Debra furrowed her brow. "You know Edgar killed Kolton, yet you're still going to protect him?"Chace sighed, "I'm protecting Kolton's legacy. I can't just stand by and watch it crumble."He knew very well that if he helped Debra, the Odom family would be pushed to the brink.Debra chuckled, "Who said Kolton's legacy would crumble?"Chace scoffed, "You've spent all this time planning, haven't you? All to bring down Edgar and wipe out the Odom family.""You're half right.""What do you mean?""I do want to bring Edgar down, but that doesn't mean I want to destroy the Odom family."Chace was surprised. Debra had all but won, and even if he laid out all the risks to Edgar, the latter wouldn't listen.Debra had the power to crush the Odom family's financial backing with a single command. Bankruptcy was just a matter of time now."I have my principles. My beef is with Edgar. All of this is just to take him down. I have no intention of wiping out the Odom Group.""Who would believ
Chace sighed, "Since you've already planned everything, why bother asking me? You could take over the Odom Group without me, without even negotiating.""It's not the same," Debra said. "You're a veteran. No one knows the inner workings better than you. If Oscar takes over without you by his side, even with all his financial expertise, it won't be enough. Besides, you were trained by Kolton. If you acknowledge Oscar, no one will dare question his legitimacy."Chace thought for a moment. "Alright, I'll agree.""Good. I'll have the contracts drawn up as soon as possible. Let's hope for a smooth partnership," Debra said, extending her hand.Chace hesitated briefly before shaking hands with her.In the afternoon, Debra boarded a flight to Seamar City. She even got some rare, peaceful sleep in the plane's cabin. By the time they landed, it was already midnight.When Erica heard that Debra had returned, she left the party midway and rushed straight to Marion's house.She threw her arms
On the TV screen, Juan gazed at Shelia with an affection so tender it could almost be mistaken for genuine.He gently fixed her hair, the two of them laughing and chatting, every inch the picture-perfect couple.The warmth in his eyes was convincing—not a hint of pretense to be found.Erica leaned in and remarked, "Strange, isn't it? This isn't their first public appearance together. I've just come from the banquet where they were present.""Yes, it is strange," Debra murmured, her eyes glued to the screen.Juan's gaze was filled with nothing but warmth and devotion. Then, something else caught her eye—a ring gleaming on Shelia's finger. It was unmistakably the Nichols family's heirloom ring.Debra grabbed the remote, rewound the footage for a few seconds, and paused it. The scene froze with Juan brushing Shelia's hair aside, her smile bright as she raised her hand to straighten his tie.There it was, clear as day. Shelia was wearing the Nichols family's heirloom ring."What's
"Marion," Debra said suddenly, "the first time we met was at that auction, wasn't it?"Marion nodded. "Yes, it was.""Back then, you were deliberately bidding against me, just to get my attention, weren't you?""Yes."Marion chuckled, and Debra frowned playfully. "You're sneaky. Who taught you to catch a girl's attention that way?"With a quiet laugh, Marion admitted, "It was the only idea I could come up with at the time."Debra's voice dropped. "What if I hadn't shown up that night? Or what if I'd shown up looking a mess?"That auction was a pivotal moment. If she had tried to mimic Shelia's style in her last life and ended up a laughingstock, Marion might never have noticed her. He might have even thought she was ridiculous.Marion's gaze intensified. "It wouldn't have mattered. Whether you were dressed to impress or in a mess, as long as you showed up, I'd have known you were the one I wanted.""Sweet talker," Debra muttered.After all, in her previous life, their paths h
Debra gazed at the ring and nodded.Marion patted her head. "I'll take you back to work today.""Alright."For the past few days, the McKinney Group had been resting on Ben's capable shoulders. Debra wasn't sure how well he had managed, but she knew it must have been a challenge.Halfway through the journey, Debra opened her phone. While she was in Flesta, she gave Chace her new number. As expected, a message from him sent the previous night popped up as soon as her phone came to life.Edgar had pulled most of the funds out of the Odom Group, leading to a complete halt in their operations. If they couldn't restore things within three days, all partnerships would dissolve.Moreover, rumors were spreading like wildfire, damaging the public's perception of the company and causing its stock to plummet. It also triggered a wave of broken contracts from major partners. Bankruptcy loomed ominously on the horizon.Debra's lips curled slightly. It seemed they had this under control.To
Debra's voice dropped to an icy calm. "I can tell that. I entrusted the company to you because I believed in you. Now, I find it in disarray. I need a reasonable explanation."The elevator hummed to a stop, and the doors slid open to reveal the third floor. Debra's brow furrowed."Why are we stopping here?""Madam, it's not convenient to talk here. Let's head to my office first."The apprehension in Ben's expression sent a chill down Debra's spine. While no one was around, he added, "Your office has been occupied by the new GM."Debra let out a laugh, sharp and frustrated. "New GM? Who authorized a new GM? I'm the owner of this company. Nothing happens here without my say-so."Ben sighed heavily. "It was Mr. Nichols.""Juan?""Yes, Madam.""And where does he get the authority?""While you were away, the company came under attack from the Nichols Group. At first, Michael was caught in a scandal and couldn't extricate himself. Then, he got into a fight and was arrested. He's st
Debra's voice was steady, but her eyes held a storm as she asked, "So, my office is currently being used by Shelia, right?"Ben shifted uncomfortably, avoiding her gaze. "Yes."He understood Debra had been planning to step away from the Nichols Group, but Juan's betrayal had changed everything."Where is she now?""Upstairs. The employees are all opportunists, but please don't get angry, madam. Right now, the most important thing is figuring out how to remove the Nichols family from the equation, and then there's Michael...""I'll get him out. And how is the situation with the Odom family?""Edgar still thinks he can take down Oscar. He's been investing heavily since this morning. But don't worry; our PR team has been working nonstop. We prepared ahead of time, so the negative news about Oscar is being minimized.""I see. I'll leave this to you for now. Officially, I'm still in a resigned status, so don't let anything slip.""Understood."Planning to leave, Debra opened the do
Debra chuckled to herself.It appeared Shelia hadn't changed after all. She was still as arrogant as before.People like her, who flaunted their rise, usually had the hardest falls.In the underground parking lot, Marion had just stepped out of his car. He popped a lollipop into his mouth when a pair of hands covered his eyes from behind."Quit messing around.""How did you know it was me?"Marion grabbed her hand, a smirk playing on his lips."Even with my eyes closed, I know it's you.""I heard you never let anyone sneak up on you from behind.""That's true.""I've got some bad news."Debra turned serious, recounting everything that Ben had just shared with her, watching as a deep frown formed on Marion's face.She reached out, smoothing his furrowed brow with her thumb."What's with the face? I'm not even that upset, but you seem more worried than I am.""It's my fault. I thought Ben and Michael could handle it."Debra linked her arm with his, offering a reassuring sm
Suddenly, Debra remembered something Drake had told her the other day."What would a rich lady like you understand? You value pride over survival. But for small-timers like them? Pride means nothing. Staying alive is all that matters."She frowned. "Theda was abandoned in the countryside when she was little and lived a tough life for over ten years, right?""Exactly.""Then how could she not understand how hard it is for small-timers to survive?"Just then, Theda and Melody took the stage. The purple satin gown on Theda seemed a bit too bold for the occasion.She started, "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for attending the cooperation banquet between the Buchan Group and the Nichols Group. It also marks my new journey as the new president of the Nichols Group. I will lead the company toward an even brighter future."Her speech shocked everyone in the hall.After all, Juan hadn't made an appearance in days. Even if he were stepping down, he should have faced and addressed the
As Erica, Randy, Marion, and Debra entered the banquet hall, they immediately drew everyone's attention. Many people approached them to say hello.Liza tugged at Garland's arm, looking displeased. "These people are shallow. Doesn't anyone recognize us?"As the daughter of the Eaton family, she was usually surrounded by flattering people. But in Seamar City, she was reduced to second fiddle."Calm down. At our place, Debra was treated the same way. It's just home-court advantage," Garland soothed her.Liza pouted. "True. But I should get the respect I deserve. Just open a branch here and make it better than the McKinney Group."Garland smiled wryly. 'That's a fool' talk. The McKinney Group is backed by the Four Great Families. Any one of them is no small matter. It will take our entire family to compete with them.'"I'll try," he said, glancing at "Just work harder," Liza muttered, glancing at Theda, who was walking toward Debra.Theda wore a polite smile, but there was undenia
Even though Liza didn't fully grasp the tangled web of rivalries among elite families in Seamar City, she knew that Theda had been targeting Debra relentlessly.The impromptu trip overseas was all thanks to Theda.Debra stepped forward and took the invitation. "Since they have struck a deal, we might as well see what this is about."By evening, the Royal Hotel was buzzing with activity.Everyone was aware of the Buchan Group's rise in Seamar City. On top of that, the rumors about Theda taking over the Nichols Group were everywhere.Even though the Buchan Group had suffered a setback with Lester's recent scandal, the problems would be nothing if they secured a partnership with the Nichols Group.Erica stepped out of the car, her eyes taking in the extravagant scene outside the hotel.She clicked her tongue. "Wow. Theda knows how to put on a show. I've never seen a banquet this fancy here before."Seamar City didn't have many hotels of this caliber, and few people had the clout t
As Debra and Marion were chatting up ahead, Garland squeezed his way out of the crowd.It was his first time experiencing such fan enthusiasm, and he couldn't handle it. "No, I'm not your idol, just a passerby."But no matter how hard he tried to explain, the fans weren't letting him go.Garland was cute and sunny. Anyone would assume he was a celebrity.Erica and Randy were having an even worse time. Erica's mature, confident vibe attracted a lot of male fans, while Randy's handsome face and playboy look did their part in attracting attention.It took the entourage a full 20 minutes to leave the airport."My God, I've never seen anything like this. These female fans are crazy," Garland muttered, wiping the lipstick off his face."The male fans are no better. They called me Wifey.""They called you what?" Randy got worked up. "Which bastard did that?""Get lost. Stop hovering around me," Erica grumbled, pushing him away.With so many people crowding the airport, Randy had bee
Robert glanced at everyone in the room and turned to leave.For three straight days, Lester was frozen out, while operations continued as usual.Far away on a beach, Debra took off her sunglasses and stood up from her lounge chair.Garland, who had been playing on the sand, looked up and asked, "Are you heading back already?""Yeah, it's time to go." Debra casually tossed her sunglasses aside.In the distance, Marion pulled up in a car. He walked over to Debra, draped a jacket over her shoulders, and said, "I've booked the tickets. Mrs. Houston, your vacation's over.""Are you going back to Seamar City? Wonderful!" Garland jumped up for joy.He'd been stuck here, dealing with all the expenses while the artists and staff lived it up.Finally, he could go back and continue to slack off at the Potter Mansion.Debra scanned the staff, who were still goofing around. "Guys, it's time to head back. There's a ton of work waiting for us. Let's get back on track and stay focused."The
Robert watched Lester leave. "Ma'am, should I stop him?""Let him go," Theda said, leaning back in her swivel chair and closing her eyes. "The penalty fees alone are more than he can afford. He'll have no choice but to come crawling back."She hadn't expected Lester to mess up at such a critical time. Back then, he had promised her that he would rise to the top of the industry. But now, just as things were getting started, he caved under pressure."What's the plan now?" Robert asked."There are plenty of other artists," Theda replied, stretching her arms. "Split Lester's resources among them. If he doesn't want wealth, there are plenty of others who do."She stood up and added, "I'm feeling a bit tired. Go tell them to get ready for an all-out fight. If they pull this off, I'll make sure they're well rewarded.""Understood." Robert left the office and headed to the lounge.Inside, a group of exhausted artists slumped over the tables. When Robert walked in, one of them asked eage
Randy was amazed. "It hasn't even been a few days. Debra's plan works fast.""It's a mind game. They were nobodies, and in less than a month, they rose to stardom. Naturally, their egos are inflated. With all that pressure, it's no surprise they'd lose control of their emotions," Debra explained, hooking her arm around Marion's and leaning her head on his shoulder. "Marion taught me all this. Pretty impressive, right?"Both Erica and Randy were speechless.Garland came downstairs and greeted them. "What's the occasion today? You've prepared so much food."Erica replied, "We're celebrating our first victory. Buchan Group is going down.""Really?" Garland raised an eyebrow.Debra smiled, "It's just the start. There's more fun ahead."Far away at the Buchan Group Headquarters, Robert reported, "Today, the 17th advertiser has pulled out. Even the previous endorsers are terminating their contracts with Lester. We can afford the penalties, but it means all the money we made before is
Marion leaned down to kiss Debra. Suddenly, the bedroom door burst open, taking them aback.They turned to see Randy standing in the doorway.Realizing what he'd walked in on, Randy awkwardly cleared his throat and glanced upward. "Weird, huh? Where'd everyone go in the middle of the day? Guess I'll check downstairs."Before leaving, he added, "Oh, by the way, top trending news. Buchan Entertainment's A-lister Lester Ashford just assaulted a fan."Debra immediately grabbed her phone. Sure enough, the top trending topic was #LesterHitsFan, and the story had gone viral across the internet.She tapped into the headline and saw a video shot by a fan.In the video, fans greeted Lester at the airport as he got off the plane. A group of female fans held banners and chanted, "Lester, we love you."The airport wasn't overcrowded, and everything seemed orderly.But as soon as Lester heard the chant, he smashed his water bottle to the ground and yelled, "Idiots! Does no one want you at ho
Liza grinned cheekily, "My allowance has gone up every year, but don't lose heart. I'll tell Dad to raise your allowance too."She looked at Garland's sullen face and patted his shoulder. "Cheer up. I'm off shopping."She leisurely hummed a song and skipped away.Far away in Seamar City, Robert was reporting his duties to Theda."These past few days, most of the McKinney Group's clients have jumped ship and joined us. Now that their artists are on hiatus, we can grab their endorsement deals. Within a month, we'll swallow up all the resources they're holding onto," he said."Is Debra doing nothing about this?" Theda asked."She did," Robert replied. "Michael has been working around the clock. Debra's trying to use him to salvage the situation. But it's not working.""Michael may be their ace, and Debra's relying on him to secure only luxury brand endorsements. But if she doesn't care about the smaller deals, we'll take them," Theda said, tapping her chin. "Without clients or reso