Debra''s smile slowly faded.


    "Shameless? Me? Perhaps your memory is failing you. When Juan cheated on me with Shelia, didn''t you once say, ''What man doesn''t fool around a little?'' Why does the tune change when it''s a woman in question?" "Men and women aren''t the same."


    "You sure are hard on your own gender."


    She knew what kind of person Melody was. She didn''t want to waste any more time arguing. Her tone turned cold and distant.


    "If you''re here to talk about that, then I think we''re done. I have work to do, so I won''t see you out."


    Melody''s temper red. She mmed her hand down on the desk.


    "I''m giving you a chance here. Don''t you dare be so ungrateful."


    "A chance? What kind of chance?"


    Debra leaned back in her chair, calmly watching Melody puff herself up with righteous indignation.


    Melody snorted, "You know just how many women would kill to marry into the Nichols family, don''t you? The only reason you''re wearing the title of Mrs. Nichols? Juan favors you. But if I were to get proof of your little dalliances with other men, do you think he''d still let you hold onto that title?"


    Debra propped her chin on her hand and looked at Melody provocatively.


    "Go ahead and try."


    "So, you''ve really decided to throw in your lot with Tracy? Fine. If you''re willing to throw away everything the Nichols family gave you just to trust an outsider, then I swear, you''ll regret it."


    With those words, Melody stormed out of the office.


    Ben greeted her with a smile, only to be met with a haughty snort. Once


    Meloes out of sight, he walkedN?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    into the office, where Debra was sitting leisurely in her chair


    "I''m worried she won''t leave it at that. This might just be the beginning."


    "She won''t dare challenge me head-on. But behind my back, she''s likely to pull some strings. Keep a close eye on her. She''s sly, and I wouldn''t put it past her to try digging up dirt on me, maybe hoping to catch me cheating during the marriage. She''ll try to use that to force me and Juan to divorce, or worse. If she can make it public and drag my name through the mud, she''ll have the ammunition she needs. The Nichols family''s elders would jump at the chance to push me out of this position. The minute they do, I''ll be disgraced."


    "You think she''d go that far? I mean, no matter what, you are family."


    "She''s heartless, and I''ve seen it firsthand."


    No one knew Melody''s true nature better than Debra. Her kind image was just an act.


    "I''ll make sure someone keeps a


    close watch


    any her. If sheet


    any moves, I''ll let you know immediately."


    "Good."


    "By the way, about the debut we discussed earlier..."


    "Ugh, I''m getting a headache."


    Debra ced a hand on her forehead, her expression twisting as though in pain.


    "Madam, are you okay? Should I call a doctor?"


    "No need. I''ll be fine. It''s just a headache. I''ll talk to Andrew in a couple of days."


    "But his car has been parked outside for quite some time now."


    "Wait, what? Since when?"