Debra fell silent, her thoughts racing. Ralph listened to their conversation and asked, “Catty? Who is she?”

“An acquaintance of Marion’s,” Debra replied vaguely.

Ralph understood the implication and spoke earnestly. “Your marriage with Jen has already failed. To put it bluntly, Marion is not a good match, either. You should end things with him as soon as possible.”

He continued, “Consider Ryan’s game. Think about Marion and the way Marion feels about you. But he is a man with a past, and that past is stained with blood.” Ralph said with concern. “All I want is for you to be happy and safe. A life with Marion will never be tranquil. If there’s even a shred of doubt, don’t walk down that aisle. Our family has more than enough wealth to ensure you a comfortable life.”

Debra offered him a reassuring smile. “I understand your concerns, Uncle Ralph. But please, focus on your recovery. I can take care of myself.”

Ralph nodded in agreement. Stepping out of the hospital room, Debra spotted Marion and Randy deep in conversation at the far end of the corridor. She decided not to interrupt them. Ralph’s words echoed in her mind, casting a shadow of doubt over her feelings for Marion.

“Debra!” A voice suddenly came from behind her. Debra turned to see Erica rushing over, still dressed in her evening gown and heels. Erica enveloped her in a tight hug. “I saw the news. Are you alright? Did that creep hurt you?”

“No, I’m fine,” Debra replied.

Erica let out a sigh of relief. “You have no idea how worried I was. I wanted to come find you last night, but Randy insisted it wasn’t safe. I couldn’t understand what he meant—who would be foolish enough to cause trouble at a time like this?” She swung her fist.

Debra chuckled. “So, you stayed here all night?”

“Yes,” Erica confirmed. “Randy left to help Marion with something, but he returned quickly.” She leaned in closer, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “You won’t believe how much money Cathryn spent last night—tens of thousands, all from Marion’s account.”

Debra felt a pang of unease, but she brushed it off quickly.

Erica continued, “But don’t worry. I did some digging. Marion and Cathryn aren’t what you think.”

Debra bit her lip, her curiosity piqued. “Who is Cathryn, really?”

Erica glanced around before speaking. “The Bernard family was once highly respected abroad. Marion caught Mr. Bernard’s eye early on, and that connection helped launch his career overseas. So, Marion owed a lot to Mr. Bernard. Later, when Marion started his own business, the Bernard family fell into decline. After Mr. Bernard passed away, Marion acquired their company.”

Debra’s eyes widened. “So, the Bernard family’s company now belongs to Marion?”

Erica nodded. “Cathryn is Mr. Bernard’s only daughter. Mr. Bernard had hoped Marion would repay his kindness by taking care of Cathryn financially. But Cathryn seems to have taken that to mean something more—she thinks she’s Marion’s fiancée.” Erica tapped her temple, saying, “I suspect she has mental problems.”

Suddenly, a frail voice came from behind them. “Marion…”

Debra turned to see Cathryn standing there, dressed in a hospital gown. Her face was pale and gaunt. She was trying to make her way towards him, but Randy intercepted her. “You shouldn’t be out of bed. Doctor’s orders. Let me help you.” He had been concerned about her fainting again.

“I need to talk to you alone,” Cathryn pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes were brimming with tears. Marion’s gaze was elsewhere, and he completely ignored her plea.

Cathryn followed his gaze to see Debra standing behind her. She bit her lip, a pang of jealousy coursing through her.

Randy, noticing Debra as well, muttered under his breath, “Oh gosh, this is turning into a battle.”

With a sudden burst of determination, Cathryn walked up to Debra and presented her hand. “Ms. Frazier, can you ask Marion to talk to me? I need to…” She was drawing the attention of people nearby. Whispers echoed through the gathering crowd.

Randy rushed over, trying to help her up. “Miss Bernard, please calm down.” Cathryn held her ground, surprisingly strong despite her frail appearance. Randy, towering over her, struggled to lift her. “That’s not up to me. Ask him, not me.”

Her composure surprised Debra, who began speculating about the situation. Debra then reached along to pull at Cathryn’s hand. “If you’re going to make a scene, then you will also answer the questions. But either way, I am calling the police to handle this.”

Randy, unnerved by her resolve, helped her up, giving her a way out of the situation she had created. It was just a test of losing Marion. “A Frazier, hm… sorry,” she whispered.

Debra interrupted. “I prefer not to be called Mrs. Nichols. Please call me Ms. Frazier from now on.”

“Okay, Ms. Frazier,” Cathryn replied, her face filled with grievance.

Erica couldn’t stand Cathryn’s pitiful act any longer. “No one owes her anything!”

As Cathryn started to walk back towards Marion, Erica rushed to stop her. However, Debra grabbed Erica’s arm, holding her back.

“Debra, why are you stopping me?” Erica asked, frustration evident in her voice.

“If she wants to clarify things with Marion, let her do it,” Debra replied.