Pedro found himself in a delicate situation. He needed to maintain a balance between Juan's influence and the truth at hand. He glanced at Marion and chose his words carefully."Mr. Nichols, it's not that I don't want to cut you some slack, but..." His voice trailed off, hinting at the complexity of the situation.Juan, catching the implication, turned to Marion. "Mr. Hardy, you'd better understand who's really in charge in Seamar City."Marion said nonchalantly, "You might have been the overlord before, but now it's me."The atmosphere between them grew tense. Suddenly, Debra's phone buzzed with a series of incoming messages. She glanced at the screen, and her eyes turned to ice as she looked at Juan with renewed disdain."Mr. Nichols, is this your handiwork?" she asked.Juan didn't know what she was referring to. Debra held up her phone, revealing a series of explicit photos. The images showed her, clothes torn, lying unconscious in a dimly lit room. The implications were clear
The conclusion drawn was that Debra had deliberately found an excuse to let Juan go.She explained, "I don't think Joe was telling a lie. This has nothing to do with Juan."The situation had caught her off guard, and she had doubted Juan would resort to such despicable methods. Looking back, the plot was riddled with flaws.If Juan wanted to capture her, he wouldn't have stooped down to collaborate with someone like Rosalie. Something didn't add up.Despite her desire to divorce Juan, she didn't want to accuse him without just cause.Debra turned to Marion, her expression earnest. "I know you're worried about me and went to great lengths to deal with Juan. But in the end, I let him go. I..."Marion reached out and flicked her forehead. Debra's eyes widened in surprise. Marion looked at her with a gaze filled with affection."What's there to explain?""I feel quite sorry for you.""Do what you want to do with confidence. You have me behind you."His simple words seemed to prov
Stanley glared at Debra, his eyes burning with a mix of hatred and fear. "So what if it's me? Do you want to throw me back in prison? You selfish, vicious woman, you stole my things and wanted to ruin me. I'm not something you can push over."He struggled against the grip of the man holding him, but another hard punch landed on his jaw. "Behave yourself!"Stanley winced, his bravado deflating like a punctured balloon. Debra looked at him, her eyes filled with a mix of pity and disgust."I used to let things slide because you are Ralph's son. As long as you didn't go too far, I wouldn't make a fuss. But that doesn't mean you can do whatever you want. Listen, the Frazier family was built by my father, and I am the sole heiress. My position has never been something you can covet.""You're talking nonsense. The Frazier family is mine. Do you have no conscience? Have you forgotten who took care of you after your parents died? It was my dad. And now you treat me like this, you ingrate!"
Rosalie and Stanley were dragged into the dimly lit basement. Debra glanced at Rosalie, who crumpled to the floor and shook with fear."It wasn't me." Rosalie frantically waved her hands. "It wasn't our intention. We..."Debra stepped forward and reached down to pinch her jaw. Rosalie had never seen such a terrifying side of Debra before.Debra snapped, "Has Ralph ever failed you? From the moment you married into the Frazier family, hasn't he always protected you? He satisfied your every need and insisted on marrying you, regardless of his reputation. What did you do in return, you ungrateful wretch?"Tears welled up in Rosalie's eyes, and she huddled herself on the cold floor.Debra continued, her voice unforgiving, "If anything happens to him, Stanley and you can expect to spend the rest of your lives in prison.""Debra," Rosalie tried to plead for leniency, but Debra was focused solely on Ralph.Marion instructed his men to take Ralph out of the basement. Then he said to Debr
Marion said, "You did nothing wrong. When dealing with people like this, you can't afford to be soft-hearted."Debra nodded, understanding his words all too well. She had shown weakness once before when Stanley had tried to kill her. Then Rosalie and Stanley attacked Ralph. Her previous compassion seemed like a joke.Marion took Debra's hand, feeling the slight tremble in her fingers. His voice softened, a rare tenderness that he reserved only for her. "Trust me, nothing will happen."Marion was known for his rebellious nature and his usual indifference to everything around him. But now, Debra saw a different side of him. Marion was dubbed a messenger of death, bringing cruelty and bloodshed wherever he went.Yet, in her eyes, Marion always hid a gentle tenderness. He merely pretended to be indifferent, refusing to let anyone get too close.In Juan's study room, Joe stood in front of the desk and reported, "We've found out. Those photos were most likely taken by Stanley."Juan wa
"I..." Hester's face flushed a deep shade of red.She had never expected to be dismissed so callously by Juan, but she couldn't deny the truth in his words. Her family was indeed a minor household, and every socialite in Seamar City dreamed of becoming Mrs. Nichols.Juan observed her mortified expression and demanded, "Get out. I won't repeat myself."Hester bit her lip and reluctantly stormed out of the room. Joe, who had been silently observing the exchange, stepped forward."Sir, Miss Vargas is just a naïve girl. There's no need to be so harsh.""Are you telling me how to do my job?""I dare not, sir."In the past, Juan had always been more tolerant of young girls, even if it was just for show. He would never have spoken so harshly to one. Moreover, the Vargas and Nichols families shared a decent relationship, making his abrupt dismissal of Hester all the more surprising.Juan stated, "From today on, I don't want any outsiders in this house. Do you understand?""Yes, I'll t
Shelia's ears perked up at the mention of Juan. She leaned over and asked hopefully, "Are you guys talking about Juan Nichols?"One of the prisoners shrugged. "Who knows his name? I just know it's the CEO of Nichols Group.""Don't talk to her. She'll just start claiming she's a rich lady again," another prisoner sneered. "The CEO was reportedly accused of attempted rape, but he was released from the station within an hour. If she were Mrs. Nichols, how could she be stuck here for days without being bailed out?"Shelia bit her lip, the reality of her situation sinking in. She had been languishing in this prison for several days, and Juan hadn't made any move to secure her release. It was no wonder these prisoners didn't take her claims seriously.Just then, the sound of intense crying echoed through the cell. A prisoner was sobbing in the corner, clutching a ring in her hand.Having been around Juan and his luxurious lifestyle, Shelia was no stranger to valuable items. Even from a
The doctor anxiously dialed Juan's number."Mr. Nichols, your wife is bleeding heavily, but the blood reserves have already been moved. Please, come and see her one last time."In the operating room, doctors and nurses rushed around the table. Debra lay on the operating table, her life hanging in the balance. She thought that perhaps a word of concern from Juan would bring her some comfort in her final moments.But instead, his cold, cruel voice echoed in her ears. "She's not yet? Call me when she's gone."Debra snapped open her eyes, her back drenched with sweat. The warm, sticky blood, the cold scalpel, and the smell of antiseptic felt so real."Had a nightmare?" Marion said.Debra realized she had been resting her head on his shoulder."I must have fallen asleep," she murmured, fatigue etched on her face.The surgery was still ongoing. Marion suggested, "I'll take you home. My people will stay here and keep us updated."Debra shook her head. "I'm worried about Ralph."He w