Family on Their Knees Heart Turned to Ice novel Chapter 1353

"Fine," Debbie grunted.

Lucas fed her large spoonfuls, and she swallowed them down ravenously.

He couldn't help but ask, "I thought you never ate cheap takeout."

Debbie's answer was blunt. "Times change. Only an idiot starves because they're picky. What, you've never hit rock bottom? Then you've had a blessed life. I've tasted the absolute best this world has to offer, but I've also been so broke I was eating out of dumpsters. You have to know how to read the room. When the universe hands you a feast, don't be a snob—stuff your face. But if you end up eating slop, you swallow your pride and eat it. Survival is all that matters."

Lucas was genuinely stunned.

Eating out of dumpsters? This woman was a different breed.

Her peak was higher than most people could dream of, yet here she was, living like a prisoner of war, completely unfazed.

No wonder she had managed to give birth to the heir of the Blake Group. A woman without serious ambition and ruthless cunning could never have pulled that off.

"I've got to admit," Lucas murmured, "I'm starting to respect you."

"Save the flattery. We're on a tight schedule. Just let me eat."

Once Debbie had her fill, Lucas packed up the trash. He had three minutes left.

He gave her some final instructions, telling her to stay calm and be ready. Soon, only one minute remained.

The two men looked disappointed.

"Whatever. Looks like there's no extra cash to squeeze out of this. Still, as long as we deliver her safely, we get our cut of the $800 million demand. That's plenty."

Both sides were simply killing time now. The casino crew was ready to ship Debbie out and close the contract.

Meanwhile, outside The Grand Sapphire Casino, Bella was waiting. She was waiting for Debbie to emerge. Since Lucas hadn't found a viable opening inside, Bella had to orchestrate the ambush on the open road.

But Bella wasn't just sitting in her car staring into space. She had meticulously mapped the route, studying traffic patterns, blind spots, and the city's surveillance grid.

She had hired professional help. The most crucial part of this street ambush was maintaining absolute anonymity. If she got caught on camera, this went from a clean heist to twenty years in federal prison.