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
Debra caught a glimpse of Hester hovering outside the door.She had dressed up in a simple white dress that accentuated her youthfulness. She was younger than Shelia, and her pure appearance was quite endearing.She seemed to possess an allure that could captivate any man even more than Shelia had.As Hester entered the room, Shelia noticed her immediately.In terms of looks, Hester surpassed Shelia. In terms of demeanor, Hester exuded the aura of a refined lady. And in age, Hester was notably younger than Shelia.At first sight, Shelia felt that Hester was trying to imitate her, but it was clear that Hester had gone beyond mere imitation."Juan, Mrs. Nichols," Hester greeted. Her entrance caused everyone to pause and wonder about her identity.Debra smiled and introduced her to everyone. "This is Hester from the Vargas family, now caring for Mrs. Nichols Sr."Hester stood aside, smiling shyly. "Juan, your grandmother was worried you might drink too much, so she sent me to chec
Juan opened the car door, helping Debra inside before sliding into the driver's seat himself.Hester hurried after them, but by the time she exited the restaurant, Juan had already sped off with Debra.She was left behind and unhappy."Some people think copying my style will impress Juan," Shelia said smugly as she emerged behind Hester.Hester straightened herself, with confusion evident in her voice. "Do I know you?"Shelia scoffed, "Don't play dumb with me. Debra once tried to catch Juan's eye by imitating me. Now, you're just a worse copycat."Just a moment ago, she had come up with an excellent plan. The position of Mrs. Nichols was hers for the taking.No one could compete with her for it, not Debra or Hester."Is that so? But I don't think Juan takes you seriously either, so there's no point bringing up the past," Hester countered, flicking her hair. "After all, you're just a poor student sponsored by him, while I am a fair lady. I would never consider you a competitor b
Juan initially tried to deceive himself, thinking that Debra's actions were driven by jealousy. But as he looked into her eyes, he saw no signs of caring.Everything she did was calculated and designed to benefit herself."Juan, you're a businessman, and I am one too. You taught me all this," Debra said, her voice as icy as her gaze.He couldn't understand it. Even now, he couldn't fathom why the Debra who used to be devoted to him had suddenly changed.Debra, however, knew exactly why. Her old self, who had once revolved around Juan, hadn't ended well. She swore never to make the same mistakes again.In her last life, Juan had prioritized profit above all else, disregarding marital ties and even the child in her womb.In this life, she merely employed the same tactics and beat him in his own game.A smile touched Debra's lips, but her eyes held no warmth. "The three-month deadline isn't up yet. Do your best to impress me and see if I'll fall in love with you again."Juan looke
"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
Garland and Liza nodded quickly. "We swear we won't say a word."Only then did Barton step aside, allowing them to leave.Erica furrowed her brow. "So, the kidnapped girl I saw at the hospital years ago was Debra?""Miss Mathis, things aren't as complicated as they seem. Just know that Mr. Andrew Potter did this to protect Mrs. Houston," Barton replied before leaving the room.Randy saw her troubled expression. "Andrew must have a reason to do this. Don't be upset.""I just feel bad keeping Debra in the dark," she replied somberly."Let's stick to Andrew's plan for now," Randy reassured her. "He'd never harm Debra. If we spill the truth now, we might end up hurting her."Erica nodded, her heart heavy. "For now. If she asks me about it..."A voice suddenly came from the doorway. "You can't tell her."Marion stepped inside."Where have you been?" Erica hurried over. "A lot of things happened yesterday. Debra's running a high fever now."Marion's jaw tightened, and he said, "Ke
Drake spoke up. "She's running a fever. Have your doctor check on her.""Fever?" Barton reached out to feel Debra's forehead. "You're burning up. I'll call William over right away.""It's okay. I'll be fine after some rest," Debra declined.Drake scolded, "When Marion isn't around, you're being difficult.""I'm not.""Then I shall call him back.""Don't. Just bring the doctor." Debra grabbed his arm.Drake glanced at her hand, realizing only Marion could keep her in line."Alright. Go back now," he said, heading downstairs.Debra followed behind him but did not give up on investigating the attic.William crept out of Andrew's room. "Well? Did she notice me?"Barton shoved him back inside. "Prepare the fever shot. Make sure she sleeps longer.""Leave it to me." William puffed out his chest.Barton glanced at Andrew, still unconscious in the bed. "Keep Mr. Andrew Potter's illness confidential, especially from Mrs. Houston.""Don't worry. Patient privacy is sacred. Besides,
When Debra arrived on the third floor, she couldn't believe her eyes.The attic had been transformed. It was nothing like what she had seen the night before.The door was old, but the lock was different. As far as she remembered, she had smashed the door with a hammer, but there were no traces of any damage.Drake narrowed his eyes. He knew Andrew was capable, but he hadn't expected that in just one night, Andrew could erase and rebuild everything."It can't be," Debra murmured, trying to open the lock.Drake's hand shot out and gripped her wrist. "I told you it was all a dream, but you wouldn't believe me. What are you trying to do now?"Debra turned to look at him, her expression serious. "I'm sure it wasn't a dream."Under the weight of her gaze, Drake found himself unable to retort with his usual cutting remarks.After a while, he released her hand and averted his eyes. "Even if you want to open the door, you should at least ask the owner of the house. It's rude to barge in
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