After hearing Drake''s recount of his experiences in Orkgate, Debra frowned and said, "Great wisdom behind a dumb appearance, right?"


    "Come on. Were you even listening to me? And do I look dumb to you?" Drake huffed.


    "That was apliment."


    "Ugh."


    "Alright. Leave this neer to us. You just focus on recovering. Once you''re better, we''ll need you to take back the Lowe Group."


    Debra stood up, ready to leave.


    "Debra."


    "Anything else?"


    "If you must suspect someone, then suspect Juan."


    "Juan?"


    Debra was surprised at first and then remembered a deal Drake had once made with Juan.


    Juan had stepped in, iming to coborate with the Lowe Group, but that was a one-time thing.


    "Didn''t you work with him?"


    "Not me. It was a deal between the Lowe Group and him. On the night he saved you, he came to me with a proposal."


    "What did he promise you?"


    "He promised to secure my position in Seamar City. The Nichols Group would be the most suitable partner for me. But that was just part of his n. Even you became a pawn in his game."


    Debra wasn''t surprised because that was exactly the kind of person Juan


    was. Once, she had been na?ve.


    enough to think he had changed, but he hadn''t.


    He was chosen to be the leader for a reason. He''d sacrifice everything just for the interests of the Nichols family.


    "Good to know," she said, turning to leave.


    Drake called after her, "If you want to figure this out, you''d better go ask him."


    The door closed.


    He leaned back against the bed, closed his eyes, and murmured, "Terrible taste in men."


    Debra wandered into the courtyard


    and stared at the red flowers


    l.ne


    blooming in the garden. Memories of long ago surfaced. Back then, both Juan and she were little.


    He held her hand and walked her home. The small gesture nted a strange sense of reliance in her heart.


    When she grew older, she met Juan again and could not hide her feelings.


    She was full of hope at first and disillusioned in the end. It had taken the entire time of herst time to see the truth.


    When she thought she had finally understood him, he was hidden more beneath the surface.


    "Could it really be him?" she muttered to herself.


    There was no answer.


    She looked up, her gazending on a swing ahead. For some reason, the sight made her heart skip.


    She walked over and pushed the swing. Something about it felt so familiar.