The voice sent chills down Debra's spine. Instinctively, she took a step back, but before she could retreat further, her wrists were gripped tightly. Drake stood just inches away from her, his pale eyes glinting with sinister amusement that made her skin crawl."Scared of me?""Screw you!"Her strength took Drake by surprise as she tore her hands free. Without hesitation, she swung her arm and slapped him across the face with all the force she could muster.The sharp sound of the slap echoed in the air, releasing the fury, frustration, and hatred that had built up inside her.This bastard had treated her like prey, dragging her into a sick, twisted game."Mr. Lowe!" Peter freaked out.Drake's face reddened from the impact of Debra's slap, and a trickle of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.But instead of reacting with anger, he casually wiped the blood away, inspecting it with a cold, detached expression."In all these years, you're the first to make me bleed," he mu
In the cabin, Drake rested his face on his hand and stared at the mirror that displayed Debra's every move."Sir...""What do you think she's doing?""She..."Peter looked over and saw Debra curling up in the corner, unmoving."Maybe she's scared.""Scared?"Drake raised an eyebrow. He'd seen people terrified out of their minds in this same room, but none of them acted like Debra.That was not fear."Make some noise.""Yes, sir."Peter went out, and soon after, the muffled sound of women screaming echoed from the adjacent room. Debra, however, remained in the same position.Peter returned. "It's done, sir."Drake frowned, observing Debra's lack of reaction."Is the mirror tampered with?" he asked, suddenly standing up. "Go open the door.""Huh?"Peter snapped out of it, grabbed the keys, and went to open the door.When it swung open, Debra remained slumped in the corner. Drake strode forward, yanking her up by the arm. Still, she didn't react.Drake frowned and felt h
Debra woke up groggily, unsure how long she had been out. The room around her was pitch black, and memories started to rush back.She remembered that she had been thrown into this dark room by Drake's people.A sharp pain shot through her arm, causing her to suck in a breath. She instinctively tried to pull her arm away, but a man's voice cut through the darkness."Don't move.""Who are you?"A nurse turned on a flashlight, and Debra squinted against the sudden brightness."You've got a fever," the nurse explained, "Mr. Lowe ordered us to treat you."Debra glanced at the discarded plastic packaging on the floor. It said fever medication.She relaxed slightly, though her tone remained cold. "How long does Drake plan on keeping me locked up in here?""That's up to Mr. Lowe," the doctor said without any emotion. "We don't question his decisions."Seeing that they were only there to treat her, Debra pressed further. "Is he planning to kill me?""If Mr. Lowe wanted you dead, he w
"Where is she?"Drake scanned the surroundings, noting that there was nowhere to escape.Peter replied, "She's still in there. It's been five minutes, and she hasn't come out yet.""Check," Drake ordered."Yes, sir." Peter banged on the restroom door, his voice harsh. "Open the door."There was no response."Mr. Lowe is here, and there is no escape. Open the damn door!" Peter's voice grew increasingly agitated, but there was still no response from inside.He looked back at Drake, confused. "Could it be that she passed out again?"Drake wasn't a man known for patience. With a swift motion, he pulled a gun from his waist and fired at the lock. The door splintered with a loud crack, and he kicked it open."Move," he barked.Rushing in, they found Debra standing by the sink, drying her hands casually.Not happy about the intrusion, she huffed, "Mr. Lowe, is there anything you need in the women's restroom?"Drake sullenly looked back at Peter, who shifted awkwardly.He barked a
Almost instinctively, Drake grabbed Debra's arm.He was shocked by her actions.Debra was already dangling off the edge of the ship, the ocean waves crashing against her ankles. All it would take was for Drake to let go, and she'd plunge straight into the sea."Mr. Lowe!" Peter was horrified. Drake's voice was filled with fury as he shouted, "What are you waiting for? Get her up.""I-I'll go get someone," Peter stammered."No need." Debra struggled against Drake's grip.But he only tightened his hold. "Are you so eager to die?""My life is my own to decide. Either you give me the respect I deserve, or..." Debra insisted.Drake gritted his teeth, anger flashing across his face. No one had ever dared threaten him like this before."Sir, I've got the rope.""Pull her up.""Yes, sir."A rope was lowered down, hanging right beside Debra. But even with it within reach, she made no move to climb up.Drake's jaw clenched, and he sighed, "Fine, you won. Get up now."Seeing that
"Sir, she's arrogant. We should just toss her into the sea and feed the sharks," Peter said.Debra's provocations had long irritated him."Shut up!" Drake silenced him with a glare.Debra was betting on the fact that Drake had something to do with the car accident that killed her and Marion's parents.If that were true, Drake would be after the supposed treasure of Seamar City, a secret guarded by the Four Great Families. Now, with the Fraizer family fallen, she was the last living heiress.He couldn't afford to kill her just yet.Seeing the defiant look in her eyes, Drake let out a bitter laugh before releasing her throat."You're a clever woman. I like that," he said.Debra let out a small sigh of relief.Drake turned to a maid nearby and instructed, "Prepare a room. Take her there.""Yes, sir." The maid rushed over, gently helping Debra to her feet.Exhausted from her ordeal, Debra could barely stand on her own.Peter watched them leave, his confusion deepening. Not only
Marion frowned, his sharp eyes catching something off. "No, this isn't right.""What's wrong?" Randy asked, confused."This ring is so small. How could it have been pulled up with a fishing net?" A ring like that should have sunk to the bottom of the water, impossible to retrieve by chance. It seemed more like someone had deliberately placed it there, making sure it would be found.Marion's instincts flared, and he said, "Where's the fisherman who found this ring? Bring him to me.""Right away," Randy stammered, finally realizing Marion was right.It was highly unlikely that a small ring could be caught in a fishing net, and even if it were, no ordinary fisherman would willingly hand over such a valuable item.Before long, the fisherman was brought before Marion by Randy's men. Looking at the trembling fisherman, Marion held up the ring. "Who told you to give this ring to me?"The fisherman's hands shook as he avoided Marion's gaze. "I-I found it. Just pulled it from the sea."
"Ms. Frazier, was that ring something important?" asked the maid.Debra forced a calm expression, trying not to give away her emotions."It's nothing. Just an expensive piece of jewelry. Since it's lost, then forget it.""Well, I'm Lara. If you need anything, just let me know.""Do you know where we're headed?""We're returning to Seamar City. We'll reach the shore in about three days."That wasn't surprising. Drake must have business in Seamar City, and that meant Debra needed to find a way to get word to Marion.The next morning, Debra awoke to the sound of knocking. The doctor had come to administer her medication again.Drake's order was clear. Debra should be cured within three days.So, every day, she was subjected to endless treatments: IV drips, injections, and pills.After examining her, the doctor nodded."Starting today, you can eat solid food again. No more plain oatmeal. You need better nutrition.""Avoid eating fish, right?""Yes.""Well, I'm starving," Debr
"Let him go. Whoever contacted him will likely do so again," Debra said, turning to Robert. "You're still in touch, right? Next time they reach out, I want to know the time and place of your meeting. If it's online, I want a recording. Any objections?"Robert glanced up at Debra, realizing that she intended to use him as bait. She was smart enough to figure out their contact mode."Alright, I'll do it, but I have one condition.""You have no leverage here. Your lives are in my hands."Debra never went easy on her enemies. If she did, it was only because they were still useful.Robert struggled to his feet and knelt before her. "Mrs. Houston, please grant my wish. In return, I'll do anything for you."The room fell silent. Everyone was stunned.The scene reminded Debra of her capture by Drake. He had asked her if she wanted dignity or life. She had chosen dignity.But later, she realized that for people like Drake and Robert, dignity was a luxury. They only sought it when surviv
As soon as Marion stepped into the room, he saw Debra with a head injury. His brows furrowed, and the next second, he kicked Robert hard in the knee.The pain caused Robert to kneel on the floor.Marion grabbed a baton from one of his men and was about to strike when Randy rushed forward to stop him.Randy exclaimed, "You can't use that. He'll die."The baton hung high in the air, showing Marion's desire to kill. But at Randy's words, he put it down and handed it over to Debra."He's all yours. Do whatever you want to vent your anger," he said.Without hesitation, Debra took the baton and walked behind Robert. It swung down on his head, and blood streamed.Theda cried out, "We had a deal.""Yes, we did," Debra replied, dropping the baton to the ground. "We also agreed that it was fine as long as I didn't kill him. I've been merciful enough."Robert was still conscious, but the injury was heavy.Theda walked to his side. "To the victor go the spoils. We've lost. I just want to
The impact was brutal, sending Robert reeling backward.Marion said, "To be honest, I can't beat you in a fair fight. Too bad, you don't know how to use your brain."Robert was reeling from the pain, unable to utter a sound.Marion turned to his men. "Cuff him and take him back in the trunk."His men quickly restrained Robert....At the Potter Mansion, Erica looked at Debra's head injury.She huffed, "Robert went too far. We need to teach him a lesson."Randy reassured her, "Don't worry. Marion probably has beaten him to a pulp."Erica turned to look at Theda, who had been silent the entire time."It was your order, wasn't it?" she snapped. "Debra showed you mercy, but you kidnapped her. How low can you get?"Theda shrugged. "It was. What are you going to do about it?"Erica was enraged, ready to strike. Debra chimed in, "It wasn't her.""Come on. I know you're kind, but we don't have to be soft on her. People like her stab others in the back.""It really wasn't her.""
"Because here..." Marion continued, tapping his temple, "you're not as good as me."Robert's sharp instincts quickly picked up on something unusual. The area around the courtyard had been surrounded. Given the footsteps, he could roughly tell their number. There were at least a hundred people.He couldn't believe Marion had mobilized such a force just to rescue Debra."As I said," Robert continued, "as long as I'm here, no one gets through."His eyes glinted with cold determination."Sir, we've found Mrs. Houston and Ms. Buchan," someone reported.Robert snorted, "That's impossible. Stop bluffing.""They're in the basement of the Buchan Mansion," Marion smirked. "You like playing tricks, and I play along. Truth be told, I came here for you."Robert was still holding the detonator, but it was no longer a threat.Marion had figured out the game. At first, they hadn't found Debra and Theda in the basement because Robert had moved them. Later, when they were gone, Robert brought t
Debra felt dizzy. "Why are you telling me this?""Because you and I are alike," Theda replied. "Despite our differences, I envy your life. I know Robert can't beat Marion. If Robert fails tonight, I beg you to show mercy and spare his life.""He didn't show any mercy when he hit me. Why should I spare him?""We're all businesspeople. Name your price. If it's within my power, I'll do it. Just spare his life.""Fine, remember your promise. I'll spare his life, but I need to hit back.""Deal. Just don't kill him."In the courtyard, Robert opened a can of cat food and fed the stray kittens. They seemed familiar with him, purring and rubbing against his hand.Robert smiled, but his expression changed as he heard a noise outside. The kittens arched their backs, hissing at the disturbance.Robert patted their heads. "Go on. Don't get hurt."But the kittens refused to leave, licking their paws and sitting behind him.Robert didn't chase them away. He waited until Marion and his men a
"She can't take your call right now," Marion replied.Drake shot up from the sofa. "What do you mean by that?""Robert took her.""Robert?"Marion hung up the phone and headed straight to the courtyard where Robert used to live.Kale came into the hotel suite with a cup. "Boss, what would you like for dinner?"Drake muttered with a heavy tone, "Debra is taken by Robert."Kale froze, wondering about Robert's motives.Drake took a deep breath. He had warned Debra before, but she wouldn't listen. Now the situation was grave.He knew Robert all too well. The man was a cold-blooded killing machine, dealing with anyone who posed threats to Theda."Get the car. Search the entire city. Find Robert.""But this is not Orkgate. Our people operate in the shadows here. If Marion's men discover them, all our efforts over the years will be wasted.""I said, find him. No excuses. Get moving."Drake was irritated. He had always known Debra would cause trouble for him, but he hadn't expecte
"Kidnapped? Really?" Erica muttered."It's got to be fake," Randy replied. "This is Seamar City. Who would dare kidnap Debra right under Marion's nose? Unless they have a death wish."Erica nodded thoughtfully. "You're right."But then she realized something was off. "Wait. You left out Robert, that desperado who doesn't care about consequences. Debra went out to meet Theda.""Damn! How could I forget him?" Randy panicked. "What do we do? I'll gather people and head to Buchan Mansion.""We're running out of time," Erica said urgently. "Hurry up and call Marion."She whipped out her phone and started making calls. Randy started rallying people too....Meanwhile, Garland and Liza had just landed and were eagerly entering the Potter Mansion with their luggage in tow."Guys, I am back!" Garland laughed, hands on his hips.Liza tilted her head. "Where is everyone? Why isn't anyone here to welcome us?""Yeah. Why is the living room empty?" Garland wondered.Suddenly, two figures
"I don't care. I'll make them return everything to you," Robert said.Theda was at a loss for words. She stepped forward and propped up the unconscious Debra.She said, "The shares don't matter to me at all. You didn't have to go this far. The situation in Seamar City is treacherous. I overestimated myself. We should take Debra back to them and end everything."She reached for her phone to call Andrew, but Robert grabbed her wrist."What are you doing?" she sulked. "I've decided to stop fighting them. What you're doing is pointless and dangerous.""It's not pointless," Robert said firmly. "I don't want to see you lose. To me, you'll never lose to anyone."Without waiting for her response, he carried her over his shoulder and pocketed her phone."This is all my idea," he said. "Even if I fail, it has nothing to do with you. I've cut the phone lines in the house and locked the front door. Without the password, you can't leave. Just stay here and wait for my good news. I'll get the
"It's simple. The Nichols Group's shareholders aren't clean either. Drake has dirt on them, so they have to do what he says."Theda laughed, understanding the whole thing. That explained why the mention of Drake's name alone had influenced those shareholders' decisions during the last meeting. It was because Drake had their secrets."Alright, I lost fair and square. Actually, I hold no personal grudge against you. That's why I warned you that getting those shares wouldn't be good for you. The person behind this wouldn't let you go.""You know who's behind this, don't you?""Even if I do, we're destined to be enemies. I lost to you, but next time, someone even more formidable will come after you. You won't be so lucky then."Theda poured Debra a cup of tea and continued, "We're alike. We've both been through things others can't understand. You're lucky, with so many people around you, helping you, but the path ahead is harder for you. Not something enviable."Debra didn't get it.