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
Stanley froze, his eyes widening in surprise as several figures surrounded him in a tight circle.Marion showed no interest in it. He turned and walked out of the abandoned factory, his voice indifferent as he said, "I'll leave this to you. Teach Mr. Frazier a good lesson.""Got it."The place was soon filled with wails and pleas for mercy.As dawn broke, Debra groggily woke up, her eyes fluttering open as she stretched languidly in her bed. As her vision cleared, she saw a bruised and battered figure before her. She blinked, rubbing her eyes to ensure she wasn't dreaming.Stanley was tied up, his face swollen and bruised beyond recognition. He wore a pitiful, resentful expression."Stanley?" she asked, her voice filled with disbelief.Stanley had been pampered all his life, and aside from a brief stint in prison, he had never known true hardship. Seeing his once-handsome face so battered was a shocking first."I've brought him back," Marion said, sitting on the bed. "How you h
Debra's eyes narrowed at this guy she'd never heard of.Michael had kept it under wraps, proving he had never fully trusted her."Mrs. Houston," Jason said, "I'm here for Mr. Austin to negotiate. He called this shareholder vote in the name of the biggest stakeholder. He's got the right to kick it off. Any objections?"Debra plopped into the head chair. "Cut the polite crap. Everyone's here. Objections or not, this vote's happening, right? No way it's that simple.""Mrs. Houston," Jason said coolly, "today's vote's straightforward: who's better suited as the McKinney Group CEO, you or Mr. Austin? Everyone here sees what you both bring. In the past two years, you've barely shown up. Mr. Austin ran the show, held a key role, and raked in profits. He's the clear pick for CEO.""So, you're saying I suck as the boss?" Debra shot back.Michael didn't even show, sending this random assistant instead. That already pissed her off.Now this guy's veiled jabs annoyed her even more."I'm ju
Debra's heart sank.Back when she'd teamed up with Michael, she had nothing, offering him Frazier Entertainment shares to seal the deal. Later, Frazier Entertainment merged into the McKinney Group, and she handed it off to him.To keep her identity hidden, she'd tossed him more shares. With Frazier Entertainment, he'd racked up 30%.She'd thought he deserved it. For two years, he'd run the show plenty. She'd never seen this coming."Madam, you there?" Ben's voice shook.This was huge and should stay quiet. Otherwise, the company would fall into chaos.Debra's blood ran cold. She hadn't expected Michael to go so far."I'll be there soon," she said, hanging up.She turned to Marion. "Michael scooped up loose shares. He's gunning for a vote as top shareholder."Over 40% wasn't half, but it made him the biggest player. Calling a vote was his right.Debra only had 40%. If 10% of the rest sided with Michael, he could oust her."Don't sweat it," Marion said. "We'll hit it together.
That shut everyone up.If Jordan was right, Drake was gambling with his neck."That's too risky. I've gotta drag him back." Debra spun to leave.Erica grabbed her. "Jordan's guys are on it. They'll ping us if they find him. You can't go out like this and become their target.""I'm not their focus anymore," Debra said. "They'll zero in on Drake."She looked at Marion. "Get your people searching. We need his trail fast, or he's dead."Once the Illuminati squeezed the stone's location out of Drake, they'd kill him.Orkgate was now controlled by Lara. Drake had no other value for them."On it," Marion said.They split up. Erica and Randy tapped their networks."Debra, don't freak," Jordan said. "Drake is not dumb. Injured like that, he couldn't have gone far. As long as he keeps that secret, they won't kill him."Debra nodded. "Hope he doesn't do anything stupid."She should've seen it coming. A proud guy like Drake couldn't handle being down for so long.His injuries were bru
Outside their room, Drake froze mid-knock.His head was down, and his expression was hidden. Eventually, his hand dropped, and he sighed.He turned around and shuffled downstairs, leaning on the wall. He was a broken mess now, unwilling to drag them down....Debra woke up the next morning, reaching for Marion.He wasn't there. She bolted upright, threw off the covers, and ran barefoot downstairs, shouting, "Marion?"In the hall, Marion and Jordan turned as she stumbled in, still in her pajamas.Marion rushed up, slipping off his slippers for her. "What's with the panic?""I didn't see you." She heaved a sigh of relief. "Thought you'd...""Any luck?" Jordan asked Kale, who'd just walked in.Kale shook his head. "Not yet.""What's up?" Debra asked, clocking everyone's grim faces."Drake's gone," Marion said. "No note, nothing. We're looking.""Did the cameras catch anything? Could it be the Illuminati...""Not them. He walked out himself.""Why the hell would he just up a
Debra jolted awake from a nightmare, her forehead slick with sweat."Still torn up about Michael?" Marion's voice came from beside her.She settled into his arms, finally feeling a little relieved. These past two months, they'd faced everything alone. She hadn't curled up with him like this in forever."It's my fault," she whispered. "If I hadn't trusted Michael so much, the Eaton family wouldn't have been a mess. Mr. Eaton Sr. wouldn't have been in the hospital.""It's your fault," Marion said, patting her back. "Even without your trust, the Illuminati would've found a way in. That was their goal.""I just can't wrap my head around why Michael's one of them," she said.She'd spent all night recalling the past, from meeting Michael to building the McKinney Group with him. He was key to its success, but everything had been a lie."Maybe he was never with us," Marion said. "The Illuminati's everywhere. Didn't you check his background when you teamed up?""I..." Debra faltered.S
"We're all in it for ourselves." Michael shrugged. "Jeffery did his part for the Illuminati, so I'll cut you some slack.He pushed the teacup to Juan. "But I don't buy it that you're all-in. Following in Jeffery's footsteps sounds nice, but you killed him, which shows your ruthless nature. We need people like you. I don't care if you're Debra's mole or chasing your angle. Save your energy. It's pointless. Just do your job and back us up. I won't say a word about it.""Should I thank you for it?" Juan scoffed.He'd thought Michael was forced into it, but now he saw how naïve that was.Though young, Michael was already a core member, suggesting his connection to the Illuminati dates back a long time.Only intelligent and influential ones could enter the core circle. That meant he hadn't defected midway.Michael sat down across from him. "Don't look at me like that. We're not the same, and you know it.""When'd you turn on Debra?" Juan asked."Doesn't matter," Michael said, smilin
It was true they were both members of the Illuminati, but Fermin never signed up to be a lapdog.Back then, he'd teamed up with them for mutual gain. But the Illuminati wanted more than a partnership. They wanted the Eaton family on a leash.When Fermin didn't bite, Michael added, "I saw Miss Eaton crying her eyes out. We go way back. Should I cheer her..."Before he could finish, Fermin's knife flashed to his throat, nicking him. Blood trickled, but it was just a scratch."Stay away from her," Fermin growled. "Touch her, and I'll end you.""I'm just being nice here," Michael chuckled. "But if you're not cool with it, I'll drop it. But those terms? Think twice. We only help our own. If you keep playing your own game, that heart goes elsewhere. And trust me, you won't find another match."Fermin hated to admit it, but Michael was speaking the truth. Without the Illuminati's help, he couldn't find a match for Bert's heart.He lowered the knife. "Fine, it's a deal. Get your people
She only had Fermin and Bert left in this world.She had no mom and no real friends. She couldn't lose Bert or watch Fermin turn into this.She didn't want Debra's crew hurt either.Fermin pulled her into a hug. "Don't worry. Dad will be fine. I'll make sure of it."His promise unleashed her tears. The hospital hallway echoed with her cries.Once she calmed down, Fermin had someone take her away.A guard stepped up. "Mr. Eaton, our master is waiting ahead.""You've tailed me this whole way," Fermin said coldly. "Gonna keep it up? I don't like shadows."The guards stayed silent, just following orders. If their boss said stick to Fermin, they'd die before leaving his side."Loyal dogs to your master," Fermin scoffed, brushing past them.He walked into an empty ward. A tall figure in a white shirt stood by the window."You've really opened my eyes," he said, surprised."I'm flattered, Mr. Eaton," Michael said, turning around.His crisp white shirt had dried bloodstains. Notic
Liza rushed to the ICU upon receiving the news.A bodyguard stopped her. "Mr. Eaton said no one gets near the room and disturbs the patient's rest."Liza smacked him, and he bowed his head.Her eyes were red, her vibe darker than ever. "That's my dad in there. Why can't I go in? Move!""Mr. Eaton forbids it. Please, don't make things hard for us," the bodyguard said, stuck.No one there dared to defy her. They all knew how much Fermin doted on her."I don't care," she snapped. "Step aside, or I'll have my brother skin you alive. Let's see if you still block me."Her threat chilled him. She might be bluffing, but Fermin wouldn't."What's the ruckus?" Fermin's voice cut through."Mr. Eaton." The bodyguard bowed his head."Didn't I tell you no one gets near?" Fermin's tone dripped danger.Coming with him was a group of elite guards. The bodyguard was daunted by their aura.Liza stepped forward. "Dad is in a bad condition. Why wouldn't you let me see him? Does this have anythin