As Debra thought about the pack of birth control pills from earlier that day, she forced a smile and said, "Mr. Lowe, I'm not that hungry.""I know. You didn't like what the hotel served yesterday," Drake responded."No, I'm really not hungry," Debra said.She was eager to excuse herself and prayed that Marion would arrive soon.Drake started eating. As if engaging in casual conversation, he asked, "Kale said you contacted someone from the McKinney Group today.""It was an old colleague," Debra quickly explained. "I had some paid leave to record that show, and they still owe me 30 thousand dollars. I thought I'd ask about it when you submitted my resignation. After all, jobs with salaries like that aren't easy to find."She picked up her fork and knife, trying to mask her nervousness with action. But then she thought about the possibility of Drake drugging the food, so she put the tableware back down.Drake chuckled, "What's the matter? Afraid I drugged the food?"Debra stiffen
Without a glance at the box, Drake handed it to Debra. "Take it.""I won't," she blurted out.Drake frowned. "You're sick. Do you want to end up in the hospital?""Who's sick? Who takes birth control pills randomly?" Debra countered.Drake froze. "Birth control pills?"Kale was just as confused.Debra held up the box. "These are birth control pills. Don't tell me you don't know."Drake stared at the box. The label didn't mention anything about contraception."It's norgestrel," he read aloud. "Where does it say birth control?"Debra was speechless. It was almost unbelievable that a man like Drake, with all his power, had no idea what birth control pills looked like."If they're not birth control pills, why are you making me take them?" she asked."You said your belly hurt. I asked the staff, and they recommended this for pain relief. Don't be ungrateful," Drake huffed.The waitress came up to explain, "Mr. Lowe said you had a tummy ache. I take this for my period cramps, so
"Your men have been held down. There is no escape," Marion said.Drake turned to look at Debra with a cold smile. "Ms. Frazier, you've really surprised me."Debra tried to stand and run to Marion, but as soon as she got up, a wave of dizziness washed over her.She glanced at the wine glass on the table, quickly realizing that the wine had been drugged. Drake had been prepared all along.Before she could steady herself, Kale pressed a blade against her throat.Debra's body went limp, her strength fading fast. Through blurry vision, she could see Marion's panicked face as he rushed toward her, but her consciousness was slipping away bit by bit."I thought the person she contacted this morning was Juan, but it turns out to be you," Drake said calmly as he dusted off his suit. "You know how skilled Kale is. I'll give you two choices: take Kale and me to the airport or watch her die."Neither of those choices was what Marion desired.Debra tried to speak, but before she could, Mar
Marion quickly explained, "That was because..."Debra cut him off. "And you pointed a gun at me. Were you trying to kill me?""No. Kale's reflexes are top-notch. He would never let you die.""So, you were just gambling with my life, trusting a stranger to protect me? What if he hadn't reacted fast enough?""I raised the gun one centimeter higher. Even if he failed to react, the bullet wouldn't hit you."Overcome with sadness, Debra threw herself into his arms, finally letting out all the frustration, fear, and anger she'd been holding in for days."Do you even know what Drake is like? He is a monster," she sobbed, burying her face in Marion's chest.Randy made a quick gesture to the others in the room, signaling them to stay quiet and move carefully. One by one, they slipped out of the room. On his way out, Randy closed the door behind him, giving the two some privacy."I know," Marion whispered, stroking her back. "You're safe now. I'm here with you."Debra gradually calmed d
"Why did you go so hard on yourself?" Marion sighed.He stood up, walking over to the kitchen to soak a towel in warm water.Debra huffed, "It's because of you. What else was I supposed to do when you had a gun pointed at my head?"Marion came back, crouching beside her. He gently pressed the damp towel against the wound on her thigh."My gun will never be aimed at you," he said in a hoarse voice.Debra sensed his exhaustion, reaching out to cup his face. Only then did she notice the circles under his eyes.His exhaustion was barely hidden, and no amount of bravado could disguise the toll the last few days had taken on him.She knew Marion must have gone through hell trying to find her. He probably hadn't slept properly since she'd gone missing.Feeling touched, she leaned forward and kissed him. At first, it was a quick, gentle kiss, but Marion deepened it, pulling her close as if afraid she might vanish again."Debra..." he whispered her name between kisses, his voice thick
"Put me down."Debra panicked, thinking he was about to start something again. She wasn't sure she could handle another round of his endless energy."Scared?""I am. If we stay apart for too long again, I might die in your bed."Marion bent down and silenced her with a kiss."Don't ever say something so unlucky again.""Alright."It had been a close call. If fate hadn't played out the way it did, they might never have seen each other again.A knock at the door interrupted their moment."Guys, are you up yet?" Randy's voice came from the hallway.Debra quickly wriggled free from Marion's embrace."Yeah, what's up?""Edgar's secretary is waiting for you in the lobby. He mentioned an appointment.""Alright, I'll be down in a minute."She hadn't expected Chace to find her so soon.Standing on tiptoe, she playfully pinched Marion's cheek. "Go get me some toothpaste. I've got work to do."Marion smiled indulgently, "Sure thing."In the lobby, Chace glanced around and noticed
Debra furrowed her brow. "You know Edgar killed Kolton, yet you're still going to protect him?"Chace sighed, "I'm protecting Kolton's legacy. I can't just stand by and watch it crumble."He knew very well that if he helped Debra, the Odom family would be pushed to the brink.Debra chuckled, "Who said Kolton's legacy would crumble?"Chace scoffed, "You've spent all this time planning, haven't you? All to bring down Edgar and wipe out the Odom family.""You're half right.""What do you mean?""I do want to bring Edgar down, but that doesn't mean I want to destroy the Odom family."Chace was surprised. Debra had all but won, and even if he laid out all the risks to Edgar, the latter wouldn't listen.Debra had the power to crush the Odom family's financial backing with a single command. Bankruptcy was just a matter of time now."I have my principles. My beef is with Edgar. All of this is just to take him down. I have no intention of wiping out the Odom Group.""Who would believ
Chace sighed, "Since you've already planned everything, why bother asking me? You could take over the Odom Group without me, without even negotiating.""It's not the same," Debra said. "You're a veteran. No one knows the inner workings better than you. If Oscar takes over without you by his side, even with all his financial expertise, it won't be enough. Besides, you were trained by Kolton. If you acknowledge Oscar, no one will dare question his legitimacy."Chace thought for a moment. "Alright, I'll agree.""Good. I'll have the contracts drawn up as soon as possible. Let's hope for a smooth partnership," Debra said, extending her hand.Chace hesitated briefly before shaking hands with her.In the afternoon, Debra boarded a flight to Seamar City. She even got some rare, peaceful sleep in the plane's cabin. By the time they landed, it was already midnight.When Erica heard that Debra had returned, she left the party midway and rushed straight to Marion's house.She threw her arms
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
"What're you looking at?" Lara asked, stepping out and spotting Michael by the window."Debra says the stone Drake gave us is fake," he replied."What? No way." Drake shot up from his seat."Are you messing with us?" Lara's sharp gaze landed on him."No. Debra's talking nonsense," Drake insisted."We'll see," Michael said, unruffled.Debra was offering the stone on the condition of meeting with their leader. It fit her style."She thinks she can just waltz in and see our master?" Lara sneered."The stone's a big deal to him. I bet he'll agree," Michael replied, shutting his phone."Don't tell me you're sweet on Debra," she hissed. "You keep letting her off. Don't wanna kill her, huh?""Unlike you, I don't get off on killing," he countered. "If she's not in my way, why bother? You're out there slaughtering, just making enemies for the Illuminati. You're venting rather than serving.""You don't get it. I'm building fear for the Illuminati," she justified herself. "They need to
Oscar set down the receiver and threw his hands up. "I'm not resisting. Don't spook my staff," he said.Chace tried to step in, but Oscar's look stopped him.This incident was major. Almost half of Flesta's people had fallen victim.Everyone at the company, Chace included, got hauled in for questioning. As the head, Oscar was the main target.The line went dead, and Debra's heart sank."Those bastards," Randy cursed, "hitting us on both sides. No wonder the Illuminati has been quiet. They have been gunning for our partners.""They're smart," Debra said. "Can't take us head-on, so they go after our allies. They want everyone to see partnering with us as a dead end. If we let this slide, we're doomed eventually.""What should we do?" Erica stomped, fuming. "We just sit here and watch them pick off our friends one by one?""They're showing us what happens if we cross them. They want us to bow. The only way out is to flip the script and strike first.""Strike first? What does th
Seeing Debra's worried look, Marion said, "You should just focus on healing and leave the rest to us. We might not match the Illuminati, but they won't mess with us randomly here in Seamar City."The Four Great Families had ruled Seamar City for a century. Although the former heads had faded, the new generation was sharper and stronger. They could hold off the Illuminati's push.Debra's phone rang. It was Oscar calling."You free? I've got something to tell you," he said.Debra put it on the speaker. No one could guess the aim of his call.In Flesta, the Odom family's business was booming again. He should have been busy with work."What's up?" she asked."There's big trouble in Flesta," he replied. "We didn't want to bug you, but it's spiraling out of control. We're out of moves.""What happened?" She had a bad feeling.Oscar paused. "A new drug has popped up in Flesta. Tons of our staff got hooked, just like regular folks. The police are on it now. We checked our products and
Debra stared at the pendant.What had happened yesterday came flooding back.Kale was gone, and the fact hit her hard."It's my fault," she said in agony. "If he hadn't gone with me, he would have been alive.""Everyone makes their calls," Marion soothed her. "If there's blame, it's on the Illuminati. I was terrified, almost losing you.""I felt like you were nearby, so I wasn't afraid," she said, leaning into him. "They'll pay for hurting Drake and killing Kale. I'll make sure of it.""No matter what happens, we're in this together," he said.Exhaustion took over. She closed her eyes and drifted off.When she woke up, it was already noon the next day. Her injury kept her from moving much.Everyone gathered outside her bedroom. William came in to check on her."You're fine. Just change the dressings on time," he said, packing up his kit. "You guys can come in now."Debra adjusted her clothes and leaned against the headboard. "Sorry to trouble you.""We're in this together,"
William left quickly.Marion got up to lock the door and returned to the bedside.Sitting back into the chair, he switched on a dim lamp, making sure Debra would see him first thing if she woke up."Brother..." Debra mumbled.Marion leaned in. "I'm here."Her murmurs stopped, but her hands shot up, grasping at the air. "It's so dark. Save me."He grabbed her flailing hands right away. "Don't be scared. I'm right here."But she didn't calm down. She clutched his hand, her nails scratching at his skin. "Brother, save me," she murmured, feeling like she was trapped in a pitch-black hold.Cold seawater seemed to swallow her whole. The biting chill seeped into every crack of her body. The stench of the ocean made her gag.The water was up to her chin. She stood on tiptoes, desperate for a breath in that tiny space."Save me." Her eyes flew open.Familiar surroundings came into view. Her pupils darted until they landed on Marion. Her racing heart finally slowed."Marion?" Her v
Not long after, Marion came out with Debra.William nudged Erica and Randy. "Told you it would be soon.""How's she out here fresh after surgery?" Erica gawked.Debra was supposed to recover in the hospital, but seeing her unconscious form on the stretcher, Erica figured he had his reasons."Let's go back," Jordan chimed in. "The Potter Mansion's got a top-notch medical team. If we need gear, I'll grab it.""Yeah, hospitals suck anyway," Randy said. "Let's head back. It's freezing out here."They'd planned to grab food and head in, but Erica had made them wait so Marion could have more time with Debra. Now they were all sniffling."I'm... Achoo." William sneezed again, then bolted for the car. "I'm out of there. It's freaking cold."He had treated so many patients, but this was the first time he had fallen ill.Debra, still out cold, was loaded into the back. Marion stayed close, tending to her.By the time they reached the Potter Mansion, it was the middle of the night.Wil
William rubbed his eyes in disbelief.They had taken the emergency lane to the hospital, but Marion and the others arrived right behind their heels after going through a battle."We floored it. That's not the point," Erica replied.Marion and Jordan were already striding into the hospital.Randy grabbed Erica's arm. "Come on. Let's go.""Huh? William is still here." She was puzzled.Inside, the operating room's red light glowed.Marion arrived first. The hospital director greeted him, saying, "Mrs. Houston is in surgery now. Our top doctors have assessed her. The wound's been handled perfectly, and she is out of danger."Marion's face softened a bit. Erica heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank God. She's fine now."They'd been terrified seeing Debra collapse in a pool of blood."You're wiped out. Why don't you rest a bit?" Erica said, turning to Marion."I'll wait here," he replied, his eyes glued to the red light.Until it turned green, he couldn't rest his mind at ease."Well
Michael raised an eyebrow. "My plan never included you. Does our master know you snuck here from Orkgate? And you've got the nerve to question me?"Lara glared at him, her body aching from the burns. Her face twisted with anger."Take Miss Sharp back for treatment. It will take two hours to get back, so she'll have to tough it out," Michael ordered, unfazed.Before leaving with his crew, he lamented sanctimoniously, "Such a shame, ruining a pretty face like that."Lara clenched her fists, incandescent with rage....In the ambulance, Debra coughed up another mouthful of blood. It splattered right onto William's white coat."Aw." William almost griped about the mess, holding back only at the sight of her bad condition.He had to save her, no matter what. It was a promise he'd made to Andrew.He didn't even want to think about what would happen to him if Debra didn't make it today."Maybe another shot of painkiller? We've gotta get that bullet out fast," a medic suggested."Yo