The legendary treasure of Seamar City had been held tightly by the Four Great Families. Few knew about it, and after a century, most people had stopped searching for it.If they could obtain it, they could rebuild not just one Frazier family, but a hundred. "Okay. If you can help me take down Marion and obtain the treasure, I'll help you rebuild the Frazier family. You'll once again be the young lady," Drake said."Deal!" Debra extended her hand, and as their fingers touched, the deal was sealed."Alright, I'll go back and wait for your next instructions," she said.After she left, Kale muttered, "Boss, can we trust her?""A fallen heiress relying on men to survive? It's only natural she wants to reclaim her former glory.""But if she knows about the treasure, why hasn't she tried to find it herself?""The Frazier family is only one of the Four Great Families, not the leader. What she knows is far from enough to find the treasure.""Then why are you...""It's better than not
Just as Yvonne prepared to ignite the car, a pair of headlights suddenly pierced the darkness.The bodyguard rushed forward to protect her. "Miss, someone's coming. We need to leave now."Yvonne's fury blazed as fiercely as the fire she intended to set. "Step aside. I'm going to kill her.""Miss, you can't take the risk and expose yourself. That's Mr. Sharp's order," insisted the bodyguards.Yvonne shot a glare at Debra and hurled the lighter toward her target.In an instant, flames erupted at the front of the vehicle, crackling hungrily as they spread. The bodyguards swiftly dragged Yvonne back into their car and drove away.Debra coughed violently, the thick smoke clawing at her lungs. Distantly, she heard the frantic voices of William and Marion."Debra!""Marion! Watch out! There's a fire ahead!"When she finally managed to blink through the smoke, she saw Marion outside, pounding furiously on the glass."Marion..." she croaked, reaching weakly for the door, but it was ja
Debra saw his desperation and cupped his face. "Marion, listen to me. You and William need to head back to Seamar City, get everything in order, and then come back to me. I know you can do it. Drake and I have reached an agreement. He trusts me now. I'll be alright.""You want me to leave you here alone?" Marion asked, disbelief etched on his face."William is right," Debra insisted. "If you take me now, we won't make it. And I'll lose all the trust I've built with Drake. I've already uncovered part of his gray market operations. You need to go quickly. I'll wait for you to rescue me."Marion was reluctant, and she turned to William. "Take him away. Return to Seamar City, set everything up, and then come get me."William saw her determination and tugged at Marion's arm. "Marion, just listen to her and go with me. Do you want her blood on your hands?"Marion finally let go of her. "Three days. I'll come back in three days.""Alright, I'll wait for you," Debra replied, her heart ac
The director wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, terrified of Drake's wrath.Over half of the hospital's funding came from the Lowe family, and with just a single word from Drake, the director's career could be in jeopardy.Inside the hospital room, Debra stirred back to consciousness. She half-sat on the bed, her body bruised and battered.Drake stormed in, startling the nurse inside. "The patient is resting. You can't just...""Get out!" Drake growled.The director, standing in Drake's shadow, quickly waved the nurse away. "Hurry, leave."Recognizing Drake, the nurse turned pale and hurriedly exited the room.Debra, frustration mingling with her weak voice, said, "I'm lying here in this condition. Can't you give me a moment of peace?""You need to explain what happened today.""What? I almost died. If you want answers, go ask Miss Sharp.""You're saying Yvonne did this?""She had someone crash into our car and pour gasoline on it. If it weren't for a passing vehicle, I
It seemed inevitable that Debra would be left alone with Kale.Before long, Kale entered the room, his demeanor as unyielding as ever."Mr. Lowe has asked me to take you home.""I know."With a sigh, Debra threw off the blanket and struggled to get out of bed. Kale, however, made no move to assist her, merely standing by like a heartless automaton.Debra inhaled sharply as pain shot through her. A nurse passing by rushed over to help. "Are you her family? How can you just stand there and watch your wife in pain without offering a hand?"Kale frowned, annoyance flickering in his eyes.Debra explained, "He's not my husband, but just a friend.""Even so, he shouldn't just stand by. He should be helping," the nurse insisted, placing Debra's arm in Kale's.When he tried to pull away, the nurse firmly said, "This patient is injured. You need to support her properly while she walks. If her wound tears open, she'll need another round of treatment.""Thank you. He'll take good care of
"I can't just stand by and watch a threat like you lurking around Mr. Lowe," Kale muttered.Just as he prepared to strike, Debra suddenly halted her retreat.Taking a steadying breath, she called out, "Drake, if you've had your fun, come out."Kale frowned, and Drake emerged from the shadows of a nearby tree. "Kale, stop scaring her."Kale's frustration was palpable, but with Drake's order hanging in the air, he reluctantly acquiesced.Debra shot a challenging look at Drake. "Is it fun?""Kale doesn't trust you, so he wanted to test you. I assumed you wouldn't mind.""I mind, actually," Debra retorted, narrowing her eyes at Kale. "How do I know your loyal subordinate wouldn't just decide to eliminate me right here?"If it weren't for Drake's earlier assurance in the hospital that Kale wouldn't harm her without his orders, she might have feared for her life.But thankfully, this time was merely a test.Drake gestured toward the lake. "I'm going to develop this land. I'm curiou
Debra didn't believe that lie even for a second.She didn't forget how he had disposed of Peter on the ship.But on the surface, she nodded in agreement. "We share the same goal. I'm not greedy. Once this is all over, I simply want to restore the Frazier family's name and status. That alone will suffice. As for everything here, naturally, it's all yours. I won't covet any of it.""Not covet anything? Do you have any idea how much this project will bring monthly?" Drake asked, a glimmer of amusement dancing in his eyes.It was likely the first time he had encountered someone faced with a mountain of wealth who claimed to be satisfied with mere scraps."Alright, since you're injured and not thinking straight, I'll pretend I didn't hear that nonsense. I brought you here not just to put Kale at ease, but also to make sure you understand that Orkgate is under my thumb. Partnering with me is the best decision you've ever made.""I understand.""Good. Get in the car.""Where are you t
Just as Debra was wondering how Drake was going to confront Yvonne, he simply booted the door open.The moans inside stopped immediately.'Doesn't Yvonne dislike Drake?' Debra thought, bewildered. 'How could she be so affectionate with another man in broad daylight?'Positioned at the threshold, Debra vaguely saw a large, rotund figure.Yvonne was a top beauty here in Orkgate, but her taste in men didn't match her appearance.Yvonne was startled by the noise, and the man above her scrambled to get off the bed. He fled without even pulling up his pants.Yvonne's face turned an ashen shade. She hastily threw on a revealing nightgown and barked at the maids outside the door, "Why didn't you inform me about Mr. Lowe's arrival? Is this how you do your job?"The maids trembled in fear."Drake, I was just..." Before Yvonne could finish, Drake's hand closed around her throat, a vice grip that stole her breath away."You're so bold.""I can explain."She tried to clarify the situat
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
Debra's heart sank.Back when she'd teamed up with Michael, she had nothing, offering him Frazier Entertainment shares to seal the deal. Later, Frazier Entertainment merged into the McKinney Group, and she handed it off to him.To keep her identity hidden, she'd tossed him more shares. With Frazier Entertainment, he'd racked up 30%.She'd thought he deserved it. For two years, he'd run the show plenty. She'd never seen this coming."Madam, you there?" Ben's voice shook.This was huge and should stay quiet. Otherwise, the company would fall into chaos.Debra's blood ran cold. She hadn't expected Michael to go so far."I'll be there soon," she said, hanging up.She turned to Marion. "Michael scooped up loose shares. He's gunning for a vote as top shareholder."Over 40% wasn't half, but it made him the biggest player. Calling a vote was his right.Debra only had 40%. If 10% of the rest sided with Michael, he could oust her."Don't sweat it," Marion said. "We'll hit it together.
That shut everyone up.If Jordan was right, Drake was gambling with his neck."That's too risky. I've gotta drag him back." Debra spun to leave.Erica grabbed her. "Jordan's guys are on it. They'll ping us if they find him. You can't go out like this and become their target.""I'm not their focus anymore," Debra said. "They'll zero in on Drake."She looked at Marion. "Get your people searching. We need his trail fast, or he's dead."Once the Illuminati squeezed the stone's location out of Drake, they'd kill him.Orkgate was now controlled by Lara. Drake had no other value for them."On it," Marion said.They split up. Erica and Randy tapped their networks."Debra, don't freak," Jordan said. "Drake is not dumb. Injured like that, he couldn't have gone far. As long as he keeps that secret, they won't kill him."Debra nodded. "Hope he doesn't do anything stupid."She should've seen it coming. A proud guy like Drake couldn't handle being down for so long.His injuries were bru
Outside their room, Drake froze mid-knock.His head was down, and his expression was hidden. Eventually, his hand dropped, and he sighed.He turned around and shuffled downstairs, leaning on the wall. He was a broken mess now, unwilling to drag them down....Debra woke up the next morning, reaching for Marion.He wasn't there. She bolted upright, threw off the covers, and ran barefoot downstairs, shouting, "Marion?"In the hall, Marion and Jordan turned as she stumbled in, still in her pajamas.Marion rushed up, slipping off his slippers for her. "What's with the panic?""I didn't see you." She heaved a sigh of relief. "Thought you'd...""Any luck?" Jordan asked Kale, who'd just walked in.Kale shook his head. "Not yet.""What's up?" Debra asked, clocking everyone's grim faces."Drake's gone," Marion said. "No note, nothing. We're looking.""Did the cameras catch anything? Could it be the Illuminati...""Not them. He walked out himself.""Why the hell would he just up a
Debra jolted awake from a nightmare, her forehead slick with sweat."Still torn up about Michael?" Marion's voice came from beside her.She settled into his arms, finally feeling a little relieved. These past two months, they'd faced everything alone. She hadn't curled up with him like this in forever."It's my fault," she whispered. "If I hadn't trusted Michael so much, the Eaton family wouldn't have been a mess. Mr. Eaton Sr. wouldn't have been in the hospital.""It's your fault," Marion said, patting her back. "Even without your trust, the Illuminati would've found a way in. That was their goal.""I just can't wrap my head around why Michael's one of them," she said.She'd spent all night recalling the past, from meeting Michael to building the McKinney Group with him. He was key to its success, but everything had been a lie."Maybe he was never with us," Marion said. "The Illuminati's everywhere. Didn't you check his background when you teamed up?""I..." Debra faltered.S