"Mrs. Nichols Sr., just now, Juan mentioned Debra falling into the sea. Is she..." Hester muttered.Melody's expression hardened. "Good that she's dead. If she's dead, he'll finally give up."She didn't believe Juan would die for any woman. He couldn't die, and she wouldn't allow it.The rescue team had been scouring the vast ocean for three days and nights, their search area expanding with each passing hour. Yet, there was no sign of Debra.News of Debra's fall reached the Frazier family. Ralph paced anxiously, but Rosalie was elated.If Debra was dead, the agreement they had made would be null and void.The family fortune would go to her and her son.She watched Ralph's frenzy with a cold glint in her eyes. 'Ralph, you were so heartless to us, so don't blame me for being ruthless.'On the third day, Juan was a picture of despair. No one could survive three days in the sea.When Joe entered the office, he asked, "Have they found Debra?"Joe shook his head slowly. "Not yet."
Clarissa's acting was far from convincing. Her eyes were darting nervously.Juan frowned. "Is this her?" he asked, turning to Joe.Joe nodded. "Yes, she colluded with the kidnappers."Juan's gaze shifted back to Clarissa, who trembled in fear."Don't you know who I am?""No, your people brought me here. This is illegal! I'm calling the police. I'm going to report this.""Okay, give her a phone. Let her call the police."Juan's words immediately silenced Clarissa, her earlier bravado vanishing like smoke in the wind."You can tell them how you colluded with the kidnappers to abduct Debra."Clarissa crumpled to the ground, unable to utter a word.A nearby guard spoke up. "Sir, we caught her trying to buy a train ticket to Booton. Her hometown must be there.""No." Clarissa denied it weakly. "My hometown isn't Booton. I was just traveling, not running away."Juan asked sternly, "Why kidnap Debra? Who are you?"He had no recollection of ever seeing Clarissa before, and with hi
"No, I'll talk," Clarissa stammered anxiously.She didn't want to die. Trembling all over, she continued, "You must promise me that if I tell you everything, you'll let me go.""I can't make that promise. But if you tell me, I'll be more lenient with you," Juan said.Clarissa's face paled, the reality of her situation sinking in like a stone. No matter what she said today, they wouldn't let her off easily.Juan looked down at the crumpled figure before him, his voice as cold as the Arctic. "Go to the police or into the black box. The choice is yours."Clarissa looked up to see his cold eyes and eventually gave in. "All of this... Everything was..."Just then, the sharp ring of the office phone sliced through the tense air.Joe answered the call. "I see."After a brief exchange, he hung up and turned to Juan. "Sir, Miss Miles is here."Juan's voice turned as cold as ice. "What is she doing here? Don't let her in."Clarissa's expression stiffened at the mention of Shelia. Jua
Shelia struggled to free herself from Joe's grip."Let go of me!" she said sternly. "None of you can touch me. I'm pregnant with Mr. Nichols' child."Her voice was steady and clear, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. Some employees poked their heads in to watch.Juan's face darkened. The onlookers exchanged glances, realizing that Shelia's claim might hold some truth.Shelia took a step closer to Juan, her hand gently touching her still-flat belly. "Juan, this is your child, your first child. Are you really going to treat him like this?"Juan's hands clenched into fists at his sides. Clarissa, who had been cowering on the floor, immediately straightened her back.She knew that in prominent families like the Nichols, offspring were of utmost importance.If Shelia was indeed pregnant with Juan's child, her position in the family would be secured. Clarissa felt a surge of excitement replace her fear. She was about to become Juan's mother-in-law and the grandmother of the futu
Juan never let Debra know about the picture.When he pressed the shutter, he remembered being surprised by the warmth in her eyes. At that time, he didn't even like her, always maintaining a cold demeanor towards her.He rubbed his forehead, leaning back in his office chair with a sigh. 'Debra, you're not dead, right? Why won't you come back?'The sky outside was dark, and the TV in a certain room was airing a report about Debra's kidnapping. The subject of the news, however, was not missing but sitting comfortably on the sofa, quietly watching the reports.Marion placed a steaming cup of medicine on the coffee table. "You haven't fully recovered from your cold. Why did you get off the bed?"Debra looked up at him, her hands wrapping around the warm cup. "It's been three days. I guess I shouldn't have chosen the sea escape method. It would have been better to make a video to fool Juan."She and the kidnappers had concocted a plan. She would fake her death, and they would receive
Debra brushed off Marion's joke, but the next morning, Seamar City was abuzz with an astonishing rumor.Caleb had relinquished control of the entire Houston family assets to Marion, propelling him to the head of the family overnight.When Debra saw the news, she was taken aback. Caleb was a cunning and calculating man; he wouldn't surrender his power without a reason.Marion must have done something to compel Caleb to hand over the reins of the Houston family.The Houston family, despite their lower profile in recent years, still wielded significant influence in Seamar City. According to the timeline from her previous life, Marion shouldn't have been recognized as the successor for another three years.Yet, here they were, with Marion acknowledged as the heir and in control of all family assets ahead of schedule. Debra was naturally astonished.This sudden shift in power dynamics meant that the inevitable conflict between Marion and Juan was now imminent. With the recent blows fr
Shelia breathed a sigh of relief as Melody expressed her support.Hester, however, felt a growing unease gnawing at her. If Shelia gave birth to a boy in ten months and the child was confirmed to be Juan's, her own chances of winning Juan's affections would be reduced to nil.Melody turned to her and said, "Hester, prepare a room for Shelia to move into.""Yes, madam," Hester replied reluctantly.Shelia cast a smug glance at Hester. As a woman, she could see right through Hester's feelings for Juan. She wasn't about to let Hester have any opportunities to act on those feelings."Mrs. Nichols Sr.," Shelia began, "could you have someone more experienced take care of me? What if something goes wrong with the baby if a young girl like Hester looks after me?"Her request was clear, even to the most oblivious of listeners.Hester's face fell instantly, and she glanced anxiously at Melody. She couldn't bear the thought of leaving the Nichols family or Juan's side. If that happened, she
Shelia smiled triumphantly, crowing, "I'm carrying Juan's child. Even if some people wear white dresses, they still can't climb into a man's bed. They're useless."Hester trembled with rage. Shelia sauntered towards the inner room, her voice dripping with disdain. "Let me see where your room is."Hester, being the daughter of the Vargas family, had been given the best and biggest guest room when Melody brought her there. But even that paled in comparison to Debra's room.Shelia had seen it once and had decided that, sooner or later, she would make it her own. She looked down at her belly, a calculating gleam in her eyes."Baby, you need to make an effort," she cooed. "Whether I can become the hostess of the Nichols family depends on you."As the evening descended, Juan returned home to find the house completely transformed. His brow cocked as he took in the changes.Sophie, who had been urgently summoned by Melody, rushed to his side. Relief was etched on her face."Sir, you're