Debra quickly formulated a plan and walked toward the champagne tower that Liza had knocked over earlier.When no one was looking, she bent down and used a shard of the broken glass to lightly cut her ankle."Ouch!" she grunted, drawing the attention of many guests.Liza recognized the voice and turned to see Debra. Her eyes narrowed as she remembered how Debra had wronged Cathryn.She marched over, ready to give Debra a piece of her mind. But just as she was about to strike, Bert shouted, "Liza, stop!"Liza stomped her foot in frustration. "Dad. This woman stole Marion and made Cathryn a laughing stock. Why won't you let me hit her?""Enough," Bert said sternly. "Today has been chaotic enough, and your spoiled behavior needs to change. She is our guest, and she's injured because of your antics. If you hit her, people will say our family has no manners."With that, he approached Debra. She was taken aback, wondering what this notorious old fox was up to.Under the watchful eyes
After Debra left, Melody finally expressed her displeasure. "Your daughter is a bit unruly."Liza had insulted and hit her. The shame would be with her for the rest of her life."I've spoiled Liza," Bert said. "I'm truly sorry about this. Please go back to your room and rest. I've called for a doctor to examine your face."His gentle words calmed Melody somewhat, but the memory of Liza's harsh words still stung.She said, "I only came to you because I don't know many people here. I didn't expect Liza to misunderstand. I wonder what others must think of me now.""We're just old acquaintances. No need to worry about what others think," Bert reassured her. "No one dares speak ill of the Eaton family here."The phrase "old acquaintances" struck a nerve with Melody. If she hadn't chosen that workaholic Wilbur all those years ago, she might have been the respected Mrs. Eaton today.Though her life was comfortable, the thought of her unloving husband and disobedient grandson filled her
"Mrs. Houston, your room is this way." The maid led Debra to a lavishly decorated guest room.Even for a seasoned socialite like Debra, the opulence of the guest room was staggering.She couldn't help but mentally tally the cost of the furnishings, which easily surpassed eight figures. The Eaton family was indeed wealthy."Mrs. Houston, the doctor will be here shortly. Please wait here, and I'll bring you some tea," the maid said politely before exiting the room.Debra heard a commotion from the adjacent room."Where are my shoes? My clothes? And my Doraemon pillow that I sleep with every night? I was only gone for three days, and you guys stole my crystal?"The voice rang a bell, and she stood up.The maid quickly reassured her, "Mrs. Houston, our young master is a bit eccentric. Please don't mind him. The doctor will be here soon, and we'll arrange for someone to escort you back.""Who are you calling eccentric?" A man's voice came, causing the maid to shrink.Just then, the
William and Marion exchanged a knowing glance, pretending not to be familiar with each other.Debra lowered her voice and said, "I'm fine. Let's just get out of here."She had noticed that the security measures here were far more stringent than usual. The guards at the door were only a fraction of what she had seen when she entered the banquet hall.Marion had only managed to get in because Bert had deliberately let him. Bert was up to something, and it was best not to provoke him further."Since my wife is unharmed, I'll be taking her with me," Marion said, his mind focused on Debra's injured foot.He scooped her up into his arms and turned to leave, but Bert's cold voice stopped him. "Wait a moment."Marion paused, and Bert asked, "Was it you who had Liza brought back?"Debra held her breath, having seen how much Bert doted on Liza. This question seemed to hint at a desire for accountability."Yes, it was me," Marion admitted.Bert said, "Liza is my only daughter. By doing t
The Eaton family held immense power overseas, a status they had cultivated over a century.Their position was unshakeable.Marion was worried that if they set their sights on Debra, he would be powerless to protect her."Silly," Debra said, taking Marion's hand. "I won't be a burden to you. You do what you need to do. I can't guarantee I'll clear all obstacles for you, but I promise to keep myself safe and not distract you."Marion's furrowed brow relaxed. He had almost forgotten that Debra was the youngest female entrepreneur in Seamar City. In just one year, she had grown strong enough to rival the Nichols family, take down Edgar, and even manipulate Drake.If the Eatons targeted her, they would be the ones in trouble."You're right," Marion said, a hint of pride in his voice. "I should be worried about the Eaton family. Once they provoke you, they won't have a moment's peace."Debra teased him, "I was trying to comfort you, and you're making fun of me?""I'm just showing my
Bert sighed, "If you had any skills, would I have to resort to this retirement trick? Learn from Fermin. If he were still around, I wouldn't have all these problems to deal with."Garland rolled his eyes. "Fermin has been dead for years. If he knew how much work was waiting for him, he'd probably prefer to stay in his coffin.""He was identifying talent and managing people at 14," Bert snapped. "He was the youngest financial scholar, feared and respected by everyone in the company. He was my ideal successor. And look at you—lazy, always chasing after some justice with your newspaper. If it weren't for that car accident, I wouldn't have needed you to impersonate him.""You're right, Dad," Garland said sarcastically. "Fermin is the best. Liza and I combined aren't half as good as him."Bert took a deep breath, trying to control his temper. "You know your uncles are eyeing the family's power. If they find out Fermin is dead and I have no successor, they'll stop at nothing to take over
Garland paused, turning back to face Juan. He adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and asked, "You know who I am?""What do you think?" Juan replied coolly."Then go ahead and expose me, please. I'm tired of being an impersonator. You have no idea how boring it is to be Fermin," Garland said, a hint of weariness in his voice."Mr. Eaton," Carter interjected.Garland straightened his clothes and said more seriously, "Mr. Nichols, come with me."In the study, Bert had overheard their entire conversation. He took off one of his shoes and threw it at Garland. "You useless brat. What good are you?"Garland swiftly dodged the shoe, but it flew past him and headed straight for Juan. With a quick reflex, Juan caught the shoe in mid-air."Mr. Eaton Sr., let's talk business," Juan said, placing the shoe back on the desk.Bert appreciated his polite demeanor. "Wilbur's grandson is much better than Caleb's grandson. Alright, what business do you want to discuss?""My grandmother has come over
Juan was surprised by how perceptive Bert was.Sensing his reluctance to talk, Bert added, "If you don't speak up, you can leave. I'll handle the affairs myself. If you reveal our secrets, my family will be ruined, but your family won't fare any better."Juan frowned as Bert stepped closer. "Young man, I'm giving you a chance here. I'm helping you, not the other way around."Realizing Bert was serious, Juan finally spoke. "I want to investigate the secrets of Seamar City and the Four Great Families as well as the truth behind the car accident that killed Debra's parents."Bert's smile vanished instantly.Juan continued, "I believe you also want to know these things. Fermin's death was not an accident."Garland frowned because Bert and he were the only ones who knew the truth.He stood up and asked, "You know? How do you know?""That's not important," Juan replied. "I have my ways."Garland wanted to say more, but Bert cut in, "Alright. I agree to give you an identity to aid yo
Barton shook his head."Why would Jordan betray us? It doesn't make sense," Debra pressed. "Isn't this part of your plan? With Liza captured, we're in a tight spot. Just tell me the truth.""I really don't know," Barton replied with an innocent look.Debra panicked. She couldn't tell the truth from lies anymore or if this was part of some scheme. She wasn't sure if Jordan really betrayed them or if Andrew was really sick.These questions swirled in her mind and drove her crazy."Where's Marion?" she finally asked.If Andrew was gravely ill, Marion wouldn't leave his side.Barton replied, "Mr. Houston has been tied up with matters at home. He hasn't returned since he left in the morning.""He's gone all day?" Debra's eyes narrowed.That didn't add up. With Marion's efficiency, there was no way he'd take so long to handle family issues.While Debra was struggling to make sense of it all, Garland burst in, looking frantic."What do you mean Jordan is a traitor? And Liza's been
"Hey, don't touch me!" Liza shouted, struggling as the bodyguards grabbed her arms.Jordan came down the stairs and asked with a frown, "Where are Debra and Erica?""Sir, they escaped," one of the guards reported.Jordan slapped him and spat, "Useless!"The guard bowed his head and stepped back.Liza glared at Jordan. "Traitor! You're even worse than Drake. You sneaky backstabber!"Her string of insults didn't faze him one bit.She continued, "Let me remind you, I am Liza Eaton. If you dare lay a finger on me, my dad won't let you off the hook."The guards all had a headache coming on. She had repeated it so many times, but they couldn't deny the power of her family.One of the guards ventured, "Sir, what should we do? Let her go?"Jordan glanced at Liza. "Take her away and lock her up.""What?" Liza shouted, "You have the nerve to lock me up? Just so you know, if I get even a scratch, my dad will chop you into pieces.""Gag her.""Yes, sir."The guards gagged Liza and dr
"No need to chase further," Jordan said."Why not?" demanded a figure coming out of the corner.He was cloaked in a black robe, his face hidden behind a white mask. His voice was deep, altered by a voice changer."Messing with the Eaton family is not a wise decision," Jordan replied blandly."So what if I mess with them? They're nothing," said the masked man, raising his hand.At the signal, a bunch of bodyguards rushed downstairs.The guests at the party had no idea what was happening, and the cameras were soon shut off."What's going on?" the reporters protested as they were driven out of the hotel.The remaining ones in the hall were shocked. Given their experiences, they knew something big was about to happen. The only thing they could do was stay quiet."Back off. You don't want to hurt Miss Eaton," Erica shouted.But Debra heard hurried footsteps coming from inside the hall. Alerted, she said, "Something is not right. We need to run.""Relax. I dare them to lay a finge
Debra's voice turned icy. "Did you have something to do with Andrew's worsening condition?""I don't have time to waste talking to you," Jordan replied, turning to the guards. "Escort Mrs. Houston out.""Yes, sir." The guards moved toward Debra.She sensed their malice and stepped back.Erica's shouting came. "Run."She grabbed Debra's hand, and the two of them bolted down the stairs.Unsure of the situation, Liza trusted her instincts and followed them."After them!" The guards gave chase.Liza suddenly had an idea. She stopped in her tracks and stood boldly in front of the guards. The unexpected move forced them to screech to a halt.She declared, "I am the daughter of the Eaton family. If you dare lay a hand on me, my dad will make sure you regret it."Debra and Erica, who had reached the exit, heard her words and felt helpless. At such a time, no one would care about her status anymore.The guards ignored the threat, ready to act, when Jordan suddenly called out from the
Erica rushed forward and said, "Barton, you're here just in time. I need to ask you something."Barton cut her off. "Mr. Andrew Potter's condition has suddenly worsened. It's very serious right now. Please come back with me immediately.""What?" Debra exclaimed. "He was fine yesterday."An image of the previous day suddenly popped into her mind. Jordan had gone into Andrew's room right after she left."Do you know about this?" Debra asked. "Jordan is the new president of the Lowe Group?"Barton, as Andrew's trusted aide, was supposed to know if this was part of Andrew's plan."What?" Barton was puzzled. "Mr. Jordan Potter?"Debra decided to go upstairs to confront Jordan. Erica quickly reached out to stop her."Where are you going? Didn't you just say we can't go up there earlier?""I have to go and ask him. What is he doing? Betraying the family?""Betrayal it is," Liza chimed in. "I'm going with you."She grabbed Debra's arm and rushed up the stairs.The guards immediatel
"What's going on?"Liza looked around, and her gaze landed on a huge pendulum clock on the wall.It gave a low, echoing chime. Debra looked over and saw it struck eight at night.A beam of light shone down onto a sofa on the second floor. Sitting on it was a masked man.Debra stared at him and had an oddly familiar feeling.Erica had the same feeling. "This guy...""Welcome to the party. I am the Lowe Group's new president."The voice was so familiar that both Debra and Erica froze in shock.Liza patted them on the shoulder. "Is that Andrew's brother? Did I hear wrong?"She didn't know what was going on, but the new president turned out to be Jordan.Just a few days ago, when they saw the news, he hadn't said anything.On the second floor, Jordan removed his mask, revealing a frosty face. Everyone stared at him in surprise because Jordan had disappeared from Seamar City for an entire year.He used to be reckless and lazy. Somehow, he became the new president of the Lowe G
"What is this? Do I have to wear this ugly thing to attend your party?" Liza grumbled, tossing the mask back with disdain. "I spent two hours on my makeup. If I wear this, all that effort will go to waste. No way I'm wearing it."The security guard replied politely, "I'm sorry, but rules are rules. Without the mask, you can't go in.""I've never heard of such a ridiculous rule," Liza huffed, ready to leave.Debra grabbed her hand. "Don't you want to have fun anymore?""I..." Liza hesitated.Debra leaned in and whispered, "The new president of the Lowe Group is trying to impress people. Just put on the mask and take it off once you're inside. What are they gonna do? Can they just throw you out?""Sounds like a plan." Liza nodded. "Even Drake didn't dare mess with me. Why should I care about them?"She picked up the mask again and put it on.Erica nudged Debra. "I guess you're going to be a pro at handling kids."Debra pressed a finger to her lips.The three of them entered the
Faced with the same question, Debra explained again, "Got it from a fall when I was a kid.""Fell?" Erica muttered, skeptical. "It doesn't look so."She suddenly remembered something major from back in the day. The major families all sent their representatives over.There had been a little girl who was injured on her back and rushed to the hospital.Erica remembered it well because Andrew had been holding that girl."What's wrong?" Debra turned and saw Erica spacing out.Erica came to her senses. "Ah... Nothing. It doesn't look like a fall.""You're talking like Liza." Debra twirled in front of the mirror and said, "What do you think? Should I change into something else? It doesn't look so good if it reveals the scar.""Why not wear this one instead?" Liza came out, holding an azure gown. "It's pretty and not too flashy."Debra took it and nodded with satisfaction. "This one it is."Liza grabbed Erica and pulled her toward the changing room. "I picked one for you too. Let's g
At her call, ten bodyguards walked into the room.Debra explained, "For safety's sake, these are our bodyguards for the day. Get familiar with them so there are no misunderstandings later."Liza was unimpressed. "Are ten of them enough? I usually bring 20."Erica snorted, "You want 20. Ask your daddy. Too many people will be arrestive.""What? Are you judging me?" Liza fumed."I am. I haven't even slapped you yet," Erica countered, rolling up her sleeves.Debra quickly stepped in. "Alright, it's about time. Let's go."She grabbed Erica's arm and headed toward the door. Liza followed them reluctantly.The whole morning was spent at a salon. Debra and Erica kept yawning, but Liza was full of energy."Is she really a spoiled lady?" Erica muttered, trailing behind Liza. "My barn needs a workhorse like her."Finally, they arrived at the store Liza had mentioned. Debra and Erica were grateful for a short break.Liza pulled Debra over. "Look at all these beautiful dresses. Can't wa