"We?" Juan chuckled mockingly. "Do you mean Marion and you?"Debra frowned.Juan approached her, his steps carrying an oppressive aura. "Last time at the hotel, were you with Marion and Randy? Was Erica just covering for you? What exactly is your relationship with Marion? How far has it progressed?"He seized her wrist, his eyes boring into her. Debra instinctively shook his hand off. "Enough! I have no idea what you're talking about!"Juan looked at his hand that had been shaken off, saying, "Pray that Shelia's face can be restored.Otherwise, don't blame me for taking action against them."A scream suddenly erupted from inside Shelia's ward.Almost instinctively, Juan pushed the door open and saw Shelia smashing a glass. By the time Debra entered, Shelia had already grabbed Juan's arm, leaning into his embrace. "Am I disfigured? My face is ruined.""Alright, calm down. The doctor said you need to stabilize your emotions, or the freshly stitched wounds might reopen," Juan gentl
Juan felt a burning anger inside. "If she wants to leave, then let her go!"Shelia stopped sobbing and looked up pitifully at him. "Can I really stay at your house to recuperate?"Juan rubbed her head and replied, "I'll have Joe get your things from your dormitory. It's inconvenient to stay at school while recovering. Just stay at my house."Shelia sniffled and leaned against Juan's chest, softly saying, "Thank you, Mr. Nichols."Joe frowned, observing the scene with concern.As a bystander, Joe could see through Shelia's pretense, but Juan seemed oblivious.Debra arranged for a moving company to remove her belongings from the Nichols family's house.In the evening, Juan brought Shelia home to noticeably sparse furnishings and a somewhat desolate atmosphere.He felt a pang of discomfort.Shelia asked, "Mr. Nichols, where will I be staying?""We have guest rooms upstairs."Shelia nodded and then hesitated. "My leg hurts. I can't go up myself.""I'll help you," Juan said gent
Erica clapped, praising Debra's strategy. "That's brilliant!"A faint smile played on Debra's lips.She didn't intend to target Shelia specifically, but Shelia's scheme prompted her to take action.At noon, Shelia slowly descended from the second floor, struggling a bit due to her injured leg. But upon seeing Sophie working in the living room, she couldn't help but feel a sense of superiority."Sophie, I'm hungry. Prepare lunch," Shelia said, her tone lacking any politeness.It was a far cry from her softness in Juan's arms last night.Sophie didn't welcome Shelia there, but since Shelia was brought back by Juan, she had to hold back her annoyance. "Lunch is served at twelve o'clock, as per Mrs. Nichols's rules."The mention of Debra struck a nerve."I said, I'm hungry. Didn't you hear it? Is this how you do your job?" Shelia sulked, her temper frayed due to the pain and frustration from her injured face.Sophie, choking back her fury, reluctantly complied.After all, Shelia
"How can you say that? Debra is so kind, but this woman upsets her. Don't you have any sense of responsibility as her husband?" Melody snorted."Grandma, it was Debra's fault that Shelia had the accident! She..." Juan retorted."Enough!" Melody snapped. "Blaming your wife because of such a woman? Don't call yourself a man."Juan had never dared to defy Melody, so he fell silent.Melody glared at Shelia. "We paid for your education. Not only did you fail to appreciate it, but you also dreamed of marrying Juan. Do you think I can't see through your little scheme? You can dream on! As long as I'm alive, you'll never marry into this family."Juan couldn't hold back anymore. "Grandma, Shelia isn't like that.""Not like that?" Melody pulled out a stack of photos from her bag and threw them on the table. "See what kind of student you've been sponsoring!"The photos showed Shelia in heavy makeup and revealing clothes, dancing at nightclubs and drinking with men. Her behavior was very su
Juan instructed, "Call Debra and tell her to come home.""Huh?" Joe was stunned.Debra and Erica were partying at a nightclub.Though Debra rarely indulged, tonight she was drinking heavily. Since her rebirth, there had been too many stressful things. Now, with the alcohol, her worries seemed to vanish.Her phone rang. She answered it, and Joe faltered. "Madam, Mr. Nichols wants you to come home.""What? He wants me home? Why should I listen to him? Who does he think he is?" Debra slurred.Joe noticed her unusual tone. "Madam, where are you?""Somewhere without Juan!" she said, hanging up.Erica hugged Debra and laughed. "This isn't fun enough! Let's do something exciting!""Exciting?"Erica reached over and pressed the service bell. Soon enough, the manager came in with a smile."Miss Mathis, what can I do for you?""Bring me your hottest male models!""Sure, just a moment!"Soon, a line of handsome guys walked in. Their good looks amazed Debra.She had never seen anyth
Despite his words, Randy quickened his pace. Soon, they dashed out of the apartment and raced to the nightclub.The nightclub owner was waiting outside. As soon as Randy and Marion got out of the car, he hurried over and spoke obsequiously. "Gentlemen, I've kept an eye on them. They're still here."Randy halted his steps, asking, "So, they and the male models have been in the private room the whole time?"The nightclub owner gave an awkward smile.Everybody knew what that meant."Damn it!" Randy cursed as he strode forward. "Which room?""This one!" The nightclub owner was about to open the door for him, but Randy booted it open.Inside, several men were drinking with Debra and Erica, who seemed to be enjoying themselves."What, Randy and Marion?" Erica blurted out.Debra swiveled her head to find them looming in the doorway.Their faces were etched with disapproval."Are these guys part of the package?" one model asked suggestively.Debra sobered up and didn't know how to
Erica was already fast asleep, unaware of what Randy was saying.The car's warm air made Debra drowsy in the back seat, deepening the flush on her cheeks.Marion reached back, grabbed a blanket, and gently draped it over her."Get some sleep. We'll be there soon," he said.Debra nodded. She was exhausted and soon dozed off, leaning against the car window....Juan closed his laptop, and the room was silently oppressive. He rubbed his temples and picked up his phone, but there were still no messages from Debra.A moment later, Joe called back. Juan answered. "Where's Debra?""Mrs. Nichols seems to be at a nightclub.""A nightclub?"Juan frowned, thinking to himself. 'Debra rarely goes to such places. The last time she did it was to meet Jordan. With the recent online uproar, how could she risk going to such a place again?'"I think so. It was hard to hear clearly, but it was very noisy over there. Mrs. Nichols seemed drunk and unwilling to come back," Joe confirmed.The ne
Shelia was still waiting in the living room when Juan returned with a gloomy face. She probed, "Didn't Debra come back with you?"Juan snorted, "If she doesn't want to come back, she never has to."Shelia rejoiced at this statement. 'Debra is so foolish. She had the chance to win Juan's heart but chose to waste it.'That was good news for Shelia. As long as Debra wasn't around, she would have opportunities to get close to Juan and win his favor.She looked at Juan's face, feeling confident about her prospects with him.She could sense that Juan had feelings for her. He had always treated her differently from others.The next morning, Debra woke up groggy. She opened her eyes to see the white ceiling and unfamiliar surroundings.She rubbed her temples, remembering that last night she and Erica had gone to a nightclub and requested male models to join them for drinks. Later, Randy and Marion found them, and she seemed to fall asleep in the car. She couldn't remember anything after
"Yep.""I thought you meant my company.""Not really," Garland quickly reassured her. "Even if Theda has those shares, she can't compete with you."Debra took a sip of what she thought was tea, only to realize it was Coke. She glanced at Garland, who was wolfing down his food with no regard for manners."I've heard that you have a ruthless streak and get things done efficiently," she probed. "If we join hands, dominating overseas and Seamar City markets won't be a problem. What do you think?"Garland nearly choked on the food. 'Ruthless? Efficient? That sounds more like my dad.'As for cooperation, he didn't have the authority to make that decision."What you're saying makes sense," he stammered. "Given our relationship, a partnership wouldn't be a problem. But this is a big decision. I'll need to discuss it with my dad."Noticing Debra's suspicious look, he quickly corrected himself. "I mean, I'll talk to the shareholders and get my dad's approval.""I heard that your father
Lara recounted what happened to Debra, who muttered in confusion, "Huh? He only recorded my meals?"She glanced at Marion, who was equally clueless."He didn't ask anything else. But since no one was eating in the dining room, he went back to his room.""He made his actions so obvious," Debra mused. "I'll test him again and find out what he is trying to do."Marion advised, "From the way things are going right now, his brain doesn't seem so sharp. You should be careful not to overplay your hand when probing him. I'm afraid he won't catch on.""He's the heir to the Eaton family. He can't be that dull," Debra reasoned."I'm not calling him a fool," Marion explained. "But he has been acting like one."Fermin's recent behavior had betrayed his low intelligence.When they were at the Potter Mansion, he had maintained his sophistication, but over time, he couldn't be bothered to fake it anymore, always showing his true colors in front of them."I'll go try something," Debra said, st
"Liza and Fermin are here," Debra said, changing the subject."I heard." Marion nodded."I suspect Fermin is here to keep an eye on us," Debra shared her thoughts. "He is the heir to the Eaton family. It doesn't make sense for him to come here personally. But his interaction with Liza suggests they are real siblings. I just don't get why he'd bother monitoring me."They had stayed at the Potter Mansion for a while, but nothing had happened. If Fermin was as cunning as rumors suggested, he wouldn't have been sitting around and doing nothing.Debra had deliberately let them stay to keep an eye on them. But Seamar City remained peaceful."Are you doubting his identity now?" Marion asked."Doubting is one thing. Knowing what he's up to is another, and finding out his true identity is yet another," Debra replied, shaking her head. "I don't know if he's dumb or playing dumb. We need to find an opportunity to test him.""Then let's test him," Marion agreed. "Finding out what he's monit
When Debra returned to the room, she saw Marion trying to get out of bed and walk.She hurried over to support him. "The doctor said you shouldn't be moving around right now. Why aren't you listening?"Marion brushed it off. "My physical condition is better than most people's. I'll heal faster.""Cut the nonsense," Debra retorted. "The venom may have been neutralized, but you're still weak. Don't think I don't know what you're up to. You're eager to go back and retaliate against the Buchan family."The mention of the Buchan family made Marion pause, realizing she must've interrogated Robert."So, you know.""Of course, I know. Think you could handle things without me finding out?"She tapped his forehead and said, "You didn't have to fight them. If Theda wants the Nichols Group so badly, let her have it. I don't care.""I know," Marion said, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. "I just don't want anyone to steal your things."He could feel Debra's obsession with the N
Debra tactfully suggested, "Your influence in Orkgate is undeniable, but sometimes you can be a bit misguided. Why don't we...""No. I'm doing this alone," Drake refused, heading toward his study.Debra was speechless. If Drake took things into his hands, Orkgate would be turned upside down. If he stirred the pot too much, the target would surely flee the city. She couldn't let him act so recklessly.Kale had just escorted Garland and Liza to the guest room.Seeing Drake return, he asked, "Boss, are you sure about letting them stay here?""Why not? It's not like we're short on guest rooms," Drake replied dismissively.He then ordered, "I need you to gather information on every business in Orkgate, big or small, whether they're our partners or not. Get their details and map out their network. Don't miss a thing."Kale blinked. "Every business? And their network?"Orkgate was vast and bustling, with countless businesses. Compiling all that information would take weeks, even with
That was a jab at his intelligence.Drake sulked, "Who are you insulting? Of course, I noticed.""You did?" Debra said. "I thought you were scared of Fermin's status, so you didn't kick them out.""I was just being kind for your sake," Drake stated. "If they were not your friends, I would have kicked them out long ago."Unhappy about her challenge, Drake turned to leave.Debra quickly stopped him. "Take it easy. I was just kidding. I'm sorry, okay?""It's too late. Apology unaccepted," Drake scoffed, shaking off her hand.But then, something occurred to him, and he asked, "Wait. You'd never apologize to me for no good reason. What do you want?""Well, I need a favor," she replied."No way." Drake covered his ears. "Whenever you come to me, it's never for anything good. I've already been more than generous in letting you and Marion stay here. Don't push your luck.""I won't be so absolute." Debra swatted his hands away from his ears. "Isn't Orkgate your territory? Do me a favo
"You've misunderstood. That's not what I meant," Debra explained."I think that's exactly what you meant," Drake interrupted. "You can forget about it. Since I've already agreed to let Marion recuperate here, you're not backing out. None of you are leaving until Marion fully recovers."He turned to Kale and ordered, "Go prepare rooms for Miss and Mr. Eaton. We're not short of guest rooms."His gaze shifted to Debra, his tone dropping to a menacing warning. "Make sure they behave themselves in my house."Debra reassured him, "Don't worry. We're all nice people here."Liza rolled her eyes, uninterested in the exchange. As long as there was good food and fun, she couldn't care less about the rest.But Garland's expression tightened with discomfort. If he stayed there, it would be difficult for him to update Juan on Debra's situation.It had already been days, and Debra still hadn't gone back. Juan must be worried sick.While Garland wrestled with his thoughts, he suddenly felt a g
Behind Liza, Drake spoke up. "That's right. Who would dare lay a hand on Miss Eaton? That would be suicide."Liza crowed, "Tell me about it."Drake's eyes grew even colder. Debra, aware of Drake's disdain for the arrogant heirs of wealthy families, feared he might lose his temper.She quickly intervened, "Mr. Lowe is kind enough to take us in, and he was once engaged to you. You should be more polite.""Exactly," Garland chimed in. "You should learn from Mrs. Houston and be humbler."Liza was unimpressed. "But Dad said a girl should be tough and not let anyone push her around. Should I listen to you or Dad?"Garland was at a loss for words. From a young age, Bert spoiled Liza, giving her the best of everything and ensuring she never faced any hardship.This upbringing had made her arrogant and willful, believing her family name could protect her from anything. It had, except for that one time when she helped Cathryn and incurred Marion's wrath.In fact, Bert was contemplating w
Liza ignored Garland and said, "I don't believe it. Bring them here."Not interested in arguing with her, Drake said, "They're upstairs. Go find them yourself."Garland hadn't expected Drake to be so accommodating this time. He grabbed Liza's arm and urged, "Let's go upstairs."Liza remained skeptical as she headed upstairs. Drake couldn't stand the sight of her and walked back to his study.Not knowing where Debra was staying, Liza asked Kale, "Which room are Debra and Marion in?"Having been insulted by her earlier, Kale shrugged. "Can't recall the room number. You'll have to figure it out yourself.""Is this how you treat your guests? If my brother is mad, you're in trouble."Garland's eyes widened, and he groaned inwardly, 'Making trouble for Drake? That's suicidal.'"Liza, calm down. You can't go around threatening people." Garland forced a smile, trying to ease the tension. "The second floor isn't that big. It won't take us much time to find out."He then dragged her tow