The McKinney Group's commercial street, once unnoticed, suddenly sprang up overnight.Meanwhile, chaos brewed at the Nichols Group.An emergency meeting convened, and the atmosphere in the boardroom was tense."Mr. Nichols, this commercial street was nothing but a rumor before. Someone clearly aimed to sabotage us.""Yeah, everyone knows our mall, a year in the making, is about to open. We've spent a fortune on promotions, but now this McKinney Group beat us to it.""Numerous merchants have signed contracts with them. This could cost us billions."...The directors debated fervently.In the seat of honor, Juan rubbed his temples. "Enough!"The directors fell silent."Do you know who's the owner of McKinney Group?" he asked."The owner is elusive. We've investigated but found nothing." Joe paused. "However, this street was once part of Melody's auctioned sewage area."The revelation stunned everyone."Is this true?""Mr. Nichols, you can't let her ruin our efforts."...
Marion was helping Debra organize the documents on the desk. He casually said, "Neither."Debra nodded in agreement.Lately, she had been busy with affairs of both Frazier Entertainment and McKinney Group.With the recent opening of her own company, there was a heap of things awaiting her attention.Internships would only waste her time."Is it really okay not to intern?" Erica asked.Having studied abroad before, she wasn't familiar with domestic internship mechanisms. But every time her friends mentioned it, they made it sound like writing the internship report was a painful ordeal.Randy remarked, "What could possibly go wrong? Debra can just stamp a few documents. Writing a thesis won't be a problem for her."They all could provide Debra with the necessary stamps.If not for his business overseas, Marion could have not only stamped one document for Debra but ten.Suddenly, the phone on the table rang. Randy hurried over to answer it. The caller ID showed it was the princi
"I'll give you a ride," Marion offered.Debra agreed. Marion hurried downstairs to get his car, and she followed closely.She quickened her pace after leaving McKinney Group. However, as she descended the stairs, her foot slipped, causing her to fall backwards. Instinctively, she closed her eyes, expecting to hit the ground hard, but in the next instant, she found herself in someone's arms.She opened her eyes to see Marion's smiling face.In a low voice, he said, "Take it easy. You won't be late."Debra blushed and quickly got into the car.Marion took the driver's seat, a faint smile on his face."Fasten your seatbelt and hold on tight," he said.Before Debra could fully grasp his words, he hit the gas pedal.If she hadn't held on, she felt like she might have been launched out.Not far from the apartment building, Debra saw Joe's car just arriving.Unable to enter the gated community without a key card, Joe could only wait outside.Debra picked up her bag. "I'm gonna hea
By now, Juan should have received the false information leaked by Debra.Calling her back now indicated his dissatisfaction with the investigation's results."I've never heard of Tracy McKinney before," Juan said, observing her expression.Debra remained composed, giving away nothing.Tracy was her, and she was Tracy.She had used a fake identity, so it was normal that Juan couldn't find anything."Me too. Maybe some foreign entrepreneur." Debra casually diverted the topic. "Did you call me back just to ask me this? I don't have time for such boring questions."With that, she got up. Juan took a deep breath and asked helplessly, "How much longer are you going to keep this tantrum?"It had been three months since Debra came home. He thought giving her some space would make her give in, but he hadn't expected her to stand firm this time."I'm not throwing a tantrum. Since you don't want a divorce, I'll have to force your hand."Her words ignited Juan's anger. "Is that what you
Debra pushed herself up from the sofa. Her eyes held a cold sarcasm towards Juan. "I've told you what you want to know. Can I leave now?""Hold on!" Juan grabbed her wrist. "Where are you going? To find Marion?""Let go!" Debra shook off his grip. "Where I go is my business, none of yours!""Don't forget that you're my wife." Juan stepped closer, adjusting his tie. "You used to like me, remember? You wanted to be with me. Now I'm giving you what you wanted. You're not going to see Marion.""Have you lost your mind?" Debra snapped."Maybe I have. Only a madman would let you run around like this."Juan held her wrist firmly, pushing her back onto the sofa. His eyes burned with possessiveness. "Tonight, you're not leaving this house.""Let go of me!"Her struggle only served to fuel Juan's anger."Let go? Weren't you eager for this before?"Juan tore at her dress, revealing her fair skin and a scar on her chest that heightened his desire.Juan's gut churned with a fiery intensi
After all, the person Tracy rejected wasn't just anyone. It was Juan Nichols.No one else in Seamar City dared to defy him like this.In his office, Juan was reading the news with a sullen face.The topic of the Nichols Group CEO being rejected by the McKinney Group CEO was trending.Everyone wondered who was behind the suddenly prominent McKinney Group, daring enough to snub Juan publicly."Sir, this news was leaked intentionally. I've already instructed an investigation. We'll have results soon," said Joe, noticing Juan's grim expression."This is definitely linked to the McKinney Group," replied Juan.He had simply wanted to meet Tracy, but the latter had played entirely out of turn, even turning this into a trending topic.Tracy was trying to ride on the Nichols Group's reputation to boost the McKinney Group's visibility."Sir, the trending topic should be taken down before it affects the company's image."To everyone, the Nichols Group was the undisputed leader in Seamar
Debra extended a finger, saying, "One more thing, spread the word that Tracy will be there to enjoy the masquerade with everyone."Randy was puzzled, but Marion understood her intent.Debra fiddled with the badge in her hand.Over the past few months, she had made Tracy's name well-known and shrouded in mystery.It was all for this day.At the banquet, Juan watched the crowd with no trace of happiness on his face.Joe reported, "I've had people count. All the major business owners are here, except Tracy."Juan hummed indifferently.Joe asked hesitantly, "Sir, do you have concerns?"Juan remained silent for a moment and asked, "Any moves from the McKinney Group?"Joe shook his head. "There's been no news of them making any moves. Perhaps they know they've offended us, so they're keeping quiet."Juan frowned, not believing Tracy would just be a sitting duck.His current counterattack was a declaration of sovereignty over Seamar City, and surely Tracy knew that.If Tracy rema
Juan's indifference surprised Shelia.Joe came up and said, "Miss Miles, please come with me upstairs to change."Shelia lowered her head and replied softly, "Okay."As she turned to follow Joe, Juan's voice cut through the air. "Remove your makeup too."Her heart lurched. "But...""You're still a student, Shelia. This mature and flashy makeup doesn't suit you," interrupted Juan.His words stung, and she felt a pang of bitterness. She had spent hours perfecting her makeup, hoping to impress him.'Is it so unbearable?' she thought."Is the dress really that bad?" she asked Joe, seeking some form of validation.Joe looked back at her, his expression bland. "Mr. Nichols prepared this dress for his wife."Shelia was shocked by the revelation. "But the gatekeeper said it was sent by you for me.""That must have been a mistake in communication," Joe replied, his tone cold. "Miss Miles, you weren't supposed to come today."The words hit Shelia like a slap, leaving her feeling mort
Michael held the contract, chuckling, "As I said, he might not wanna go with you.""Whether he comes is my problem," Debra shot back. "You promised to deliver him.""Fair enough," Michael said. "He's useless to me now. I can let him go."He waved a hand. Soon, someone dragged Drake out.When Drake saw Debra and Kale, his face twisted with anger."Get over here," Debra demanded.Drake took a step forward but stopped. "I'm not going back. Get lost.""Come on. You gave them the stone, and I lost my company. If I don't bring you back, how do I face everyone?" she said.He clenched his fists. "We're not on the same side. This is all your wishful thinking. Go away. I don't wanna see you.""Boss, I'm with you." Kale stepped up, pale from his shoulder wound.Drake's voice iced over. "Didn't you hear me? I don't want you here. The Illuminati's got more to offer. We've always been in it for profit. I never saw you as friends."His eyes were red, filled with coldness and disgust."See
Michael closed in on Debra. "I knew you'd go soft. You say you're done with me, but deep down, you're making excuses, thinking I've got some sob story. You still trust me a tiny bit, don't you? Think I won't hurt you? You try to harden up, but you still believe the world's mostly good. Should I call you naïve or dumb?"Memories flashed through her head. She was dumb.She'd known he was bad news but kept hoping he had a reason. She'd thought he wouldn't hurt her, not after all they'd been through."You wanna kill me or grab me?" she asked."If you hand over the McKinney Group, I won't kill you," Michael said. "If the four families back off from the Illuminati, I'll leave you alone. But I know you better than I know myself. You won't agree, so I'm just gonna take you out. Saves time.""Did Drake already give you the raw stone?""Yeah."That explained why they wanted to kill her instead of capturing her.She was frustrated. Drake's dumbness was beyond belief."Fine, take whatever
"It could be a trap," Kale warned, his gut screaming ambush.Debra eyed the contract. She needed it, but she wasn't dumb enough to walk into danger.If Michael had a setup, they had to bail fast."We were friends once," she said. "I gave you those shares, but you stabbed me in the back. To show your sincerity, shouldn't you hand them over yourself?""You're scared I've got something waiting, huh?" Michael smirked.She didn't answer, but her silence said it all.Michael sighed, "Didn't think we'd lose even that basic trust. Hurts a little.""Cut the guilt trip," Debra snapped. "If you wanted my trust, you wouldn't have lied to me from the start."Once she'd learned he'd played her, that trust was gone. She didn't care what he wanted. She wasn't betting her life or Kale's on it.Michael shrugged. "Fine, I'll bring it to you."He took a step, but nothing happened.Suddenly, he pulled a gun and aimed it at her head. A shot was fired before she could blink.In the nick of time,
"Let's not waste time. We've gotta get there before dark," Debra said.Then they went on with their trek.The sky dimmed. After cutting through the fog, they reached a quiet valley boxed in by mountains."This is the meeting place, according to the map," Kale said, glancing down.Debra scanned the area, but Michael was nowhere to be seen.Her brow creased, but a voice came from behind them. "I'm here."She whipped around and saw Michael in a crisp white shirt."Where's Drake?" She cut straight to it."I didn't force him," Michael said, his voice as warm as ever. "He came on his own."He sounded the same, but he felt like a stranger. They'd been partners, tight as could be. She'd never imagined facing off like this."Here's the shares you wanted," he said. "If I can't run the McKinney Group, this 30% is useless to me. The 10-something percent I bought? Name a fair price, and it's yours.""How much do you want?" Debra asked."For old times' sake, market value," he said.His
"For what?" Debra asked."You knew I was worried about Mr. Lowe, so you brought me," Kale said. "Without your suggestion, I wouldn't have the chance to come."He'd disliked her at first, but after all this time, he'd come around."You're welcome," Debra said. "Now let's focus on finding Michael and figuring out Drake's location. I brought you, but I can't promise we'll get him out today. You get that, right?""Yeah," Kale said, his voice heavy. "I've got a favor to ask.""What is it?""I know this trip is risky. Mr. Lowe is the only family I've got left. We've been through hell together. If he hadn't found me back then, I would have been dead. If I don't make it, promise me you'll save him. The world never meant much to him before. No one did. But you're different."At first, Drake grabbed Debra to get at Marion, but later, she was all he saw.Clueless about feelings, Drake never figured it out. But Kale knew she was special to Drake.In all his years with Drake, Kale had neve
Everyone looked away like it was routine.Debra grinned. "Don't stress about me.""I know," Marion said."I'll be back soon.""I'll wait."He brushed her hair back, and she smiled.Then she and Kale headed into the dense woods. Erica watched, worry creasing her face."Relax," Randy reassured her. "Even if Michael's a traitor, he won't mess with Debra.""How do you know? You can't see inside someone's head. What if he's a total snake?" Erica retorted, knowing how much Debra trusted Michael.Their friendship lasted two years. They had been through thick and thin together. Yet he had stabbed her in the back without hesitation.Randy caught Marion slipping into the trees. "Where are you going?""Marion." Erica paled."Don't bother stopping him," Jordan said. "You couldn't if you tried."He'd known Marion wouldn't let Debra go alone. Three kilometers was too far. Flare or not, they might not reach her in time. Precautions were necessary.The forest was a maze. A few steps in,
Debra hugged Marion tight, drawing strength from him.That afternoon, the convoy rolled toward the valley. The area was thick with trees, with no clear paths in sight. The dense forest was silent except for chirps from birds.Jordan stopped the cars. Everyone piled out, realizing the road ended there."What's Michael thinking, picking a spot like this?" Erica muttered, scanning around.Raw places like this were accident magnets. The map barely showed the terrain. A cliff ahead would force a detour. The thick woods blocked signals, and it'd be easy to get lost. A compass might not even work."You guys wait here," Debra said, grabbing a hiking pack. "We've got enough supplies."She'd expected this possibility but hadn't thought they'd be stuck three kilometers away from the appointed spot."Be careful," Erica warned. "It's only three kilometers straight, but with no map, it could take hours."She stepped closer. "How about I going with you? I've done more hiking and might speed t
Michael wasn't just anyone to Debra. He'd been a teammate and a brother-in-arms.She needed to know his deal with the Illuminati and if their old days fighting side by side were all fake. Everything started with her, and she should be the one to end it."I'm with Debra," Jordan said.Randy waffled. "Well, we've known him forever. He wouldn't hurt her, right? I'm in too.""Are you nuts?" Erica snapped. "What if it goes south?""I'll get her back," Marion said.Erica took a deep breath. "Fine. I'll bring extra guys and wait outside. If anything happens, we're rushing in.""Okay," Debra agreed."Count me in," Kale said, stepping down the stairs.Debra knew he was worried about Drake. "I could use a backup. Kale, you're with me."Kale blinked, surprised she'd let him tag along. Then he got it. "Thanks."Debra rallied everyone. "Gear up. We're heading out.""Come with me," Marion said.The group exchanged looks, unsure what he wanted. Debra didn't ask, just followed behind him.
Back at the Potter Mansion, Debra stared at the equity document. Her father's handwriting and the Frazier Group's stamp stood out.She dug into a drawer, pulling out her seal which hadn't been used for two years. She pressed it onto blank paper, comparing it to the one on the document. She expected differences, but they were the same.That stamp was real. Her father had signed off on this.She didn't get it. In her memory, they and the Potters barely crossed paths.A knock came at the door, interrupting her thoughts. She stashed the seal fast. "Come in."Marion stepped inside, and she smiled, "You're polite to knock. Thought it was Erica.""Didn't wanna barge in and spook you," Marion replied, nodding at the equity document. "Still thinking about that?""I tried to figure out why Andrew has our shares," Debra said. "I've been at it all afternoon and still don't get it.""Andrew's a big-picture guy. Maybe it was just a deal between your families. Let it go," Marion said, rufflin