The room buzzed with heated voices, each one vying to be heard over the others."Exactly! We still haven't gotten to the bottom of the incident where Ms. Frazier fell into the sea. How do we know if the Nichols family didn't orchestrate it to make way for that mistress?""If it weren't for Ms. Frazier, do you think we'd even consider working with the Nichols family?""And you have the nerve to stage this banquet to humiliate us? Is this how the Nichols family treats its associates?"...The shouts echoed through the grand hall. Debra observed the scene unfold with a keen eye.She had orchestrated this chaos, and if it hadn't escalated, her elaborate plan would have been in vain.Juan's gaze shifted to Debra, realization dawning on him. This chaos was all her doing.Joe was struggling to manage the situation. Juan had hoped to use the banquet to mend his relationship with Debra and create a public image of harmony to stabilize the market.But Melody's interference, bringing She
"I don't know," Shelia replied, her face turning pale. "It can't be that the Frazier family is stronger than us now."The Nichols family had always been the dominant force in Seamar City. Everyone in the business circle knew that.The Frazier family, on the other hand, had long been in decline. She didn't know why Juan even suggested that they were now a force to be reckoned with."Mrs. Nichols Sr., you disrupted all of Mr. Nichols' plans today," Joe said in frustration before chasing after Juan."Mrs. Nichols Sr., don't take it to heart. It's all..." Shelia started, trying to placate Melody.But the latter slapped her across the face.Melody snapped, "It's all because you seduced Juan. Or there wouldn't have been such a scandal."Shelia was furious, but she dared not say a word. After all, she wasn't married to Juan yet and still needed Melody's help to secure her position.She bit her lip, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke. "I know my relationship with Juan isn't hono
Michael's senses immediately went on high alert as the car deviated from its intended route. The driver replied in a low voice, "Ms. Frazier, there's no need for concern. Our master simply wishes to see you. There's no ill intent.""You master?" Debra's mind raced.She didn't know many people in Seamar City, and there were only a handful of people who could know her itinerary and replace her driver.While she was lost in thought, Michael pulled out a small knife hidden in her sleeve. Debra quickly grabbed his hand.Michael frowned, his eyes filled with concern and a silent question. Debra shook her head subtly.The driver didn't seem to harbor any malicious intent. If they wanted to harm her, they could have done so without going through such elaborate measures.Since they wanted to see her, it meant they had something to say. The long night stretched ahead, and Debra decided to meet this mysterious man.The car soon pulled up to a familiar location. As Debra's eyes landed on th
Andrew possessed an icy demeanor that kept others at arm's length. Even when he smiled, his eyes remained cold and piercing.Debra had heard tales of Andrew's cunning and ruthless methods in both her past and present lives. If not for his tragically short lifespan, he might have already seized control of Seamar City, leaving no room for the likes of Juan."Ms. Frazier," Andrew said suddenly, his voice calm yet laced with an unmistakable warning. "I advise you to reconsider your current course of action."Debra shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She barely knew Andrew, having only encountered him a handful of times. She didn't know why he suddenly invited her there and said those things to her."Mr. Potter," she replied, feigning ignorance. "I don't understand what you mean."She attempted to hold his gaze but found herself quickly looking away, her heart pounding in her chest."The Nichols family may appear weakened, but their century-old foundation remains strong. They have coun
Debra looked at Andrew, asking, "Mr. Andrew Potter, are you suffering from depre..."Before she could finish, Andrew wrinkled his brows, a silent warning that made Debra swallow her words.She couldn't reveal his secret to his face. His severe depression was likely his most closely guarded secret. If news of his mental illness spread while he was at the helm of the Potter family, it would be exploited mercilessly. Those vying for power within the family would seize the opportunity to employ underhanded tactics.Debra opted for a more indirect approach. "Mr. Andrew Potter, taking medicine alone won't solve the problem. Why not find the root of your issue and resolve it completely?""Thank you for your suggestion," Andrew said blandly, turning to the butler. "See Ms. Frazier out.""Yes, sir," the butler replied, his voice trembling slightly.It was the first time he had witnessed someone speak so candidly to Andrew. He had half-expected a storm to brew, but Andrew remained calm.A
Outside the house, Michael stood tense, his body coiled like a spring ready to snap. His face was a mask of calm, but his hand gripped the knife hidden in his sleeve, ready to act at the slightest provocation.Debra stepped out and said, "Why so tense, Michael? It's time to leave."Michael asked, "It's settled?""Yeah."Seeing that she was unharmed, Michael relaxed his guard, but only slightly.The Potter family was like a bottomless quagmire filled with unknown dangers. If Juan was the ruler of Seamar City, then Andrew was its most mysterious king.Everyone knew that while one could cross Juan and live to tell the tale, offending Andrew was akin to signing their death warrants.Once inside the car, Michael reached over, his hands gently checking Debra's shoulders and arms for any signs of injury.Satisfied that she was unharmed, he asked despite the presence of the driver, "Did you offend him?""No.""Then why did he meet you?""He gave me a friendly reminder."Debra leane
Board members of the Nichols Group shouted and cursed, their voices echoing off the walls.Juan's sudden entrance brought an abrupt silence, as if someone had hit the mute button."Mr. Nichols, you need to come up with a solution. The finance department can't produce over a hundred million to support this project. If something goes wrong now, then...""I will cover the cost," Juan interjected calmly.With his declaration, the room settled down immediately.One board member, emboldened by the recent turmoil, dared to ask, "Mr. Nichols, are you planning to use your own money to fix the problems?"In the past, such a question would have been unthinkable, but Juan's recent actions had left everyone puzzled and concerned.They voiced their dissatisfaction one after another."Mr. Nichols, aren't you going to do anything about Mrs. Nichols' tantrums? It's affecting the company's image.""I think it's best if you divorce her. The Frazier family is now backed by the McKinney Group. The
"Yes, sir," Joe responded.The board members, who had threatened Juan with resignation, almost collapsed to the ground.They had forgotten the steely resolve and power Juan once wielded. His recent nonchalance had lulled them into a false sense of security."Sir, are you sure about letting them resign?" Joe asked cautiously. "They are all senior board members, after all."Juan's expression remained impassive. "I want to send a clear message to my grandmother. No matter how far her influence reaches, it stops at the company's door and mine.""Understood, sir." Joe nodded, knowing better than to argue.Juan pulled out a card and handed it to Joe. "This should cover everything. I need some time to myself."Joe faltered, "Sir, while the construction site issues have been resolved, there's still the matter of Mrs. Nichols."He paused, bracing himself for Juan's glare. "Mrs. Nichols keeps sending divorce papers daily. We can't keep ignoring them.""Arrange a meeting with her tonight
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