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
Debra quickly checked out the announcement from Juan. It was made by a new account named "Juan Studio".And there was only one post. [No speculations].Debra bolted upright from the couch and asked Ben, "Is this account real?""I had it checked. It's a certified account. So, yes, it's true."Besides, it was the kind of move Juan would make. He had always hated being dragged into any sort of drama, preferring to handle things swiftly and efficiently.But still, Debra couldn't help but think back to the time they had survived a life-and-death situation together on that island. She didn't understand why he was going against her like this now.Ben continued, "Everyone now believes we're creating hype, and your reputation has taken a hit. Your fans...""I understand," Debra said.The Debra-Juan shippers were now either turning into indifferent bystanders or haters. The damage to her reputation was becoming evident.Debra checked out those comments."Let it be. Don't worry about it
Business magnates, real estate tycoons, and A-list celebrities alike gathered, each vying for a coveted invitation.The streets were jammed with high-end cars, creating a traffic gridlock that made it nearly impossible to pass through.The Royal Grand Hotel and the Maple Hotel were competitors, to begin with. Now their rivalry extended even to their security teams and ushers.Each team was determined to outshine the other, their bespoke uniforms a testament to their competitive spirit. The underground parking lots had been expanded to accommodate the flood of guests.From a distance, passersby whispered among themselves."Both families are throwing engagement parties today. Attending either will land you offending the other.""I think the Nichols have the upper hand. They're the top dogs in Seamar City. Who would dare disrespect them?""I heard Mr. Houston Sr. spent over 100 million dollars on this engagement party.""What? 100 million?"No one had expected the Houstons to pul
Liza screamed in fear as she glanced in her rearview mirror. The car behind hers was barely a centimeter away from crashing into her own.She fumed, "Who the hell drives like that? Do you have any idea how much this car costs?"The other car was common, and she assumed the driver was some reckless, nouveau riche fool with no sense of road safety.But when the driver stepped out, her blood ran cold.Her face turned pale as she recognized Randy. She had heard of the Osborne family's influence, even when she was abroad. In fact, her visit to Seamar City this time was to build a good relationship with them.Randy's icy gaze swept over her. "Who said Debra doesn't have a family? The Osborne family stands behind her."Cathryn stepped forward, trying to smooth things over. "Mr. Osborne, you're joking. Debra and you aren't related by blood. How could you support her?"Randy retorted, "That's none of your concern. I will be the best man at her wedding. That makes me as good as her family
Debra sighed in relief, "The doctor said you need to stay here for observation. During that time, I'll take care of you."She paused and corrected herself, "I mean, we will take care of you.""Huh?" Marion was baffled.Before Debra could explain, a knock came from the door. A group of caregivers shuffled in, looking like they wanted to be anywhere else.The air was thick with awkwardness before one of them finally broke the silence. "Sir, we're caregivers assigned to look after you during your recovery.""Oh, caregivers?" Debra arched a brow. "Funny, though. You all look kind of familiar. Haven't we met before?""No, ma'am. We've never met. We're just ordinary workers here," they insisted.Debra stood up and walked toward them, narrowing her eyes. "You mean to tell me I don't recognize the men who are always hovering around Drake?"The men panicked, their façade crumbling. "Ma'am, we're just following orders. If we mess this up, we'll be punished. Please, don't blow our cover."
Kale shook his head, confused.Drake was even more convinced of his thoughts. 'Debra is biased because she loves Marion. She was just trying to whitewash his actions.'He thought over the whole event and huffed, "Why did she come to my place and cause a scene? It's not like I hurt Marion. She made it sound like I did it on purpose. It's infuriating.""Boss, they are newlyweds. She's bound to be protective," Kale explained. "This whole thing isn't really your fault. Robert is the one who used you to hurt Marion and drive a wedge between you two."Drake nodded but quickly caught himself. "Wait, what relationship do Marion and I have? Just shut up if you don't know what you're talking about.""Boss...""Go, get out of my sight.""Yes, boss.""Wait. Come back. Have someone keep an eye on the hospital. Let me know when Marion wakes up. I'm not taking the blame for something I didn't do.""Understood."Kale knew he was just putting on a tough act.All these years, Drake had talked
Drake shifted uncomfortably. "Are you interrogating me?""How could I?" Debra replied innocently. "But you know, the people I brought today were trained by Caleb. He hasn't left Orkgate yet, and knowing his temper, if he finds out Marion was hurt, he won't let you off.""Am I supposed to be afraid of him?" Drake snorted."That's why I'm trying to have a calm conversation with you," Debra said nonchalantly, resting her chin in her hand.Drake fidgeted, finally cracking. "Theda wants to work with me.""On what?""That's not important. I haven't agreed. I turned down Robert, and he said he wanted to meet Marion. You know, Marion threw him into the sea years ago. Robert wanted his revenge, and I just brought them together.""How did he even survive in the sea?""I've no idea. The world is full of surprises. Let's just say Robert had good luck.""Good luck?" Debra laughed. "That's an ocean. If you were thrown in, I doubt you'd survive. If Marion really wanted him dead, he would hav
"Oh, I don't have a habit of poisoning people," Debra said. "Those you just ate were poison-free. But I did add a bit of sleeping pills. You might sleep for eight or nine hours."She paused and added, "Oh, by then, you'll probably be shipped back to Seamar City in a container. I'll contact Ms. Buchan to pick you up. Hope everything goes well for you back there."She didn't mean a word of it. If Robert was sent back like this, Theda would be furious."You..." Robert tried to say something, but his eyelids grew heavy, and his vision blurred.The next second, he collapsed on the floor. Debra looked back at him and said, "Oh, I forgot to mention that besides the sleeping pill, I also added a bit of knockout drug. You'll sleep well and won't feel a thing on the way."Outside the hotel, a bodyguard opened the car door for her."Ma'am, are we going back to the hospital?""To the Lowe Mansion."...Drake was throwing darts in his study, feeling restless."Boss, Debra is here," Kale a
"Robert Fitchett," Robert confessed, swallowing his pride.Debra nodded. "Okay. Robert, were you working for Shawn, just like Marion and the others?""Wouldn't it be better if you asked him directly?""Why did you want to kill Marion?""You made it difficult for Theda.""Is that the reason?" Debra raised an eyebrow. "Well, you care about her so much."Robert looked away and said, "She is the best woman I've ever met.""I'm not interested in your love story. I need you to explain why you risked your life to try and kill Marion.""You don't know?" Robert sneered. "Marion has been thrashing the Buchan Group. He wanted to clear obstacles for you, and you're telling me you didn't know?"Debra frowned. "When did this happen?""Since the day you handed the share transfer papers to Theda," Robert explained. "The Buchan family has been getting crushed. Are you telling me you didn't know Marion was after the shares? If Theda didn't hand them over, he would've hit her family hard. Her s
Debra booted open the door to the hotel room and stepped in with several bodyguards.Robert had been handcuffed and was tied to a chair. The blood was oozing from his injury which was inflicted on him by Erica.A guard went over and applied a basic bandage to him. Debra walked over and pressed her finger onto his wound.Sweat instantly broke out on Robert's face, and his lips lost all color."I'm not a complicated person. The only thing I'm good at is protecting my own," Debra said coldly. "Marion is in the operating room right now, fighting for his life. I'm going to make you feel the same pain he's going through."She signaled for the cart to be pushed over. The breakfast Robert had sent to them earlier was now laid out.Debra picked up a cup of coffee, walked over to him, and pinched his nose. She poured the entire cup into his mouth in one go.Robert's shirt was soaked, his whole appearance a mess. Yet he remained expressionless, as if he was incapable of feeling anything.
The bodyguards grabbed Robert, who had been stabbed in the lower abdomen.Erica intended to hit him again, but Debra quickly shouted, "Randy, call an ambulance.""On it." Randy dialed the emergency number right away.Debra glanced at Drake, who looked troubled. "Marion got injured at your place. I demand an explanation."Drake knew she misunderstood, but he was unwilling to bow his head. "I've always wanted to kill Marion. I did this. Come for an explanation anytime you want.""Boss..." Kale tried to intervene."Shut up!" Drake snapped. "You can take Marion away. We'll settle this score another day."He turned and left with Kale.Debra didn't have time to deal with Drake. She looked down at the unconscious Marion, feeling anxious. This was the first time she had seen him so badly injured.Outside, Kale couldn't help but ask, "Boss, this has nothing to do with you. Why did you take the blame?""She already thinks I'm involved," Drake replied. "It doesn't matter if I admit it o
Marion glanced at his trembling arm, wracked with pain. The blood trickling from his wound had turned black."Marion, tell your woman to behave herself," Robert said, his tone eerily calm. "If she keeps going against Theda, I'll kill her."The poison began to paralyze Marion's nerves."Or," Robert continued, "I could deal with you now, then take care of her and her friends. It'd save me a lot of trouble."Marion's eyes darkened. He tried to push himself off the ground, but the venom coursing through him forced a mouthful of blood to spill from his lips.Robert strode toward him, the blade in his hand glinting coldly."Hold it!" Drake called out. "You told me you wanted to talk to Marion. I gave you the chance. But killing him here? That's a mess I don't need.""That's your problem," Robert replied flatly. "I'm here to kill, not worry about your headaches."He glanced down at Marion, who was barely holding himself up. "Don't worry. Your friends and your woman will be joining you
Debra didn't understand why Andrew gave her such valuable gifts. They were too much as wedding gifts.The next morning, they were sprawled out on the bed in different positions. Garland and Randy were sound asleep on the nearby sofa.The first light of dawn shone on Debra's eyes. She woke up groggily and saw the bed covered in opened gifts. Erica and Liza were lying next to her.She remembered that they had spent the night opening gifts and eventually fell asleep from exhaustion."Marion?" She looked around but only saw Marion's jacket draped over her.An attendant knocked on the door, the noise waking up the others in the room.Randy jumped up from the sofa. "I'm done opening gifts. No more."Erica rubbed her eyes and got up from the bed. "What are you shouting for early in the morning?"Debra spoke toward the door. "Come in."The attendant entered, followed by a staff member pushing a food cart."Madam, we're bringing you breakfast per Mr. Houston's orders.""Breakfast? Wh