Melody shot up, her expression turning solemn. "Do you realize what you're saying?""Well, I'm thinking of the best interests of you and the Nichols family. If Debra is alive, Juan will never let her go. Who knows what he'll do for her in the future?"Seeing Melody waver, Shelia sighed dramatically. "Juan is the president of the Nichols Group, yet he embarrassed himself by appearing on some reality show. The entire elite circle is laughing at him. He's been bewitched by Debra. He's not even thinking straight anymore. What's next for him if this goes on?"Melody's face fell, just as Shelia had expected.Melody was already furious with Juan for participating in that reality show, all for Debra. In their world, entertainers were nothing more than tools for amusement. Juan's reckless behavior had made her the laughingstock among her peers. Now that Shelia had brought this all back into focus, Melody was more determined than ever to rid them of Debra. Noticing the gleam in Shelia'
Therefore, when Melody summoned her, Violet came without hesitation.Melody said, "Well then, I won't beat around the bush."Sophie handed Violet a cup of tea. Taking it, Violet smiled and said, "We're family, Melody. I'll do everything within my power to help you.""I want you to get rid of someone for me."Violet choked on her tea, sputtering, "Get rid of someone?""I know your husband does business overseas, so you must have connections. Plus, don't they allow guns over there? You should have people who can handle this kind of thing, right?" Melody said.Violet forced a smile and replied, "Well, yes, there are people who could do that. But who is it that has upset you so much?""Who else could it be? It's Debra," Melody huffed.Everything would have been fine if Debra had been dead. But she was alive. Her survival meant trouble for the Nichols family.Violet's face turned pale. "Debra... She's not an easy person to deal with. I heard she died while filming a show. Why would
Andrew and Marion had been holed up on the island villa, discussing their strategy."I'm leaving," Marion said.Andrew frowned. "You don't even know where she is. What good will it do to leave now?"Just then, Randy burst through the door. "She's alive."His words attracted immediate attention.Marion immediately stood up. "What do you mean?""Check the news. Haven't you been following it? Debra just posted on social media," Randy quickly replied, placing his phone in front of them.The butler searched for the relevant news and placed the phone in front of Andrew. "Sir, take a look."The post read, [All is well. The gunshots were just for show. I've been down with a high fever, so I've been out of it for a bit. Thanks for the concern, but I'm alive and kicking.]Attached was a selfie of Debra. Though it was just a selfie, in the background, they could faintly see a dining table and the décor behind her."It's a cruise ship," Andrew said, recognizing the surroundings."The ke
"Drake's phone," Andrew muttered.Randy was struck by a realization. "Wow! Debra posted that update using Drake's phone. And she even customized the phone model?"And Drake didn't notice a thing.Andrew explained, "Drake isn't a fan of electronic gadgets. He probably doesn't know much about their little features. Debra must have taken advantage of his lack of attention to make the changes, just to let us know that she's using his phone."Randy mused, "Drake's phone, huh? But even if someone isn't into gadgets, they can't avoid using phones. There might be some important secrets stored on that phone. If we can prove it's Drake's phone, it would confirm that he's behind the abduction. Debra is so smart."Andrew nodded. "Alright, we've all been at this for days. Let's pack up and catch the earliest flight home.""Okay."The next morning, Melody took out a few pieces of jewelry, each of considerable value. Sophie saw it at the door of the bedroom and hurried over with a smile."Mrs
Debra stiffened at the voice. She tried to retreat to her cabin, but Drake quickly blocked her path."Mr. Lowe, I'm not feeling well. Can I go rest?" she asked, hiding her disdain.The last thing she wanted was to deal with him right now. Her message had already been sent out; Marion must have noticed by now. As soon as the ship reached land, she would be able to escape Drake's clutches.Drake scrutinized her face. His eyes were cold and unfathomable.His gaze made Debra uneasy. When he stepped closer, she immediately stepped back, maintaining a safe distance.Her patience ran out. "What do you want?""Go get her some medicine," Drake ordered without glancing at Lara.Lara knew better than to disobey. She shot a hesitant glance at Debra before mumbling, "Yes, sir."Only after Lara was gone did Debra speak again. "Did you send her away because you have something to say to me?"Drake stepped closer, and Debra, filled with revulsion, stepped back.He raised an eyebrow and took a
Suddenly, Debra recalled something Drake had mentioned two days ago.She hurried to the door and opened it.Lara asked, "Ms. Frazier, is everything alright?"Forcing a smile to mask her anxiety, Debra replied, "I'm not feeling well. I think I need some motion sickness pills.""Of course, Ms. Frazier. I'll go grab some from the doctor.""Wait.""Yes, Ms. Frazier?""Wasn't the ship supposed to dock in three days? Why haven't we reached the port yet?""I'm not sure. The course is up to Mr. Lowe."Debra's heart skipped a beat. She wondered if Drake had found out about her plans and changed the route subsequently."Alright, that's fine. You can go now.""Alright."Once Lara had left to fetch the medicine, Debra stepped outside her room.Peter appeared from around the corner and deliberately bumped into her shoulder as they crossed paths.Debra stumbled from the impact, and Peter spoke with false innocence. "Oops, I didn't see you there. Are you okay?"Seeing the malicious gli
Seeing how terrified Lara was, Peter felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.All the frustration he had endured from Debra and Drake the past few days bubbled to the surface. He took a step forward and yanked Lara to her feet.She shrieked in fear, turning as white as a sheet.Peter patted her cheek and spoke playfully. "Well, I didn't notice before, but you're quite a pretty little thing. If you don't want to swim with the sharks, you'll learn to please me. If I'm in a good mood, maybe I'll let you go."Lara's body went rigid at his words.Debra stood up and approached them. Her fingers slid down his chest."Come on, she's just a maid. If you're upset with me, taking it out on her seems beneath you, don't you think?"Peter, a seasoned player when it came to women, immediately picked up on Debra's sudden change in demeanor. His eyes traveled over her, taking in the sight of her toned legs beneath her denim shorts and the way her white tank top hugged her curves.Debra was u
Peter's face loomed closer, his hands tearing at Debra's blouse.The ripping sound of fabric seemed to thrill him further as he lifted the whip and lashed it down hard on her.Debra screamed in panic. "Help! Somebody, help me."Just then, the door burst open. Peter jumped, frantically pulling up his pants."Damn, who the hell is ruining the fun?"He hadn't even finished his cursing when he spotted a brooding Drake at the door."M-Mr. Lowe," Peter stammered, collapsing to the floor.Debra let out a shaky breath. Drake had arrived just in time."Sir, this is all a misunderstanding," Peter stammered, pointing at Debra. "It was her. She came onto me."At that moment, Debra's wrist was cuffed to the bedpost, her face streaked with tears. Her clothes were torn apart.She hurriedly covered her chest, purposefully revealing the whip marks on her arm.Peter's words died in his throat. Given how things looked, no one would believe him.He suddenly realized he'd been set up by Debra.
Drake, sitting at the main table, had a mouthful of wine and frowned. "What's the relationship between Michael and Debra? Why is he acting like her family?""Probably just a boss-subordinate relationship," Kale replied.Drake put his glass down. "Well, that makes sense. The Frazier family has no one left. Can't exactly pull Ralph out of prison.""You're right, boss."The music in the venue was so loud it felt like the sound waves were going to shatter their eardrums."Who designed this wedding?""I'm not sure."Drake took a deep breath. If he were not bound by etiquette, he would have turned around and left by now."Mr. Houston, do you take Ms. Frazier to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love her for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, forsaking all others, and being faithful to her for as long as you both shall live?""I do.""Ms. Frazier, do you take Mr. Houston to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love him for better or for worse, in
"It's time to walk in," Erica exclaimed, helping Debra to her feet.Liza suddenly looked flustered. "What am I supposed to do?""We just walk on either side of the bride. The flower kids will carry her train, so don't worry about it," Erica reassured her.Right then, two children pushed the door open. Their adorable looks melted Erica's heart."Whose little angels are these? Caleb did such a good job," she said.The flower children, a boy and a girl, looked like porcelain dolls. But just as Erica reached out to them, the girl protested, "Lady, you'll smudge my foundation.""Foundation?" Erica blinked, surprised that this little girl knew about cosmetics.Before she could respond, the boy chimed in, "Lady, please don't interrupt our work."The two kids walked over to Debra and carefully lifted her train.Erica felt slighted. "You..." Before she could finish, Liza tugged her arm. "The wedding is about to start. If you make them cry, who's going to carry the train?"Erica nod
If anyone had checked, they would've known the invitation wasn't meant for Drake.Luckily, the Houston family didn't want to make a scene and let them in.Outside the venue, the robbed guest sighed in the cold and left. He was late, giving Drake a chance to take his invitation.It was unbelievable that a famous man like Drake would stoop so low to rob others.Backstage, Debra sat as the artist touched up her makeup. Once it was done, Erica asked, "Have you memorized the ceremony flow? Want to go over the script again?"Debra saw her nervousness in the mirror and laughed, "Why are you even more nervous than me?""Because I've never been a bridesmaid before. What if I mess up on stage?" Erica worried."You won't. Bridesmaids don't even have to speak," Debra reassured her.Just then, footsteps sounded outside. Debra looked over and saw Garland and Liza coming in."What are you doing here instead of staying at the main table?" Erica asked."It's my brother. He said he couldn't ea
Caleb took a deep breath, thinking it was Marion's arrangement.But Drake was a troublemaker, not suitable for the happy occasion.Those around Caleb tried to soothe him."Mr. Houston Sr., today's a joyful day. Turning someone away who came to congratulate us would ruin the mood.""Exactly. Why not let Mr. Lowe come in and have a drink?"Caleb thought about it and tacitly approved. The guards surrounding Drake quickly dispersed."Mr. Lowe, this way," the butler said, stepping forward to guide him.Drake casually looked around, but the guests shrank back, uneasy with his presence.Ignoring their reactions, Drake pointed to the table where Caleb was seated."I want to sit there.""Mr. Lowe, that's the main table, reserved for family members only.""Michael counts as family? And what about Randy? Erica is just a distant relative, right? Then there are Fermin and Liza. Since when did they join the Houston family?"Drake was adamant about it. "Let me sit at that table, or my men
Randy's interest was piqued. "Count me in. I'll be there to bear witness to the gift."Garland echoed, "Me too."Liza raised her hand. "Same here."Erica smacked them on the head. "It's their wedding night. You want to cause a ruckus in their bridal chamber?"The three shrank back, not daring to say another word."Chop chop," Erica called for attention. "The guests will be taking their seats soon. Get ready for the big event."Together with Liza, she escorted Debra backstage. In the meantime, the guests began to take their seats.The Houston family had few members, and the Frazier family had no relatives left. So, at the main table, besides Caleb, there were only Andrew, Randy, Erica, Michael, Garland, and Liza to fill the seats.Liza looked around the grand hall and whispered, "Aren't castle weddings usually held in a church with a priest? Why does this feel hybrid?""Stumped me," Garland muttered, equally puzzled.The stage was so big, and he wondered if there would be a co
Debra smiled and stretched out her arms. Marion scooped her up and held her in his arms."The wedding dress!" Randy hurried behind them.The train of the wedding dress prepared by Caleb was such a hassle. It had to be held up the entire way."Wait." Erica lifted her skirt and dragged Liza down the stairs with her.Garland hurried to follow, while Michael shook his head helplessly. This pickup was really something.The wedding vehicle was a pumpkin carriage. Once Marion set her inside, Debra pointed at the two white horses at the front."Wow! Now this is flashy.""Grandpa prepared it.""This is a bit embarrassing."It was like something from a fairy tale. Who would've thought that Caleb, at his age, still had such a childlike heart?In a rickshaw, Erica marveled, "Wow, Caleb is a genius."Sitting beside her, Randy asked, "Do you like it?""It's nice and creative. I love it," Erica replied with a broad smile.Randy looked at her and asked, "How about we use this for our wedd
"Sure. What's the test?" Marion replied."Quick Q&A." Erica fired away, "What was your first impression of the bride?""She was so cute," Marion replied."What?" Randy was taken aback. "You thought she was cute the first time you saw her?"That didn't sound right. Randy remembered the first time Marion saw Debra. It was outside an auction, and Debra had an aura about her, a presence that made her seem like a queen ready to take down a rival.Cute? Not quite.Garland was equally puzzled. Debra was good-looking. But cute? That was a stretch.Erica scratched her chin, not entirely satisfied with the answer, but she figured love was blind.So, she moved on to the next question. "If your first love and your wife both fell into the water, who would you save?""Debra is my first love," Marion answered."That's too easy," Randy chimed in, frustrated. "Up the ante."Erica struggled. "I don't know what to ask. Should we move on to the next round?"She pulled out a set of bizarre food
"They're coming." Erica rushed to close the door.Liza was puzzled. "The groom is here to pick up the bride? Why are you closing the door?""You don't get it," Erica said, piling up everything she could find to block the door. "This is tradition.""What kind of tradition?" Liza asked."You wouldn't understand," Erica replied. "Just don't let those guys in easily.""But among them is your cousin.""True, but not today.""But if you don't let them in, how are they supposed to take the bride away? What if the wedding ceremony is delayed?"Erica paused. "Oh, right. When can I let Marion take you away?"Debra shook her head. This was her first time having a wedding. No one had taught her these customs before.Erica pulled out her phone and started searching online. "Dammit. Network lag."Just then, a beeping sound echoed outside, and the door opened.Randy poked his head in, cautiously checking for any traps. Then he entered the room and announced, "Marion's here to pick up the
Debra changed into her wedding dress.The stylist and makeup artist marveled, "Madam, you look stunning in this dress. Forget red-carpet celebrities. None of them can compare to you."Debra felt flattered, and Michael smiled, "This dress suits you perfectly.""Thank you."Michael glanced at the brightening sky outside. "It's about time. I'd like to play the role of your family and walk you out."There was hardly anyone else left in the Frazier family.Debra recalled all the ups and downs. Michael had always been the backbone of the company and her most reliable partner."In my mind, you're always my family," she said.Michael chuckled, "If you hadn't agreed to let me walk you out, I would've been upset."The bridal convoy pulled up outside. Erica saw it through the window and exclaimed, "Here they are. Go block the door."Debra blinked. "Block the door?"Erica quickly directed the stylist and makeup artist to barricade the door. Then, with lightning speed, she pulled Debra t