Shelia's face drained of color as the recording played. Juan's gaze sharpened, his eyes cold and accusatory as he turned to her.She trembled, rushing over to smash the recorder. She pointed at it and stammered, "This is fake. I never said any of this. Juan, don't be fooled. Debra is just jealous of me carrying your child. She's trying to drive a wedge between us."She attempted to step closer to Juan, but he held up a hand, stopping her in her tracks. His voice was filled with unprecedented disgust. "Two million dollars to kill Debra, using the baby in your womb to become Mrs. Nichols... I never knew you were such a woman.""Juan..." Shelia shook her head vehemently, tears welling up in her eyes. "They're framing me; this isn't true."Debra watched with cold detachment. She knew that nothing Shelia said would convince Juan now. "I'll leave the kidnappers and the recording to you. Take your time interrogating them. You can have the recording verified by experts. Since Shelia is p
That was a line Juan had once said to Debra in her past life.Now, the tables had turned, and it was his turn to face the consequences of his actions."Let's go," Debra said, putting away her smile.Marion simply raised his hand, and his men began to retreat. Juan, unwilling to concede, tried to chase after them, but Joe swiftly blocked his path."Sir, you can't chase them. That's Marion Houston.""In Seamar City, I am the one in charge. What is Marion to me?""Caleb has handed the Houston family over to Marion. We can't afford to mess with him.""Get out of the way!"He shoved Joe aside before his gaze fell on Shelia."Juan..."Daunted by his glare, she stepped back."Take these three back and interrogate them thoroughly.""And Miss Miles?""Take her back and lock her in the basement," Juan ordered. "If my grandmother asks, just say I've arranged for her to be elsewhere.""Yes, sir.""Juan, I'm carrying your child. You can't do this to me. Let me go!" Shelia struggled d
The basement was gloomy and airless. Shelia had been there for only three hours, but the damp, heavy atmosphere was already chipping away at her sanity."Let me out... Let me out!" she cried, her fists pounding against the solid door.Unfortunately, the thick walls swallowed her screams, rendering them useless.After a while, the door creaked open, a sliver of harsh light slicing into the darkness. Before Shelia could even feel relief, she saw her mother.Clarissa had been tortured for days and was teetering on the edge of a breakdown. Upon seeing the pitch-black room, she recoiled in fear."No, I don't want it," she whimpered, trying to back away. But her captors showed no mercy, throwing her into the room."Ah!" Shelia jumped back, startled, as Clarissa writhed towards her.Terror gripped Shelia, and she shouted, "What are you doing? I'm pregnant with Juan's child. You can't do this to me!"Just then, Juan walked in. His sudden appearance brought a glimmer of hope to Shelia.
"Keep this under wraps," Juan instructed sternly. "No leaks allowed.""I'm afraid it won't stay hidden for long," Joe said.Melody valued her descendants above all else. Now that a woman was finally pregnant with Juan's child, she certainly wasn't about to let go of the baby.But Juan wasn't in the mood to dwell on this complication."Go get the car. I'm going to the Frazier's.""Okay."Meanwhile, news of Debra's survival was abuzz.At the Frazier family home, Rosalie was fuming. She hurled the newspaper in her hand across the room, the pages fluttering before landing under a pair of red high heels."What is Debra up to? Why stage a fake death? And she didn't even bother to let us know she was alive. Is this some kind of sick joke?" she ranted.A soft, almost amused voice responded, "Aunt Rosalie, who are you talking about?"Rosalie jumped up with a start. She whirled around to see Debra standing there."Debra..." she gasped.Debra was dressed in a wine-red gown with a whit
Ralph's face darkened with fury. "What are you suggesting? After what Debra's been through, do you still think we should sweep it under the rug and avoid divorce?"Rosalie, seemingly unaware of the storm she was stirring, pressed on. "I'm merely considering what's best for our family. What do we stand to gain by making an enemy of the Nichols family?"Her eyes flicked nervously towards Debra. "Besides, Debra suddenly decides to sell the Frazier Group to the McKinney Group without so much as a family discussion. Does she even understand the consequences? She's backing us into a corner!""Enough!" Ralph snapped, his patience wearing thin.Debra turned her gaze towards Rosalie. "So, your issue lies with me selling the company."Debra recalled her past life, how Rosalie had abandoned Ralph when their fortune ran dry, all while Juan's schemes drove the Frazier Group to the brink of bankruptcy.This time, Rosalie's concern wasn't for Debra's marital woes, but for the fear of being left
Ralph chimed in, "That's right. Mr. Nichols, your trip here is unnecessary. Debra isn't going anywhere with you.""Honey," Rosalie interjected, gently tugging at Ralph's sleeve. "Marital issues should be resolved between the couple themselves. Why are you getting involved?"She turned to Juan, a polite smile plastered on her face. "Mr. Nichols, you've come all this way to pick up our Debra at this late hour. It shows your devotion. Debra, don't be angry anymore. Just go back with Mr. Nichols."She winked at Debra, urging her to comply. Yet, Debra seemed to look right through her, feigning ignorance.Juan stepped closer to Debra, lowering himself to her level. His eyes were filled with genuine affection. "I've sent Shelia to prison."Debra met his gaze, her voice calm and collected. "Are you sharing this with me to prove something?""I know everything she did," Juan continued, eager to explain. "She killed her friend and stole her identity. My relationship with her was a mistake f
Debra glanced down at Juan's hand, her eyes flashing with defiance. "What's this, Mr. Nichols? Trying to take me away by force?"Juan remained silent for a moment, his jaw tightening. "Don't push me, Debra."Debra scoffed, undeterred. "You may be powerful, but this isn't a place for you to throw your weight about."Juan's grip on her arm tightened. "You know very well whether I dare to act up here or not. If you come with me now, we can still keep our decency."Debra coldly shook off his hand. "Sorry, that's not going to happen."Suddenly, the gate to the villa burst open, and a group of people rushed in. The commotion sent the maids scattering in panic.Rosalie hid behind Ralph, her voice a frightened whisper. "Honey, what do we do now?"Juan said, "I'll say it one more time. Come with me."Debra stood her ground, and the standoff continued.The first to crack was Rosalie, her voice shrill with panic. "Debra, I told you to go with Mr. Nichols, but you wouldn't listen. Why are
Juan was taken aback. "Grandma?"Melody swept into the room, her gaze filled with a mix of sternness and profound disappointment. She raised her hand and delivered a stinging slap to Juan's cheek."For just a woman, you put the Nichols family in danger," she chastised. "Are you even fit to be the head of this family anymore? Is this how your grandfather taught you to handle affairs? You're useless."Juan clenched his fists, but he didn't dare utter a word of protest. Melody turned her gaze to Debra, her eyes filled with disdain."I'm sorry for the trouble. Juan will never act so recklessly again. We will compensate you for your losses. But since you proposed the divorce, you won't get a share of our family fortune."Juan started, his eyes flashing with concern. "Grandma!"Debra, however, seemed unfazed by Melody's declaration. "You seem to have misunderstood, Mrs. Nichols Sr. The divorce agreement I gave Juan doesn't ask for a single penny from the Nichols family. So don't worry,
Debra's eyes narrowed. "I get why you want to kill me, but Drake was your ally. Isn't this a bit too cruel?"Cathryn spluttered, "Drake used me like a pawn. I just want him to pay for it. Compared to the humiliation he put me through, 20 billion dollars is nothing. It can't even restore my dignity.""Dignity is something you give yourself," Debra retorted. "Drake gave you choices. You were blinded by greed.""Shut up!" Cathryn snarled. "Don't act all high and mighty with me. You think you're so pure? If you were, why did you throw yourself at Marion? At your engagement party, Erica protected you. Randy stood by you. Andrew had your back. You have Michael and Oscar supporting the McKinney Group for you. Even Juan can't forget you. With all these people loving you, why did you have to steal Marion?"Debra hadn't realized Cathryn harbored so much resentment. She let out a cold laugh. "Everything I have, I earned with my blood, sweat, and tears. Do you think Marion would love you if yo
Frederic caught Liza, who was paralyzed with fear, and pushed her toward the car.Meanwhile, Debra kicked Edgar in the chest and pinned him under her heel. "Tell me, what's in Seamar City?"She had gone to great lengths to corner Edgar, intending to have Randy keep an eye on him in Seamar City until she could return to confront him.But Edgar had fled overseas, taking Liza and Cathryn hostage in his desperation.With his thigh pierced, Edgar could barely fight back. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he spat, "What's in Seamar City? Are you seriously pretending you don't know? It's wealth beyond imagination. The kind of fortune every merchant dreams of.""What treasure?" Debra leaned in, her expression intense. "Be specific."Edgar's hand suddenly darted to his waist. In a flash, he drew a concealed dagger and slashed toward her. In reflex, Debra caught it.Frederic immediately raised his gun, only to find it hard to aim at Edgar. He was trying to use Debra as a shield."Help
"True." Drake stood up. "Get the car ready. We're going.""Yes, boss." Kale shook his head.Drake never cared about his reputation. He just needed an excuse to go.Once in the car, Kale started the engine and asked, "Boss, where are we headed?""How would I know? Didn't Cathryn tell you where she was?""No, she didn't."Silence settled in the car.Inside the abandoned factory, Edgar glanced at Liza. "Fermin hasn't shown up yet. Looks like he doesn't care about you that much."Liza retorted, "No way. He loves me the most. He'll come to save me.""Seems like we can't rely on you. I should contact Marion instead." Edgar pulled out his phone, planning to instruct Marion to leave the money in a safe spot.Suddenly, a pair of headlights penetrated the darkness, shining directly at him."See? I told you my brother would come to rescue me." Liza pointed at the black car in the distance.Quickly, a figure emerged from the car. It was Frederic, who was dressed in a sharp suit that bo
"Me?" Debra muttered.Edgar held no personal grudge against Liza. The only person he hated there was Debra.She was the only reason for his downfall."Yes, you," Edgar replied. "You're full of tricks, and I don't trust you. If you don't take her place, I won't let her go."Debra laughed, "Then don't let her go. The Eatons are not after me anyway. And a little heads-up. If I get a scratch, Marion will make you pay a heavy price."Before Edgar could respond, she continued, "Well, I can go over and take her place."Edgar's eyes narrowed, and she added, "Relax! I might be able to fend off a couple of amateurs, but against you? I wouldn't stand a chance."Edgar scoffed, "At least you're self-aware."Only then did he cut Liza loose. The marks on her skin were deep. For someone who had lived a life of luxury and privilege, the humiliation was unbearable.She glared at Edgar, eager to slap him, but the cold steel of his gun kept her rooted in place.Meanwhile, Marion sped down the de
Kale hesitated.Drake furrowed his brow. "What is it?"Kale sighed, "Miss Bernard was kidnapped by Edgar.""Oh, and what does that have to do with me? Edgar needs money, right? He wants a ransom?""Yes.""Well, he should be asking Marion for money. Marion was the one who promised to take care of Cathryn."Drake brushed it off and loosened his tie. "Go pack your things. We don't need to get involved in Cathryn's affairs. Someone else will take care of it.""But...""What is it now?""Debra has also been kidnapped.""By Edgar? Ha!""I heard it over the phone. Besides Debra, Liza has also been taken. It sounds like Edgar is demanding a ransom of one trillion dollars.""One trillion? Has he lost his mind?""Desperate people do desperate things."Inside the abandoned factory, Debra leaned against the van and took out her phone."Are you sure you don't want me to call Marion? Both of them have already made calls. What's holding you back?" she said."Shut up!" Edgar snapped.
The line went through, but the one answering the call was Kale.He warned, "Miss Bernard, I believe Mr. Lowe made himself clear. If you insist on bothering him, he'll show you no mercy."Cathryn hadn't expected this number to belong to Kale. It turned out Drake hadn't given her his number at all.But with Edgar staring at her from the side, she had to bite the bullet and try again. "Can you please let Drake take the call? I have something very important to tell him.""Mr. Lowe isn't interested," Kale refused flatly, ready to hang up.Cathryn cried out, "I've been kidnapped by Edgar. He'll kill me if I can't come up with a ransom of 20 billion dollars."But Kale was unimpressed. "Well, you're no longer engaged to Mr. Lowe. Whether it's 20 billion or 20 dollars, it has nothing to do with us."Cathryn's last hope was dashed. Edgar heard it and said, "So, you're useless now.""No. Don't kill me," Cathryn pleaded.Edgar snorted, "The Eaton family would pay 40 billion for Miss Eaton
"Not your concern," Edgar spat, pressing the gun barrel against Liza's forehead. "Call Marion and tell him to prepare the ransom. Otherwise, I'll kill her.""Go ahead," Debra said indifferently. "Cathryn and I are rivals, and I've never gotten along with Liza. Killing either of them won't affect me."Liza was pissed off. From the look on her face, Debra knew she was cursing her.Debra added, "Save your energy. Using their lives to threaten me won't work. You'd be better off making them call their families. Maybe Drake cares enough about his fiancée to pay up. As for Mr. Eaton Sr., he's old and ruthless. I'd suggest contacting her brother instead. Maybe then, you'll have a chance to walk away with the money."Liza listened with growing irritation. Undoubtedly, Debra was the devil's advocate."You make a good point," Edgar admitted, ripping the duct tape off Liza's mouth.She immediately shouted at Debra, "You shameless viper! You...""Shut up!" Edgar pressed the gun harder agains
Edgar sneered, "All three of you are in my grasp. Marion, the Eaton family, and Drake are at my mercy."Debra glanced at the stun baton in her hand, her voice calm but biting. "What makes you think that way?"She began walking toward Edgar, her every step steady and deliberate.Edgar used to be the head of the Odom family. His fighting skills were not bad.But Debra's confident demeanor made him hesitate and wonder if she could really take him on.Liza struggled, managing to bring her stiletto heel down hard on Edgar's foot. He grunted in pain and loosened his grip on her.She bolted, but Edgar quickly recovered, grabbing her by the hair and yanking her back.Debra coldly stared at him. "Let me guess. You used Cathryn to lure Liza here and then used Liza to trick me, didn't you?"Edgar snorted, "So what?"Debra laughed mockingly, "Edgar, you used to be the most powerful man in Booton, and now you've stooped to kidnapping women to survive? No dignity left?""Dignity?" Edgar sn
"How did you know?" one of the men exclaimed, reaching for the stun baton in his pocket.Debra casually touched the crest on their chests. "The logo is wrong. Be more careful with your forgeries."She turned around and raised her voice. "I'm already here, Mr. Odom. Why don't you come out with Miss Eaton? We'll have a little chat."Soon, a figure emerged from the abandoned factory. In just half a month, Edgar had become extremely haggard. His face was covered in stubble. His hair was disheveled, and his shirt was dirty.Debra clicked her tongue. "Mr. Odom, you don't look so good. Is the allowance from the McKinney Group not enough for you?"Edgar was infuriated. If it weren't for her schemes, he wouldn't be in this state.Narrowing his eyes, he asked, "How did you know it was me?""Liza, a spoiled and arrogant girl, would never apologize to me. I had people track your moves, but you got away. So, I guessed you'd come here. You need money, don't you?"Now that everything was expo