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
Debra took a couple of steps back and asked casually, "How about we just chat for a bit?""Chat..." Juan started to respond but hesitated.He wasn't exactly the best at small talk. Still, with Debra in front of him, the only thing running through his mind was the question he always wanted to ask. "What is going on between you and Marion now?"Instead, he said, "How have you been lately?""Good," Debra answered without much thought. "And you?""Not so good."Her eyebrows shot up in surprise at his blunt answer. Pausing, she glanced up at the camera and said, "Cut that part out. I'll ask again."Playing it cool, she repeated the question, "So, how have you been lately?"Watching her busy herself with cooking, Juan realized she was just trying to get some material for the show. He let out a soft laugh and replied, "Great.""Good to hear," Debra said, turning her attention back to the stew.The day had slipped by, and the sky would darken in a few hours. According to the producti
Debra yelped as the hot pot burned her hand. The sharp pain made her gasp, and she quickly grabbed her earlobes to cool down."What happened?"Juan rushed into the kitchen, immediately noticing her hand. Without hesitation, he took hold of it and pulled her over to the sink to run it under cold water.She glanced at Juan and then down at his hand.Realizing how forward he'd been, Juan awkwardly let go."Uh, you can take care of it."Debra continued rinsing her hand, unfazed by his sudden withdrawal.Juan, still flustered, said, "I'll get you some ointment."He hurried out of the kitchen, heading to the living room in search of a first aid kit.From the kitchen, Debra called out, "If you can't find it, don't worry about it."As expected, there wasn't any burn cream in the kit. Juan frowned, but Debra wasn't bothered.She walked back into the kitchen, grabbed a tube of toothpaste, and began applying it to the burn. Juan reentered the room just in time to see it."What are you
The sky had darkened, and Juan suggested that Debra go upstairs to rest.After an hour of rest, she came back down, only to find several dishes on the table that hadn't been there before."What's all this?" she asked, puzzled."Try it and see if it's good," he said.In an apron, Juan looked every bit the domestic chef.Debra sat down and looked at the dishes. "Fish, beef, and turkey? You made these?"Juan coughed awkwardly, his gaze flicking toward the nearby trash can. Following his gaze, Debra saw the trash can filled with burnt food."You made all of this?" Debra asked, her smile fading."I'm not quite good at cooking," Juan admitted, looking embarrassed."Well then, just stay away and don't waste food.""Got it."Looking at the table full of food, Debra suddenly lost her appetite. After a busy afternoon, the only thing she had made was the beef stew. The rest were takeouts, and they had been sitting out for a while, turning cold.They barely touched the dinner before st
Juan was surprised that Debra knew his favorite movie.Debra remained completely unaware of his sudden change in demeanor. She casually selected the movie and pressed play. When she turned to glance at him, their eyes met, and his suspicion was plain as day.It suddenly dawned on her. That was something Juan had mentioned before her rebirth.She remembered clearly. Before her rebirth, on their first wedding anniversary, Melody had been pushing them to get closer. She had demanded they go on a date to the movies.Debra had been thrilled. She asked what movie he wanted to watch, and he had casually mentioned 'Absurd World'. It had just come out back then. That night, after the movie, he had smiled at her for the first time while leaving the theater, saying it was a good film.But after her rebirth, Juan had never mentioned his favorite movie.Seeing the skepticism in his eyes, Debra quickly explained, "I remember Joe mentioning once that you liked this movie, so I figured I'd give
Juan replied honestly, "I didn't plan this.""Figured. You're not exactly the romantic type," she said, a rare smile softening her face as she continued watching the fireworks show. It went on for a good ten minutes, and her mood shifted. "Wow, the production team really knows how to burn money."From their courtyard, the display above looked like something out of a movie. It was stunning, almost surreal.At first, Debra was captivated by the dazzling display, but after ten minutes, her excitement began to wane. She rubbed her ears, silently calculating how much this extravagance must have cost.'Ten thousand, 20 thousand, 30 thousand...' she mentally counted.By the time the fireworks finally fizzled out, nearly 15 minutes had passed. It was a solid million-dollar fireworks show. The show had gotten a bigger budget than she thought.Juan turned to her and asked, "Did you like it?"Debra considered it seriously before replying, "I liked it at first. Now? Not so much."She tur
The sunlight filtered through the half-drawn curtains, casting a warm glow on the bedroom floor.Debra rubbed her eyes and sat up in bed, her long hair slightly messy. Her bare face still had traces of sleep.Her phone's ringtone woke her up. She picked it up and saw a task notification from the production team, instructing her and Juan to meet at the beach by eight o'clock.Debra got out of bed and walked to her closet, choosing a simple white T-shirt and jeans. Her figure made even the most ordinary clothes look stylish.Downstairs, Juan was already dressed and waiting in the living room. He wore a dark shirt with the collar slightly open, looking casual yet elegant.When they saw each other, both were visibly surprised.Juan had never seen Debra dressed so casually. Her natural look didn't make her appear haggard; instead, it added a touch of purity, making her seem like an angel who had accidentally wandered into the mortal world."Morning," Debra said.She noticed the came
"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