Juan was surprised that Debra knew his favorite movie.Debra remained completely unaware of his sudden change in demeanor. She casually selected the movie and pressed play. When she turned to glance at him, their eyes met, and his suspicion was plain as day.It suddenly dawned on her. That was something Juan had mentioned before her rebirth.She remembered clearly. Before her rebirth, on their first wedding anniversary, Melody had been pushing them to get closer. She had demanded they go on a date to the movies.Debra had been thrilled. She asked what movie he wanted to watch, and he had casually mentioned 'Absurd World'. It had just come out back then. That night, after the movie, he had smiled at her for the first time while leaving the theater, saying it was a good film.But after her rebirth, Juan had never mentioned his favorite movie.Seeing the skepticism in his eyes, Debra quickly explained, "I remember Joe mentioning once that you liked this movie, so I figured I'd give
Juan replied honestly, "I didn't plan this.""Figured. You're not exactly the romantic type," she said, a rare smile softening her face as she continued watching the fireworks show. It went on for a good ten minutes, and her mood shifted. "Wow, the production team really knows how to burn money."From their courtyard, the display above looked like something out of a movie. It was stunning, almost surreal.At first, Debra was captivated by the dazzling display, but after ten minutes, her excitement began to wane. She rubbed her ears, silently calculating how much this extravagance must have cost.'Ten thousand, 20 thousand, 30 thousand...' she mentally counted.By the time the fireworks finally fizzled out, nearly 15 minutes had passed. It was a solid million-dollar fireworks show. The show had gotten a bigger budget than she thought.Juan turned to her and asked, "Did you like it?"Debra considered it seriously before replying, "I liked it at first. Now? Not so much."She tur
The sunlight filtered through the half-drawn curtains, casting a warm glow on the bedroom floor.Debra rubbed her eyes and sat up in bed, her long hair slightly messy. Her bare face still had traces of sleep.Her phone's ringtone woke her up. She picked it up and saw a task notification from the production team, instructing her and Juan to meet at the beach by eight o'clock.Debra got out of bed and walked to her closet, choosing a simple white T-shirt and jeans. Her figure made even the most ordinary clothes look stylish.Downstairs, Juan was already dressed and waiting in the living room. He wore a dark shirt with the collar slightly open, looking casual yet elegant.When they saw each other, both were visibly surprised.Juan had never seen Debra dressed so casually. Her natural look didn't make her appear haggard; instead, it added a touch of purity, making her seem like an angel who had accidentally wandered into the mortal world."Morning," Debra said.She noticed the came
"Wait, the cameraman..." Debra said."Forget about him," Juan responded.Debra was baffled. "Where did you get the money?"Since the first day of filming the show, their phones had been handed in. The only phone Juan had now was issued by the production team, and it only had a few emergency contacts."This car is owned by my family. We don't need to pay."His explanation sent Debra into a deep spiral of thought. 'Since when did the Nichols family have anything to do with taxi service?'Not long after, the taxi pulled up to the beach. The moment it arrived, the production team members stared, bewildered.The director hurried forward, confused. "Did we send a car for them?""Nope."Debra and Juan stepped out, one after the other, onto the sand.The director ruffled his hair. 'Why aren't these two following the rules of the show?'"Where's the camera guy following them?""He called in. Said he lost them. He won't be here for another thirty minutes."The director rubbed his
"Man, it's barely 8 AM. Please, just let me sleep." Randy groaned.He had been up all night, trailing after Marion to this remote island. The moment they'd arrived, Marion had made him rent a car for a whole month and now had dragged him to this desolate beach to spy on the filming.If it weren't for the fact that Marion was his best friend, Randy would've bailed long ago. This wasn't his idea of fun.He muttered under his breath, "I swear, even secret agents don't have to do this much.""Let's just watch a little longer," Marion said, peering through the binoculars.His attention focused on the small fishing boat where Debra and Juan were boarding."Go buy a fishing boat.""What?"Randy practically jumped out of his seat. 'We're out of nowhere. Where am I supposed to get a boat?'This place was a bit too rustic for his taste. Wealthy men like him usually didn't come to places like this for romance. The location, the accommodations, and even the rented car sucked.He sighed,
"A lobster? Three pounds?"Debra walked closer, spotting other massive sea creatures. "A ten-pound king crab and turbot?"Juan chimed in, "Crayfish and snow crabs too."Debra was dumbfounded. Even though this place was rich in sea creatures, it couldn't possibly offer this much bounty from other areas or countries.She glanced over at the cameraman for an answer. If it was the production team who arranged this, they were treating the audience like fools.The cameraman quickly shook his head. They didn't have that kind of budget. Even the director was on tight means.Then again, since the seafood had already been caught, they couldn't just toss it back into the ocean.Only a fool would pass up free stuff. They might as well take it.Juan started surveying the surroundings. Soon, his eyes locked on a fishing boat.He wrinkled his brow and said to the fisherman, "Take us back."It was a fruitful trip for Debra and Juan, but the production team was left in deep thought as they watched the
Debra suddenly sneezed as she sat on the bus, heading back."Damn, who's talking behind my back?"Then she felt a hand touch her forehead. Looking up, she found Juan standing over her, his expression serious."You're running a fever," he said.He remembered when Debra had first married him. Her health hadn't been the best, and Melody had told him to take good care of her. The house was still filled with the various medicines she'd brought with her.But ever since then, Debra had shown no signs of being frail. She was always running around and never backed down from a verbal sparring match.Debra brushed his hand away. "Just a mild fever. I'll be fine."She turned away from the camera, and Juan turned to the cameraman."How long will we reach the place?""Just the next stop.""Is there a pharmacy nearby?"The cameraman hesitated, embarrassed to admit he had no idea since he wasn't familiar with the area either.Juan sighed, "Forget it. I'll order something."Debra mumbled u
Shocked, Joe took out his phone and saw an avalanche of online comments.He couldn't believe Melody had exposed the divorce agreement between Debra and Juan."Mrs. Nichols Sr., do you realize the consequences?""Consequences?" Melody let out a cold laugh and said, "The consequence is that Debra can no longer cling to Juan."The shareholders echoed her words."That's right. Debra is broke. Without Mr. Nichols' support, she couldn't even find a place in this city.""I bet she got into that high-end variety show because Mr. Nichols pulled some strings for her.""Mrs. Nichols Sr. is truly wise. Not only did she expose the divorce agreement, but she also leaked those photos of Debra cheating with that gigolo. With this, there's no need to worry about our stock price falling. After all, it was Debra who messed up this time."They rang praises of Melody, who smiled with delight.She had been furious, feeling cornered by Debra's boldness during their previous confrontations, but now t
Back at the Potter Mansion, Debra stared at the equity document. Her father's handwriting and the Frazier Group's stamp stood out.She dug into a drawer, pulling out her seal which hadn't been used for two years. She pressed it onto blank paper, comparing it to the one on the document. She expected differences, but they were the same.That stamp was real. Her father had signed off on this.She didn't get it. In her memory, they and the Potters barely crossed paths.A knock came at the door, interrupting her thoughts. She stashed the seal fast. "Come in."Marion stepped inside, and she smiled, "You're polite to knock. Thought it was Erica.""Didn't wanna barge in and spook you," Marion replied, nodding at the equity document. "Still thinking about that?""I tried to figure out why Andrew has our shares," Debra said. "I've been at it all afternoon and still don't get it.""Andrew's a big-picture guy. Maybe it was just a deal between your families. Let it go," Marion said, rufflin
"Mrs. Houston." Jordan's voice snapped her back.He continued, "Pass this equity document around. Let everyone see it. With Andrew's vote, Mrs. Houston stays."The shareholders inspected it. Once they confirmed the stamp and legal weight, the outcome was obvious."What now?" Jordan eyed Jason, who remained composed on the surface but felt bitter inside."You pushed for a fair vote," Jordan said. "Aren't you satisfied with the outcome? You won't threaten them to change their votes, will you? Well, I brought some people too. They can spar a little if you like."The room crackled with tension. Those shareholders, sensing trouble, started slipping out.The outcome was clear, with Debra winning."Well then, we're out," Jason said."Hold up," Debra stood, stepping toward him. "Tell Michael he can keep the shares he bought. But the 30% I gave my friend? He doesn't deserve it. I want it back in three days. If he doesn't deliver, I'll take it my way.""I'll pass it on," Jason replied,
"I vote for Mr. Austin." Kraig kept his head down.Debra fell silent. She'd braced for the worst, but never thought a veteran on her team would betray her."Well, that settles it," Jason smiled. "Mrs. Houston, the top spot isn't yours anymore. The shareholders have spoken..."Jordan's voice cut through the room. "Who said that's the final vote?"His appearance surprised everyone, including Debra."Didn't you double-check the McKinney Group's shares?" he added.Seven shareholders were present: four from the Frazier Group, and three from the corporate side. The results of the vote were clear enough.Jason didn't flinch. "I don't think you hold any shares. You've got no say here.""I don't," Jordan replied. "But someone does."He pulled out an equity document. "This is Andrew's 1% stake in the McKinney Group. He authorized me to vote for Mrs. Houston."Jason's brow furrowed. The other shareholders swapped confused looks. They had never heard Andrew had any shares.Debra stared
The people saying these things were all entrepreneurs who'd bought shares in the Frazier Group. Debra had long known what they were. They were sexists who'd never let a woman hold real power."You guys don't seem to hold that many shares yourselves, do you?" Debra leaned back in her chair. "Anyone else want me to step down? Or got a problem with me? Just spit it out."The room went quiet. If this election could've been neutral, they'd have rather sat it out. But that wasn't an option."If no one's got anything to say, let's vote," Debra said lazily. "Let's see how many of you want me gone.""Think carefully before you open your mouth. It'll save us trouble," Marion chimed in.The sound of a gun being cocked echoed through the room. The air tensed instantly.Marion wasn't big on brain games. He preferred action. If these people hadn't contributed to the company, he'd have brought in his people instead of listening to their nonsense."Are you threatening us?" Jason said. "This ele
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