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
Debra dropped the stack of files onto Shelia's desk.Shelia looked up, her face paling to a ghostly white."Absolutely, you're right," Liam said.Debra smiled with satisfaction. "Then it's settled. I'll get back to work. Mr. Tyson, please sign here.""Alright, I'll sign," Liam agreed hastily.He scrawled his signature without a thought about whether they could renew the contract with Michael next year.Angering Debra was more dangerous than losing money.Shelia stood rooted to the spot, her body trembling with barely contained rage. She watched as Debra sauntered back to her workstation, looking entirely at ease amidst the tension.Debra's smile widened as she caught sight of Shelia's frustrated expression.Truth be told, Shelia was not without her strengths. She was clever, academically gifted, and possessed a certain cunning. However, she was woefully ignorant of the unspoken rules that governed their industry. She believed that her association with Juan would grant her immu
Shelia stood rooted to the spot, her mind reeling in disbelief.In her mind, Debra was just a pampered lady with no substance. Yet they let Debra lead the entire Frazier family."This is impossible. You must be mistaken!" Shelia exclaimed.Liam remained adamant. "Miss Miles, why would I lie to you? This matter has already spread within our circles. I might risk offending the owner of Frazier Entertainment, but I can't afford to offend the boss of Frazier Group."His words hit Shelia like a physical blow, draining her of all strength.Shelia wondered if they had let Debra take over under Juan's suggestions.She clenched her fists. 'Debra, with her privileged background, could rely on Juan and the Frazier family to secure the top position at Frazier Group, despite her lack of knowledge. Why? I've studied so hard for years only to end up in such a dire situation."Miss Miles, I hope you can understand," Liam said.Despite her unwillingness, Shelia knew she had no choice but to lea
Shelia was supposed to be Juan's lover, yet Juan had been surprisingly harsh with her, not even bothering to inquire about her situation."Okay, Mr. Nichols," Liam said. "I'll take good care of Mrs. Nichols. I won't let her be mistreated at the company."Juan, growing impatient, ended the call abruptly without further comment.Joe, who had been standing by, said cautiously, "If Miss Miles can't secure an internship right away, her thesis..."Juan's voice was cold and dismissive. "If she can't secure an internship, then my years of training her have been wasted. Don't mention her again. I have no further interest in her affairs.""Understood."In the afternoon, Debra received a call from Ben while she was in the middle of pouring herself a cup of tea."What's up, Ben?""This noon, several companies under the group received the same resume.""Whose resume?""Shelia Miles."Debra couldn't help but laugh. Freshly out of her job, Shelia was already scrambling for another position
Shelia took great care of her appearance, slipping into her most professional attire and stepping into her highest heels.The interviewer glanced at her and said, "I've reviewed your resume. You're a graduate student from Arcane Academy, right?"Shelia couldn't suppress a small smile of pride. "Yes, that's correct."The interviewer leaned back in her chair, her expression appreciative. "Impressive. You're quite young to have achieved that."Shelia felt a swell of satisfaction. The graduate position was a testament to her abilities and perseverance.The interviewer continued, "We do have an internship position available, but I must clarify, it's not for the vice GM role."Shelia's smile faded slightly. "Not the vice GM?"She had braced herself for this, knowing that such a high-ranking position wouldn't come easily. "I was hoping for at least a director position in the finance department or perhaps the accounting department."The interviewer held up a hand, interrupting her. "Yo
Ivan had no idea what was going on. Presumably, Debra should be on the third floor, but now the attic had suddenly caught fire.On the second floor, Erica and Randy stepped out to see Barton help Andrew back to his room."Mr. Andrew Potter?"Garland and Liza were shocked too. They'd never seen him in such distress."Minor fire. Mr. Andrew Potter needs rest," Barton said flatly. "Please keep quiet about this, especially from Mrs. Houston."Liza frowned. "Why?""No questions. Trust that it's for her sake," Barton replied.After they left, Liza muttered, "Weirdoes!"...Debra jolted awake the next morning, shooting upright before dizziness slammed her back down. Drake watched silently from a chair."Quick. I need to go upstairs." She tried to kick off the blankets, but Drake stopped her."Let me go." Her usual calm shattered into a raw panic. "I'm going to the third floor."Drake hesitated. For once, he felt guilty. But he couldn't cave.Clenching his fists, he lied, "You've
Drake carried Debra downstairs on his back.A warm teardrop hit his shoulder. He frowned, glancing sideways at her unconscious face. Even when she passed out, her brows stayed furrowed. Tears kept soaking into his shirt."What a fool," he muttered.Andrew slumped against the wall. The tiny attic room glowed with remnants of Debra's childhood. This had been her sanctuary years ago.Back then, when her parents were busy with business, they'd leave her at the Potter Mansion for weeks. Young Debra's first word wasn't Mama or Papa. It was Brother.She'd trailed him everywhere like a shadow.The mansion's vast emptiness scared her at night. She'd cry until he moved her bed near the attic's stained-glass window. His mother had joked that he would have a good husband someday, just like his dad.Debra's laughter had thawed the mansion's cold halls. She'd painted his gray world in color.Andrew looked at those familiar items and struggled to his feet. His chest burned like coals as he fl
The room was a cozy paradise. A small plush bed sat in the center, topped with a giant teddy bear. Two fairy tale books lay on a nearby desk.The floor had a fluffy pink rug, a tiny wooden rocking horse, and half-built toy blocks scattered around. Miniature castles, dolls, and delicate tea sets filled the space.Every detail hit Debra's nerves like a hammer. Something buzzed in her memory, just out of reach. Her head throbbed as the room spun around her. She forced herself forward, step by shaky step.Then she spotted a pile of yellowed newspapers crammed in a corner. She tried to go over, but each movement flooded her mind with fragmented images."Almost there," she muttered.A memory fragment flickered. Someone was reading fairy tales by her bed.She heard her younger self ask, "Brother, why do princes and princesses fall in love at first sight?" "Because they're meant to be," he replied softly."But can't the princess love someone else?" "She might have many knights, bu
Marion drove through the night, streetlights flickering across his face.A weathered old newspaper lay crumpled in the passenger seat, its yellow pages detailing every grim detail of that decade-old kidnapping case, but not a trace of warmth touched his expression.When he reached the coast, he killed the engine. Clutching the newspaper, he strode to the water's edge. A lighter flashed in his hand. Flames crawled across the brittle paper, casting dancing shadows on his tense jawline. He watched until the last ember died, then scattered the ashes across the sand....Debra had drifted into an uneasy sleep.Her dreams swirled with half-remembered fragments—a ship's deck, choking smoke, a cramped dark space.Saltwater stung her nostrils as waves pressed down on her face. She thrashed against the suffocation until she was exhausted and helplessly sank into the water. Suddenly, a child's scream pierced the darkness. "Brother, save me."Debra jolted awake. The fading image of a face
"I didn't mean it.""Just heed my advice. Marion's sweet-talk game is stronger than you think. The news must have covered both kidnapping cases. Figure out why those three are hiding it from you."Drake went back to his room, leaving Debra outside.Her mind was a mess. She couldn't understand why even Marion chose not to tell her the truth.Footsteps creaked upstairs. Debra looked up to see Ivan descending.Her eyes narrowed. "I told you not to clean the second floor and above. What were you doing up there?"Ivan stammered, "I'm sorry. Someone mentioned the attic hadn't been cleaned in years. I wanted to help." "Attic?""The one on the third floor. It's locked, so I came down."Debra's pulse quickened as she realized the mastermind was feeding her clues through Ivan.She played dumb. "Alright. Remember, don't come up here again without my permission.""Yes, Mrs. Houston." Ivan retreated.Debra stared at the staircase for a while and turned to look at Andrew's room. It was
"I..." Erica was lost for words.Debra came upstairs, suspicion flickering. "Are you hiding something from me?"Erica shrank back, and Randy jumped in. "How is that possible? I was just helping her pick an outfit. Right, Erica?"Erica forced a nod. "Y-Yeah." Marion also came up. Randy seized the lifeline. "Marion, take Debra back. I need to help Erica change."He dragged Erica away like the floor was lava.Debra's suspicion grew. Marion gently brushed her hair. "I'll find the newspapers. It's been a long day. You need to rest.""What if they're gone?" she muttered.It was a major event. She had no memory of it, and her parents had never mentioned it. It didn't make sense."Do you think Vickie's kidnapping is connected to what happened to the Potters?" she said, recalling what Erica had once told her.It was Jordan who had been kidnapped. The incident killed their parents and crippled Andrew.The thought of it always made her chest tighten. When Vickie had mentioned it, her
Erica rolled her eyes. "We've been over this. Everyone knows Vickie's a fraud, but Juan's backing her is real. In this circle, folks cozy up to powerful families to climb the social ladder. They just play dumb and prop up Vickie to get close to Juan."Liza blinked, clueless. "Why don't they just work with Debra instead?"Debra laughed bitterly, "The business owners surviving in Seamar City aren't fools. The McKinney Group and the Nichols Group are at war. From this drama, they can tell Juan is targeting me. He is untouchable here. When he wants someone to be gone, they're gone. And with Caleb's sudden death, Andrew's illness, Jordan's betrayal, and Drake's downfall, we're clearly in a tight spot. Who would bet on the underdog?"Liza gasped, "So, this is their power play to win allies?"Debra nodded.Garland gaped at Liza. "You figured that out?""Didn't you?" she asked back.Garland bristled. "Of course. I'm the family pillar. I saw through everything."Liza side-eyed him.Deb
Marion fell silent. "I wasn't in Seamar City back then. No idea what happened."Debra frowned, troubled. Marion's eyes dimmed."Let's go home.""Okay."Half an hour later, we were back at the Potter Mansion."What? You're not the Frazier family heiress?" Garland's jaw dropped.Liza smacked his arm. "Seriously? Someone named Vickie popped up claiming to be the real heiress. No one said Debra isn't.""Oh," Garland exhaled in relief. "So, that chick is a fake?""Fake," Debra said firmly.Liza tilted her head. "Why are you so sure? What if she's legit?""Girl, you're smarter than this." Erica rolled her eyes. "It's an obvious scam. No one's buying it.""Then why bother?" Liza pouted. "If everyone knows she's fake, why embarrass herself?"Debra explained, "Truth doesn't matter. She wants the title, not assets.""Why is that?" Liza remained puzzled.That title alone didn't seem so alluring."She wants the identity because of the hidden treasure," Debra replied. "One of the fou
Marion leaned against the doorframe and smiled, "No need."He'd always known. Debra had grown into a hawk soaring freely through the skies. Even without his protection, she'd fly higher and farther.His smile deepened as he listened to her passionate plans for the company's future. That alone was worth his trip....At the Potter Mansion, Andrew unlatched the golden cage, releasing the canary inside.It fluttered clumsily toward the window. Trapped too long, it had forgotten how to fly. Yet it flapped its wings and pushed onward until it took flight and disappeared into the distance."Sir, that was your favorite bird," a servant said hesitantly."Loving something doesn't mean clutching it in your hand," Andrew replied with a smile. "To love is to let go, find its true self, and pursue what it wants."His voice lowered. "To love is to step back and watch her enjoy her life."A storm brewed outside, but he knew no matter how fierce the rain was, she'd endure....After seeing