Outside the door, the maid inserted the spare key into the lock, blocking any movement from inside.


    "Help!" Debra cried out, pounding on the door.


    Downstairs, ring music drowned out any noise from upstairs. Rosalie, in a red dress, and Ralph were engrossed in an impromptu


    tango.


    "Don''t bother. Today, you''re mine." Erick advanced.


    Debra shoved him away, smashed a water ss, picked up a shard, and held it to her neck. "Don''te any closer, or I''ll kill myself. Then all your scheming with Rosalie will be in vain." Erick hesitated, realizing that he couldn''t let Debra die there. "Damn, you think you can threaten me?"


    He lunged forward to snatch the ss, but Debra didn''t give him a chance. Blood trickled from her neck, and Erick was startled, not daring to move further.


    Marion had been waiting outside the vi for a while. As their agreed-upon time approached, he called Debra but got no answer.


    ncing at the mansion, he spotted a woman leaning against a second-floor balcony, holding something in her hand. He recognized Debra''s silhouette and realized something was wrong. He got out of the car and stormed into the vi, his heart pounding with


    urgency.


    "Who are you? This is private property, and you''re trespassing. Security! "shouted the gardener upon seeing Marion rush in.


    Before security arrived, Marion booted open the door to the house.


    Inside, the music was ring, and Ralph was tipsy. Marion''s entrance surprised everyone.


    Rosalie was stunned, and Stanley''s face twisted with anger. If not for Marion, he wouldn''t have ended up in jail.


    Ralph quickly turned off the music. "Mr. Houston, what brings you here? This is a family gathering."


    Marion ignored the distractions. His eyes remained fixed on the room where Debra was. Then, amidst everyone''s shock, he rushed upstairs.


    Fearing her n''s failure, Rosalie urgently yelled at security, "What are you waiting for? Stop him!"


    "Yes, madam!" Several guards rushed up as Marion located the source of Debra''s voice.


    Outside the room, the maid looked terrified. "Who are you?"


    "Don''te any closer! Get lost!" Debra''s weak voice reached Marion''s


    ears.


    His gaze sharpened. "Open the door!"


    The maid trembled in fear and reached to open it. Erick roared, "Who allowed you to open it? You''re ruining everything."


    Marion rushed up and knocked him over.


    "Who the hell are you?" Erick cursed.


    He looked up and met Marion''s dark re. His face paled, and his voice trembled.


    "Mr. Houston?"Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    He found it hard to believe.


    Debra''s tension dissolved when she saw Marion. The shard slipped


    from her hand, and she copsed to the ground.