Melody's words sliced through the air like a sharpened blade."Hmph, how can you expect me to greet you with a smile when you've stolen Shelia away?"Declan had initially harbored doubts about Debra's claims, but the scene unfolding before him was swiftly dispelling them. He couldn't help but wonder what kind of life Jade would have if she married into the Nichols family.Next door, Debra continued her meal at a leisurely pace, while Randy and Erica, who had been engrossed in conversation earlier, now quietly munched on seeds.They exchanged glances, silently acknowledging the poor soundproofing and their unexpected entertainment.Debra felt a sense of satisfaction as she perceived the escalating tension. Had Declan come alone, Melody might have feigned kindness and engaged in polite conversation.But Declan's decision to bring Edgar was a clear sign of disrespect toward Melody. And if there was one thing Melody didn't handle well, it was disrespect.Declan slammed his hand on t
Declan stormed out of the room, leaving behind a wave of stifled laughter from the eavesdroppers in the next room.It was hard to believe a supposedly philanthropist could argue so bitterly with a renowned old lady.Randy was holding back laughter so hard that his face was turning an interesting shade of red.A loud crash echoed as Melody, in her rage, upended the table. The sudden noise startled everyone, and a waiter rushed in to clean up the mess. Only then did the suppressed laughter burst forth."I didn't expect Melody could be so harsh. She was almost cursing," Erica said. "This is the juiciest thing I've ever heard."She turned to Debra and continued, "This has dashed Shelia's hope of marrying into the Nichols family."Debra raised an eyebrow. "With things having turned out like this, Melody has no more reason to keep Shelia around."In truth, someone like Jade would have been a prime marriage partner for the Nichols family. Her age was suitable. Her family background was
"Marion..." Debra murmured, blushing.Marion closed the door and whispered, "So, this was the show you wanted to see.""Are you upset about it?" Debra's eyes, usually so full of life, now held a spark of naive guilt. "I didn't expect you to come."She had only intended to bring Erica to the show. She hadn't anticipated Randy's presence, nor had she thought they would tell Marion.Marion stroked her cheek. "So, you didn't plan to tell me from the start?""I was afraid..." Debra tried to explain, but his intense gaze silenced her.Marion croaked, "Afraid I'd be jealous?"Debra managed a small, almost imperceptible nod. She was too entangled with the Nichols family. Legally, without a divorce, she was still Juan's wife."I'm not so petty." He pinched her cheek and murmured his warning, "Dealing with the Nichols family is fine, but if you dare rekindle old feelings with him...""It won't happen," Debra interjected, her voice filled with sincerity. "I don't have old feelings for hi
'I must be crazy to share my bed with Marion,' Debra thought.The sound of running water from the bathroom only served to amplify her nervousness.The bathroom door creaked open, and she quickly shut her eyes, feigning sleep. Marion tiptoed across the room, the soft click of the bedside lamp being turned off signaling his approach. The mattress dipped slightly as he lay down beside her.The heat of Marion's body was palpable, sending Debra's nerves into overdrive. There was no way he could sleep like this.She shifted, turning her back to him, but Marion's arm draped over her, pulling her close.His deep voice was a whisper in her ear. "Sleep tight."Before she could respond, Marion nuzzled her neck, his lips brushing against her skin in soft, tender kisses. The numbing sensation made her tremble."Marion...""Yes?""It's itchy.""Itchy?"Marion's voice was a low rumble, captivating and intense.Debra turned to face him, and he immediately captured her mouth in a deep, pass
Debra woke up to a bright morning, her body aching and stiff. As consciousness slowly returned, she realized that her legs were almost numb.The memories of the previous night came flooding back. Marion had promised to be gentle, but his passion had been anything but. She had been swept up in his fervor, their bodies entwined in a dance that left her breathless and exhausted.Embarrassment washed over her as she recalled her own eager participation. She thought that she must be crazy to invite him to stay over and initiate such intimacy.She groaned softly and pulled the covers over her head, wishing she could hide from the day."Get up and have lunch." Marion's deep voice called from outside the door, a hint of amusement in his tone.Debra struggled to sit up, her body protesting with every movement. Marion entered the room, his expression a mix of tenderness."Do you need help getting out of bed?" he asked."My legs," Debra whispered. "I can't stand."After their second round
Debra answered the phone to hear Hannah's anxious voice on the other end. "The show's this afternoon. Did something happen? Should I send someone to pick you up?"Debra glanced at Marion sitting across from her, noticing his amused smile. She quickly looked away, feeling a slight flush on her cheeks."No need. I just got up late," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "I'll be back soon."Turning to Marion, she said, "I'm full. There is a show today, and I need to go over.""I'll give you a ride," Marion offered.Seeing Debra struggle to get up, he went over and scooped her up in a bridal carry.When Debra arrived at Potter Entertainment, she found all the trainees ready to leave. In the lobby, Eve led the group, her voice dripping with disdain. "Acting all high and mighty, making us wait for you."Hannah frowned and whispered to Debra, "The show tonight requires preparation this afternoon. Why are you so late?"Debra whispered back, "Don't ask now. Just take them over."
"Whatever. With so many people in one group, how can the audience focus on anyone? Isn't it better that Debra is gone?"The trainees whispered among themselves.The director's team entered the room, silencing the chatter. "Make sure everyone's makeup is perfect today. Mr. Nichols and Mr. Odom will be joining us."The news sent a ripple of excitement through the crowd."Mr. Odom is coming? That's big. But is Mr. Nichols coming too? This show is going to be a hit!" "Could Mr. Nichols be coming because of Debra?""They've been in the middle of a divorce for ages. Debra's whereabouts are unknown. How could Mr. Nichols be coming for her?"...Amidst the lively discussion, no one noticed a female staff member standing quietly in the corner, her face obscured by a baseball cap.Juan stood in front of the stage, glancing at his watch. "Has Debra arrived yet?"Joe shook his head. "I checked. Mrs. Nichols isn't backstage."Juan fell silent for a moment. He pulled out his phone, inten
Hannah approached Juan with a composed smile."Mr. Nichols, everything is fine. Why not take a seat and enjoy the show first?"Juan's brow furrowed in impatience. "Debra is sick. Why didn't you tell me?"Hannah maintained her calm demeanor. "While Ms. Frazier is indeed under the weather, it won't impact the program. Moreover, it's Ms. Frazier's express wish that the show must go on."Joe asked, "Sir, should we proceed?"Juan remained silent, and Hannah added, "Mr. Nichols, the show is about to start. I'm sure you don't mind this little delay." Hannah leaned in and whispered, "Ms. Frazier will be here soon. Don't worry."At her reassurance, Juan's frown eased slightly.Just then, the guests and judges arrived. Many of them came to greet Juan and Edgar."Mr. Nichols, Mr. Odom, it's a pleasure to meet you."Hannah stepped aside and wiped her sweat. Debra had certainly passed the responsibility to her effectively. The man before her was none other than the formidable Juan. Angerin
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