"Happy birthday, Debra!"


    "Thank..."


    Before Debra could finish her sentence, a voice like nails on a chalkboard echoed through the mall. "Booking out the whole mall? Quite the spectacle."


    The crowd parted as Melody Nichols swept in, her eyes locked onto Debra like a hawk zeroing in on its prey. Behind her, a squadron of bodyguards swiftly secured the area, drawing curious stares from onlookers. Debra''s smile faded faster than a snowke in summer.


    "Ms. Frazier, wasn''t it you who was so eager to divorce Juan? And now, here you are, coaxing him into throwing you thisvish birthday party. Is your family fortune running dry? Hoping to weasel your way back into the Nichols'' good graces?" Melody scoffed, her eyes shing with contempt. "Keep dreaming."All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    Juan''s expression darkened like a storm cloud. "Grandma..."


    Joe rushed in, taken aback by the scene unfolding before him. Melody, it seemed, had strong-armed her way into Juan''s financial records and tracked them down to the mall.


    "Mrs. Nichols Sr.," Joe interjected, trying to defuse the situation. "This is a public ce. Perhaps we should discuss this elsewhere."


    Melody silenced him with a withering nce. "You''re just apdog, always at Juan''s heels."


    Joe flushed with embarrassment, stepping aside in defeat.


    Juan stepped forward. "Grandma, this was my decision. I wanted to throw this party for Debra. She''s not at fault here."


    "Not at fault? Have you taken leave of your senses? Squandering money on this gold digger? Have you forgotten what she said publicly? How did she humiliate our family? Melody jabbed a finger at Debra, her voice shaking with anger. "Now that her family is broke, she''s trying to use you as her meal ticket back to the top. Can''t you see that?


    Juan''s frown deepened. "Grandma, I don''t care what she thinks or feels for me. She''s the only one for me. The position of Mrs. Nichols is hers, and hers alone."


    *Juan, you''re blinded by love." Hester chimed in, her voice shrill as she pointed at Debra. "This woman is after your money. How can you be with someone so iconmixing?"


    "I don''t need you to teach me what to do." Juan snapped


    lester recolied under his cial gaze The onlookers expressions morphed into a mix of cumosity and condemnation


    Debra, with all the grace the could muster ced the bouquet on a nearby gift box." Mhe Michols, thank you for the birthday surprise. Please have Joe send me the bill cover all the expenses." Dedra.


    Juan started, but Melody cut him off with a short "That''s for the best. Since you''ve already filed for divorce, let''s sever all thes, And don''t think of squeezing another cent


    Juan''s face was a mack of grim determination ''Grandma, you should leave now."


    Melody''s eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Are you going to dismiss your grandmother?