"Marion, that's nonsense!"Debra quickly handed the family emblem to Marion.The emblem of the Houston family was so important that even an outsider like her knew it, yet Marion had placed such a crucial emblem in her hands."Debra, whatever I give away, I never take back."Marion placed the emblem on Debra's chest.The Houston family's emblem represented the head of the Houston family. With this emblem, one had absolute authority within the Houston family.Marion looked at Debra with a smile and whispered, "You're the wife I have chosen."Debra's heart pounded, unsure how to respond.In her previous life, she had always been focused on Juan and had never been decisively chosen.But Marion's words stirred something in her heart."I..."Just as Debra was about to speak, Randy's voice suddenly came from outside the door. "Marion, the things you asked me to buy..."Randy's voice abruptly stopped upon seeing the scene inside.Debra hurriedly distanced herself from Marion.Ran
"The McKinney Group is clearly trying to take a piece of our cake. Why don't we resort to extreme measures?"The directors whispered to each other.Unable to confront The McKinney Group openly, they resorted to underhanded tactics behind the scenes.In the past, Juan might have readily agreed without hesitation.But now, Juan fell into silence.That evening, driven by intuition and alcohol, he visited The McKinney Group and indeed encountered Debra.Could Debra truly be connected to The McKinney Group?Or perhaps, is there a connection between Debra and Tracy?Rubbing his temples wearily, Juan sighed, "I have matters to attend to. Let's discuss this later."With that, Juan got up and left.Beside him, Joe suggested, "Mr. Nichols, how about taking a sobering pill first?"After consuming a fair amount of alcohol the previous night, Juan's state of mind was visibly off."I tasked you with investigating Tracy. Have you found anything?""Not yet. His information is well hidden.
Joe said to Liam, "Mr. Tyson, you can go and deal with your work. Mr. Nichols will finish questioning soon and leave.""Great! The conference room is just ahead. It should be all set up. Please!"Liam glanced at Debra as he said that.He really didn't know what the relationship was between this intern and Juan.Shouldn't Shelia be the one most closely related to Juan?The relationships in this circle were truly complicated!Arriving at the conference room, Debra said, "You came all the way to Tyson Enterprises to see me. What else do you have to discuss?"She thought she had made things clear during their last meeting.Juan asked in a deep voice, "What's your relationship with the McKinney Group?""You already asked that yesterday," Debra replied. "Is it because Mr. Nichols drank too much yesterday and doesn't remember?"Frowning, Juan said, "Debra, I'm doing this for your own good. Tracy is a ruthless businessman. If the Frazier family cooperates with him, you won't end well
In the meeting room, Juan approached Debra and whispered, "Debra, I'm doing this for your good. Stay away from Marion, and people like Tracy. They have ulterior motives when they get close to you."Debra didn't respond but instead took a step back. "Mr. Nichols, if there's nothing else, I should leave now."Debra was the first to exit the meeting room. As soon as she pushed the door open, she saw employees in the work area craning their necks to watch.A hint of jealousy flashed in Sheila's eyes, but her expression changed when she saw Juan coming out of the meeting room.Walking in high heels, Sheila approached Juan with a bright smile, "Juan, hi!"Frowning, Juan didn't want any interaction with Sheila. He was about to bypass her when she reached out and grabbed his arm. She behaved like a girlfriend being affectionate with her boyfriend."Juan, did you come to see me?"Sheila's eyes were full of anticipation, as Debra, not far away, silently observed the scene."Debra, do y
Debra's indifference was a mirror of Juan's callousness. She used him just as he had used others. They were cut from the same cloth.Juan cast a frosty glance towards Shelia, his voice dropping to a low growl. "I'm warning you, Shelia. If you dare employ any underhanded tactics to harm Debra, I won't stand idly by."Shelia blanched and reached out to grab his hand. "Debra doesn't spare you a thought. She doesn't care for you at all. But I truly love you. Remember the joy we shared that night?""Enough!" Juan snapped, shaking off her hand.His eyes flashed with a dark intensity. "Never mention that night again. If you value your position at Tyson Enterprises, cease testing my patience. Otherwise, I'll ensure that Arcane Academy kicks you out."Shelia froze in place, knowing Juan wasn't issuing blank threats. His actions were always harsher than his words.Juan turned on his heel and strode away, leaving Shelia rooted to the spot, a dejected figure in his wake. Joe glanced at her a
"Debra, you've been spending a lot of time with Michael lately, and your internship work has suffered. Miss Miles expects you to finish this today, or your internship might be in jeopardy," said a co-worker, placing a stack of files on the desk.Debra eyed the towering pile, which nearly obscured her computer screen. She glanced across the office at Shelia, who wore a self-satisfied smirk.Debra had anticipated some retaliation, but she hadn't expected Shelia to stoop so low.She stood up, walked over to the desk, and quickly counted the files. "If I recall correctly, these were supposed to be checked by Carole yesterday, weren't they?"The female employee remained unfazed. "So what? I'm a full-time employee. Entrusting these documents to you is a sign of faith in your abilities."Debra let out a derisive snort. "You think it's possible to check all these reports and come up with ten plans by the end of the day?"The employee shifted uncomfortably but held her ground. "Debra, thi
The office buzzed with the grand entrance. Even Shelia wore a shifting expression of disbelief.She was aware of Debra's lineage, being the daughter of the Frazier family, but she never expected Debra to be at the helm of the Frazier Group."Why? Didn't Miss Miles inform them of my identity?" Debra stood before them, her smile radiant and confident. "I'm Debra, the daughter of the Frazier family and Juan Nichols' wife."A ripple of shock passed through the room. All eyes turned to Shelia.'If Debra is Juan's wife, then what does that make Shelia? A mistress?'Shelia felt the weight of their gazes, her fists clenching in frustration."Why isn't Miss Miles saying anything? If there's no issue, please have Mr. Tyson come and talk to me," Debra said, handing the document to Ben. "I'm not feeling particularly generous today, so let's put this contract on hold for the year."Meanwhile, Carole had been alerted by the commotion. She strode up with a frown and sighed upon seeing Debra. "
A female employee stood nearby, her hands trembling.Debra hadn't intended to cause a scene, but Shelia's arrogance was intolerable. If she didn't address it today, her internship days would be disastrous."Ms. Frazier, I didn't expect you to grace us with your presence." Liam Tyson emerged from his office, a smile on his face.However, upon seeing Debra, he paused in surprise. 'What's going on?'Ben quickly introduced Debra. "Mr. Tyson, this is our CEO, and she's also Mrs. Nichols."Liam's smile faded. "Mrs. Nichols?"He glanced at Debra and then Shelia. "If this is Mrs. Nichols, then Shelia..."Shelia frowned with displeasure. Liam swallowed nervously.Juan had never brought Debra to company events, and Liam had no idea what she looked like, nor had he heard that she was a graduate student at Arcane Academy."Mr. Tyson, are you nervous?" Debra observed with amusement."Not at all," Liam replied, trying to regain his composure. "It's just surprising to have Mrs. Nichols inte
Andrew looked up at Debra."Barton mentioned you visited the attic.""I did.""What did you see?"Debra lowered her eyes. "Just some old belongings. It was a whim."Andrew didn't press further. Instead, he glanced at the white gown she wore and asked, "Are you heading out?""There's a press conference. I need to resolve some matters.""I've heard bits about the online rumors. They don't seem critical, but if you need my help, I'll have arrangements made.""It's fine. I can handle them," she said, standing up. "Take care.""I will." Andrew nodded.Debra paused at the door, and he asked, "Is there anything else?""I had a dream.""A dream?""In it, I seemed to have lived here for a while. The attic was a beautiful room. A gentle boy stayed by my side and told me stories."Debra wanted to ask if Andrew knew anything or if he was that boy.But when she turned back, Andrew's expression remained unchanged. "A dream is just a dream. I don't recall meeting you in my childhood."
"To achieve my goals, I'll use anyone as a tool," Juan replied indifferently. "If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up."The man on the other end probed, "If I asked you to kill Debra one day, would you do it?"Juan scoffed, "A woman who no longer belongs to me? I'd show no mercy.""Good. Mark your words," said the man before ending the call.Juan stared at the screen and saw a dozen missed calls from Garland. He muttered to himself, "Debra, stay strong. Don't let this break you."...At the Potter Mansion, Garland paced like a cat on a hot tin roof. "What the hell's going on? Answer the damn phone."He tried calling Juan again, only to find himself blocked."Screw this. I'm done trusting you!" He hurled his phone across the room. "Lying snake."Liza pushed the door open just as the device clattered against the wall. "What's wrong?"Garland composed himself and replied, "Just frustrated about the mess. Don't worry. I'll fix it.""This isn't your fault," Liza reassured him. "
"Come on. Why did you blab?" Erica glared.Drake deadpanned, "I'm not part of your group. I'll say what I want."Debra frowned. "So, you were thinking about countermeasures?"Erica explained, "Don't worry. Just focus on your recovery and let us handle it.""Yeah," Randy chimed in. "We've got it covered."Marion's voice softened. "I'll take care of it."Debra pressed his hand to her forehead. "I'm fine now. See? No fever. This involves me directly. How can I sit by while you all scramble? Besides, I can't rest well with Vickie parading around.Marion's jaw tightened, but Debra gave him a reassuring look. "I'll rest if I feel unwell. Promise.""Alright," he compromised.From Erica and Randy, Debra pieced together the situation. Juan had been showcasing Vickie at galas and press events for two days, thrusting her into the spotlight with ruthless efficiency.Debra was not surprised. Juan's reputation and connections made it effortless to manufacture hype. No wonder he'd kept the
That afternoon, Vickie made an announcement, revealing that the article accusing her of plastic surgery was traced back to New Age, a press agency Debra had purchased.Netizens theorized that Debra, threatened by Vickie's claim to the Frazier family legacy, had launched a smear campaign.Vickie effortlessly countered the allegations, cementing public belief in her "true heiress" status.The air at the Potter Mansion was thick with tension."I wanted to help. I didn't expect this to happen," Garland stammered.Juan's devotion to Debra was obvious, yet Juan fed him false intel. He felt like he had misplaced his trust, and the betrayal stung.Erica paced. "Regrets won't fix this. They baited the trap, and we walked in. We need a plan to expose Vickie's lies.""The resemblance can't be a coincidence," Randy said thoughtfully. "The plastic surgery claims must hold truth. They're mixing facts with fiction.""Standard corporate warfare," Drake chimed in. "Leak scandals first for buzz,
"Alright." Debra noticed nothing amiss.After escorting her back to her room, Marion reemerged. "Randy, rein in your girlfriend."Erica planted her hands on her hips. "I'm your cousin.""Then act like one. Don't make Debra worry," Marion countered.Erica's defiance crumpled. "I was just a little nervous."Randy feigned sternness. "Show some respect. I don't even dare speak to her like that.""Breaking news!" Liza burst out of her room, waving her phone. "Have you seen this? The article's gone viral.""What article?" Randy and Erica were confused.They'd been too preoccupied with Debra's situation to check the internet."Seriously? You missed this bomb?" Liza jabbed her screen. "Earlier today, Vickie claimed to be the Frazier family heiress. Then, within an hour, the hashtag vanished. Now this exposé drops, detailing how she got plastic surgery to impersonate Debra.""Let me see." Erica snatched the phone.The article laid out Vickie's cosmetic procedures abroad."She reall
Debra's heart sank. What happened the previous night was still vivid in her memories.She had gone to the attic and smashed the locked door with a hammer. The bed, toys, and stacks of old newspapers had felt so familiar. It couldn't be just a dream."The kidnapping case dealt a severe blow to the Potter family. They must have collected and burned those newspapers. Given my understanding of them, if they want something erased, it stays erased.""I suppose so." Debra nodded, but her doubt remained. "I need to see the attic to confirm it.""Alright. I'll go with you." Marion helped her out of bed.As they opened the door, they found Barton waiting outside, holding a key."Mrs. Houston," he said, "I've found the attic key. Let me take you there."The room exhaled a musty, dust-laden breath when opened. Debra, still sick, coughed at the stale air.Inside stood only aged clocks and furniture, relics from bygone decades. Nothing matched what she'd seen the night before."Why the sudd
At the same time, Marion was dealing with some journalists."Mercy. We were just paid to publish the news.""This has nothing to do with us.""We'll take down the articles right now."Marion sat on the sofa, glancing at his watch. "Ten minutes.""You heard the man," barked one of his subordinates, glowering at the newspaper executives cowering in the corner. "Ten minutes to scrub every trace of this."Marion raised a hand. "Don't frighten our guests. I'm known for being reasonable."The publishers exchanged uneasy glances before calling their teams to halt all operations.Ten minutes later, Marion refreshed the news page. Every negative headline had vanished."Don't let me see another word about this.""Rest assured, Mr. Houston. Such false reports will never surface again.""Yes. This'll never happen again.""Please, just let us go." Marion stood up, silencing the chorus with a flick of his wrist. His men then ushered the publishers out."Sir," one subordinate reported
To be more convincing, Garland cleared his throat and said, "It's simple. I'll write an article and use public opinion to crush the fraud."Marion stayed silent, and he quickly added, "You know, Debra acquired my news agency. Journalism is my trade, and I have the latest intel. I can...""Get to the point.""Uh... Since Vickie claims to be the real heiress, I'll dig up her background and expose her true colors.""Finished?""Yes.""I'll handle it. You stay here."Garland scrambled after him. "Don't you trust my skills? This'll work. I've got Vickie's first-hand dirt."Marion finally paused. Garland's eyes lit up."Believe me now?""My silence doesn't mean ignorance. Tell whoever sent you. Debra is out of their reach. Stop playing games."Garland's smile stiffened. By the time he recovered, Marion was gone.Left with no choice, Garland slipped away to call Juan.As soon as the line went through, he spoke anxiously. "Marion doesn't trust me. It seems he knows we're connected
Drake stood up and continued, "That's all I know. The old man didn't dedicate his life to mere wealth. The so-called treasure of Seamar City can't just be some fabled royal vault. I don't believe it, and neither should any of you."All these people possessed wealth that rivaled nations. It didn't make sense that they'd spend over a decade chasing rumors of riches they'd never seen. There had to be more to it.Marion remained silent, and Drake added, "This is everything I know. Now we're even."He turned to leave but paused at the door. "Debra will likely sleep for another four or five hours. As her husband, you'd do well to stay close."The door clicked shut behind him.Marion moved to the bedside, brushing a hand over Debra's forehead. Her skin was clammy with cold sweat. He dampened a towel in the bathroom and gently wiped the sweat from her face."Don't be afraid. I'm back," he murmured. "No one can harm you now."Debra's tense expression eased. Marion studied her, as if seei