At the party, the host called out to Marion and Debra three times, yet neither of them appeared. An uneasy murmur spread through the crowd.Frowning, Caleb shot a sharp glance at the butler beside him. "Where are they?"The butler shifted uneasily. "I saw them just a moment ago..."Caleb's gut churned. "Tell the host to keep the guests calm. The rest of you, follow me.""Yes, sir."Next door, Melody was quick to catch wind of it.She stood on the second floor, overseeing a tense exchange between Shelia and Sophie, when the security guard entered with urgent news."Marion and Debra are missing.""Yes."She glanced at Sophie's scratched face and Shelia's disheveled hair. Her lips curved in a slow, smug smile.'If we're having a hard time, the Houston family won't have it easy either.' She thought.She broke the silence. "Sophie, do you know what kind of event this is? Get out and go downstairs.""Yes, Mrs. Nichols Sr." Sophie reluctantly left.Melody shifted her gaze to Shel
Juan's lips quirked into a brief smile. "Sure. Whatever you want."Shelia blushed, feeling a rush of triumph, but their moment was interrupted when the door creaked open again.Joe stepped inside cautiously, only to freeze under Juan's steely gaze."What's so urgent that you forgot how to knock?" Juan's voice cut through the air like a blade.Joe stiffened. "I apologize, sir, but there's an issue at the Houston family's engagement party."Her interest piqued, Shelia asked, "What happened?"Joe replied, "It seems Mr. Houston and Ms. Frazier are missing.""Missing? How is that possible?" Shelia said, observing Juan's expression.But he remained unruffled. "So what? It's not our concern.""Understood.""You can go.""Yes, sir."Once Joe left, Shelia asked tentatively, "Debra is missing. Do you not care at all?"Juan replied indifferently, "She's no one to me. Why should I?"Shelia's heart soared, her face lighting up with joy as she leaned into him, whispering, "I knew it. Y
Debra jolted awake, her heart pounding in her chest. Darkness pressed in from all sides, an oppressive silence enveloping the room.Drake's mocking voice echoed in her mind. "Imagine Marion's reaction when he finds out I've taken you."Reality sank in like a stone. She flung the covers off, attempting to rise, when a wave of dizziness hit her hard.Drake had injected her with something on the plane. Whatever it was, it had drained her of every ounce of strength.Suddenly, the lights flickered on, flooding the room with a harsh brightness. Debra blinked rapidly, her vision slowly adjusting as she took in her surroundings.The room was massive and suffocating in its opulence, decked out in elaborate Baroque style. Complex carvings adorned the walls, and oversized portraits loomed down from above, making the air oppressive.A voice broke her trance. "Ms. Frazier, our boss has asked me to help you change clothes."Startled, Debra turned sharply toward the doorway. Her eyes widened i
A heavy sense of foreboding washed over Debra as she reluctantly sat across from Drake.His smugness oozed from every pore. His dark blue suit was perfectly tailored, a family crest glinting on his chest like a badge of power.He leaned back casually, his eyes flickering with amusement as he watched her."Should I call you Ms. Frazier or Mrs. Houston?"Debra remained silent, and he raised an eyebrow. "You know, Marion had me fooled. For a moment there, I thought he was going to shoot you. If I'd known you two were involved, things might have been different that night.""Did you kidnap me just to talk nonsense?" Debra spat.Drake was bold enough to kidnap her from the engagement party.There were so many high-profile guests, not to mention the security detail Marion had arranged. Yet, Drake had managed to slip past them all and whisk her away. It was terrifying how easily he had pulled it off.Drake's smile widened as he gestured toward Lara, who obediently removed the cover fro
Debra stared defiantly at Drake, whose eyes were filled with amusement.She scoffed, "A powerful CEO like you, resorting to something as crude as kidnapping? When word of this leaks out, your carefully polished reputation in Orkgate will crumble."In Orkgate, Drake was feared by all. But behind the impenetrable façade, Debra knew the truth. Drake was nothing more than a twisted man reveling in control and cruelty.Drake's smile widened. "Marion has done worse things than I ever have. Didn't he tell you? I guess he doesn't trust you enough to be honest. Or maybe he's afraid to show you his true colors."He plucked a rose from the table and added, "I wonder if you knew all of Marion's dirty secrets, would you still be so eager to become Mrs. Houston?"They had risen from the same ruthless underworld. Marion was just luckier than him.Kale touched his earpiece, his face tightening. "Boss, Marion's men are here."Debra instinctively shifted, her muscles tensing to rise. But Drake's
But if Marion wasn't coming, Debra didn't know what would happen to her.The thought sent a shiver through her bones. She pounded her fist against the door, frustration fueling her."Open up. I need to speak to Drake.""Save your breath, Ms. Frazier. No one opens that door without his orders.""So, if I die here, that's fine with you?""Even if you die, I can't open the door without his orders."Realizing the futility, she stepped away from the door, her mind racing. Waiting for Drake to release her wasn't an option. She needed a plan.Her gaze swept over the room, pausing on the stacked bottles of wine. An idea began to take shape.Hours crawled by, the silence inside the cellar thickening like a shroud. Outside, Lara shifted nervously. It had been almost ten hours, and not a sound had come from within.Upstairs in the study, Drake was playing chess alone.Kale entered, carrying a tray of dinner. "Marion's men seem to have vanished. We're still looking for their hideouts. So
"Get in!" Kale shoved Debra into Drake's bedroom.The sharp scent of wine clung to her like a second skin. Her hair and clothes were stained, droplets dripping onto the floor.Drake stepped out of the bathroom. His white bathrobe hung loosely, and beads of water rolled off his damp hair.Debra's gaze flickered across his body, noting the scars etched into his skin. They mirrored what she had seen on Marion.Catching her stare, Drake smirked, "Enjoying the view? Want me to take it all off?"Debra snapped her eyes away. "No need. There's nothing worth seeing."Drake snorted, glancing at her bedraggled appearance. "You sure know how to make an entrance, don't you? Wrecked millions of dollars' worth of wine. Is this your way of trying to get me mad enough to kill you?""I value my life. Dying's not on my agenda.""Then what were you thinking, destroying my wine cellar?"His voice grew darker, his irritation palpable beneath the surface."So, tell me. How are you going to compensa
Drake nodded. "You've got a point."Debra continued to say, "So, I want to take down the man who played with my heart. It's only fair, right?""Fair," Drake echoed. "If someone played with my feelings like that, I wouldn't just kill them. I'd make sure they bled first."Debra pressed on. "I'm not here to sacrifice myself for some guy. I've lost everything—my family, my position in the McKinney Group. I can't even go back to Seamar City. I'm asking for a chance to work for you here in Orkgate. I'll make enough money to exact my revenge."Drake chuckled, "So, you want to deal cards at my casino?""That's right." Debra didn't hesitate.Kale frowned, but Drake was interested."Alright, I'll give you a chance.""Really?""Yeah.""Does that mean you won't lock me up anymore?""Of course," Drake said, turning to Kale. "Get her some clean clothes.""Yes, sir." Kale cast a sidelong glance at Debra and left the room.Drake tossed a towel toward her. "Go take a shower."Debra caught
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
His teacher had been worried about that.Randy had racked his brain, wondering what a dad should be like. He'd wanted to roughhouse like other kids, only to receive cold stares.His mother always brushed it off, telling him not to chase fatherly love."Randy?" Erica's voice yanked him back."Huh?" He blinked, seeing everyone's concerned stares."I called you a dozen times. Why were you zoning out?" Erica frowned.Randy grinned weakly. "Well, Theda's got a point. Now I'm kind of suspecting him too.""She left a minute ago," Erica pointed out, squinting at him."I'm not covering for my dad," Randy said. "She made sense. Maybe I'll swing at home. If he's the Illuminati's head, he will be in the valley.""You were absent-minded while we hashed out the plan. Now you're playing seriously?" Erica teased. "We're not pointing fingers at your dad, just saying Theda's theory holds water. If you want to check, I'll go with you. We'll watch each other's backs."She didn't say it out loud,
Theda added, "When Jeffery ditched the Nichols family, even with his smarts, he couldn't build up enough money and power to challenge the four families that fast. Someone had his back. He once told me not to judge a book by its cover. You never know who's laughing last."Her cryptic words left them puzzled.Debra asked, "So, who do you suspect?""I'd say Enoch Osborne," Theda replied.The name dropped like a bomb. Everyone froze and then swung their eyes to Randy.Randy gaped. "My dad? No way. He's a stiff old fart, decent at business but the weakest of the four families. Calling him lazy is generous. He's a stubborn rock. How could he be the head of the Illuminati?""Don't sell your old man short," Theda said. "The last generation of the four families got hit hard. But your family? Only your mother lost it. Your father has played it safe, staying low-key and outlasting them all. I bet he's the one Jeffery meant."She shrugged. "Could be wrong. But if it's him, you're in deeper
It wasn't that Debra's crew was weak, but the Illuminati was too strong.The room fell silent.Theda continued, "Everyone here is riding your call. You know what happens when you throw pebbles at a tank, right?""I'm not backing off. We've got our reasons," Debra replied."I'm not here to talk you out of it," Theda said. "I'm saying if you need me, I'm in."Everyone blinked, caught off guard. She smiled, "What? Surprised I'd join? Or wondering why? Forget Robert's ties to you. You've already done me solids in Seamar City. I can't pay you back much, but I can pitch in here.""How do you plan to help?" Erica asked."Inside job. Boosts our odds," Theda replied. "I worked with Jeffery before. Being a Buchan, he cut me slack. With his Illuminati ties, they might trust me too. Need a message slipped in or intel dug out? I've got you.""You don't have to..." Debra started."No convincing me otherwise," Theda cut in. "It's not just for you. Juan's blood to me. Call it a favor he owes.
"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