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
Debra jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat.Juan was nearby, soaking a towel. When he noticed she was awake, he asked, "Do you want something to eat?"The sight of Juan only deepened her fear. Instinctively, she scooted away from him, a motion he couldn't help but notice."Did you have a nightmare?" he asked.It was indeed a nightmare.In her dream, it felt as if she had been transported to her past life. She had observed everything as a ghost.When she had seen the gravestone, the pain of dying on the operating table had rushed through her all over again."I..."Juan silenced her with a look, mouthing, "There's a camera."Debra composed himself and forced a smile. "Yeah, just a bad dream.""You've got a fever," Juan said, glancing at the thermometer. "101 degrees Fahrenheit. I'm making some oatmeal for you, and the medicine is on the table.""Okay," Debra replied smoothly.After Juan left the room, her mind replayed the dream over and over.'If that dream was a glimpse of
"The show has been halted. It must be all over the news by now. If you won't tell me, I'll just check out myself," Debra said, picking up her phone.Juan tried to stop her, but she had already scrolled through the news.[Divorce Papers Exposed: Debra Caught Cheating with a Gigolo]Debra skimmed through the trending headlines and found herself laughing. One of the comments mentioned that, despite the mystery man's face being obscured, his figure was good."I'll handle this. You don't have to worry about it," Juan said."I'm not worried." Debra put her phone down. "But I want to know how this information got leaked.""Joe said she saw Shelia and Melody together."The moment Shelia's name was mentioned, the smile on Debra's face vanished.That nightmare replayed in her mind, and her intuition screamed that Shelia was involved in her past life's death.She used to think Shelia was an innocent, harmless girl and that her place should have been Shelia's. But ever since her rebirth,
Ivan had no idea what was going on. Presumably, Debra should be on the third floor, but now the attic had suddenly caught fire.On the second floor, Erica and Randy stepped out to see Barton help Andrew back to his room."Mr. Andrew Potter?"Garland and Liza were shocked too. They'd never seen him in such distress."Minor fire. Mr. Andrew Potter needs rest," Barton said flatly. "Please keep quiet about this, especially from Mrs. Houston."Liza frowned. "Why?""No questions. Trust that it's for her sake," Barton replied.After they left, Liza muttered, "Weirdoes!"...Debra jolted awake the next morning, shooting upright before dizziness slammed her back down. Drake watched silently from a chair."Quick. I need to go upstairs." She tried to kick off the blankets, but Drake stopped her."Let me go." Her usual calm shattered into a raw panic. "I'm going to the third floor."Drake hesitated. For once, he felt guilty. But he couldn't cave.Clenching his fists, he lied, "You've
Drake carried Debra downstairs on his back.A warm teardrop hit his shoulder. He frowned, glancing sideways at her unconscious face. Even when she passed out, her brows stayed furrowed. Tears kept soaking into his shirt."What a fool," he muttered.Andrew slumped against the wall. The tiny attic room glowed with remnants of Debra's childhood. This had been her sanctuary years ago.Back then, when her parents were busy with business, they'd leave her at the Potter Mansion for weeks. Young Debra's first word wasn't Mama or Papa. It was Brother.She'd trailed him everywhere like a shadow.The mansion's vast emptiness scared her at night. She'd cry until he moved her bed near the attic's stained-glass window. His mother had joked that he would have a good husband someday, just like his dad.Debra's laughter had thawed the mansion's cold halls. She'd painted his gray world in color.Andrew looked at those familiar items and struggled to his feet. His chest burned like coals as he fl
The room was a cozy paradise. A small plush bed sat in the center, topped with a giant teddy bear. Two fairy tale books lay on a nearby desk.The floor had a fluffy pink rug, a tiny wooden rocking horse, and half-built toy blocks scattered around. Miniature castles, dolls, and delicate tea sets filled the space.Every detail hit Debra's nerves like a hammer. Something buzzed in her memory, just out of reach. Her head throbbed as the room spun around her. She forced herself forward, step by shaky step.Then she spotted a pile of yellowed newspapers crammed in a corner. She tried to go over, but each movement flooded her mind with fragmented images."Almost there," she muttered.A memory fragment flickered. Someone was reading fairy tales by her bed.She heard her younger self ask, "Brother, why do princes and princesses fall in love at first sight?" "Because they're meant to be," he replied softly."But can't the princess love someone else?" "She might have many knights, bu
Marion drove through the night, streetlights flickering across his face.A weathered old newspaper lay crumpled in the passenger seat, its yellow pages detailing every grim detail of that decade-old kidnapping case, but not a trace of warmth touched his expression.When he reached the coast, he killed the engine. Clutching the newspaper, he strode to the water's edge. A lighter flashed in his hand. Flames crawled across the brittle paper, casting dancing shadows on his tense jawline. He watched until the last ember died, then scattered the ashes across the sand....Debra had drifted into an uneasy sleep.Her dreams swirled with half-remembered fragments—a ship's deck, choking smoke, a cramped dark space.Saltwater stung her nostrils as waves pressed down on her face. She thrashed against the suffocation until she was exhausted and helplessly sank into the water. Suddenly, a child's scream pierced the darkness. "Brother, save me."Debra jolted awake. The fading image of a face
"I didn't mean it.""Just heed my advice. Marion's sweet-talk game is stronger than you think. The news must have covered both kidnapping cases. Figure out why those three are hiding it from you."Drake went back to his room, leaving Debra outside.Her mind was a mess. She couldn't understand why even Marion chose not to tell her the truth.Footsteps creaked upstairs. Debra looked up to see Ivan descending.Her eyes narrowed. "I told you not to clean the second floor and above. What were you doing up there?"Ivan stammered, "I'm sorry. Someone mentioned the attic hadn't been cleaned in years. I wanted to help." "Attic?""The one on the third floor. It's locked, so I came down."Debra's pulse quickened as she realized the mastermind was feeding her clues through Ivan.She played dumb. "Alright. Remember, don't come up here again without my permission.""Yes, Mrs. Houston." Ivan retreated.Debra stared at the staircase for a while and turned to look at Andrew's room. It was
"I..." Erica was lost for words.Debra came upstairs, suspicion flickering. "Are you hiding something from me?"Erica shrank back, and Randy jumped in. "How is that possible? I was just helping her pick an outfit. Right, Erica?"Erica forced a nod. "Y-Yeah." Marion also came up. Randy seized the lifeline. "Marion, take Debra back. I need to help Erica change."He dragged Erica away like the floor was lava.Debra's suspicion grew. Marion gently brushed her hair. "I'll find the newspapers. It's been a long day. You need to rest.""What if they're gone?" she muttered.It was a major event. She had no memory of it, and her parents had never mentioned it. It didn't make sense."Do you think Vickie's kidnapping is connected to what happened to the Potters?" she said, recalling what Erica had once told her.It was Jordan who had been kidnapped. The incident killed their parents and crippled Andrew.The thought of it always made her chest tighten. When Vickie had mentioned it, her
Erica rolled her eyes. "We've been over this. Everyone knows Vickie's a fraud, but Juan's backing her is real. In this circle, folks cozy up to powerful families to climb the social ladder. They just play dumb and prop up Vickie to get close to Juan."Liza blinked, clueless. "Why don't they just work with Debra instead?"Debra laughed bitterly, "The business owners surviving in Seamar City aren't fools. The McKinney Group and the Nichols Group are at war. From this drama, they can tell Juan is targeting me. He is untouchable here. When he wants someone to be gone, they're gone. And with Caleb's sudden death, Andrew's illness, Jordan's betrayal, and Drake's downfall, we're clearly in a tight spot. Who would bet on the underdog?"Liza gasped, "So, this is their power play to win allies?"Debra nodded.Garland gaped at Liza. "You figured that out?""Didn't you?" she asked back.Garland bristled. "Of course. I'm the family pillar. I saw through everything."Liza side-eyed him.Deb
Marion fell silent. "I wasn't in Seamar City back then. No idea what happened."Debra frowned, troubled. Marion's eyes dimmed."Let's go home.""Okay."Half an hour later, we were back at the Potter Mansion."What? You're not the Frazier family heiress?" Garland's jaw dropped.Liza smacked his arm. "Seriously? Someone named Vickie popped up claiming to be the real heiress. No one said Debra isn't.""Oh," Garland exhaled in relief. "So, that chick is a fake?""Fake," Debra said firmly.Liza tilted her head. "Why are you so sure? What if she's legit?""Girl, you're smarter than this." Erica rolled her eyes. "It's an obvious scam. No one's buying it.""Then why bother?" Liza pouted. "If everyone knows she's fake, why embarrass herself?"Debra explained, "Truth doesn't matter. She wants the title, not assets.""Why is that?" Liza remained puzzled.That title alone didn't seem so alluring."She wants the identity because of the hidden treasure," Debra replied. "One of the fou
Marion leaned against the doorframe and smiled, "No need."He'd always known. Debra had grown into a hawk soaring freely through the skies. Even without his protection, she'd fly higher and farther.His smile deepened as he listened to her passionate plans for the company's future. That alone was worth his trip....At the Potter Mansion, Andrew unlatched the golden cage, releasing the canary inside.It fluttered clumsily toward the window. Trapped too long, it had forgotten how to fly. Yet it flapped its wings and pushed onward until it took flight and disappeared into the distance."Sir, that was your favorite bird," a servant said hesitantly."Loving something doesn't mean clutching it in your hand," Andrew replied with a smile. "To love is to let go, find its true self, and pursue what it wants."His voice lowered. "To love is to step back and watch her enjoy her life."A storm brewed outside, but he knew no matter how fierce the rain was, she'd endure....After seeing