"I don''t know," Shelia replied, her face turning pale. "It can''t be that the Frazier family is stronger than us now."


    The Nichols family had always been the dominant force in Seamar City. Everyone in the business circle knew that.


    The Frazier family, on the other hand; had long been in decline. She didn''t know why Juan even suggested that they were now a force to be reckoned with.


    "Mrs. Nichols Sr., you disrupted all of Mr. Nichols'' ns today," Joe said in frustration before chasing after Juan.


    "Mrs. Nichols Sr., don''t take it to heart. It''s all..." Shelia started, trying to cate Melody.


    But thetter pped her across the face.


    Melody snapped, "It''s all because you seduced Juan. Or there wouldn''t have been such a scandal."


    Shelia was furious, but she dared not say a word. After all, she wasn''t married to Juan yet and still needed Melody''s help to secure her position.


    She bit her lip, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke. "I know my rtionship with Juan isn''t honorable, but that night, it was Juan who forced me. Now, I''m carrying his child. We can''t let the child be without a family name and unable to enter the family, can we?" Melody, who valued bloodline above all else, finally calmed down a bit. "If Debra had a child back then, do you think there would be any ce for you now?"


    With that, she turned and began to walk away. Shelia wasn''t happy about it, but she didn''t dare defy Melody.


    She immediately followed behind Melody and said, "Mrs. Nichols Sr., don''t worry. Once Juan and I are married, I will help him with his work. After all, I graduated from Arcane Academy and was sponsored by Juan. I won''t forget his kindness and will take good care of you. If you want, I can stay at home and raise our children."All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Melody, who looked down on women of Shelia''s background, didn''t bother responding to her words.


    In her car, Debra watched as Melody deliberately left Shelia outside. She found the scene amusing.


    Melody hadn''t changed at all, still looking down on those she deemed beneath her. Even though she knew Shelia was pregnant, to her, Shelia was just a pawn in her game. Once the child was born, Melody might even discard Shelia at will. She was a master at making empty promises.


    Michael, sitting beside Debra, spoke up. "Did you never intend to cooperate with the Nichols family from the start?"


    "Never," Debra replied. "Cooperating with the Nichols family once leads to more cooperation. It''s better toe up with a n to cut off their interest."


    Michael looked at her, his expression unreadable. "I don''t know if I should say your methods are brilliant


    or that you are ruthless, considering you were once married to him."


    Debra replied, "We were only nominally married. He never showed any mercy to me, so why should I show any to him?"


    She turned to the driver, ordering, "Drive and drop Michael home first."


    "Yes, madam," the driver replied, pulling down his hat slightly.


    ww


    Debra saw his actions in the rearview mirror. She frowned. "You''re not our driver."


    27