Melody and Shelia stood close together, the picture of a doting grandmother and her beloved granddaughter.The sight of either of them was enough to disgust Erica, and now they had appeared together."What are they doing here?" she muttered with annoyance.The manager quickly explained, "I've heard that Mr. Nichols is also getting engaged. I presume they're here to select dresses."Erica frowned. "There are only so many high-end boutiques in Seamar City, and we just had to run into these two. Talk about bad luck."Debra shook her head. "Bad luck? I'd say they're here to stir up trouble."It didn't feel like a coincidence at all. Seamar City had plenty of boutiques, yet they had shown up at the same place and on the same day.It seemed more like Shelia had intentionally found out where Debra was going and brought Melody along for support.A staff member placed rows of dresses in front of Shelia. "Mr. Blair, these are our latest products. Feel free to take your pick."Shelia hel
"Well..." The staff member hesitated.The wedding gown and dress designed for Debra were not just any pieces. They were one-of-a-kind, custom-tailored specifically for her. The Houstons had even purchased the exclusive rights to the designs, ensuring their uniqueness.According to store policy, those gowns couldn't be sold to anyone else.Shelia grumbled, "Is there a problem?"The staff member replied, "Ms. Blair, this dress was custom-made for Mrs. Houston, specifically tailored to her measurements. I'm afraid it might not fit you properly. How about we have our designer create something just for you?"Shelia insisted, "But I want that design for my engagement dress. Either make me an identical one or make it better than what she's wearing."She shot Debra a smug, challenging look, and the staff members were caught in the middle.The tailor finished her job, putting away the measuring tape.Debra slipped back into her coat, her composure unshaken.Erica, however, was fuming.
Over the past few months, Shelia had immersed herself in the world of fashion, thanks to her time with the Blair family. She now had a decent grasp of fabrics, styles, and trends.When the staff member handed the chosen fabric to the manager, the latter asked, "What style did Mr. Blair choose?"The staff member replied, "She hasn't chosen a style yet, but we're about to show her some options."Debra glanced at the satin and said to the manager, "Didn't she say she liked the dress I'm wearing? Just show her my style."The manager hesitated. "But the gown you're wearing is a fishtail design. If we use the stiff silk satin she chose, it might not work well."Debra's gown was made from soft chiffon, which flowed beautifully and accentuated the fishtail shape. Shelia's satin, on the other hand, was stiff and not suited for such a delicate design."Well, that's what she requested," Debra said. "Maybe we think it won't look good, but who knows? She might think otherwise. Besides, the cu
"Why did you stop me from teaching Shelia a lesson?" Erica said, unable to contain her frustration.With Marion's influence in Seamar City, even if they had to face off against Juan, they wouldn't lose a step.It was clear to everyone present that Shelia had deliberately tried to outshine Debra."Did you notice the fabric she picked?""Satin?""And the style?""A mermaid dress."Erica paused, finally catching on.Shelia had picked the same style as Debra, but the fabric she chose was different.Erica mused, "And she wants to bedazzle the whole thing with rhinestones. My goodness! I can't even imagine what it'll look like."Debra grinned, "I need you to do me a favor. Talk to the designer and make sure they follow Shelia's instructions. I'll cover the cost."Erica gave her a thumbs up. "Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant."The engagement party was just three days away, and given the tight deadline, there would be no time to fix anything if Shelia's dress ended up a disaster. If
Debra scrolled through the comment thread beneath Marion's supposed alias.[Marion, use your main account.][Yeah.][The moment a Debra-Juan fan says anything, Mr. Houston's there to shut it down.]Debra liked Marion's comment and planned to exit the app when a video compilation caught her eye.It was a clip of her and Juan from their time on the island, meticulously edited to emphasize every small gesture between them.The captions painted a picture of intimacy and affection.[Whenever Juan looks at her, his eyes are full of love.][That hand he reached out? That was instinctive.][She's looking ahead, but he's only looking at her.]...Debra was dazed. She hadn't noticed these details during the livestream.But soon, Juan's cold face resurfaced in her mind.The last time they met, he was full of indifference. She wondered if he was pretending or revealing his true colors.With doubt in mind, she grabbed her phone and scrolled through her contacts, landing on Juan's name
Debra quickly checked out the announcement from Juan. It was made by a new account named "Juan Studio".And there was only one post. [No speculations].Debra bolted upright from the couch and asked Ben, "Is this account real?""I had it checked. It's a certified account. So, yes, it's true."Besides, it was the kind of move Juan would make. He had always hated being dragged into any sort of drama, preferring to handle things swiftly and efficiently.But still, Debra couldn't help but think back to the time they had survived a life-and-death situation together on that island. She didn't understand why he was going against her like this now.Ben continued, "Everyone now believes we're creating hype, and your reputation has taken a hit. Your fans...""I understand," Debra said.The Debra-Juan shippers were now either turning into indifferent bystanders or haters. The damage to her reputation was becoming evident.Debra checked out those comments."Let it be. Don't worry about it
Business magnates, real estate tycoons, and A-list celebrities alike gathered, each vying for a coveted invitation.The streets were jammed with high-end cars, creating a traffic gridlock that made it nearly impossible to pass through.The Royal Grand Hotel and the Maple Hotel were competitors, to begin with. Now their rivalry extended even to their security teams and ushers.Each team was determined to outshine the other, their bespoke uniforms a testament to their competitive spirit. The underground parking lots had been expanded to accommodate the flood of guests.From a distance, passersby whispered among themselves."Both families are throwing engagement parties today. Attending either will land you offending the other.""I think the Nichols have the upper hand. They're the top dogs in Seamar City. Who would dare disrespect them?""I heard Mr. Houston Sr. spent over 100 million dollars on this engagement party.""What? 100 million?"No one had expected the Houstons to pul
Liza screamed in fear as she glanced in her rearview mirror. The car behind hers was barely a centimeter away from crashing into her own.She fumed, "Who the hell drives like that? Do you have any idea how much this car costs?"The other car was common, and she assumed the driver was some reckless, nouveau riche fool with no sense of road safety.But when the driver stepped out, her blood ran cold.Her face turned pale as she recognized Randy. She had heard of the Osborne family's influence, even when she was abroad. In fact, her visit to Seamar City this time was to build a good relationship with them.Randy's icy gaze swept over her. "Who said Debra doesn't have a family? The Osborne family stands behind her."Cathryn stepped forward, trying to smooth things over. "Mr. Osborne, you're joking. Debra and you aren't related by blood. How could you support her?"Randy retorted, "That's none of your concern. I will be the best man at her wedding. That makes me as good as her family
"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
"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,"