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
Debra was stunned. "Geeze, what are you doing?"Drake had just shoved Yvonne down a flight of stairs in her own home. That would create a rift between the Sharp family and him.Down below, Yvonne lay crumpled on the floor. Her body was bruised, and a deep gash on her forehead was trickling blood.Just then, Conrad Sharp hurried inside with dense sweat on his forehead."Mr. Lowe, what happened here?""Yvonne was careless. She fell down the stairs."Conrad stiffened, eyeing the maids for confirmation, but they all bowed their heads.But instead of rushing over to help Yvonne, he urged the maids, "Take her to her room and call the doctor."The maids scrambled to action, lifting the unconscious Yvonne and carrying her away.From above the staircase, Drake looked down at Conrad."Keep her in check and prevent her from crossing the line again, or she won't be so lucky next time.""I understand. I'll see to it that she doesn't cause any more trouble for you.""Good."Drake turned
Under Randy's threat, Lara didn't dawdle. She swiped her fingerprint, and the infrared beams blinked out."My clearance only kills the lasers for three minutes," she said. "Taking me like this only slows you down. Let me go, and I swear I won't pull anything.""Three minutes? Then hustle," Randy snorted.She was full of schemes. Cutting her loose brought him nothing but danger. He would not fall for it.Lara kept her cool and led him toward the end of the hall.The place was futuristic, loaded with tech Randy had never even seen. Only people with the code could get in.Now that she had removed restrictions, it was now just another regular hallway.At the end stood a massive door. She spoke. "Our master is behind that. I can't go in, but I'll open it for you.""Do it quickly," he urged.She stepped to the side and used facial recognition. The door slid open, revealing a dark room.As he scoped it out, she broke free and tried to shove him in.Quick in reaction, he yanked her
As long as he twitched it a little, Lara would be dead.Randy growled, "Cut the crap. Try me again, and you're done."Lara didn't dare push it. She took a breath. "Okay. Follow me inside.""I know who your master is," he said. "Tell him to let Erica go, or the Osborne line ends with me."Her face shifted at that. He noticed. "What, you don't know who he is? Guess you're not that big a deal around here. So, quit stalling. Take me to him now. Touch me, and you don't live to see another day."Lara's composure crumbled.In the Illuminati, nobody knew the bishop's identity. She couldn't tell if Randy was bluffing or not.She had no choice but to lead him toward another entrance. Those goons didn't dare stop him. They just stepped aside.She took him deeper into the valley. The further in, the warier Randy got.The mist thickened, blotting out everything.At a rocky entrance, she used her fingerprint to unlock a hidden door in the mountain. It was mind-boggling that the Illuminati
Lara's face twisted. "No way he would say that. He wants the four families wiped out.""Take it up with him." Juan shrugged, heading out of the valley. "I'm not wasting my breath on you."Lara muttered in disbelief, "Our master wouldn't do that. This was our shot to take them down."Before she could piece it together, a guy rushed up. "Miss, something else showed up.""Who was it?" Lara snapped, annoyed.The four families only had Debra and Marion worth a damn to them."Looks like someone from the Osborne family.""Randy? What's that punk doing here?"Right then, a guy flew in from the mist, screaming as he hit the ground.Randy stepped out with a fierce expression. Lara barked for her crew to gear up.Everyone was puzzled, not expecting a wuss like Randy to be so good at fighting.He'd taken out every guard outside the valley solo, and not one alarm had been tripped. It meant he had memorized the layout, found the safest path, and dodged every trap.Lara sized him up serio
The Illuminati crew scattered into the mist.The leader stayed, pulling off his mask.Juan's brow creased hard. This was all he could do for them.Debra and Marion hauled out of the valley.Earlier when they were talking to that guy, she had clocked his limp. Plus, he had tapped his leg to drop hints.Through those details, she had figured out it was Juan.Juan had fed them a load of crap.Erica was inside. The bishop would show himself if they managed to find her. He would let them go if they could make a deal.It sounded reasonable but did not hold up.The Illuminati had an edge over them. If the bishop wanted to meet, he wouldn't need to snatch Erica. Even if he had her, it'd be to trade for the gemstone they held.He commanded, and they had to comply because they had zero leverage to negotiate. If they had no leverage, the bishop would not let them go.This was the tip-off dropped by Juan. Her business instinct enabled her to perceive it.Erica wasn't in the valley at a
It was afternoon already.Debra and Marion parked their car outside the valley.Looking at the sprawling terrain ahead, Debra couldn't shake the memory of trekking through it with Kale just days ago.Revisiting this place made her shiver."Your injury's still fresh," Marion said. "I can go alone."Debra shook her head. "We agreed on going together. Besides, I'm not here to fight. It will be fine."Marion ruffled her hair. "Alright, we're in this together."Enoch brought Erica here to lure them in. That much was clear.Now that they were here, they'd get her out.With night closing in, they quickly followed the route they'd mapped out and headed in.The map from Juan came in handy. In less than 30 minutes, they reached a clearing smack in the middle of four towering mountains.Mist hung light in the air, and the jagged peaks all around gave off a heavy, oppressive vibe.Through the fog, figures in black cloaks and white masks stepped out.Debra slid behind Marion, their han
Jordan signaled the guards at the door to stop Randy.But they didn't stand a chance. In three seconds flat, Randy laid them out.Jordan watched him vanish down the hall, dumbfounded. 'When did he get this good?'At the entrance, more guards tried to block Randy. He didn't slow down as he threw punches at them.Even with their number, they couldn't catch him.30 seconds later, Randy was in his car, peeling out toward the valley. Scenes from his childhood flashed across his mind."Leg up. Fist tight. Punch!" Caleb shouted.Erica eyed the wooden dummies in front of them and aimed for perfection.Randy's attention was all on her. He was not interested in these self-defense skills at all."Randy, focus!" Caleb whacked his arm with a cane. "Get real or go home."Randy couldn't care less. The truth was, he had already learned it all.At eight years old, his freakish athletic genes got him shipped off to a two-month boot camp. There, his raw talent made him untouchable in the junio
Lara came downstairs, smirking at Michael. "This time, even if you want to let them off, it won't happen."Michael was unfazed. "Don't say stuff that'll get twisted. I never plan to do that.""Oh, please. I know you better than that," Lara snorted. "Drop the act."Growing up, Michael had been given the best of everything.They were both in line to take over, but Michael got the bishop's favor from day one.Even if he didn't fight for it, he'd eclipse her. The bishop's partiality never failed to rattle her.She was a woman. True. But she was not any inferior to Michael.The partiality was unbelievable. This world's full of women outshining men.She was the one to help the bishop build something huge. The altar was only for her to ascend.She stepped up to Michael. "Wanna bet on what happens when Debra and Marion hit the valley? I can't wait to see Debra getting pierced by bullets. It would be so much fun."She observed Michael's expression, but there wasn't a crack."You done
The guard at the gate quickly stepped out of the booth. "Greetings, Mr. and Mrs. Houston. Unfortunately, Mr. Osborne isn't home.""We're not here for him," Marion said flat-out. "I want last night's security footage."The guard hesitated. "I'm sorry, but without Mr. Osborne saying so, I can't just hand it over.""Randy is lying in the hospital right now," Debra cut in. "Erica went missing from your place last night. If you don't cough up the tapes and something happens to her, can you take the heat?"The guard was shocked. "Mr. Randy Osborne in the hospital? And Miss Mathis is gone? I'll grab the footage. Hang on."He dashed to the security room. But when he pulled up the feed, the screen was pitch black."What's wrong? Is it busted?" Debra asked.The guard smacked the console a couple of times, and the picture flickered on. There was Enoch, stuffing a sack into his trunk and driving off.That explained why the cameras outside had only caught Enoch.Debra felt a chill run thro
A loud crash blasted through the phone, followed by screeching static.Debra's gut sank. "Randy's in trouble. Let's hurry."Jordan quickly rounded up a crew to track down Randy, while Debra and Marion bolted out of the house.That phone call screamed car wreck. Marion had Randy's location pinned fast, and an ambulance was already on its way."Don't panic. The ambulance is almost there," Debra reminded him, watching him push the speedometer.It was fine if it was just a regular crash. But if the Illuminati had set it up, the consequences were unimaginable. Enoch must have lost his mind to target his son.Debra and Marion had both lost their parents to car accidents. Marion would be devastated if he lost another person close to him."Quick! Get him out!"Thick smoke poured from the crash site. Debra's bad vibes grew.They jumped out and saw Jordan's people loading Randy onto a stretcher."How bad is it?" Debra ran up, desperate for details."Not too serious," Jordan replied. "