Debra nodded and led the way back to her room, Lara trailing closely behind. As they reached the door, Debra suddenly yanked Lara inside, catching her off guard."Ms. Frazier, what are you doing?" Lara stammered."I need to talk to you about this dress," Debra said, cutting straight to the chase.Lara's façade dropped, her expression turning serious. "Ms. Frazier, I have to warn you. This dress belongs to Miss Sharp. If she finds out you wore it, you won't like the consequences."Debra was skeptical. "It's just a dress. Surely, she wouldn't go that far over something so trivial, would she?""With Miss Sharp, you can never be sure," Lara replied, her tone grave. "Her belongings are off-limits to everyone, whether it's clothing or people."Debra's eyes sharpened as she began to realize that Lara wasn't just another naive maid. Surviving this long in Drake's cutthroat world required a certain savvy."Drake didn't kill me because you covered for me, right?" Debra probed.She had ta
Ava caught a glimpse of Harland's warning glare and clapped a hand over her mouth. "It's nothing, Miss Sharp. I was just joking with Harland."Her dramatic act didn't sit well with Harland, whose face darkened instantly.Yvonne fixed him with a glacial stare and snapped, "Who permitted anyone to touch my piano? Harland, are you trying to lose your job?""Miss Sharp, this has nothing to do with me. It was the new pianist who didn't know the rules. I've already reprimanded her," Harland stammered.Before he could finish, Ava interjected, "Yeah, Miss Sharp, don't blame Mr. Bruce. The new pianist was brought in by Mr. Lowe. Mr. Bruce was just following orders."Yvonne's expression darkened further. "Drake brought her over?" Harland could feel the weight of her gaze.Sensing an opportunity, Ava stepped closer to Yvonne and whispered conspiratorially, "Miss Sharp, that new pianist is nothing but a vixen. She insisted on playing your piano. That was a sheer provocation to you."Just
"Yes, Miss Sharp," the chauffeur replied, deftly steering the car toward the Lowe Mansion.Kale came out into the courtyard, his face taut as he spotted Yvonne stepping out of the car.He said, "Mr. Lowe is resting. This might not be the best time for a visit, Miss Sharp."Yvonne cast a pointed glance at the mansion, its windows flickering with light, and arched an eyebrow. "Is he really resting, or is he inside with another woman?"Kale frowned. "Miss Sharp, you're overstepping."With a smirk playing on her lips, Yvonne replied, "The Sharp and Lowe families share a long history. I was just joking."Turning to her chauffeur, she ordered, "Take the car back and tell my dad that I'll be staying here.""Yes, Miss Sharp," her driver responded, leaving Kale more apprehensive than before."Miss Sharp, I don't think this is appropriate," he said."What's inappropriate about it? I'm going to be living here eventually," she said nonchalantly.She was ready to get in, but Kale blocked
Yvonne emerged slowly from the bathroom, her long, pale legs moving with a deliberate grace.She was draped in nothing but a thin, black lace nightgown, the damp strands of her hair clinging to her skin. Every step she took seemed calculated to seduce, and the sly smile tugging at her lips only heightened her allure.The door swung open, and Drake stepped inside. Yvonne moved instantly, throwing her arms around his neck."Drake," she purred, her voice honeyed and soft, "have you missed me these days?"He pried her arms off his neck, his chilling indifference making the smile on her face freeze.Drake went to the sofa and asked, "What brings you here?""I missed you," Yvonne cooed, striding closer. "Is that so wrong? I heard you've hired a new pianist."Drake leaned back, casually reaching out to twirl a damp lock of Yvonne's hair between his fingers. "So what, are you jealous?"Yvonne's lips tightened in displeasure. "I've already had someone smash the piano. You know I don't l
"She left this morning," Drake replied with a smirk. "What, are you scared?""Of course, I am!" Debra whispered. "If Miss Sharp finds out, you'll be in trouble.""Trouble? You're the one in trouble here," Drake said dryly, giving her a pointed look."Am I wrong?" Debra crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes. "Is Miss Sharp more beautiful than me?"Drake's gaze swept over her, appraising. "Your waist is slimmer, and your face is more delicate. But you're more cunning.""Thank you for the compliment," she said."It wasn't a compliment," Drake replied, turning away. "You have five minutes. Be downstairs and in the car."Debra sighed and hurried to follow. Kale, waiting by the door, shot Drake a glance."Boss, didn't you promise Miss Sharp that you'd let Debra go?""I was just saying that to keep her happy. You take it seriously?"It was a tactic to soothe Yvonne's jealousy. He would never give up a useful pawn like Debra for that."I understand."Debra overheard their conversati
"Wait! I'll pick," Debra said quickly.It wasn't often she could get Drake to open his wallet, and she had no intention of letting the opportunity slip by.She moved carefully between the rows of pianos. Drake, lounging on the sofa, watched her intently, a faint smile tugging at his lips.Debra paused at one, her hands feeling its surface, and tested the keys. "I'd like this one."The manager, who had been lingering at a respectful distance, immediately stepped forward. "Good choice, Miss. This is our finest model, flown in directly from Phoria. The craftsmanship is exquisite, designed with the utmost precision.""Good. I'll take it," Debra beamed, turning to Drake. "Mr. Lowe?"Drake didn't even bat an eyelid. "Send it to the casino tonight.""Of course, Mr. Lowe," the manager replied smoothly.Drake rose from his seat and instructed Kale, "Pay the bill, and let's go.""Yes, boss," Kale replied, his efficiency almost robotic as he handled the transaction.Drake suddenly pause
Yvonne raised an eyebrow and walked over to Drake's side. "What a small world! Are you here to try on clothes, too?"The saleswoman jumped in quickly, sensing the tension. "Yes, Mr. Lowe is here to try on a suit he ordered."From the fitting room, Debra pricked her ears to listen.Yvonne's eyes swept toward the fitting room. "Why didn't you go change? Are you waiting for someone?""What do you think?" Drake smirked, his arm snaking around her waist.She fell on his chest, her cheeks reddening. "Not here in the public.""You stalked me," he said."No, I came to order some new dresses. I can't stand anyone wearing my clothes." She paused, throwing her arms around his neck. "Did you take care of that pianist?""I did.""Good. You will pay for my new clothes, right?""Pick whatever you like. I'll cover all expenses.""Aren't you so sweet?"As she turned to browse, her gaze landed on a mannequin. "Where's the dress that was here?"The saleswoman stammered, "It hasn't been displ
The tunnel pulsed with an eerie crimson glow, casting sinister shadows that danced along the walls.Suddenly, a hand clamped down over Debra's mouth and nose. Panic shot through her, but she instantly recognized the sharp, medicinal scent. It was the same drug Drake had used on her back in Seamar City.She held her breath and went limp, letting her body collapse like a rag doll. As she fell, she pinched her thigh brutally, using the pain to keep herself teetering on the edge of consciousness.She bet many secrets were hidden in this place. It was her chance to find out. Before she could think further, she felt herself being hoisted over a shoulder and carried down the passage. The soft hum of machinery vibrated through the air, and moments later, she was lowered onto a small, concealed vehicle.After a short trip, she was carried into an elevator that then paused with a chime. Soon, a familiar voice wafted into her ears."Careful! Don't bruise her," Harland grumbled. "Who told y
For a moment, the castle fell silent after the gunshot. Then, more shots rang out, each one chipping away at the crowd's composure.A man, trembling, slowly raised his hands and stood up. "I'm a member of the Illuminati."Others scrambled to follow. "Me too."Within moments, nearly 70 to 80 percent of the people in the room were on their feet.The ones who stayed seated were mostly the "merchandise"—people the Illuminati had prepared. They quickly stood as well."Mr. Houston, have mercy," one of them begged. "We were just hired. We don't even know who's in charge."The men and women, who had been laughing and flirting with the wealthy elites, were now shaking in fear.Barely covered, they huddled together, terrified that Marion would kill them.Marion leaned back in his chair, glancing at the crowd. "Words don't count. Prove it."His men raised their rifles, aiming at the heads of the so-called members."I have proof," said one of them, pulling out a badge. "Here. Look. This
The Illuminati lackeys, totaling 30, were all dead now.Their bodies lined up neatly in a row.Marion took off his mask and casually tossed it into the corner. The guests recognized him and froze in place.Everyone there had heard of his infamous name. But they never thought he'd be bold enough to do a massacre.One of his men placed a chair behind him, but Marion didn't sit. Instead, he slowly stepped forward and casually removed the mask of a plump man.He smirked, When he saw the man's face, Marion smiled in a way that was hard to describe. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Pearson.""M-Mr. Houston..." Harvey Pearson sweated nervously.Marion casually asked, "Does your wife know you're here?" "We're just here to have some fun, Mr. Houston. We haven't done anything to offend you. We wouldn't dare."Marion ignored him, turning to rip off more masks."Mr. Glenn, Mr. Stokes, Mr. Salazar..." he muttered, raising his hand.At the signal, his men removed the masks of the remaining guest
The moment the gunshot rang out, Debra felt a gust of wind rush past her ear, followed by a ringing in her ears. It felt like the whole world went silent.In the nick of time, Marion had appeared and twisted the guard's neck. Then the bullet missed its target.Marion was dressed in a suit and a black mask, like many others did. Still, Debra recognized him at a glance."Let's go," he urged.With the alarm set off, all the guards would be gathering on the second floor in less than two minutes.The two of them rushed downstairs and quickly blended in with the chaotic guests.Unfortunately, the exit had been shut, and guards were closing in on them from every direction.Debra, who had inhaled too much of the gas, was already delirious.Her mind was foggy, and her legs felt as though they were floating. She focused on Marion's hand gripping hers, and memories of someone else holding her hand flooded her mind.The memory was blurry, like a dream, and the figure of the young man in t
It was the symbol of the Illuminati.A man's voice echoed through the castle."Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Kingdom Come. Here, you can fulfill your every craving."The atmosphere in the room seemed to get even hotter because of it, but the voice rang a bell to Debra, whose cheeks were starting to burn.Back in Orkgate, the scent released by Drake's men wasn't this strong.The people around her seemed hypnotized. Many had abandoned their dignity and danced wildly in the ballroom.The gamblers were all in deep, their faces flushed with excitement. Meanwhile, the women on sale started using every trick they could to satisfy the buyers.The male pets were even openly draped around the rich women, their hands roaming all over their bodies.Debra felt sick just watching it from the corner. She looked around, trying to find Marion.Without success, she focused on tracing the source of that earlier voice. She looked up at the second floor, but there wasn't a single soul.She was
The bodyguards at the entrance were intimidating.When Debra handed over her invitation, she worried there might be fingerprint scans or facial recognition. That would make things tricky.But the guards barely glanced at it before waving her through. Debra was surprised by how smoothly things went.This castle was one of the top three landmarks overseas, and it had never been open to the public. During the day, it was a tourist attraction. But now, someone managed to host a private banquet right there.Once inside, she was faced with one more hurdle. Rows of scanners stood ahead, all meant to detect any restricted items.Debra was carrying no gun, but Marion had given her a Bluetooth earpiece to stay in contact.To minimize suspicion, they decided to enter separately. She would go in first, and he'd follow shortly after.She hesitated for a moment before taking off the earpiece and tossing it into a shadowed corner.Just as she stepped forward, someone in front of her triggered
When they entered the dream, the gems were real.Fermin had woken up faster than them and taken the gems. Then he must have found a way to hide them or hand them off to someone else.In other words, this whole thing was planned. "If that's the case, Mrs. Houston and the others are in danger," Barton said anxiously, realizing someone in their group was a traitor.The Illuminati couldn't have collected so many rare stones for nothing. There had to be a scheme."I need to think this through," Andrew muttered, pressing his forehead.Barton noticed his pale face and immediately stepped forward. "Sir, are you having another episode? William said you shouldn't stress yourself out. I'll get your medicine.""Come back," Andrew said. "I'm not taking any medicine right now.""It won't work, sir. The doctor warned you against thinking too much. That's why you left Seamar City to enjoy peace. Mrs. Houston has Mr. Houston looking out for her. You don't need to worry, sir."Andrew had thoug
Michael chuckled, "You probably won't believe this, but after I finished work, I found this thing right outside my door.""What?" Debra was shocked.Michael explained, "Since that night you asked me to keep an eye out, I reached out to a few international contacts. But I came up empty. Then, the very next day, this thing was sitting outside my door."Debra mused, "So, you think someone knew you were investigating, so they gave you a shortcut?""If that's the case, then the organization must be massive, and the entertainment industry could very well be their way of spreading their influence," Michael said.A lightbulb went off in Debra's head.At those banquets held by the Lowe family, most of the guests were from the entertainment industry. Whether they were once-famous stars or rising ones, these celebrities were typically the targets of wealthy businessmen.If the entertainment industry was being used to spread Illuminati teachings, then it wasn't the stars trapping the rich m
When the bathroom door opened, Debra was soaking in the bathtub.She asked awkwardly, "Uh, where's the towel?"It was her first time staying in that house, and she hadn't expected the towel not to be in the bathroom.Marion was relieved to see her fine. "I'll get it for you."He walked over to grab the towel, then entered the bathroom and draped it over her shoulders.Her cheeks looked rosy, maybe because of the heat in the bathroom.Worried about her injury, he gently lifted her out of the bathtub. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. Their breaths mixed as she was held close to him.His arms were robust, easily lifting her with no effort."Are you tired?""I-I am.""Then lie down and let me serve you."He kissed her forehead, but she tapped his shoulder. "Hey! I just finished my shower."It was getting dark. Marion ordered takeout, all of Debra's favorite dishes.Her body was sore all over. She didn't want to move, and Marion had to feed her.Leaning on t
"Marion, what are you doing?" Debra shot him a warning look.Marion shrank back."Alright. I'll call again when I get there," Michael said."Okay." Debra ended the call and looked up to see Marion's frustrated look."I'm hungry," she said, pecking him on the lips.Marion lost what little control he had left. He tilted her chin up, pressed a hand to the back of her neck, and kissed her deeply.It wasn't until they were both breathless that he finally pulled away."Let's go eat," he said.Debra glared at him, knowing he was doing that on purpose."Well, I'm not that hungry anymore," she said deliberately.Marion looked back and met her limpid eyes. His lips, slightly swollen from his kisses, were soft and inviting like ripe cherries."I am hungry, though." His voice was low, teasing.This time, his kisses were slow, lingering. His lips trailed down to her neck, and their breaths both quickened.Debra's silk nightgown slipped down to her waist, the lace straps of her undergar