?" Ben pushed the door open and, noticing her pale expression, asked, "Didn't sleep well last night?""No, it's nothing," Debra replied, rubbing her temples and closing the news tab."Mr. Houston has been waiting downstairs for a while now. Should I let him up?""Are you his employee or mine? Why are you speaking up for him?""It's just that he's been down there for a while, and a lot of our employees have noticed.""So? It's not the first time he's come by.""He brought a car
"I was just afraid of losing you," Marion said, his voice filled with a rare sincerity.Usually, he was the epitome of rebellion and nonchalance, making it hard for others to read him. But moments like these, when he was earnest, were few and far between.Debra pinched his nose. "I'll take care of myself. And even if I can't, I know you'll be there to protect me, right?"Her words finally brought a smile to Marion's face. He feared nothing except the thought of Debra getting hurt."About those flowers...""I'll take them. Could you have them sent to my apartment, please?"She handed Marion her apartment key. "Make sure to fill the place with them.""Of course," Marion replied, holding the key tightly.Meanwhile, the Nichols family had received some news. Melody looked at the photos in her hand, her anger boiling over as she slammed them onto the table.One photo showed a man pulling a car full of flowers to the entrance of the McKinney Group, and another showed a man waiting o
As soon as Debra stepped into the Nichols family's house, she heard the sharp sound of something shattering. A teacup smashed right by her feet, sending shards skidding across the floor.Glancing up, Debra saw Melody seated on the couch, her face cold with discontent. Across from her stood Juan, straight-backed in a sleek black suit. His expression was stoic as he endured the scolding.Melody sneered, her words dripping with sarcasm. "Juan, I know you're busy with work, but you should also spare a thought for your home. Tell me, how many days has it been since you've seen your wife? She's moved out, and you don't even seem to care. If you're not careful, one day you'll wake up to find she's run off with someone."Debra sneered at the cutting remarks. Calmly, she stepped further into the room, offering Melody a polite smile. "Grandma, what's gotten you so upset? What happened?"Melody shot her a sideways glance. "I wouldn't dare let you call me 'Grandma'. Let's stick to 'Mrs. Nichol
"Grandma!" Juan interrupted unhappily.Melody, sensing his frustration, softened her tone but continued to press her point."I'm giving you a chance, Debra. If I expose this, you'll be discredited. No one will want to marry a woman with a reputation like yours.""That's enough."Juan's patience wore thin. He reached for the stack of photos, tearing them in half before tossing the pieces into the trash.Melody was stunned. "Juan...""Grandma, I believe in Debra. No matter what, she is my wife," Juan said, taking Debra's hand.But Melody was relentless. "You can't keep a woman like her. She'll ruin our family name. How can you be so foolish?""Sophie, take my grandma back to her room," Juan ordered."Yes, sir," Sophie replied.Juan looked down at the hand he held and released it. "Come with me."Given the way he had defended her, Debra followed him without protest. Behind them, Melody's voice carried through the halls. "She is a vixen!"She now deeply regretted her initial
"What if Marion doesn't want you by then?" Juan asked."He's not you. He would never leave me," Debra replied coldly.Juan laughed, a laugh that held a hint of self-mockery. "Leave you? Debra, listen carefully. I will never leave you. If you ask, I'll do anything for you. If you want it, even if it means handing over this entire city, I wouldn't bat an eye. But what has Marion done for you?""He won't lie to me or disrespect me. He'll give me everything he has—his life, his heart. He won't care about status or position. He'll always stand by my side, never abandon me, and certainly won't try to kill me for another woman."Debra poured out her heart, making it clear that Marion and Juan were incomparable in her mind."Kill you? How could I ever want to kill you?"Juan grabbed her arm, trying to convey his sincerity. She shook him off without hesitation."Juan, you're crossing the line."Juan couldn't understand her coldness toward him. He had been racking his brain, but he still
After a sleepless night, the sky was still dark when Joe arrived to take Debra and Juan to the airport.The reality show they were filming was set on an island, which had been rented out by the production team. It wasn't just one pair of guests participating. Each divorced couple was assigned to their own private apartment.Debra and Juan were given a secluded villa on the island. Whether it was because of Juan's status or not, the production team had gone all out. While it wasn't as grand as the Nichols family's house, it still had two stories and covered a solid hundred square meters.The other guests were housed in different sections, ensuring they wouldn't bump into Debra or Juan anytime soon.The show's requirements were simple. Debra and Juan needed to live together in this cozy villa for at least a month. The filming could stretch anywhere from one to two months, and the producers would record everything for the show's content.They had a script of sorts, dictating that the
Debra watched as Juan took over, opening the packages and boiling water.It was obvious he wasn't used to doing this. As the water started to boil over, Juan stood frozen, unsure of how to react.Debra calmly stepped in and turned off the stove. "Why don't you go wait outside?"Seeing that she wasn't making a suggestion but more of a command, Juan nodded and left the kitchen.Five minutes later, Debra walked into the living room with two plates of pasta. They sat down together, eating in silence. The tension between them hadn't eased; in fact, it had thickened."I..."Juan tried to speak, but Debra cut him off."Don't talk while you're eating."Juan swallowed his words, focusing on his food. Debra, on the other hand, finished her pasta quickly, stood up, and headed to the kitchen to wash the dishes.Andrew had sent her to the show, but he hadn't required her to cooperate.In the control room, the director rubbed his temples in frustration. "Why is there zero interaction betwe
It was afternoon already.Debra and Marion parked their car outside the valley.Looking at the sprawling terrain ahead, Debra couldn't shake the memory of trekking through it with Kale just days ago.Revisiting this place made her shiver."Your injury's still fresh," Marion said. "I can go alone."Debra shook her head. "We agreed on going together. Besides, I'm not here to fight. It will be fine."Marion ruffled her hair. "Alright, we're in this together."Enoch brought Erica here to lure them in. That much was clear.Now that they were here, they'd get her out.With night closing in, they quickly followed the route they'd mapped out and headed in.The map from Juan came in handy. In less than 30 minutes, they reached a clearing smack in the middle of four towering mountains.Mist hung light in the air, and the jagged peaks all around gave off a heavy, oppressive vibe.Through the fog, figures in black cloaks and white masks stepped out.Debra slid behind Marion, their han
Jordan signaled the guards at the door to stop Randy.But they didn't stand a chance. In three seconds flat, Randy laid them out.Jordan watched him vanish down the hall, dumbfounded. 'When did he get this good?'At the entrance, more guards tried to block Randy. He didn't slow down as he threw punches at them.Even with their number, they couldn't catch him.30 seconds later, Randy was in his car, peeling out toward the valley. Scenes from his childhood flashed across his mind."Leg up. Fist tight. Punch!" Caleb shouted.Erica eyed the wooden dummies in front of them and aimed for perfection.Randy's attention was all on her. He was not interested in these self-defense skills at all."Randy, focus!" Caleb whacked his arm with a cane. "Get real or go home."Randy couldn't care less. The truth was, he had already learned it all.At eight years old, his freakish athletic genes got him shipped off to a two-month boot camp. There, his raw talent made him untouchable in the junio
Lara came downstairs, smirking at Michael. "This time, even if you want to let them off, it won't happen."Michael was unfazed. "Don't say stuff that'll get twisted. I never plan to do that.""Oh, please. I know you better than that," Lara snorted. "Drop the act."Growing up, Michael had been given the best of everything.They were both in line to take over, but Michael got the bishop's favor from day one.Even if he didn't fight for it, he'd eclipse her. The bishop's partiality never failed to rattle her.She was a woman. True. But she was not any inferior to Michael.The partiality was unbelievable. This world's full of women outshining men.She was the one to help the bishop build something huge. The altar was only for her to ascend.She stepped up to Michael. "Wanna bet on what happens when Debra and Marion hit the valley? I can't wait to see Debra getting pierced by bullets. It would be so much fun."She observed Michael's expression, but there wasn't a crack."You done
The guard at the gate quickly stepped out of the booth. "Greetings, Mr. and Mrs. Houston. Unfortunately, Mr. Osborne isn't home.""We're not here for him," Marion said flat-out. "I want last night's security footage."The guard hesitated. "I'm sorry, but without Mr. Osborne saying so, I can't just hand it over.""Randy is lying in the hospital right now," Debra cut in. "Erica went missing from your place last night. If you don't cough up the tapes and something happens to her, can you take the heat?"The guard was shocked. "Mr. Randy Osborne in the hospital? And Miss Mathis is gone? I'll grab the footage. Hang on."He dashed to the security room. But when he pulled up the feed, the screen was pitch black."What's wrong? Is it busted?" Debra asked.The guard smacked the console a couple of times, and the picture flickered on. There was Enoch, stuffing a sack into his trunk and driving off.That explained why the cameras outside had only caught Enoch.Debra felt a chill run thro
A loud crash blasted through the phone, followed by screeching static.Debra's gut sank. "Randy's in trouble. Let's hurry."Jordan quickly rounded up a crew to track down Randy, while Debra and Marion bolted out of the house.That phone call screamed car wreck. Marion had Randy's location pinned fast, and an ambulance was already on its way."Don't panic. The ambulance is almost there," Debra reminded him, watching him push the speedometer.It was fine if it was just a regular crash. But if the Illuminati had set it up, the consequences were unimaginable. Enoch must have lost his mind to target his son.Debra and Marion had both lost their parents to car accidents. Marion would be devastated if he lost another person close to him."Quick! Get him out!"Thick smoke poured from the crash site. Debra's bad vibes grew.They jumped out and saw Jordan's people loading Randy onto a stretcher."How bad is it?" Debra ran up, desperate for details."Not too serious," Jordan replied. "
The maid froze. "Didn't Miss Mathis leave last night? I don't know where she is. But she's not here."A bad feeling hit Randy like a ton of bricks. He bolted out of the room and ran to the guest room next door. When he flung the door open, Erica wasn't there. The bed was pristine, with no sign of anyone sleeping in it.Erica was lazy as hell. There was no way she'd make the bed herself.Randy lost his head until what Theda had said suddenly echoed in his mind.If Enoch were the mastermind behind the Illuminati, he might have done something to Erica."Where's my dad?" Randy asked, his blood running cold.The maid had never seen him like this. He barked, "I'm asking you where my dad is."She stammered, "I called him last night like you asked. He came back for a bit and took off again."Now he confirmed that Enoch had taken Erica."Give me the phone.""Yes, sir."The maid handed it over.Randy dialed Enoch's number but could not get through.Sweat beaded on his forehead. The
Erica laughed, getting the implication.Randy coughed dryly. "Mom, what are you even saying? I'm not that kind of person."With that, he hustled Erica out of the room.As the door closed, she frowned. "What now? Your dad is suspicious.""Well, we'll deal with it when he gets back. Now take a rest.""Alright."He led her to a clean guest room."Yvette seemed fine just now. Didn't look like she's got any mental issues.""It comes and goes. She can be normal and confused at times.""Has she seen a doctor?""Yeah. They say it's from some big shock. If she takes it easy, she's pretty much fine. Her nerves are just shot. My dad kept her locked up here all these years. Probably doesn't want folks to know he's got a crazy wife."In his mind, Enoch always put profit and reputation first.If people found out he had a nutcase for a wife, he might ditch her. Even if he didn't, he'd freeze them out.One question was always hovering in Randy's mind. If Yvette wasn't tied to the Potter f
"Erica, let's head upstairs."Randy held Erica's hand as they walked up the stairs.The second floor was dead quiet, and the hallway lights were dim. At the far end was Yvette's bedroom.The door was wide open. Inside, Yvette sat at her vanity, brushing her hair.Nearing 50, she still looked good, though she'd let time take its toll. Her face was lined with wrinkles."Randy? You're back," she exclaimed, catching his reflection in the mirror.She turned around and saw him standing there, holding Erica's hand."Mom." Randy squeezed Erica's hand. "I brought Erica to see you."Yvette's eyes shifted to Erica, and she searched in her memories.After a while, she caught it. "Erica, I remember you. Randy always talked about you when he was a kid. I thought you two were just rivals or something."Yvette walked over to Erica and grabbed her hand. "Randy's a bit of a wild one, but he's great with girls. This is the first time he's brought a girl home. If you two are serious about each o
Everyone nodded at Marion's call. They split tasks fast.Randy drove Erica toward the Osborne Mansion, speeding through the dark.When they parked, he didn't budge from the driver's seat."Don't stress. I'm here with you," Erica said, squeezing his hand.She knew what ate at him. If Enoch was really the Illuminati's head, it would spark a war. His relationship with Enoch would be unmendable."I never saw this coming," Randy said, his face shadowed with a rare gloom.He had always known Enoch didn't care about him, Yvette, or their family.In fact, he had never known much about Enoch. Without Theda's hunch today, he'd never have linked Enoch to the Illuminati."If Enoch is tied to them, what will you do?" Erica asked, watching him closely.She knew that blood was thicker than water."I don't know." Randy shook his head.Being the heir to the Osborne family never mattered to him, but he could not deny his bloodline.If it came to picking sides, he didn't know if he'd back Mar