Debra remained silent, which made Edgar believe his threats were starting to take effect.


    His tone softened, as if offering her a lifeline. "Think about it before you give any answer."


    He raised his ss of wine, prepared to take a sip, when Debra broke the silence.


    "You won''t dare."


    Edgar paused mid-motion, his eyes narrowing dangerously.


    "What did you just say?"


    His gaze grew darker, a silent promise of consequences lingering in the air, but Debra didn''t waver.


    "I said, you won''t dare," she repeated, tilting her head slightly. "Otherwise, you would''ve made your move already instead of negotiating with me here. If you make a move, it won''t just be the McKinney Group you''re fighting." "Is that so?"


    "I''m one of the McKinney Group''s shareholders and, as you know, the legal wife of Juan. Opposing me means opposing the Nichols family. But that''s just the beginning," Debra continued, her voice steady and measured. "The McKinney Group''s biggest strategic partner is the Potter Group. I have ties with Marion, and he''s a key yer there. Not to mention, the Houston family is closely linked with the Osborne family. Oh, and the Mathis family? They''re Marion''s rtives. So, by targeting me, you''re picking a fight with every major family in Seamar City."


    Edgar''s grip on his wine ss tightened, his knuckles turning white.


    Debra chuckled, her tone light but loaded with meaning. "Mr. Odom, this isn''t your city; your usual tactics won''t work here. And to be honest, all this effort to take down someone who isn''t even a threat to you? It''s not only a waste of time, but it could alsoe back to bite you."N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    "Enough!" Edgar snapped, cutting her off.


    He knew full well what going up against the McKinney Group would entail. But he couldn''t let Oscar rise to stardom and steal the spotlight.


    "Ms. Frazier, leave it or take it," he said finally.


    Debra didn''t even bat an eyelid. "No."


    Edgar''s patience was thinning, but Debra remainedposed. "But since you''re a guest in our city, this meabis on me. Please don''t refuse."


    Without waiting for a response, she downed the rest of her wine in one graceful motion. "If you''re not satisfied with how things went today, you''re wee to try


    elsewhere. I doubt you''ll have of


    more sess, though. The only


    person who stands to benefit at this point is the owner of this


    restaurant."


    Her words, dripping with sarcasm, were a deliberate p in the face. The loss to a woman gravely injured his pride.


    Standing up, Debra called out to Ben, who was waiting outside.


    "Looks like we''re done here. Have the waitstaff box up the leftovers. I think Mr. Odom likes the food here." "Yes, ma''am."


    Debra turned back to Edgar, a


    yful smile tugging at her lips as


    she observed his strained


    shattering soon echoed from inside


    the private room.


    Ben intended to say something, but Debra stopped him with a gesture.


    Once outside the restaurant, Ben spoke with concern. "Edgar is a lunatic. Why did you go out of your way to provoke him, madam?"