Debra brushed off Marion''s joke, but the next morning, Seamar City was abuzz with an astonishing rumor.


    Caleb had relinquished control of the entire Houston family assets to Marion, propelling him to the head of the family overnight.Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    When Debra saw the news, she was taken aback. Caleb was a cunning and calcting man; he wouldn''t surrender his power without a reason.


    Marion must have done something topel Caleb to hand ove he reins of the Houston family.


    The Houston family, despite their lower profile in recent years, still wielded significant influence in Seamar City. ording to the timeline from her previous life, Marion shouldn''t have been recognized as the sessor for another three years. Yet, here they were, with Marion acknowledged as the heir and in control of all family assets ahead of schedule. Debra was naturally astonished.


    This sudden shift in power dynamics meant that the inevitable conflict between Marion and Juan was now imminent. With the recent blows from the McKinney Group, Juan was likely no match for Marion''s newly acquired influence and resources. Meanwhile, Juan received the hospital''s test results, confirming Shelia''s pregnancy. The timeline indicated that the child was indeed his.


    In the grand hall of the Nichols family estate, Joe escorted Shelia to stand before Juan. The atmosphere was tense, and Melody had been promptly informed of the situation. Standing behind her, Melody wore a sullen expression, her jealousy barely concealed. Now that Debra was finally out of the picture, another woman was


    staking a im on Juan.


    It seemed her ambitions to be Juan''s wife were slipping further


    out of reach.


    Juan sat on the sofa, his eyes fixed on the test results. Melody broke the silence, her voice steady yet concerned.


    "Juan, is this true?"


    Juan remained silent, his jaw clenched. Melody understo


    that Juan


    and Shelia had indeed been involved, and the child was likely his.


    Shelia, seizing the opportunity, spoke up. "Juan, I''m carrying your first child, and Mrs. Nichols Sr. has been longing for a great-grandson. You wouldn''t want to disappoint her, would you?"


    Juan''s frown deepened. Melody had been eagerly awaiting news of a great-grandchild, her hopes pinned on Debra. But months had passed since their marriage, and there had been no announcement. The


    possibility of a great-grandson, even under these circumstances, was not something Melody could easily dismiss.


    Juan''s tone was nd as he addressed Joe, "Take her to the hospital and terminate the pregnancy."


    Shelia gasped, her hands instinctively protecting her belly. "Juan, are you crazy? This is your child!" The child was also herst straw. She would never let Juan do that to


    her.


    Melody frowned, her disapproval evident. "This is your first child, Juan. How can you be so heartless?"


    "I will never have a child with any woman other than Debra," Juan


    ed firmly.


    ebra is already dead, and this is not up to you," Melody argued, her


    #75 BONUS


    gaze shifting to Shelia''s belly.


    Her resolve was firm. "Since Shelia is pregnant, let her stay here. We''ll find out if the baby is truly of the Nichols family''s bloodline."


    Juan sulked, protesting, "Grandma, this matter..."


    Melody cut him off with a stern look. "No matter what, this child belongs to the Nichols family and cannot be abandoned."