"What happened?" Drake's brow furrowed as he stood up.Edgar's eyes widened. "Ms. Frazier? You mean Debra, Marion's runaway fiancée?"Drake paused. "You know her?""More than that," Edgar said, his expression darkening.Debra had vanished during her engagement party. Some said she ran off with another man, while others said she still pined for Juan.The entire Seamar City was buzzing with gossip about Debra’s sudden disappearance. But Edgar never imagined Debra would be with Drake.Drake turned to leave, disinterested in the gossip. Edgar quickly stopped him. "Mr. Lowe, about the loan...""We'll discuss it another day. Butler, see the guest off," Drake said, leaving Edgar gaping like a fish out of water.Edgar's face darkened as reality sank in. Debra fainted at the worst possible moment. He couldn't help but suspect she did it on purpose.But with Drake's dismissal, he had no choice but to leave in frustration.Upstairs, Debra lay on the bed, looking as pale as the sheets sh
"Oh? Go on," Drake said, his interest now fully piqued.Debra explained, "From what I've gathered, the Odom family is teetering on the brink of ruin. Their debts are astronomical, and the interest alone is eating them alive. 30 billion dollars is far from enough to turn the tide. Edgar will probably use it to pay off what he owes to the McKinney Group. In the end, you'll be left empty-handed, while the McKinney Group walks away with your money. Can you really afford a loss like that?""You seem well-informed about McKinney Group's inner work." He leaned in and gazed into her eyes, trying to read her thoughts. "Didn't you resign a long time ago? How do you still have such insight?"Debra didn't flinch under his scrutinizing stare. "I may have left, but that doesn't mean I'm out of the loop. My connections run deep."Drake raised an eyebrow. "So, what's your suggestion? What should I do?""Edgar's ambition far exceeds his competence," Debra said bluntly. "If I were in your shoes, I'
Drake let out a low hum, piecing together the fragments. "So, Shelia's your rival in love? You are jealous of her and hate her alliance.""Jealous?" Debra shot him an incredulous look. "How did you get that idea?""Then why else would you be so upset over Edgar's connection to her?" Drake pressed, still toying with the notion.Debra, exasperated by his assumption, sulked, "Anyway, Shelia was my ex-husband's mistress. She's always been out to get me, so naturally, anyone associated with her is an enemy in my book."Drake's lips curved into a slow smile. "Well then, consider Edgar out of luck. I won't be helping him.""Really?""Yeah.""You're this agreeable?""What, you don't trust me? I can walk right out of here and make that deal with him if you'd prefer.""Wait." Debra nearly jumped up, seeing his playful smirk. "Fine. Go ahead. But don't come crying to me when you lose money."She flopped back onto the bed. Drake finally dropped the act. "Get some rest. After all, you're
Before Marion left, his words had been crystal clear. If anything happened to Debra, William would answer for it.But seeing her now, battered and bruised, William knew he was doomed. If Marion found out, the repercussions would be catastrophic."Quick question," Debra said, breaking his train of thought. "What are Juan and Marion up to?""Juan? Juan Nichols?""Yes, him.""No, I haven't heard anything about him.""Then why did he invite me to meet him at the casino tomorrow?"William's confusion only deepened. Knowing she couldn't get any answer, she waved it off with a sigh. "This place is too dangerous. If you are recognized, Drake won't let you slip through the cracks. Thankfully, that manager who saw you is dead.""I'm just here to patch you up," William said, focusing on her wounds. "If we don't treat these properly, you're at risk for infection. You need to be extra careful these next few days. Marion told me finding evidence isn't as important as keeping you safe."Debr
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Juan prowled the second floor of the casino impatiently.He checked his watch for the umpteenth time. It was already 20 minutes past their appointed time, but there was still no sign of her.A knot of worry tightened in his stomach. Debra was always punctual. He wondered if she was held up by something.He squinted, his gaze sweeping across the bustling floor below, and finally, he spotted her. Debra, in a striking burgundy dress, moved through the crowd like a flame. But it wasn't just her elegance that caught his attention. Shadows seemed to peel off the walls, men in black suits trailing her every step. Juan's instincts, honed by years of experience, screamed that they were trouble.Debra looked up, her eyes meeting his. With a subtle tilt of her head, she acknowledged the men tailing her. Juan understood immediately, watching as she ascended the stairs."You actually came," Juan said, his voice low as she stopped in front of him.Debra loo
"Get on the boat." Juan pulled Debra towards the beach.She asked, "Did Juan send you here?""Get on the boat first." Juan shoved her aboard but didn't follow."You're not coming?""I'll come after I take care of things here," Juan replied, turning to the personnel. "Remember your orders. Make sure Ms. Frazier reaches Seamar City safely.""Yes, sir."Juan gave Debra one last look, his expression unreadable. Then he turned and disappeared into the night, leaving her with a thousand unanswered questions."Ms. Frazier, let's get into the cabin."Debra stared out at the empty road, deep in thought.Drake must have learned that Juan had taken her away. If Juan stayed, he would be hunted down.As the boat set off, Debra asked, "Are you working for Andrew?""Yes, Mr. Andrew Potter sent us to escort you back to Seamar City.""Did Marion come to Orkgate too?""He arrived today. He and Mr. Nichols worked together to get you out of Orkgate amidst the chaos.""How many people did Mar
On the boat, Debra's breath came in shallow, ragged gasps. Her skin felt as if it were burning from the inside out, her pulse racing at an unnatural speed that left her dizzy.She staggered out of bed, barely able to focus as she groped her way to the bathroom. Cold water splashed onto her face, but even the shock of its chill couldn't extinguish the fire that raged within her.The icy wind blowing in from the sea only intensified the torment, doing nothing to soothe her feverish body.Her vision began to blur, and everything around her felt as if it were spinning. Her legs trembled violently, unable to hold her up any longer."If you don't return by midnight, this agony will become your daily companion," Drake's voice echoed in her head, cold and merciless. "Don't blame me for being cruel. This is the most merciful fate I offer to traitors."She slumped to the floor, her entire being engulfed in excruciating pain. It felt as though thousands of tiny needles were piercing her skin
"I'm fine, really," Debra replied weakly. "How is Marion? Is he safe?""Everything went as planned," Andrew reassured her. "He's already on his way back. You don't need to worry about him.""And Juan? Why didn't he come back to Seamar City?"Andrew's expression hardened. "That's his choice. Not our concern."The butler reappeared. "The car is ready, sir."Andrew nodded. "Let's get you home. We can discuss everything later.""Okay," Debra agreed.She leaned her head against the cool glass of the car window, her eyelids heavy with fatigue.Meanwhile, in Orkgate, Kale had cleaned up the mess in the casino.He entered the study room with grim news. "Boss, Marion's people have destroyed nearly everything. We've taken heavy losses, and Debra's whereabouts are unknown. Juan says she's already been taken away.""I see." Drake's face remained impassive."Should I lead people to get her back?""No need. She will come back on her own."He had never seen anyone survive the new drug th
"See you around," Michael said, smiling at Marion.His action got under Marion's skin. Taking a deep breath, Marion turned off the stove and took the eggs out.Debra glanced at him. "You seem hostile to Michael.""He's not worth my time," Marion replied flatly, peeling the eggs.Then he walked over to her and gently pressed the egg against her injured spot."This will help reduce the swelling. You went too hard on yourself. It's gonna hurt tomorrow.""Michael was just messing around. Don't be fooled by his innocent look. He's got a mischievous side. I think he just wanted to see if you cared about me. He wasn't trying to provoke you."Marion hummed in response, seemingly unbothered by it.He looked down at the bruise and sighed, "He wasn't wrong about one thing.""What is it?""I failed to take good care of you.""That was my doing. It wasn't your fault.""My job is to protect you. I can't let you get hurt even in the slightest." Marion pinched her nose. "I'll carry you to
When Debra and Marion came back, Michael quickly ended the call."You didn't check in with Hannah before leaving?" Debra asked."This trip is for work," Michael replied, closing his laptop. "Hannah was just briefing me on tomorrow's schedule."He noticed her disheveled appearance. "You guys came back so early. Guess the investigation didn't go as smoothly?""Let's just say it was a bit intense. Marion can tell you about the details," Debra said, sitting down on the couch.Marion habitually warmed up some milk for her and grabbed some pre-sliced cake from the fridge.He didn't stick around in the living room but went straight to the kitchen to boil eggs.Michael raised an eyebrow. "Feels like he doesn't quite like me."Marion heard it, his grip tightening around an egg. Then there was a cracking sound.Michael added, "My visit seems untimely. Should I move out?"But he made no move to get up.Debra took a sip of milk. "No way. I can't let you leave, especially since you're th
God knew how panicked Marion was when that guard raised his gun at Debra."I..." Debra murmured, "I couldn't find you.""That's not an excuse." Marion frowned. "Do you not trust me, or are you just used to handling everything yourself? Even if you stood there doing nothing, I could find you in a second. You shouldn't have rushed it like that.""The doors were closing, and I was worried that the guy would get away, so..." she explained."I don't care about the Illuminati. I care about you." Marion cupped her face, his tone serious. "You can't go solo like that again.""What if I do that again?" Debra looked at him.Marion pinched her cheek and muttered, "I'll break your legs so that you can't run off again."Debra slapped his hand away. "It was a special case today. I won't do it again.""Remember what you said. Don't make me worry," Marion relented, pinching her nose."By the way, what's the situation now?""I've handled it.""How?"He fell silent, but she didn't press furt
The man trembled and spilled every bit of information he knew about the Illuminati."Sounds like you're not so useful," Marion said, watching the man shiver in fear. "Everyone here is guilty. To redeem yourselves, your souls will stay in this castle."Before anyone could process his words, gunshots erupted around them. Screams filled the air. In just moments, the castle was thick with the smell of blood."You're out of your mind!" shouted the man, rushing toward the exit.But before he could get close, he was shot dead."Sir, we'll take care of the rest," said a guard."Make sure to clear all the traces," Marion ordered before leaving the castle alone.His eyes reflected the cold light of the moon. The air around him was chilling.Since the day he arrived overseas, everyone was nothing more than a dead man to him....Debra had a dream of her coming-of-age ceremony.Everyone was smiling, and everything was perfect.Suddenly, a gunshot shattered everything. The world went bl
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