Armando's fingers trembled as he stared at the ripples spreading rapidly across the pool.
While the guests' attention was still fixed on the water, he grabbed the butler by the collar, his knuckles whitening as he hissed through gritted teeth, "Get her out. Hide her in the attic. And if a third person finds out about this—pack your things and get out of the Robbins house!"
The butler's face turned ashen. He stumbled toward the pool in a panic.
From the corner of the garden, Karylle watched every flicker of panic in Armando's eyes. She immediately moved closer, her tone soft and soothing, fingers lightly patting his back as if to comfort him.
"Arman, don't panic. I know you care about her, but in front of so many reporters—what else could I have said? If I hadn't claimed she was the one pestering you, imagine what headlines they'd write tomorrow. The Robbins family just went through a crisis; we can't afford another scandal. I had no choice... please don't blame me."
Her voice trembled delicately, her face full of pity—but deep in her eyes, a hint of triumph glimmered.
"I only wanted to protect your reputation."
Armando's thoughts were in disarray, and somehow her words managed to soothe the chaos inside him. He pressed a hand to his temple, a flicker of genuine gratitude crossing his face.
"I know... I've wronged you."
But for the rest of the banquet, he was like a man who'd lost his soul.
Guests came up one after another, raising glasses and offering congratulations, but his eyes kept drifting toward the attic.
Someone joked, "Mr. Robbins, you and Miss Andrade are truly a match made in heaven!"
His lips twitched into something that could hardly be called a smile—more painful than tears.
All he could see was Debbie's face as she sank beneath the water—her eyes shut tight, her hair floating lifelessly on the surface like black silk. Every image stabbed at his heart, one needle after another.
Karylle watched him drift away in silence, her nails digging deep into her palm until blood welled up. Her hatred for Debbie was a living thing, burning behind her eyes.
When the last guest finally left, Armando didn't even bother taking off his jacket. He stormed up the stairs to the attic like a man possessed.
The door slammed open.
Debbie sat at the edge of the bed, wrapped in a thin blanket. Her skin was pale as paper, but her breathing was steady. The moment he saw her alive, his chest loosened in relief—only for fury to ignite the very next second.
He crossed the room in three long strides, towering over her.
"Who told you to come downstairs?!" he thundered. "Didn't I tell you to stay in your room? You just had to make a scene, didn't you? Were you trying to ruin everything I've built in the Robbins family?!"
Debbie slowly lifted her gaze to him. There were no tears, no anger—only a vast, desolate emptiness in her eyes, like a prairie burned to ash where even the wind could no longer stir.
"Ruin you?" Her voice was soft, almost weightless. "Armando, it was you who had the butler drug me with sleeping pills. You deliberately locked me up and ordered them to throw me into that pool."
She gave a bitter smile. "I came downstairs just to see... how cruel the man I've protected for three years could really be when faced with power and inheritance."
Her eyes met his, dark and unflinching gaze. "Now I know. You're even ruthless than I imagined."
Her words struck like stones to the chest. Armando's breath hitched—his anger twisting with guilt. But before he could speak, Karylle appeared in the doorway, leaning weakly against the frame, her hand resting delicately on her waist as she shuffled inside.
"Arman," she said softly, tugging on his arm, "Debbie must be confused after falling into the water. Don't take her words to heart."
Then she turned, her expression the picture of gentle reason. "But Debbie, you really shouldn't have acted like that today. The guests were all powerful people from New York. You rushing in like that... it makes people question whether Armando can even manage his private life. How can he lead the Robbins family if he can't?"
Her words were like a spark dropped into oil.
Armando's fury erupted completely. "Do you hear that? Even Karylle understands what's at stake! She's always thinking of me—while you? You only know how to bring me trouble!"
His voice turned into a roar. "Debbie, maybe it's time you learned what obedience means!"
He spun toward the servants standing outside the door. "Lock her down! Without my permission, she gets no food, no water. Let her stay there and think about what she's done!"
