Their business rivalry aside, Juan''s personal life was no longer any of Debra''s concern. She was just about to walk away with Erica when she bumped into something solid.


    It was the broad chest of someone cloaked in ck. Debra looked up and saw a silver mask covering his face. Debra instinctively stepped back, while Erica quickly grabbed her arm, creating distance between them. Debra gave an apologetic smile and said, "I''m sorry. Did I hurt you?"


    "It''s fine." The man''s reply was slow and gravelly.


    His voice was raspy, as though his throat had been ravaged by fire. His age was impossible to determine.


    Erica, eyeing the man warily, tugged on Debra''s sleeve. "Sorry, sir, but we''ve got matters to attend to. Excuse us." Debra nodded, but as they brushed past the man, she heard a low, hoarse whisper, just loud enough for her ears alone. "Leave. Now."


    She froze, her heart skipping a beat. When she turned to look back, the man had already disappeared into the crowd.


    "Debra, stop staring." Erica hissed. "This ce is full of big shots tonight. Judging by his mask, he''s probably just a bodyguard for some wealthy guest. You''re the star here; no need to mix with the likes of him." "Besides," Erica added in a low whisper, "I smelled something foul when he passed by. Like rotting flesh."


    Debra''s stomach turned. She wondered if that mask and voice were hiding something far worse than just scars.


    She had heard that some wealthy people hire highly skilled bodyguards to protect them, paying these bodyguards ten times the sry of ordinary ones, with the job being extremely dangerous.


    She just didn''t understand why such a man warned her of danger and told her to leave the event.


    Erica waved it off. "Don''t worry. These events draw all kinds of strange people. Just steer clear of anyone shady."


    Debra nodded, but the encounter lingered in her thoughts.


    The business that the Houston family had been involved in was inherently dangerous, and they had countless enemies.


    Someone might take the chance to cause trouble here tonight.


    Just then, a familiar voice rang out, interrupting her thoughts.


    "Debra."


    She turned to see Michael, standing off to the side with a champagne ss in hand.


    "I didn''t think you''d make it," she said.


    Michael shrugged casually. "Couldn''t miss the engagement of my favorite business partner, could I? Though it seems I''ve arrived a littlete. Looks like I missed all the drama. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    The exorbitant gifts from the Mathis family, the Osborne family, and the Potter family had shocked the entire city. Compared to these, what he had to offer seemed insignificant.


    Michael pulled out a gift from his pocket and said, "It''s not much, but congrattions. Here''s to a happy engagement."