A sweet-faced girl among them was annoyed. "What do you mean? You think just because Hannah is backing you, we won't dare to do anything?"That cool girl echoed, "You only got into this room because of your internet fame. We're the ones who put in the real effort every day. Don't you find it disgusting how you're behaving?"Debra raised an eyebrow. "You think it's unfair?""Of course, it is!" the others barked, their frustration palpable.Debra was unfazed. "There's no such thing as absolute fairness in this world. Some people use their brains. Some rely on their looks, and others use their connections. If you want to be in this industry and expect fairness, you're nothing but a bunch of naïve kids."The sweet-faced girl, her confidence bolstered by her father's status as the chairman of Potter Entertainment, stepped forward. "You're just arguing for the sake of it.""Am I?" Debra stepped forward, grabbing the expensive necklace around the girl's neck. "This is an overseas luxury
Debra hadn't given much thought to her debut. Perhaps Andrew wasn't taking it too seriously. Her debut just fit the public sentiment, and it could boost the Potter family and the McKinney Group.Besides, she had never seen any contract clauses mentioning penalty fees for withdrawing from training.On her first day, Debra familiarized herself with the environment. At night, Hannah handed her a stack of profiles about all the trainees. As she flipped through the pages, a few faces stood out.Freya George, the lead girl, had an air of cold detachment. Eve Cameron was the chairman's daughter, and Ashley Steele was that sweet-faced girl.These three were undoubtedly the strongest contenders. The rest of the trainees seemed to blend into the background, lacking the spark that set the top three apart.Debra had long been aware that the entertainment industry was little more than a playground for the elite. However, she hadn't expected that even a public selection would be predetermined.
Upon hearing the news, Debra felt as if the ground beneath her had given way.Her mind spun. 'What's this? Is Andrew serious? I thought it was just a formality.'The group of people bustled around her, packing her belongings into a suitcase with swift efficiency. Before she could gather her thoughts, the Potter family's butler stood at her door."Ms. Frazier," he said, "the car is waiting downstairs, ready to take you to the dormitory."Debra tried to muster a smile, but her lips merely twitched.Andrew's move was more than just unexpected; it was underhanded.The trainees already viewed her as a privileged intruder who had bought her way in. Now, Andrew had sent a luxury car to escort her to the dorms, practically flaunting her connections. It was as if he was deliberately trying to make her more enemies.'This man is devious,' Debra thought, her stomach churning with unease.Before she could even find the words to refuse, the butler had already loaded her clothes into the car
"Yes, Ms. Frazier," replied the butler.Debra's voice rang out clearly, reaching the ears of those inside the room.Eve's face instantly flushed red, and Freya frowned, wondering if Debra really had a great patron.All of Debra's luggage had been meticulously checked by the staff. Once everything was confirmed to be in order, the butler nodded satisfactorily."Ms. Frazier, you will be staying here for a while. During this time, you can't go out. You'll need to follow the training schedule. Don't worry. The trainee life won't last long.""I see."With the gossip about her and Juan swirling outside, this place seemed like a perfect retreat for her to enjoy some much-needed peace."I'll leave now. If you need anything, just call me.""Alright."After the butler and his team left, the bell in the room rang sharply.She knew what that stood for. Hannah had told her about it.At the call of emergency assembly, the trainees next door rushed out of their room almost instinctively. S
Eve grumbled under her breath, "You're the one to talk. Do you dare to come and run?"Ashley hushed her. "Shh. Keep it down, or you'll be punished again."She was dissatisfied too, but they had no choice.Debra led the way, her stride steady and confident. After ten laps, the others were visibly exhausted.Debra, however, maintained a steady pace, her breathing even and controlled. Even Freya couldn't help but steal glances at her.When Freya first joined, she would have collapsed after ten laps, but Debra was still energetic.Debra gave them a casual glance. Her strong physique wasn't built overnight; it was the result of consistent routines and disciplined habits from her past.The 30 grueling laps took a full hour. Everyone lay on the ground, utterly drained. Debra struggled to steady her breath, her heart pounding in her chest.30 laps were a challenge, even for her."Good job! You can go eat now," Hannah announced. "Debra, stay."The boys, who had finished their training
After adjusting the meal according to the recipe, Hannah brought it over to Debra and sat down across from her."According to the nutritionist, you often don't get enough sleep and have nightmares. Can you tell me why?""Did Andrew send you to ask this?"Hannah merely smiled, neither confirming nor denying Debra's suspicion."If there's an issue, let him ask me himself," Debra said, having a spoonful of oatmeal.Nowadays, nothing she ate or drank seemed to matter much.Hannah observed, saying, "Your health is fine, and your body proportions are perfect. You have a pretty face, and you look great on camera. These meals are just to help improve your sleep. Trust me, in a few years, you'll look even better than now.""Thanks," Debra muttered, though her tone suggested she didn't believe a word of it.When she finished her breakfast, Hannah stood up, gesturing for her to follow."Let's go. I'll take you to the practice room."As they exited the staff cafeteria, a group of female
A derisive laugh echoed through the room as Ashley stepped forward."Do you think we're idiots, Debra? You're talking nonsense. Your company is bankrupt. What connection do you have with the Potter family? Can you really invest billions in this program?"Eve chimed in, her voice dripping with mockery. "That's right. My dad is a board member at Potter Group and knows their operations well. This project was initiated by McKinney Group and Potter Entertainment. The investment is counted in billions. Even if your company were still there, could you come up with that much?"Debra didn't even bother to explain. She had approved the investment over a month ago as the president of McKinney Group, back when the Frazier Group was still intact.It was Michael who had suggested she sign the contract with Potter Entertainment."If you don't believe me, I can't help that. Just tell me what you want.""We want you out of the practice room. Break the contract.""Sorry, no can do."Eve bristled
The teacher finished the dance, and Debra shrugged."If such a simple dance took you days to learn, you'd better quite early."Eve's temper flared. "What did you say?"Just as she was about to step forward, Debra stretched her muscles and then executed a few dance steps to get her breathing right.Debra began to replicate the teacher's routine from the first beat. Even without music, her movements were precious, fluid, and graceful. It was hard to believe she had just learned the dance.Freya was stunned, her mouth agape in disbelief. She was the team leader, and it had taken her half an hour just to memorize the moves. She had practiced all day to get it just right, but Debra had learned it in a flash."How is this possible?" Ashley was equally shocked.Outside the room, a few guys were peeking through the window, their eyes glued to Debra."Wow, this new girl has an amazing figure and dances so well.""Too bad she's married. Otherwise, I'd chase her.""I heard this broke la
Verna felt a pang of guilt.Garland continued to play the emotional card. "If you don't let me out, I'll spill about when you wet the bed at 12. And when you were 13, you wrote a farewell letter during your first period. I still remember every word. I...""Stop." Verna's face darkened. "Be a gentleman, okay? If you dare say these things, you're dead.""Verna, please, I really need to get out. I'm not Fermin. I want to live for myself. Debra and the others treat me like a friend. I can't just hide here knowing they're in danger. You understand me and will agree, right?""I..." Verna hesitated.Just then, Bert stepped out of the room. Seeing his stern face, Garland tensed up."I was bored in my room. Just chatting with Verna.""You think I don't know what you're planning? You want to go out? Not a chance."Before Garland could argue, he added, "But I do have a task for you."Garland scoffed, "You won't let me out, and now you want me to work for you? Dream on."Bert's face dark
At the Eaton Mansion, Garland grumbled, "I've already told you. I can't go out. You have no idea what kind of man my dad is. If you can bust me out, I'll give you all the credit in the world. Hello? Juan, are you still there?"He glanced down at his phone screen and found that Juan had already hung up. Frustrated, he threw the phone onto his bed.He'd been stuck at home for days now, yet all Juan ever cared about was Debra. If it hadn't been for helping Juan get close to Debra, he wouldn't be under house arrest now.He poked his head out of his bedroom. Verna noticed and slammed the door shut, not caring if it might hurt his head.Garland reacted quickly and blocked the door with his hand. He flashed a cheeky grin and said, "Verna, let me tell you a joke.""Not interested.""Do you know why I'm smiling at you? Because you don't hit someone who's smiling at you."Verna rolled her eyes and turned her head away, unimpressed.Garland didn't give up. "Come on, we're best buds. If I
Erica tossed back the wallet and card. She smirked, "You said you'd give us everything, so I'll take it as your gift to us youngsters."Melody didn't expect her to be so shameless, taking all that money without batting an eyelid.Joe stepped in. "Let's go, Madam."Erica added, "Don't worry. We'll fix your Ferrari and send it back. But whether you'll dare to drive it again, who knows?"To avoid any more humiliation, Joe quickly helped Melody onto the tractor.The tractor could only hold two people and was completely see-through. Anyone outside could see who was inside.Joe didn't mind, but Melody, who always cared about appearances, felt mortified.As Joe drove the tractor away, Erica laughed so hard she doubled over. She turned to Debra, who had been hiding in the security room."Did you see that? It's so funny.""I saw it all."Melody had probably never ridden a tractor in her life. Debra could imagine her anger now.Debra warned, "She's the type to hold a grudge. Be care
"Madam?" Joe froze.Melody had always cared about her reputation and had never been humiliated like this before. Forcing her to ride away on a tractor was probably more unbearable than death.Yet she agreed."What choice do we have?" she sighed. "We can't just walk back?"The summer heat alone was unbearable, and she was wearing high heels. Walking two kilometers would be the end of her. No matter how much she hated it, she had no other options.Joe nodded reluctantly. "Yes, Madam."Just then, Erica winked at Randy, who sat back in the seat."What now?" Melody asked impatiently."Not much," Erica replied, her tone casual. "You see, we're not friends or family. If you're taking our vehicle, shouldn't you pay for it?""What? You're charging me for this hunk of junk?" Melody snorted."Well, this junk protects you from wind and sun. That makes it valuable," Erica reasoned.Melody finally lost it, raising her hand to strike her.Erica quickly dodged and said, "How about a discou
"What? Mrs. Houston would never do something like this. Maybe the car hit a nail on the road," replied the guard."What are you waiting for?" Melody sulked. "Get a car to send us back."It was a scorching summer day. She wouldn't just walk home like that.The guard hesitated. "I'm sorry, Madam. Mr. Andrew Potter took all the cars out today. There's nothing available to send you back."Melody's face darkened. "Are you telling me the Nichols family doesn't have a few cars to spare?"She was already upset about giving all her savings to Debra, and this incident was the last straw.The guard explained, "Mr. Andrew Potter is thrifty. I'm sorry, but you might have to walk about two kilometers to the commercial street to catch a ride. Mr. Andrew Potter likes his quiet, so no cars are allowed in this area."Melody was furious. "You did it on purpose."Erica came out of the house. "What are you talking about? We've always been polite to our guests. Well, there is one vehicle available,
At the Potter Mansion, Melody laid everything she owned on the table."This is all my savings. When can I get that 10% share?" she asked.Debra was amazed by the dazzling collection of treasures. She clicked her tongue. "They say no one in Seamar City understands jewelry better than you. True that. Your lifetime's collection is breathtaking."Melody was not flattered at all. Her mood soured even further.Debra picked up a bracelet from the table. "Take this bracelet, for example. Its value must be millions. I have to say, an impeccable eye."Melody picked up the sarcasm in her tone. "Yes, these things are fine. But now, they're all yours."Debra set the bracelet down, her smile unwavering. "Well, business is business. I need some assurance before I can help you. Now that I've seen your collection, I feel much more at ease. Don't worry. You'll have your 10% share within seven days.""Why do I have to wait seven days?" Melody grumbled, dissatisfied.Debra sighed, "I don't want to
Melody was weak, her breaths shallow."Joe has been waiting outside," Sophie said. "I'll let him in now."Joe came in and stood by the bed. "Madam, what can I do for you?""I plan to use all my savings to buy back the 10% shares.""Madam..."Joe hesitated, knowing what they were facing. If Melody did that, she would have nothing left."I've made up my mind. Help me up first.""Yes, Madam."Joe assisted her to stand. Melody slowly walked to the safe and used her fingerprint to open it. Inside, there was only a set of keys and a card.Melody took them. "Wait for me downstairs. We'll go to the vault in half an hour."Joe was taken aback. The vault was a secure storage facility for the rich, housing anything from jewelry to property deeds. It was said to be as secure as a national treasury, impossible to breach."Madam, are you planning to give all your money to Debra?" he asked."What else can I do?" Melody replied bitterly. "I can't let the shares fall into outsiders' hands."
"Will you harm Debra?""Never.""Mark your words."Marion wrapped up the talk and left the room....Downstairs, Debra and Erica were chatting with Randy.When Marion came down, Randy muttered, "What took you so long? Drake's already gone."Marion hummed in response, uninterested in anything about Drake.Debra asked, "Did the conversation not go well?""Seriously?" Randy sighed. "Even you couldn't get Andrew to talk? That guy must have a mouth of steel.""Quit rambling nonsense." Erica gave him a light smack on the arm. "After all this chasing around, we still don't know what the treasure is.""At least we know one thing. Andrew knows the truth, right?" Debra chimed in, looking at Marion for confirmation.Marion sighed, "If he doesn't want to talk, no one can make it.""That's true," Randy muttered. "Honestly, who in this world has a tighter mouth than him? No wonder he works in intelligence. He could be the chief of the CIA.""Would you stop running your mouth?" Erica sc
"You mean the Buchan family might use this as an excuse to remove Theda?" Erica asked."Their business wasn't big to begin with. It was Theda's skills that gave them status in Wrastow City. I heard Theda likes to go it alone and has offended many people. Those veterans aren't fond of her. Now that she's caused the Buchan family such losses and lost the Nichols family's support, the elders will want her out. To keep them quiet, she needs leverage," explained Debra.Erica stroked her chin. "So, Theda must repay the company's losses, or those veterans will use this as an excuse to remove her."Debra nodded. "Theda holds a 10% stake in the Nichols Group, but it's her personal asset. It doesn't benefit the Buchans. If she can't sell these shares to fill the deficit, the shareholders won't let it go. So, I'm sure when the news of the Nichols Group selling Buchan Entertainment at a low price reaches Wrastow City, the shareholders will demand Theda to pay for the losses.""Brillant! Let's