Erica stepped forward and started opening the gifts. "There are so many gifts. My hands are going to be sore from opening all these."Marion interjected, "Open them somewhere else. Don't interrupt our wedding night.""No way. The biggest event on a wedding night is opening the gifts," Randy chimed in. "You can go to sleep once we're done."Marion wanted to kick them out, but Debra spoke eagerly. "It sounds fun. Let's do it, Marion."Marion couldn't reject her proposal. "Alright."The five of them sat on the bed, with Marion helping Debra collect the opened envelopes."This one is from the postal bank. This one is from the commercial bank, and that one is from the agricultural bank," Erica muttered, sorting them.Debra was surprised to see so many bank cards."Wow, someone sent cash," Liza laughed, holding up an envelope. "Which idiot did this? 500 dollars? That's a lack of respect.""That idiot is me." Garland snatched the money, stuffing it into his pocket. "Who knew these bi
Debra remembered the ring she had taken from Melody's hidden stash. At the time, she had noticed the ring was valuable but hadn't thought much deeper about it. Now there might be a connection to it. Erica said, "That gemstone is valuable. It could be an heirloom of the Potter family. You should ask Jordan about it. Find out where it came from."Debra shook her head. "I want to, but all of Jordan's accounts have been deactivated. No one can get in touch with him now."'Except for Andrew.' The thought of him made her feel regretful. He hadn't stayed to celebrate the wedding."By the way, where is Andrew's gift?" Erica asked, looking at Randy and Garland.They had been receiving gifts that day.Garland pointed to a folder nearby. "These are gifts, right? I thought it was just a list of dowry items.""What? You looked through them?""No. But the stack of papers was thick. I could tell just by touching it."Garland grabbed the folder and handed it to Debra.Debra felt the con
Debra didn't understand why Andrew gave her such valuable gifts. They were too much as wedding gifts.The next morning, they were sprawled out on the bed in different positions. Garland and Randy were sound asleep on the nearby sofa.The first light of dawn shone on Debra's eyes. She woke up groggily and saw the bed covered in opened gifts. Erica and Liza were lying next to her.She remembered that they had spent the night opening gifts and eventually fell asleep from exhaustion."Marion?" She looked around but only saw Marion's jacket draped over her.An attendant knocked on the door, the noise waking up the others in the room.Randy jumped up from the sofa. "I'm done opening gifts. No more."Erica rubbed her eyes and got up from the bed. "What are you shouting for early in the morning?"Debra spoke toward the door. "Come in."The attendant entered, followed by a staff member pushing a food cart."Madam, we're bringing you breakfast per Mr. Houston's orders.""Breakfast? Wh
Marion glanced at his trembling arm, wracked with pain. The blood trickling from his wound had turned black."Marion, tell your woman to behave herself," Robert said, his tone eerily calm. "If she keeps going against Theda, I'll kill her."The poison began to paralyze Marion's nerves."Or," Robert continued, "I could deal with you now, then take care of her and her friends. It'd save me a lot of trouble."Marion's eyes darkened. He tried to push himself off the ground, but the venom coursing through him forced a mouthful of blood to spill from his lips.Robert strode toward him, the blade in his hand glinting coldly."Hold it!" Drake called out. "You told me you wanted to talk to Marion. I gave you the chance. But killing him here? That's a mess I don't need.""That's your problem," Robert replied flatly. "I'm here to kill, not worry about your headaches."He glanced down at Marion, who was barely holding himself up. "Don't worry. Your friends and your woman will be joining you
The bodyguards grabbed Robert, who had been stabbed in the lower abdomen.Erica intended to hit him again, but Debra quickly shouted, "Randy, call an ambulance.""On it." Randy dialed the emergency number right away.Debra glanced at Drake, who looked troubled. "Marion got injured at your place. I demand an explanation."Drake knew she misunderstood, but he was unwilling to bow his head. "I've always wanted to kill Marion. I did this. Come for an explanation anytime you want.""Boss..." Kale tried to intervene."Shut up!" Drake snapped. "You can take Marion away. We'll settle this score another day."He turned and left with Kale.Debra didn't have time to deal with Drake. She looked down at the unconscious Marion, feeling anxious. This was the first time she had seen him so badly injured.Outside, Kale couldn't help but ask, "Boss, this has nothing to do with you. Why did you take the blame?""She already thinks I'm involved," Drake replied. "It doesn't matter if I admit it o
Debra booted open the door to the hotel room and stepped in with several bodyguards.Robert had been handcuffed and was tied to a chair. The blood was oozing from his injury which was inflicted on him by Erica.A guard went over and applied a basic bandage to him. Debra walked over and pressed her finger onto his wound.Sweat instantly broke out on Robert's face, and his lips lost all color."I'm not a complicated person. The only thing I'm good at is protecting my own," Debra said coldly. "Marion is in the operating room right now, fighting for his life. I'm going to make you feel the same pain he's going through."She signaled for the cart to be pushed over. The breakfast Robert had sent to them earlier was now laid out.Debra picked up a cup of coffee, walked over to him, and pinched his nose. She poured the entire cup into his mouth in one go.Robert's shirt was soaked, his whole appearance a mess. Yet he remained expressionless, as if he was incapable of feeling anything.
"Robert Fitchett," Robert confessed, swallowing his pride.Debra nodded. "Okay. Robert, were you working for Shawn, just like Marion and the others?""Wouldn't it be better if you asked him directly?""Why did you want to kill Marion?""You made it difficult for Theda.""Is that the reason?" Debra raised an eyebrow. "Well, you care about her so much."Robert looked away and said, "She is the best woman I've ever met.""I'm not interested in your love story. I need you to explain why you risked your life to try and kill Marion.""You don't know?" Robert sneered. "Marion has been thrashing the Buchan Group. He wanted to clear obstacles for you, and you're telling me you didn't know?"Debra frowned. "When did this happen?""Since the day you handed the share transfer papers to Theda," Robert explained. "The Buchan family has been getting crushed. Are you telling me you didn't know Marion was after the shares? If Theda didn't hand them over, he would've hit her family hard. Her s
"Oh, I don't have a habit of poisoning people," Debra said. "Those you just ate were poison-free. But I did add a bit of sleeping pills. You might sleep for eight or nine hours."She paused and added, "Oh, by then, you'll probably be shipped back to Seamar City in a container. I'll contact Ms. Buchan to pick you up. Hope everything goes well for you back there."She didn't mean a word of it. If Robert was sent back like this, Theda would be furious."You..." Robert tried to say something, but his eyelids grew heavy, and his vision blurred.The next second, he collapsed on the floor. Debra looked back at him and said, "Oh, I forgot to mention that besides the sleeping pill, I also added a bit of knockout drug. You'll sleep well and won't feel a thing on the way."Outside the hotel, a bodyguard opened the car door for her."Ma'am, are we going back to the hospital?""To the Lowe Mansion."...Drake was throwing darts in his study, feeling restless."Boss, Debra is here," Kale a
Debra sighed in relief, "The doctor said you need to stay here for observation. During that time, I'll take care of you."She paused and corrected herself, "I mean, we will take care of you.""Huh?" Marion was baffled.Before Debra could explain, a knock came from the door. A group of caregivers shuffled in, looking like they wanted to be anywhere else.The air was thick with awkwardness before one of them finally broke the silence. "Sir, we're caregivers assigned to look after you during your recovery.""Oh, caregivers?" Debra arched a brow. "Funny, though. You all look kind of familiar. Haven't we met before?""No, ma'am. We've never met. We're just ordinary workers here," they insisted.Debra stood up and walked toward them, narrowing her eyes. "You mean to tell me I don't recognize the men who are always hovering around Drake?"The men panicked, their façade crumbling. "Ma'am, we're just following orders. If we mess this up, we'll be punished. Please, don't blow our cover."
Kale shook his head, confused.Drake was even more convinced of his thoughts. 'Debra is biased because she loves Marion. She was just trying to whitewash his actions.'He thought over the whole event and huffed, "Why did she come to my place and cause a scene? It's not like I hurt Marion. She made it sound like I did it on purpose. It's infuriating.""Boss, they are newlyweds. She's bound to be protective," Kale explained. "This whole thing isn't really your fault. Robert is the one who used you to hurt Marion and drive a wedge between you two."Drake nodded but quickly caught himself. "Wait, what relationship do Marion and I have? Just shut up if you don't know what you're talking about.""Boss...""Go, get out of my sight.""Yes, boss.""Wait. Come back. Have someone keep an eye on the hospital. Let me know when Marion wakes up. I'm not taking the blame for something I didn't do.""Understood."Kale knew he was just putting on a tough act.All these years, Drake had talked
Drake shifted uncomfortably. "Are you interrogating me?""How could I?" Debra replied innocently. "But you know, the people I brought today were trained by Caleb. He hasn't left Orkgate yet, and knowing his temper, if he finds out Marion was hurt, he won't let you off.""Am I supposed to be afraid of him?" Drake snorted."That's why I'm trying to have a calm conversation with you," Debra said nonchalantly, resting her chin in her hand.Drake fidgeted, finally cracking. "Theda wants to work with me.""On what?""That's not important. I haven't agreed. I turned down Robert, and he said he wanted to meet Marion. You know, Marion threw him into the sea years ago. Robert wanted his revenge, and I just brought them together.""How did he even survive in the sea?""I've no idea. The world is full of surprises. Let's just say Robert had good luck.""Good luck?" Debra laughed. "That's an ocean. If you were thrown in, I doubt you'd survive. If Marion really wanted him dead, he would hav
"Oh, I don't have a habit of poisoning people," Debra said. "Those you just ate were poison-free. But I did add a bit of sleeping pills. You might sleep for eight or nine hours."She paused and added, "Oh, by then, you'll probably be shipped back to Seamar City in a container. I'll contact Ms. Buchan to pick you up. Hope everything goes well for you back there."She didn't mean a word of it. If Robert was sent back like this, Theda would be furious."You..." Robert tried to say something, but his eyelids grew heavy, and his vision blurred.The next second, he collapsed on the floor. Debra looked back at him and said, "Oh, I forgot to mention that besides the sleeping pill, I also added a bit of knockout drug. You'll sleep well and won't feel a thing on the way."Outside the hotel, a bodyguard opened the car door for her."Ma'am, are we going back to the hospital?""To the Lowe Mansion."...Drake was throwing darts in his study, feeling restless."Boss, Debra is here," Kale a
"Robert Fitchett," Robert confessed, swallowing his pride.Debra nodded. "Okay. Robert, were you working for Shawn, just like Marion and the others?""Wouldn't it be better if you asked him directly?""Why did you want to kill Marion?""You made it difficult for Theda.""Is that the reason?" Debra raised an eyebrow. "Well, you care about her so much."Robert looked away and said, "She is the best woman I've ever met.""I'm not interested in your love story. I need you to explain why you risked your life to try and kill Marion.""You don't know?" Robert sneered. "Marion has been thrashing the Buchan Group. He wanted to clear obstacles for you, and you're telling me you didn't know?"Debra frowned. "When did this happen?""Since the day you handed the share transfer papers to Theda," Robert explained. "The Buchan family has been getting crushed. Are you telling me you didn't know Marion was after the shares? If Theda didn't hand them over, he would've hit her family hard. Her s
Debra booted open the door to the hotel room and stepped in with several bodyguards.Robert had been handcuffed and was tied to a chair. The blood was oozing from his injury which was inflicted on him by Erica.A guard went over and applied a basic bandage to him. Debra walked over and pressed her finger onto his wound.Sweat instantly broke out on Robert's face, and his lips lost all color."I'm not a complicated person. The only thing I'm good at is protecting my own," Debra said coldly. "Marion is in the operating room right now, fighting for his life. I'm going to make you feel the same pain he's going through."She signaled for the cart to be pushed over. The breakfast Robert had sent to them earlier was now laid out.Debra picked up a cup of coffee, walked over to him, and pinched his nose. She poured the entire cup into his mouth in one go.Robert's shirt was soaked, his whole appearance a mess. Yet he remained expressionless, as if he was incapable of feeling anything.
The bodyguards grabbed Robert, who had been stabbed in the lower abdomen.Erica intended to hit him again, but Debra quickly shouted, "Randy, call an ambulance.""On it." Randy dialed the emergency number right away.Debra glanced at Drake, who looked troubled. "Marion got injured at your place. I demand an explanation."Drake knew she misunderstood, but he was unwilling to bow his head. "I've always wanted to kill Marion. I did this. Come for an explanation anytime you want.""Boss..." Kale tried to intervene."Shut up!" Drake snapped. "You can take Marion away. We'll settle this score another day."He turned and left with Kale.Debra didn't have time to deal with Drake. She looked down at the unconscious Marion, feeling anxious. This was the first time she had seen him so badly injured.Outside, Kale couldn't help but ask, "Boss, this has nothing to do with you. Why did you take the blame?""She already thinks I'm involved," Drake replied. "It doesn't matter if I admit it o
Marion glanced at his trembling arm, wracked with pain. The blood trickling from his wound had turned black."Marion, tell your woman to behave herself," Robert said, his tone eerily calm. "If she keeps going against Theda, I'll kill her."The poison began to paralyze Marion's nerves."Or," Robert continued, "I could deal with you now, then take care of her and her friends. It'd save me a lot of trouble."Marion's eyes darkened. He tried to push himself off the ground, but the venom coursing through him forced a mouthful of blood to spill from his lips.Robert strode toward him, the blade in his hand glinting coldly."Hold it!" Drake called out. "You told me you wanted to talk to Marion. I gave you the chance. But killing him here? That's a mess I don't need.""That's your problem," Robert replied flatly. "I'm here to kill, not worry about your headaches."He glanced down at Marion, who was barely holding himself up. "Don't worry. Your friends and your woman will be joining you
Debra didn't understand why Andrew gave her such valuable gifts. They were too much as wedding gifts.The next morning, they were sprawled out on the bed in different positions. Garland and Randy were sound asleep on the nearby sofa.The first light of dawn shone on Debra's eyes. She woke up groggily and saw the bed covered in opened gifts. Erica and Liza were lying next to her.She remembered that they had spent the night opening gifts and eventually fell asleep from exhaustion."Marion?" She looked around but only saw Marion's jacket draped over her.An attendant knocked on the door, the noise waking up the others in the room.Randy jumped up from the sofa. "I'm done opening gifts. No more."Erica rubbed her eyes and got up from the bed. "What are you shouting for early in the morning?"Debra spoke toward the door. "Come in."The attendant entered, followed by a staff member pushing a food cart."Madam, we're bringing you breakfast per Mr. Houston's orders.""Breakfast? Wh