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
"Hold on tight," Marion said, flooring the accelerator.Debra quickly fastened her seatbelt, her heart pounding in her chest as the car sped through the night. Marion ran red lights without hesitation.When they arrived at their destination, the house was a mess. Ben and several injured bodyguards were seated in the living room. As soon as they saw Debra, they all stood up."Madam!" Ben approached her, his voice grave. "Juan only took Stanley.""Where is Rosalie?""Still in the basement.""I'll go take a look."Marion walked ahead of her, his stride swift and purposeful. He was worried that Rosalie might do something desperate to harm Debra.As soon as the door opened, Rosalie lunged at Debra. But before she could get close, Marion stepped in, kicking her back with a swift, precise motion.Rosalie stumbled, pleading, "Please, let Stanley go."She had been locked up alone for less than half an hour, and the darkness was driving her almost insane."Juan took Stanley. Did he do
"Okay."Ben placed a basin of cold water and two towels beside Marion. With practiced efficiency, Marion soaked the towels, wrung them out, and placed one gently on Debra's forehead. He then carefully adjusted the blanket around her."When will the doctor arrive?""In about ten minutes.""Get a thermometer and some fever reducers." Marion looked at Debra, who was in agony, and added, "And a box of painkillers.""I'm on it," Ben acknowledged, swiftly exiting the room.Marion tenderly wiped Debra's face. He couldn't imagine how much discomfort she was in, but seeing her like this pained him deeply."Child..." Debra mumbled in her sleep.In her dream, she was trapped in that operating room, surrounded by blood. In a white dress, she desperately banged on the door, screaming for help. "Save the child, Juan!"Suddenly, the door swung open, revealing Juan. His face was dark with anger, his eyes cold and cruel. He reached out and grabbed her by the neck, his voice filled with malice.
Juan sat across from Stanley, his face shrouded in the dim, flickering lights of the abandoned factory. The atmosphere was thick with danger and unease, the silence broken only by the muffled pleas of Stanley, his words smothered by the tape across his mouth.Juan gave Joe a nod, and the latter stepped forward, ripping the tape off Stanley's mouth."Help! Help!" Stanley screamed, but there was no response, only the cold echo of his own desperation.Joe reminded him, "We're out in the suburbs, and it's midnight. No one will come to your rescue, and no one will hear you.""What do you want? Juan, I helped you. How can you turn on me like this?" Stanley snapped.Juan ignored his childish outburst. Joe swiftly took Stanley's phone, unlocked it, and handed it to Juan.Juan scrolled through the photos in the album, his gaze growing colder with each passing second. Finally, he reached over, opened a nearby shredder, and tossed the phone inside. The shredder roared to life, the sound of