Debra stirred, the scent of saltwater tickling her nose.She thought she was still adrift in dreams, but the sunset painting the sky in hues of orange and pink was very real.She was on a cruise ship. The sea stretched out in all directions, and the sun was dipping below the horizon."Are we there already?" she murmured.Except for Marion and her, there was no one on the ship.She found Marion in the kitchen, wiping down a knife. The aroma of cooked meat filled the air."We've been here a while," he said. "I didn't want to disturb your sleep."Debra then noticed she was lying on a big bed. She got up, and Marion draped a blanket over her shoulders. "The sea breeze is a bit cold this season, but it looks great."The ship had the heating on, so she didn't feel cold. The sunset outside bathed her in warmth."Did you bring me here for my birthday?" she asked.Marion took a step back and gave a small bow. "Ms. Frazier, would you do me the honor of dining with me this evening?"Sh
"What papers?" Debra was puzzled.Marion, with a flourish, produced a document adorned with stamps and signatures. "It's a voluntary gift. No strings attached.""You...""It's all official. These are yours now."He knelt before her, took her hand, and slipped the ring onto her finger. The sapphire gleamed in the candlelight, casting a soft glow on her fair skin.He pressed a tender kiss onto the gem, his eyes never leaving hers."This ring is called 'Loyalty,'" he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I pledge my unwavering loyalty to you. I'll stand by your side for life."The candlelight flickered, casting dancing shadows and bathing them in a warm, intimate glow. Debra's cheeks flushed, the heat from Marion's touch sending electric jolts through her.The ship swayed gently, and the only sound the rhythmic lapping of waves against the hull could be heard.After a long pause, she finally found her voice. "Did you forget something?"Marion was confused.Debra hesitated, h
Erica's voice blared through the phone, loud enough for Marion to hear.Debra's cheeks flushed pink as she glanced at him, whispering into the receiver, "Did he arrange a dinner for me?""Yep, it's all set up at the Royal Grand Hotel. We're just missing the guest of honor. Randy and I are en route to pick you up. Where are you?" Erica chirped.Debra cupped her hand over the phone and mouthed to Marion, "Did you plan something at the Royal Grand Hotel?"He shook his head, and realization dawned on Debra. Erica and Randy were behind this surprise."Is Marion with you?" Debra asked, suppressing a laugh.Erica stammered, "Of course. He's waiting at the hotel.""But if Marion's with you," Debra said, grinning, "then who's sitting next to me?"There was a pause, then a burst of noise from the other end. Then Erica and Randy exclaimed in unison, "What? You're with him?"Debra heard the screech of brakes, followed by Randy's exasperated voice. "Why didn't you tell us you were together
"It's not too late, you know," Marion said softly, his eyes filled with a tenderness that belied his fearsome reputation.To the world, Marion was a specter and a messenger from the shadows. But with Debra, he was different—quiet, sometimes playful, and unruly.He was cute and not scary at all."Wait here for a moment," he said, disappearing downstairs.When he returned, he held a plate with a cherry jam-filled cake. Its red center gleamed like a jewel.It was quite surprising that a man like Marion would craft something so delicate. She was touched."Try it," Marion urged.Debra took a small bite. The flavors exploded in her mouth. It was a dance of sweet and tart that lingered on her tongue."It's a shame you didn't become a chef.""I used to be a chef.""I remember you mentioned being a barber too.""Yep.""Can you tell me more about your past?" Her eyes sparkled with curiosity."Sure."Debra leaned in, eager to hear his story. She'd heard whispers from Randy and Erica
Debra pondered the underlying meaning behind Marion's words.The story swirling around was indeed the stuff of legends, but something didn't add up.With the Houston family's vast empire, tracking down Marion should have been a cakewalk. Yet, for sixteen years, no one had found him. And in all that time, not a whisper of the Houstons surfaced in the tale."Do you know how my family rose to power?""The military?"The Houston family had always leaned on their military might to build their business. Over time, they'd gone legit, but their roots remained firmly planted in the armed forces. Even now, their old loyalists held sway in major military units."Debra, the reason I couldn't always be by your side was because I had to follow orders from the Houston higher-ups. But now that I'm in charge, that won't happen again," he said, squeezing her hand. "I'll protect you from all sorts of harm."Debra didn't press further. She understood Marion was trying to keep her safe and to keep h
The sky was dark, and after Shelia saw the news on TV at Edgar's home, she began to fidget.There, on the screen, was Juan, and nestled beside Melody was none other than Hester. The media was abuzz with speculation that Hester was poised to replace Debra as the next Mrs. Nichols.Shelia's hands fluttered to her slightly rounded belly. 'That old bat wants Hester to take my place in the Nichols family. Over my dead body!'Edgar was unhinged, and she couldn't stay with him. If she wanted to survive, she had to cling to Juan like a lifeline.As Edgar emerged from the bathroom, Shelia instinctively recoiled, but she quickly composed herself. She had to play this smart."Edgar," she began, her voice laced with caution. "I haven't been home in days. I miss my dad. Can I..."Edgar's sneer cut her off. "What are you scheming again?""No schemes. I just miss home."Edgar's eyes narrowed, his voice as cold as ice. "If you're thinking of crying to Declan about how I've mistreated you, thin
Edgar cast a nonchalant glance at the TV, where a news report was airing about Melody causing a ruckus at the mall."Don't worry about her.""Understood."Meanwhile, in the back of a sleek sedan, Debra was a whirlwind of activity, her fingers dancing across her phone screen. Randy eyed her through the rearview mirror, curiosity piqued."Debra, you've been at it since we got in the car. What's got you so engrossed?""I'm stirring the pot. Mind giving me a hand? I need some influencers to boost its visibility.""What kind of article?"Erica leaned in, her eyes widening as she scanned the post. It was a meticulously crafted exposé, complete with nine incriminating photos, implicating Shelia in Michael's car accident. The comments section was already ablaze with speculation and conspiracy theories.Soon, people started connecting the dots based on Debra's post. They speculated that Shelia, upset with Debra, had plotted against Michael to hurt Debra financially.Others pointed fing
The next day, Debra was chauffeured back to Potter Entertainment in Marion's car.The rumor mill among the trainees was already churning, the hot topic being Debra's dramatic exit with Juan and the subsequent uproar caused by Mrs. Nichols at the mall."Some people just don't know their place. They think they can waltz back into high society just because they want to.""Did you see the car that dropped her off today? She's got some serious backers.""After going broke, she has no other options."...Debra was unfazed by the whispers.Eve sauntered up to her and scoffed, "Mr. Nichols's investment is probably going south. What good is it to stubbornly refuse to divorce, Debra? In the end, you won't get anything."Debra raised an eyebrow. "What are you implying?"Eve smirked, "Stop pretending. We all know the Frazier family is broke. You're desperate to get back with Mr. Nichols, but with your current status, it's impossible. As long as Mrs. Nichols Sr. doesn't agree, you're done
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