Shelia's face contorted with anger. "Do you have any idea how much money you owe? You expect me to help you? I don't have that kind of money."Clarissa's eyes gleamed with a mix of desperation and hope. "But you've got that sugar daddy, haven't you? I heard he treats you well and takes you everywhere. Aren't you about to become his wife soon? The Nichols family is filthy rich. They can easily cover the debts."Shelia paled at the mention of Juan. "If I were to become his wife, those creditors wouldn't be hounding me."She knew Clarissa had been boasting to the creditors about her impending marriage to Juan, and they knew Juan had taken her to various events.But now, they somehow learned Juan cut off all her funds and came knocking, taking away almost everything valuable.Gritting her teeth, Shelia hissed, "If you hadn't leaked my info, those creditors wouldn't be here. You're dragging me down with you. Why don't you just disappear?"Clarissa's face was twisted with resentment. "
Clarissa eyed her warily. "How can I help you?"Shelia leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I know you've been around the casino scene for years. You must know some heavy hitters. I need a favor."As Shelia shared her plan, Clarissa paled with fright. "No. Absolutely not!"Shelia's eyebrows furrowed in displeasure."Why not? Back then, you weren't afraid to dispose of bodies. Are you scared now?""That girl was an orphan. No one would investigate much for her. And you were there as a replacement; it was foolproof. Of course, I wasn't scared. But Debra is the daughter of the Frazier family and Juan's wife. How could I dare touch her?"Clarissa wasn't foolish. She knew the stakes were high. If they followed Shelia's plan, she might end up dead in a matter of days.Shelia tightened her grip on Clarissa's hand. "I'm not asking you to kill her. You need money urgently. Just kidnap her and use her to ransom Juan. I'll handle the rest, and you'll have no involvement.""But..."
Juan, concerned that Debra might misinterpret his intentions, explained, "Taking over your family business isn't a simple matter. I just...""I know what you mean," Debra interjected, a smile playing on her lips, though her eyes held no warmth. "I was just teasing you. Don't take it seriously."She was more than glad to meet those insiders. Knowing more people meant more opportunities.Juan nodded, relieved that she understood his perspective."Joe is waiting downstairs for us."He extended a hand to Debra, but she didn't take it. Instead, she said, "You go ahead. Send me the location.""Not together?""I think I'll change into something else," Debra said, gesturing to her simple attire.She hadn't even applied makeup before leaving today.Juan chuckled, his eyes sweeping over her. "You look good in anything. No need to dress up.""Can't do that," Debra insisted. "After all, I'm meeting clients. I should look presentable to complement your handsome appearance."A faint smile
Debra stood on the second floor, a slight smirk playing on her lips as she watched Hester scurry about.She hadn't expected Hester to be so eager, but it worked in her favor. It saved her the trouble of devising another plan to bring Hester out into the open.Returning to her room, Debra selected her gown for the evening. Naturally elegant, she didn't require much adornment, but tonight she intended to shine. It was time to leverage her identity as Mrs. Nichols and make a wave.An hour later, she descended the stairs, but Hester was nowhere in sight.Melody sat on the sofa, her eyes narrowing as she took in Debra's attire. "It's late. Who are you going out with, dressed like that?""Grandma, I have a business discussion with Mr. Nichols. It's almost time, so I must leave now," Debra replied, having no intention of accommodating her anymore."Debra, what's with this attitude?" Melody snapped. "Have you forgotten how you begged me when you wanted to marry Juan?"Debra paused, a sm
Hester looked up, her eyes wide with disbelief."Why aren't you going yet?" Melody added.A smile blossomed on Hester's face, her eyes sparkling with gratitude. "Thank you, Mrs. Nichols Sr."Melody watched Hester leave, her lips curling into a sneer. The Vargas family was indeed insignificant, but girls from such humble backgrounds were easy to manipulate.Since Debra didn't seem to care much about her position in the Nichols family, perhaps it was time to give her a wake-up call.Plenty of women wanted to marry into the Nichols family. Debra was replaceable....Debra arrived at the Sapphire Hotel, where Juan had reserved a table with the best view in the hall.Today, the restaurant was filled with Juan's business associates, their eyes turning to Debra as soon as she entered.She was a vision in a rose-red gown, her long, curled hair cascading to one side. When Juan saw her, his thoughts drifted back to the land auction, where he had first realized how stunning she looked wi
Outside the Sapphire Hotel, Leanna escorted Shelia inside."Come, have a seat," she said, finding a spot not far from where Juan was seated.Debra, hearing Leanna's voice, spoke to Juan. "I'm going to the restroom. I'll be back soon.""Okay," Juan replied, his eyes following her as she stood up and walked away.Leanna leaned in, her voice reassuring as she spoke to Shelia. "Today's gathering must have been overwhelming for you, right? You're just an intern. It's tough for you to join us for drinks." Despite her comforting tone, she kept a keen eye on Shelia's expression.Ever since Shelia entered the restaurant, her eyes had been scanning the hall, searching for Juan.It didn't take long for her to spot him, seated amidst a group of business bosses in the center of the room. A glint appeared in Shelia's eyes.These days, no matter what she did, she couldn't get through to Juan. Even Joe had stopped answering her calls. If Leanna hadn't mentioned the Sapphire Hotel often housed
Debra emerged from the restroom, her gaze sweeping over the tense scene before her."What happened? I stepped away for a moment, and everyone's on edge?" she asked, her eyes landing on Shelia.Shelia turned around, her expression souring as soon as she saw Debra.Debra was dressed to impress, exuding an air of grace that made Shelia's attire seem tacky and out of place. Shelia looked more like a nightclub girl trying too hard, lacking the refinement of a true socialite.Debra had always questioned Juan's taste in women. Shelia's looks were unremarkable, her figure nothing special. Her only redeeming quality was her innocence, but tonight, she had tried to dress more maturely, which only served to overshadow that one advantage.She appeared like a nouveau riche, lacking any sense of sophistication."Miss Miles, you're here too.""Debra...""I prefer you call me Mrs. Nichols," Debra interrupted.Shelia looked reluctant to acknowledge Debra's identity in front of so many people.
The waiter swiftly brought a new glass for Debra, but Shelia felt offended.She knew Debra was provoking her."Shelia, have you ordered?" Leanna emerged from the restroom, her voice slicing through the tension.Shelia shook her head. "Not yet."Leanna's eyebrows furrowed in disapproval. "What's going on? You can't even handle something as simple as ordering. Forget it! I'll take care of it."Her tone carried an air of authority. The people present realized that she was not Shelia's colleague but her supervisor.Shelia blushed with embarrassment and quickly returned to her seat. Juan knew that Debra had done that on purpose to give Shelia a hard time.He whispered, "Are you upset?""No," Debra replied, shaking her wine glass. "I just don't like people touching my things."Juan smiled wryly. "I thought you might be jealous. Seems I was overthinking."Before, Debra had never arbitrarily troubled Shelia. He had thought it was jealousy driving her actions, but now it seemed Debra
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