The next day, Edgar waited in a café, his eyes repeatedly darting to his watch. He had been waiting for over an hour, his patience wearing thin. A waitress approached him, her eyes scanning him curiously.A waitress approached, asking, "Sir, would you like a refill on your coffee?"Her tone was polite, but her gaze betrayed a hint of judgment. Edgar was dressed impeccably, exuding an aura of success and wealth. His striking good looks made him stand out, and it was clear that the waitress was puzzled by his lingering presence over a single cup of coffee.Edgar noticed her scrutiny and realized his coffee had been finished.In the past, he wouldn't have batted an eye at ordering the most expensive items on the menu, but circumstances had changed. Now he was short of money."Yeah, please refill it," he sighed.The waitress raised an eyebrow, her disdain now obvious.Finally, Chace rushed into the café, and Edgar's irritation flared up."You're late. What took you so long? What's
Edgar rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. "Fine. If that's what it takes, I'll accept the loan."Chace sneered inwardly but kept his face neutral."Sir, the loan has strings attached.""What? Unbelievable!""There's always a catch.""What's the condition?""It's a personal loan from Tracy. He wants to make peace with you. In exchange for the loan, you can't go after Oscar anymore. Also, the interest rate will be higher than what we'd get from a bank. If you agree with these, he will lend you the money. If not..."Edgar didn't finish his words, believing Edgar had gotten the picture.Tracy was eager to end the feud between them, probably realizing that the Odom family wasn't easy to deal with. He was willing to meet Edgar halfway."Well, Tracy knows how to pick his battles. If the interest rate is a little higher, so be it. We'll bounce back quickly once we get things moving again."Chace stifled a laugh at Edgar's misplaced confidence. "You're absolutely right,
Caleb arranged for Debra to visit a high-end boutique for a custom-made dress, and Erica, as the maid of honor, volunteered to accompany her.Outside the boutique, several staff members had been waiting for a while. As soon as they saw Debra and Erica approaching, they quickly came forward to greet them."Mrs. Houston, Miss Mathis, this way, please."It was the first time Debra had been addressed as Mrs. Houston. Her face turned a faint shade of pink at the sound of it.Erica teased her, "Mrs. Houston... That really rolls off the tongue. After the engagement, you'll officially be my cousin-in-law, and we'll be family.""Knock it off," Debra protested, her embarrassment growing.Though it wasn't her first marriage, this was the first time she'd ever had an actual wedding.As they entered the boutique, Debra was momentarily overwhelmed by the rows upon rows of stunning dresses that lined the walls.Erica grumbled good-naturedly, "Wow, Caleb really went all out, huh? I've taken ca
Melody and Shelia stood close together, the picture of a doting grandmother and her beloved granddaughter.The sight of either of them was enough to disgust Erica, and now they had appeared together."What are they doing here?" she muttered with annoyance.The manager quickly explained, "I've heard that Mr. Nichols is also getting engaged. I presume they're here to select dresses."Erica frowned. "There are only so many high-end boutiques in Seamar City, and we just had to run into these two. Talk about bad luck."Debra shook her head. "Bad luck? I'd say they're here to stir up trouble."It didn't feel like a coincidence at all. Seamar City had plenty of boutiques, yet they had shown up at the same place and on the same day.It seemed more like Shelia had intentionally found out where Debra was going and brought Melody along for support.A staff member placed rows of dresses in front of Shelia. "Mr. Blair, these are our latest products. Feel free to take your pick."Shelia hel
"Well..." The staff member hesitated.The wedding gown and dress designed for Debra were not just any pieces. They were one-of-a-kind, custom-tailored specifically for her. The Houstons had even purchased the exclusive rights to the designs, ensuring their uniqueness.According to store policy, those gowns couldn't be sold to anyone else.Shelia grumbled, "Is there a problem?"The staff member replied, "Ms. Blair, this dress was custom-made for Mrs. Houston, specifically tailored to her measurements. I'm afraid it might not fit you properly. How about we have our designer create something just for you?"Shelia insisted, "But I want that design for my engagement dress. Either make me an identical one or make it better than what she's wearing."She shot Debra a smug, challenging look, and the staff members were caught in the middle.The tailor finished her job, putting away the measuring tape.Debra slipped back into her coat, her composure unshaken.Erica, however, was fuming.
Over the past few months, Shelia had immersed herself in the world of fashion, thanks to her time with the Blair family. She now had a decent grasp of fabrics, styles, and trends.When the staff member handed the chosen fabric to the manager, the latter asked, "What style did Mr. Blair choose?"The staff member replied, "She hasn't chosen a style yet, but we're about to show her some options."Debra glanced at the satin and said to the manager, "Didn't she say she liked the dress I'm wearing? Just show her my style."The manager hesitated. "But the gown you're wearing is a fishtail design. If we use the stiff silk satin she chose, it might not work well."Debra's gown was made from soft chiffon, which flowed beautifully and accentuated the fishtail shape. Shelia's satin, on the other hand, was stiff and not suited for such a delicate design."Well, that's what she requested," Debra said. "Maybe we think it won't look good, but who knows? She might think otherwise. Besides, the cu
"Why did you stop me from teaching Shelia a lesson?" Erica said, unable to contain her frustration.With Marion's influence in Seamar City, even if they had to face off against Juan, they wouldn't lose a step.It was clear to everyone present that Shelia had deliberately tried to outshine Debra."Did you notice the fabric she picked?""Satin?""And the style?""A mermaid dress."Erica paused, finally catching on.Shelia had picked the same style as Debra, but the fabric she chose was different.Erica mused, "And she wants to bedazzle the whole thing with rhinestones. My goodness! I can't even imagine what it'll look like."Debra grinned, "I need you to do me a favor. Talk to the designer and make sure they follow Shelia's instructions. I'll cover the cost."Erica gave her a thumbs up. "Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant."The engagement party was just three days away, and given the tight deadline, there would be no time to fix anything if Shelia's dress ended up a disaster. If
Debra scrolled through the comment thread beneath Marion's supposed alias.[Marion, use your main account.][Yeah.][The moment a Debra-Juan fan says anything, Mr. Houston's there to shut it down.]Debra liked Marion's comment and planned to exit the app when a video compilation caught her eye.It was a clip of her and Juan from their time on the island, meticulously edited to emphasize every small gesture between them.The captions painted a picture of intimacy and affection.[Whenever Juan looks at her, his eyes are full of love.][That hand he reached out? That was instinctive.][She's looking ahead, but he's only looking at her.]...Debra was dazed. She hadn't noticed these details during the livestream.But soon, Juan's cold face resurfaced in her mind.The last time they met, he was full of indifference. She wondered if he was pretending or revealing his true colors.With doubt in mind, she grabbed her phone and scrolled through her contacts, landing on Juan's name
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