Drake furrowed his brow, touching his flushed face. "Am I blushing?"Kale nodded.Drake then touched his forehead, comparing it to Kale's. He concluded that he didn't have a fever."It's too hot in here. Have someone turn on the air conditioning.""What temperature, boss?""65."Drake tugged at his collar. It was indeed hot. He hadn't noticed it earlier in the study.He paused mid-step. "Did I go overboard by sealing all the windows in her room?""No, she betrayed you before," Kale reassured him."You're right." Drake nodded and continued walking, but he soon stopped again. "Have someone remove two of the iron plates and make sure the room is ventilated daily.""Boss?""I don't want her to suffocate. That would make all my efforts pointless.""Understood."In the guest room, Debra lay on the bed, hiding the pill Drake had given her inside her ring. This pill could be crucial in the future, and she didn't want anyone to find it.There was a knock on the door, and she answe
"Alright, I'll give you the phone when you're ready to leave.""Lara...""I'm doing this for your good. If Drake searches your room and finds the phone, we're both dead. I'm just trying to save our lives. I hope you understand.""Alright, but you need to keep the phone safe. Don't let anything happen to it.""I'll guard it with my life."Lara then left the room.The night deepened. In his study room, Garland was whining, "I'm not studying anymore. I quit."Juan, leaning casually against the sofa, dodged the pillow thrown his way. "Familiarize yourself with the stock distribution, analyze market prospects, provide evidence, and give a detailed explanation of the recent financial reports. I want to see the problems, strengths, and weaknesses of the Eaton family."He sounded like it was an easy task. Closing his book, he added, "Once you're done with all that, you can go to bed."Garland was on the verge of a breakdown. "Bro, come on. How am I supposed to finish all this in one n
The next morning, Lara presented a gown to Debra. "Ms. Frazier, this is a custom-made dress for you from Mr. Lowe.""When was this ordered?" Debra asked, eyeing the white gown."After your last escape," Lara replied.Debra examined the luxurious fabric. The mermaid cut would make it difficult to run. Drake had clearly put a lot of thought into this."I don't like white," Debra muttered. "Take it away. I won't wear it.""He wants to take you to the monthly gala of the Lowe Group," Lara said meaningfully.Debra took the hint. It was likely the same type of event Drake had hosted back at Seamar City.She just couldn't figure out why he wanted her there.Downstairs, Liza was enjoying her morning tea. Noticing Cathryn's distraction, she asked, "Is something wrong? You've been acting strange since yesterday. Is it because of Debra?""No, it's not," Cathryn replied, trying to hide her anxiety."You shouldn't have invited her here," Liza complained. "She is putting on airs, sitting o
Liza had been unable to kick Debra out the day before in front of Drake, but today, Debra had to go."You sure? Fine, I'll go," Debra said, walking towards the door.But no sooner had she taken a few steps than Drake's voice echoed from upstairs. "Stop."Liza glared at him. "What do you mean? I told her to leave. Didn't you hear me?""Mrs. Houston is our guest. It would be inappropriate if we let her leave dressed like that," Drake said, descending the stairs.He nodded at Kale, who draped a blanket over Debra's shoulders."I have to go out tonight, so I'll have someone escort her home. What do you think, Mrs. Houston?" Drake said.Debra remained silent. Liza looked from him to Debra, her anger rising. "Are you dull? I need her to leave now."Annoyed by her commanding tone, Drake shot her a cold glance.Liza faltered and fell silent.Cathryn quickly intervened. "Mr. Lowe is right. Let's have her escorted home tonight.""But..." Liza started to protest."Didn't you say you w
As the evening approached, Debra changed her clothes and descended the stairs.Liza and Cathryn were still not back, while Drake had been waiting in the living room for some time.He glanced at his watch and complained, "Why did you take so long?"Debra remained unperturbed. "Girls take time to get ready. If you're in a hurry, you can go ahead. I'll catch up later."Drake looked at her white mermaid gown and snorted, "Then you can run away? Do you think I'm stupid?""Oh, you caught me," Debra feigned surprise.Drake grabbed her arm abruptly, causing her to stumble. "Don't try any tricks. I won't give you any chance to escape."He took out a pair of handcuffs and cuffed her.Debra laughed in disbelief, "Are you serious?""What do you think?" Drake snorted."So, when I suggested handcuffs last time, you weren't reluctant. You just didn't have any?" Debra asked, amused."I had Kale prepare them. Without keys, you'll need a firefighter to get them off," Drake said, brushing imag
"What did you say?" Liza was shocked.Cathryn was also taken aback. She had no idea that Drake was taking Debra to a banquet.Debra was Marion's wife now. She didn't know what Drake was up to."This is outrageous. How could he do this?" Liza gritted her teeth. "Cathryn, did you see it? Debra is nothing but a seductress. She has Marion and still wants to seduce other men. I'm going to tell my dad and have him cancel my engagement to Drake."Cathryn was still processing the news when Liza stormed off, leaving her behind.Cathryn realized that if Liza told Bert, he would bring people to the banquet. In front of everyone, Drake wouldn't dare to kidnap Debra, and she would be saved."Liza, wait! You can't go." Cathryn rushed after her, but Liza was already speeding away in her sports car.Cathryn panted because of her heart problem, grabbing the nearest security guard. "Liza has learned about Mr. Lowe's attendance at the banquet with Debra and is going to tell her father. You need to
"How is that possible? This place is crawling with your people," Debra said, taking a couple of steps forward.She caught a glimpse of a black car about 100 meters away. It was Marion, and she felt reassured.According to the tradition, Drake put a masquerade mask on Debra and wore a half mask on his face.Debra braced herself as they entered the gala. She had been to one such event before, so she wasn't as shocked this time.Drake said, "Hold onto my arm tightly, or I can't guarantee your safety."His words put Debra on high alert.Inside the venue, everything seemed normal at first, but she noticed that all the guests were men. There were no women, and the men were eyeing her lustfully.This made her uncomfortable, and she tightened her grip on Drake's arm.Across town at the Eaton Mansion, Juan watched as Garland struggled to do a handstand against the wall. Garland's face was flushed red as he groaned, "Are we done yet?""Not yet.""How much longer?""Three more hours.
Melody had been staying with them for days, refusing to leave. She claimed to be looking for Juan, but her actions suggested otherwise. She was constantly cooking and making tea for Bert, reminiscing about old times.Anyone with eyes could see her true intentions.However, Bert was still devoted to his late wife and would never be swayed by Melody.Juan replied, "Focus on your studies. Don't ask unnecessary questions."Just then, Liza's screams echoed through the house. "Dad! I want to break off the engagement with Drake."Garland covered his ears. "Don't mind her. That's my sister. She's always been spoiled. Just avoid her."Juan paid no attention until Liza shouted, "Dad, you must help me teach Debra a lesson. Not satisfied with having Marion, she is now seducing Drake. This is outrageous."Juan's eyes narrowed at the mention of Debra.Garland muttered, "Debra..."The name rang a bell. It seemed to be the woman who bought his news agency in Seamar City.Juan stood up and wa
Debra's eyes narrowed at this guy she'd never heard of.Michael had kept it under wraps, proving he had never fully trusted her."Mrs. Houston," Jason said, "I'm here for Mr. Austin to negotiate. He called this shareholder vote in the name of the biggest stakeholder. He's got the right to kick it off. Any objections?"Debra plopped into the head chair. "Cut the polite crap. Everyone's here. Objections or not, this vote's happening, right? No way it's that simple.""Mrs. Houston," Jason said coolly, "today's vote's straightforward: who's better suited as the McKinney Group CEO, you or Mr. Austin? Everyone here sees what you both bring. In the past two years, you've barely shown up. Mr. Austin ran the show, held a key role, and raked in profits. He's the clear pick for CEO.""So, you're saying I suck as the boss?" Debra shot back.Michael didn't even show, sending this random assistant instead. That already pissed her off.Now this guy's veiled jabs annoyed her even more."I'm ju
Debra's heart sank.Back when she'd teamed up with Michael, she had nothing, offering him Frazier Entertainment shares to seal the deal. Later, Frazier Entertainment merged into the McKinney Group, and she handed it off to him.To keep her identity hidden, she'd tossed him more shares. With Frazier Entertainment, he'd racked up 30%.She'd thought he deserved it. For two years, he'd run the show plenty. She'd never seen this coming."Madam, you there?" Ben's voice shook.This was huge and should stay quiet. Otherwise, the company would fall into chaos.Debra's blood ran cold. She hadn't expected Michael to go so far."I'll be there soon," she said, hanging up.She turned to Marion. "Michael scooped up loose shares. He's gunning for a vote as top shareholder."Over 40% wasn't half, but it made him the biggest player. Calling a vote was his right.Debra only had 40%. If 10% of the rest sided with Michael, he could oust her."Don't sweat it," Marion said. "We'll hit it together.
That shut everyone up.If Jordan was right, Drake was gambling with his neck."That's too risky. I've gotta drag him back." Debra spun to leave.Erica grabbed her. "Jordan's guys are on it. They'll ping us if they find him. You can't go out like this and become their target.""I'm not their focus anymore," Debra said. "They'll zero in on Drake."She looked at Marion. "Get your people searching. We need his trail fast, or he's dead."Once the Illuminati squeezed the stone's location out of Drake, they'd kill him.Orkgate was now controlled by Lara. Drake had no other value for them."On it," Marion said.They split up. Erica and Randy tapped their networks."Debra, don't freak," Jordan said. "Drake is not dumb. Injured like that, he couldn't have gone far. As long as he keeps that secret, they won't kill him."Debra nodded. "Hope he doesn't do anything stupid."She should've seen it coming. A proud guy like Drake couldn't handle being down for so long.His injuries were bru
Outside their room, Drake froze mid-knock.His head was down, and his expression was hidden. Eventually, his hand dropped, and he sighed.He turned around and shuffled downstairs, leaning on the wall. He was a broken mess now, unwilling to drag them down....Debra woke up the next morning, reaching for Marion.He wasn't there. She bolted upright, threw off the covers, and ran barefoot downstairs, shouting, "Marion?"In the hall, Marion and Jordan turned as she stumbled in, still in her pajamas.Marion rushed up, slipping off his slippers for her. "What's with the panic?""I didn't see you." She heaved a sigh of relief. "Thought you'd...""Any luck?" Jordan asked Kale, who'd just walked in.Kale shook his head. "Not yet.""What's up?" Debra asked, clocking everyone's grim faces."Drake's gone," Marion said. "No note, nothing. We're looking.""Did the cameras catch anything? Could it be the Illuminati...""Not them. He walked out himself.""Why the hell would he just up a
Debra jolted awake from a nightmare, her forehead slick with sweat."Still torn up about Michael?" Marion's voice came from beside her.She settled into his arms, finally feeling a little relieved. These past two months, they'd faced everything alone. She hadn't curled up with him like this in forever."It's my fault," she whispered. "If I hadn't trusted Michael so much, the Eaton family wouldn't have been a mess. Mr. Eaton Sr. wouldn't have been in the hospital.""It's your fault," Marion said, patting her back. "Even without your trust, the Illuminati would've found a way in. That was their goal.""I just can't wrap my head around why Michael's one of them," she said.She'd spent all night recalling the past, from meeting Michael to building the McKinney Group with him. He was key to its success, but everything had been a lie."Maybe he was never with us," Marion said. "The Illuminati's everywhere. Didn't you check his background when you teamed up?""I..." Debra faltered.S
"We're all in it for ourselves." Michael shrugged. "Jeffery did his part for the Illuminati, so I'll cut you some slack.He pushed the teacup to Juan. "But I don't buy it that you're all-in. Following in Jeffery's footsteps sounds nice, but you killed him, which shows your ruthless nature. We need people like you. I don't care if you're Debra's mole or chasing your angle. Save your energy. It's pointless. Just do your job and back us up. I won't say a word about it.""Should I thank you for it?" Juan scoffed.He'd thought Michael was forced into it, but now he saw how naïve that was.Though young, Michael was already a core member, suggesting his connection to the Illuminati dates back a long time.Only intelligent and influential ones could enter the core circle. That meant he hadn't defected midway.Michael sat down across from him. "Don't look at me like that. We're not the same, and you know it.""When'd you turn on Debra?" Juan asked."Doesn't matter," Michael said, smilin
It was true they were both members of the Illuminati, but Fermin never signed up to be a lapdog.Back then, he'd teamed up with them for mutual gain. But the Illuminati wanted more than a partnership. They wanted the Eaton family on a leash.When Fermin didn't bite, Michael added, "I saw Miss Eaton crying her eyes out. We go way back. Should I cheer her..."Before he could finish, Fermin's knife flashed to his throat, nicking him. Blood trickled, but it was just a scratch."Stay away from her," Fermin growled. "Touch her, and I'll end you.""I'm just being nice here," Michael chuckled. "But if you're not cool with it, I'll drop it. But those terms? Think twice. We only help our own. If you keep playing your own game, that heart goes elsewhere. And trust me, you won't find another match."Fermin hated to admit it, but Michael was speaking the truth. Without the Illuminati's help, he couldn't find a match for Bert's heart.He lowered the knife. "Fine, it's a deal. Get your people
She only had Fermin and Bert left in this world.She had no mom and no real friends. She couldn't lose Bert or watch Fermin turn into this.She didn't want Debra's crew hurt either.Fermin pulled her into a hug. "Don't worry. Dad will be fine. I'll make sure of it."His promise unleashed her tears. The hospital hallway echoed with her cries.Once she calmed down, Fermin had someone take her away.A guard stepped up. "Mr. Eaton, our master is waiting ahead.""You've tailed me this whole way," Fermin said coldly. "Gonna keep it up? I don't like shadows."The guards stayed silent, just following orders. If their boss said stick to Fermin, they'd die before leaving his side."Loyal dogs to your master," Fermin scoffed, brushing past them.He walked into an empty ward. A tall figure in a white shirt stood by the window."You've really opened my eyes," he said, surprised."I'm flattered, Mr. Eaton," Michael said, turning around.His crisp white shirt had dried bloodstains. Notic
Liza rushed to the ICU upon receiving the news.A bodyguard stopped her. "Mr. Eaton said no one gets near the room and disturbs the patient's rest."Liza smacked him, and he bowed his head.Her eyes were red, her vibe darker than ever. "That's my dad in there. Why can't I go in? Move!""Mr. Eaton forbids it. Please, don't make things hard for us," the bodyguard said, stuck.No one there dared to defy her. They all knew how much Fermin doted on her."I don't care," she snapped. "Step aside, or I'll have my brother skin you alive. Let's see if you still block me."Her threat chilled him. She might be bluffing, but Fermin wouldn't."What's the ruckus?" Fermin's voice cut through."Mr. Eaton." The bodyguard bowed his head."Didn't I tell you no one gets near?" Fermin's tone dripped danger.Coming with him was a group of elite guards. The bodyguard was daunted by their aura.Liza stepped forward. "Dad is in a bad condition. Why wouldn't you let me see him? Does this have anythin