Chapter 474

The next morning, Debra awoke in her apartment to several news notifications. Headlines blared reports that Shelia, who had recently suffered a miscarriage, had been taken from the hospital to the police station amid public scrutiny. The city buzzed with speculation about the truth behind Shelia’s miscarriage and subsequent arrest. Many speculated that Juan, still infatuated with Shelia, had spent a fortune to bail her out.

Debra’s phone chimed with an incoming call. She answered to see Erica’s name flashing on the screen. “Debra, I’m at the Nichols Group headquarters with a hoe. Do you want to join me?”

“What?” Debra’s head was still groggy, and she struggled to comprehend. Once the information registered, she leaped out of bed, quickly dressing as she replied, “Don’t act rashly. I’m on my way.”

Marion had been preoccupied with family matters and had been summoned by Caleb, leaving Erica to her own devices. In Seamar City, there was nothing Erica couldn’t accomplish.

Debra drove as fast as she dared. As she pulled up to the building, shouting erupted in her car. “What’s Juan thinking? Bailing Shelia out? Is he out of his mind?”

She didn’t know much about what had happened the previous night. Randy, sitting in the passenger seat, tried to calm her down. “Keep it down. We’re on the Nichols family’s turf.”

“So what? Does that mean we can’t speak? He says he likes Debra, but look at this.”

“Alright, let’s not make things worse.”

Unwilling to relent, Erica turned to Debra. “You made the right choice, not picking him. Marion is way better.”

“Juan always liked Shelia. I’m not surprised by his actions, so don’t be too angry,” Debra offered a small smile. “Alright, you’ve vented your anger. Go home now and take the hoe with you.”

“What exactly happened last night? I got the invitation but didn’t go. How dare they bully you like that? Shelia lost her baby when she tried to set you up, didn’t she?”

Erica quickly pieced things together. She knew Debra wouldn’t be easily bullied and figured Debra had exposed Shelia’s scheme at the dinner, leading to Shelia being taken away that morning.

Debra nodded. “Shelia and Edgar teamed up to ruin me, but they failed. I had Sophie install cameras in the house to prevent Shelia from framing me, but…”

She hadn’t expected Juan to bail Shelia out. It seemed Shelia still held some sway over him, contrasting sharply with Juan’s repeated, callous abandonment of her.

She added, “Anyway, let him do whatever he wants. I don’t care and don’t want to. I hope he’s still hung up on Shelia. That way, we can divorce sooner.”

The divorce had dragged on for so long, with both families at odds. Juan was the only one unwilling to let go, but it seemed he had finally reached his breaking point.