Kale pushed Debra into the car and placed a blindfold over her eyes.Debra frowned. "Is this necessary?""Yes, it is," Drake replied from the side. "You're too clever for your own good. I can't risk you outsmarting me again. Prevention is better than cure."Debra sighed and put on the blindfold. She didn't need to see. She already knew that Drake had bought a villa in the city center.According to their plan, Marion should be waiting outside the villa by now.Cathryn, sitting in the front, looked at Debra through the rearview mirror."What are you planning to do with Debra?""Miss Bernard, you've achieved your goal. Why do you still care about her life or death?""Are you going to kill her?"If Debra returned to Marion alive, all her efforts today would be in vain.Drake raised an eyebrow. "Do you want her to live or die?"The question caught Cathryn off guard. She hesitated, unsure of how to answer.She had never taken a life before. But if she let Debra live, she would ne
Cathryn's face paled as she realized that Drake had no intention of killing Debra."Then why did you even ask for my opinion earlier? How could you do this?" Cathryn's voice grated on Drake's nerves, making him rub his ears in annoyance.He couldn't stand stupid people, especially clueless heiresses like Cathryn.But given her connection to Liza, he felt compelled to explain, "If I killed Debra, wouldn't Marion come after me?"Cathryn was taken aback. "So, from the beginning, you never intended to help me? You just wanted to kidnap Debra to threaten Marion?"Debra chuckled, "Wrong answer. If he wanted to kidnap me, he would have done it already. Why go through all this trouble to have you negotiate with me first? He wanted to drag you into this. Now that you've helped him kidnap me, you're in the same boat as him."Cathryn's face paled. She hadn't expected Drake to be so calculating. "Why me?"She would rather have Marion hate her than know she was the one plotting against him.
Across town at the Eaton Mansion, Garland was doing a handstand against the wall, groaning in discomfort. "How much longer?"Juan glanced at his watch and said blandly, "Ten minutes for each wrong answer. There are 32 questions on the test. You got 31 wrong. Do the math.""What? Are you insane? Are you here to tutor me or torture me? I'm gonna tell my dad about this," Garland exclaimed."Go ahead. Let's see whose side he takes," Juan replied nonchalantly.Just as Juan reached for his tea cup, his hand suddenly trembled, and the cup fell to the floor, shattering into pieces."Hey! Those cups are expensive. Be careful," Garland scolded."Got it," Juan said as he bent down to pick up the shards.Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his finger. Blood dripped onto the broken porcelain. Juan frowned, looking at his injured finger.At his newly acquired estate, Drake removed Debra's blindfold as Kale opened the car door.Debra stepped out to see an expansive garden with artificial hil
"I..." Cathryn struggled to find the right words.Drake stepped in. "Miss Bernard intended to make amends with Mrs. Houston, isn't that right?""Yes, that's right," Cathryn said, her smile forced.Liza scoffed, "Cathryn, you're too kind. Why bother making amends with her? If you want Marion, I'll have my dad help you."Debra couldn't help but laugh at Liza's words.Liza glared at her. "What are you laughing at?""Nothing," Debra replied, restraining her smile. "I just think your dad is amazing. He can even help snatch someone else's husband. It seems there's nothing he can't do here.""Of course," Liza boasted, then realized she was being mocked. "Are you making fun of me?""Not at all," Debra said, her expression sincere. "I meant every word."Liza fumed, "This woman is infuriating. Drake, I want her out of here."Drake smirked but made no move to comply."Are you dull? Didn't you hear me?" Liza demanded.Cathryn quickly intervened, grabbing her hand. "Liza, please don't.
Liza was in a foul mood, and Cathryn was in no state to comfort her."Liza, I'm not feeling well either. I'm going upstairs to rest," Cathryn said. "What's wrong with everyone today?" Liza muttered, bewildered.Upstairs, Kale pushed open the guest room door to reveal a room with windows nailed shut and door locks removed.Debra turned to Drake. "What's the meaning of this?""You're the head of the McKinney Group, always keeping a low profile. The last time you revealed your identity, it gave me quite a shock. I can't risk you escaping through the window," Drake replied.Debra walked to the window, examining the iron plates that sealed it shut. She laughed suddenly.Drake frowned. "What are you laughing at?""I'm laughing at how smart you are sometimes. Yet sometimes..." Debra turned to face him, her expression serious. "You're brilliant."With the windows sealed so tightly, Marion would surely notice from outside. It would be easy for him to pinpoint her location. Perfect for
"I don't think so," Kale replied. "According to our previous intel, Debra might have relapsed on our new type of drug. Once one is hooked, there's no going back, especially if they've relapsed.""You're right," Drake said, picking up his newspaper again. "Debra is just bluffing. She doesn't want to admit she can't handle her addiction and is too proud to ask for help. So, she's pretending to cooperate.""Exactly," Kale agreed."Make her suffer a bit. If she asks to see me, tell her I'm busy," Drake ordered."Understood," Kale said, quickly leaving the room.It was already eight in the evening, and dinner had been prepared and sent to Debra's room.She looked at the array of dishes on the cart—salmon tartare, cherry foie gras, filet mignon, creamy corn soup."Mrs. Houston, here is your dinner," the maid said."Do you have stewed fish, braised beef, and salads? Oh, I don't like carrots, but anything else is fine," Debra requested."Of course, Mrs. Houston. We'll prepare that for
In the guest room, Lara sat across from Debra, asking, "Ms. Frazier, is there something you wanted to talk to me about?""Yvonne is dead. Have you heard?" Debra asked pointedly.Lara stiffened. The news had spread far and wide, and everyone in Orkgate knew about it."Yvonne gave up everything for Drake," Debra continued. "She was the heiress to the Sharp family, and Drake killed her without a second thought. If he finds out you're holding evidence against him, what do you think he'll do to you?"Lara hesitated before responding, "Ms. Frazier, did you come here all for that phone?""Drake has established himself here and is practically the Eaton family's son-in-law," Debra explained. "Finding a maid in the Lowe family shouldn't be difficult, but you are a pawn in Drake's hands. He won't let you escape his control easily. That's why I had to take a risk to come here."She extended her hand. "Give me the phone."Before Lara could respond, the door suddenly burst open, and Drake sto
Drake nodded in agreement, and Debra breathed a sigh of relief.She couldn't believe he had fallen for her lies. He might be cunning with his enemies, but he was gullible when it came to women.Not even Cathryn would believe such a lie."Alright, I'll take your word for it," Drake said, tossing her a small vial.Debra saw a red pill inside the vial. She remembered what Andrew had told her about this new type of drug, sold as red pills that looked like candy to avoid suspicion.Drake watched her closely. "But I'm still not entirely convinced. What if your withdrawal symptoms disappear and everything you just said was a lie? Take the pill in front of me, and I'll believe you."Debra remained calm, quickly formulating a plan. "You injected me with the drug yourself. You should know better than anyone that it's not even been a month. No one could cure my addiction."Drake leaned back, resting his chin on his hand. "I know the dosage I gave you, but I still need to see you take it. A
"Shut up! I don't need your opinion," Liza huffed, turning to leave.Debra called after her, "Leave the invitation. I'll need it in two days."Liza was pissed off, knowing Debra was taunting her. Her fists clenched at her sides, but there were more pressing matters at hand.So, she bit her tongue and flung the invitation back onto the table.Debra scoffed, seeing through her intention. "Save yourself the trouble. She won't see you."Liza froze mid-step and turned back to face her. "How so?""If she wanted to see you, she wouldn't be ignoring your calls and messages," Debra replied nonchalantly. "In families like ours, it's better not to invest too much emotion. You treat her as your best friend, but she leaves you for interest.""You're lying!" Liza snapped, her voice trembling. "You're just trying to drive a wedge between us. Cathryn would never treat me like that.""Let's make a bet then," Debra said, her smile widening. "If you manage to contact her before the party, I'll ad
Liza's voice roused Debra from her lazy slumber. She wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and sauntered out to find the courtyard in chaos.Leaning against the doorframe, she asked, "What brings you here so early, Miss Eaton?"She was dressed in a red lace nightgown that accentuated her fair skin and striking features. Her every movement was graceful and alluring.Unimpressed, Liza glared at her. "Early? It's practically noon."Debra plugged her ears. "What do you want?""Ma'am, I'll get rid of her. You can go back and continue your nap," offered the guard.Debra waved him off. "No need. Let her in."She tightened the blanket around her and walked into the living room.The weather there was unpredictable. It was sometimes scorching and sometimes freezing.She sat on the sofa and poured herself a cup of tea. The absence of hospitality annoyed Liza."Where are the servants?""There aren't any.""What the hell? Is this how you treat your guests? You invite me in, and you won
Bert's expression turned grave. A servant approached him. "Sir, I heard that Miss Bernard is getting engaged to Drake. Invitations have been sent out, but Miss Eaton doesn't know yet.""Keep it that way," Bert ordered. "Liza is impulsive and might do reckless things if she finds out. She's spoiled, but she values her friendship with Cathryn. It would break her heart to know Cathryn is with Drake now.""Understood. I'll make sure the news is contained," said the servant.Juan silently watched the scene. Garland peeked through the door crack."What's got you so captivated?""Nothing."Juan sank back into the couch, his expression unreadable."You know, Liza has got a way with people," Garland said, his tone smug. "When she gets involved, your grandmother has to pack her things and go back.""That's not what I'm worried about.""Then what are you worried about?""Did you get the invitation?""Invitation? What invitation?""To the engagement party of Cathryn and Drake.""What?
Garland looked at the files, his initial spark of interest instantly extinguished.Just then, Liza's voice echoed from outside the door. "Why are you still here? My dad doesn't like you. Why are you still hanging around?"Juan frowned, and Garland perked up his ears. "Sounds like a fight. Should I go break it up?"But Juan knew better. Garland was more likely to stir the pot than calm things down."Miss Eaton, please take it easy."Juan cracked open the door to see Liza tossing Melody's luggage out, scattering expensive jewelry and dresses across the floor.The maids tried to calm her down, but Liza was beyond control.Melody's face darkened as the scene unfolded. The noise drew Bert out of his room.He scolded, "Liza, mind your manners.""Dad! Why are you letting her stay in our house? I don't like her. I don't want her here." Liza threw a tantrum.Seeing her belongings strewn across the floor, Melody said bitterly, "I guess I've overstayed my welcome. I'll pack my things an
Debra chuckled, "Sometimes, you're really cheap."Marion said seriously, "But I'm always honest with you, dear.""Really?""Absolutely.""Then how do you explain the eight billion dollars you cost me at our first meeting?"Marion took a sip of his tea and grimaced. "This tea's gone cold. Let me get you a fresh cup.""Get back here." Debra grabbed Marion and yanked him down into his seat."I'll do whatever you say to make up.""Put that aside for now. Now tell me your plans for handling the banquet.""Guess we can't miss the show.""Cathryn's crush on you is public knowledge here. Are you planning to hand her fresh gossip on a silver platter?""I'm not attending it. You can go. I'll stay outside the hotel to keep guard. Won't glance at any other woman.""Wise choice."...Across town at the Eaton Mansion, Garland sat hunched over his computer.He typed and retyped search terms, only to come up empty each time."What happened to my trending topics? They're all gone?" he m
Marion set down his newspaper and walked over to examine the invitation in Debra's hand."Drake is in such a hurry. He must be desperate to secure resources.""He's eager to deal with you?""Not necessarily. It could also be trouble brewing in Orkgate.""Something happened there?"Debra tried to recall any signs of trouble from her last stay in Orkgate, but there hadn't been anything that would warrant such urgency.In truth, Drake could just stay there and rule.There was no need for him to venture overseas and stir up trouble, which ultimately led to his broken engagement with the Eaton family and his near-total loss of face.Anyone else in his position would have slunk away in shame, but Drake was too proud for that."I'm not sure," Marion admitted. "Orkgate is his territory. I promised not to interfere there."He then noticed her disappointment for not getting any juicy news. He smiled and ruffled her hair. "But I have my informants. If anything happens, they'll let me
Drake's logic was persuasive, almost hypnotic.Cathryn found herself wavering. "But Liza... ""She's your friend, right? She'll understand. Besides, this is just a business arrangement, not a real marriage. It's just to create some tension for Marion."Cathryn was convinced. "Alright, I'll prepare the gala. But you must explain everything to Liza afterward.""Okay," Drake replied.But his smile faded as soon as Cathryn left.Kale asked, "Boss, are you really going to explain this to Miss Eaton?""Explain my ass," Drake snorted. "Once I get engaged to her, I'll gain control of the Bernard family's resources. Then I'll have enough power to take on Marion. Who cares about her petty little scandals?"Kale mused, "So, you were fooling her?"Drake explained, "She's the only one left in her family. If it weren't for those resources, do you think I'd even consider an engagement with her? She's clueless. Once she hosts the gala and announces the news to the media, do you think she can
Drake sneezed in his study.Kale came in and reported, "Miss Bernard is here."Drake waved his hand. "Let her in."Kale opened the door to reveal Cathryn standing hesitantly outside. She had come upon learning that Marion had taken Debra away.Drake glanced at her and read her mind. "She was rescued. Helping you cost me a lot."Cathryn stammered, "Don't make it sound so noble. You did it for yourself.""What now? We're in this together. Marion has learned you collaborated with me to kidnap Debra." Drake rested his cheek on his hand. "But it's not a bad thing. At least, Marion can't ignore you anymore."Cathryn bit her lip, stepping forward. "I know you have other plans. We can't let her stay with Marion. You gotta help me for my father's sake."But the mention of the past only served to annoy Drake.Cathryn quickly added, "If it weren't for my father, you wouldn't have made it to Orkgate or become the Lowe family's adopted son. You owe me."Drake snorted, "You're right. I owe
She had known for a while that Melody was coming after her. That wasn't a well-kept secret. But seeing it plastered online and climbing the trending charts? That was a whole new level of absurdity."Let me see." Marion emerged from the bathroom, drying his hair.He leaned over, glanced at the phone, and nodded approvingly. "That's catchy.""I'm going to find out which genius published this." Debra's fingers flew over her phone, tracing the story back to its source. When the name of New Age popped up on her screen, she froze."New Age?" she murmured, remembering that it was Garland's news agency."Something wrong?" Marion asked.Debra blinked. "I spent 50 million dollars to buy that newspaper. So..." Her own company had just broken a report on her. That was the next level....In the study room, Garland was livid, yelling into his phone, "What were you thinking? Are you people brain-dead? Who let you publish that story? And then you dumped ad money into it too? Did you want t