The streets of Flesta bustled with people as Debra slowly regained consciousness. She felt every bump as the vehicle sped along. The cold wind bit at her skin, making her shiver involuntarily.When the two men sprayed her with the sedative earlier, she'd instinctively held her breath. But she had still inhaled enough to knock her out for a while. Luckily, she wasn't fully under and could still think straight.The car rattled as it moved, and the sounds of traffic gradually faded, indicating they were driving away from the city center. Soon, Debra caught the faint scent of saltwater, blowing in through the cracks in the windows.Her heart raced as she wondered why they were taking her to the sea.She tried to loosen the ropes binding her hands, but her eyes were covered, leaving her clueless about her surroundings. She heard one of the men speak up."It's far enough. Should we stop here?""What a shame! She is pretty."The car came to an abrupt halt, and Debra forced herself to s
Gavin grunted in pain and stumbled back.Debra ripped off the tape from her mouth and tore away the blindfold. With all the strength she could muster, she screamed, "Help! Somebody, help me!""Shut up, bitch!" Lennox bellowed, charging at her.Debra had already managed to loosen the ropes tied around her ankles. Without hesitation, she kicked Lennox right in the groin, sending him howling in pain.Gavin rushed forward to grab her, but she swiftly knocked him down to the ground. It was clear neither of the men had expected Debra to know any self-defense.She silently rejoiced not slacking off during her training with Marion. If she had, she'd probably be dead by now."Help!" Debra shouted again, bolting toward the car.She jumped inside and slammed her foot on the gas, flooring it."She's running away," Gavin shouted.Lennox smacked him on the back of the head. "Stop shouting and give chase."But they couldn't catch up with the car. They panted, quickly giving up.Just then,
"Bastard!" Debra cursed.Drake, however, was unperturbed."Ms. Frazier, you're back."The bodyguard was even more shocked than Drake. Anyone else would have fled by now."Of course, I came back," Debra yelled. "Drake, you're insane. What did I do wrong that you asked your men to kill me?"She grabbed the gun holstered at his waist and snapped, "If you want me dead, shoot me in front of my face."She observed his expression, knowing it was not his order.When she escaped earlier, she debated running away. But she quickly realized how unrealistic that was.She wasn't familiar with Flesta, and Edgar's influence was far-reaching. They had all the means to find her.Plus, she didn't have any money on her. If she got caught while on the run, she would lose all of Drake's trust. Drake hated betrayal, and her fate wouldn't be much better than Peter's.It was better to return on her own terms, to earn his trust. But to justify her return after abandoning such a golden chance to escape
All the partners were ready to cut ties with the McKinney Group. Now, all Edgar needed was some cash for PR work. Once he brought down Oscar and smeared the reputation of the McKinney Group, it was game over for them.Chace, however, voiced his concern. "Sir, many of our projects are losing money. Are you sure it's wise to spend ten billion on PR against the McKinney Group? Isn't it a bit risky?""Risky? If we get all those partners on our side, we'll dominate the market. Ten billion? We'll earn that back in a few years. Do you think my business empire can't handle a little turbulence?" Edgar said dismissively.Chace remained silent, though worry clouded his face. He hadn't realized just how complicated the situation in Seamar City was until now.Projects were hemorrhaging money, and many partners had been poached by their competitors. Yet Edgar seemed unconcerned about the crumbling foundation beneath him.Ever since he received Debra's provocation, Edgar had been spiraling, obse
"Aren't you curious about how Kolton really died?"Debra's words stopped Chace in his tracks."What do you mean by that?""Everyone thinks he died of a heart attack, but the truth? Edgar killed him."Chace laughed, disbelief lacing his voice. "That's ridiculous. Why would he kill his father?""You refuse because you never had a father, so you regarded Kolton as your father. The truth is that Kolton wanted to find Oscar. Edgar saw that as a threat to his position and deliberately caused Kolton's death," Debra said.She was not making up things. It was something she picked up from a tabloid in her past life.Initially, due to the tragic love story between Edgar and Jade, Edgar's image as a deeply loving man gained significant popularity. However, some tabloids dug into his past and exposed the existence of Oscar. She had the chance to read that article, which was written very convincingly. It detailed how Edgar caused Kolton's death to secure his position, including testimonies
"I have some things to take care of. I'll be leaving now," Chace said as he turned to leave the hotel.Drake came up with a cryptic smile."You and he...""What do you think we are?""Whatever it is, just as long as you're not planning on running away.""Why would I? If I wanted to run, I could have left last night.""Don't play dumb with me. You're not running because you know it's impossible to escape."Debra's smile fazed as she realized that Drake had pieced together why she'd returned to his side that night.Drake arched a brow. "Relax. As long as you know your place, I don't care why you came back."Debra's eyes glinted mischievously. "I'm not sure what makes me so special to you. Are you falling for me?"Drake clutched her chin and examined her face."Pretty face," he murmured, tilting her head slightly, "but a brain full of vanity."He let go of her and added, "Come to my room tonight. There's something I need to discuss with you in private."His sudden request cau
"I've been removed from all my duties at the McKinney Group by your boss. I have to explain things to my boss, don't I? And who else would compensate for my loss?" Debra explained.Not buying it, Kale extended his hand and demanded, "Give me the phone.""Alright." Debra complied.Kale spoke into the phone. "Who's this?""Hello, this is the secretary office of the McKinney Group. Is Ms. Frazier doing alright?" Marion replied.Kale frowned and handed the phone back to Debra. "Mr. Lowe forbids you to contact anyone outside."Debra hung up the phone. "Alright. In that case, tell Mr. Lowe that he owes me 30 thousand dollars in lost wages. If I don't see that money in my account soon, I'll make sure to make things very difficult for you."Kale's frown deepened. "Do you really need that money?""You can figure that out," Debra said. "You know, someone lured Ralph into gambling, which caused my family to go broke. I've just finished paying off my debts thanks to my divorce settlement w
As Debra thought about the pack of birth control pills from earlier that day, she forced a smile and said, "Mr. Lowe, I'm not that hungry.""I know. You didn't like what the hotel served yesterday," Drake responded."No, I'm really not hungry," Debra said.She was eager to excuse herself and prayed that Marion would arrive soon.Drake started eating. As if engaging in casual conversation, he asked, "Kale said you contacted someone from the McKinney Group today.""It was an old colleague," Debra quickly explained. "I had some paid leave to record that show, and they still owe me 30 thousand dollars. I thought I'd ask about it when you submitted my resignation. After all, jobs with salaries like that aren't easy to find."She picked up her fork and knife, trying to mask her nervousness with action. But then she thought about the possibility of Drake drugging the food, so she put the tableware back down.Drake chuckled, "What's the matter? Afraid I drugged the food?"Debra stiffen
"For what?" Debra asked."You knew I was worried about Mr. Lowe, so you brought me," Kale said. "Without your suggestion, I wouldn't have the chance to come."He'd disliked her at first, but after all this time, he'd come around."You're welcome," Debra said. "Now let's focus on finding Michael and figuring out Drake's location. I brought you, but I can't promise we'll get him out today. You get that, right?""Yeah," Kale said, his voice heavy. "I've got a favor to ask.""What is it?""I know this trip is risky. Mr. Lowe is the only family I've got left. We've been through hell together. If he hadn't found me back then, I would have been dead. If I don't make it, promise me you'll save him. The world never meant much to him before. No one did. But you're different."At first, Drake grabbed Debra to get at Marion, but later, she was all he saw.Clueless about feelings, Drake never figured it out. But Kale knew she was special to Drake.In all his years with Drake, Kale had neve
Everyone looked away like it was routine.Debra grinned. "Don't stress about me.""I know," Marion said."I'll be back soon.""I'll wait."He brushed her hair back, and she smiled.Then she and Kale headed into the dense woods. Erica watched, worry creasing her face."Relax," Randy reassured her. "Even if Michael's a traitor, he won't mess with Debra.""How do you know? You can't see inside someone's head. What if he's a total snake?" Erica retorted, knowing how much Debra trusted Michael.Their friendship lasted two years. They had been through thick and thin together. Yet he had stabbed her in the back without hesitation.Randy caught Marion slipping into the trees. "Where are you going?""Marion." Erica paled."Don't bother stopping him," Jordan said. "You couldn't if you tried."He'd known Marion wouldn't let Debra go alone. Three kilometers was too far. Flare or not, they might not reach her in time. Precautions were necessary.The forest was a maze. A few steps in,
Debra hugged Marion tight, drawing strength from him.That afternoon, the convoy rolled toward the valley. The area was thick with trees, with no clear paths in sight. The dense forest was silent except for chirps from birds.Jordan stopped the cars. Everyone piled out, realizing the road ended there."What's Michael thinking, picking a spot like this?" Erica muttered, scanning around.Raw places like this were accident magnets. The map barely showed the terrain. A cliff ahead would force a detour. The thick woods blocked signals, and it'd be easy to get lost. A compass might not even work."You guys wait here," Debra said, grabbing a hiking pack. "We've got enough supplies."She'd expected this possibility but hadn't thought they'd be stuck three kilometers away from the appointed spot."Be careful," Erica warned. "It's only three kilometers straight, but with no map, it could take hours."She stepped closer. "How about I going with you? I've done more hiking and might speed t
Michael wasn't just anyone to Debra. He'd been a teammate and a brother-in-arms.She needed to know his deal with the Illuminati and if their old days fighting side by side were all fake. Everything started with her, and she should be the one to end it."I'm with Debra," Jordan said.Randy waffled. "Well, we've known him forever. He wouldn't hurt her, right? I'm in too.""Are you nuts?" Erica snapped. "What if it goes south?""I'll get her back," Marion said.Erica took a deep breath. "Fine. I'll bring extra guys and wait outside. If anything happens, we're rushing in.""Okay," Debra agreed."Count me in," Kale said, stepping down the stairs.Debra knew he was worried about Drake. "I could use a backup. Kale, you're with me."Kale blinked, surprised she'd let him tag along. Then he got it. "Thanks."Debra rallied everyone. "Gear up. We're heading out.""Come with me," Marion said.The group exchanged looks, unsure what he wanted. Debra didn't ask, just followed behind him.
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