After six hours of failed attempts to reach Jedidiah through calls, a frustrated Dr. Raymond picked up his phone and called Kennedith. "Please," he urged, "you need to come back to the meeting. Your presence matters."
Thirty minutes later, Kennedith returned. As he walked in, Hayden scoffed, "Jedidiah is so arrogant for not picking up."
But the words had barely left his mouth before he froze in place, silenced by the furious glare from Dr. Raymond.
Kennedith calmly intervened, suggesting, "Why don't you call the man who referred us to Jedidiah? The one he respects. Your old friend. Maybe he can help."
Dr. Raymond hesitated but made the call. The line rang longer than expected, then a tired voice answered. Unfortunately, the response was cold. The man, visibly disappointed by Hayden's actions, expressed concern over the questions now hanging over their company.
"This mess... I vouched for you. Now your company's name is being dragged through mud."
Dr. Raymond pleaded, his voice low, "I understand your disappointment. But please, for the sake of our years of friendship... Help me bring him back. We need him."
There was silence, heavy and tense.
After a long pause, his friend replied sharply, "This is the last time. You owe me."
Minutes later, Dr. Raymond received a short message: He's on his way.
The room fell into an anxious hush. Everyone sat quietly, their minds reeling with uncertainty. It felt like they were waiting for the President. Hayden, now quiet and ashamed, sat like a scolded dog, avoiding eye contact.
Finally, the door creaked open. Jedidiah stepped in, flanked by Aquileia. Their footsteps echoed like thunder across the marble floor. They moved with presence, with power, with the weight of reckoning.
They took their seats. Eyes followed them. Silence grew louder.
Dr. Raymond stood and offered a sincere apology on Hayden's behalf. "We are truly sorry. We intend to dismiss the issue immediately. Please, let us work together and sort this out."
Jedidiah simply nodded, eyes unreadable.
Pete cleared his throat. "Why did you take it this far though? Destroying their reputation just to make a point? It's not fair."
"Yes," Kate added with a chuckle. "Over a stupid letter? Come on, stop being childish."
Michael leaned forward, arms folded. "All of this could be avoided if you just apologize and tell the media it was all a joke. It didn't have to go this far."
Jedidiah couldn't help but smile. It was subtle, chilling.
Everyone relaxed at the sight of his smile—except Kennedith and Dr. Raymond. They knew better.
"Really?" Jedidiah finally said, voice calm yet sharp. "So that's what you think? That I went too far? That I destroyed their reputation? What about the company that backed them with 6.5 billion dollars? What about their reputation? What will they do now? Or do they not matter because they don't sit in this room?"
He turned to Pete. "You're a betrayer. A weak man desperate for favor from the wealthy. You of all people should stay silent. I saw you and Alice in my room. You betrayed your best friend, Kennedith, and slept with his wife. You looked him in the eye and acted innocent. Here's some advice: keep your advice to yourself."
Kate was next. "I never expected anything good from you. A 'stupid letter'? That letter was born from your son's hatred for me. It was intentional. And you let it happen."
He chuckled, bitterly, his gaze shifting to Michael. "My dearest brother. The one who abandoned his blood to imitate a stranger. You call me foolish and ask me to apologize? You're right... I'm sorry. Sorry for trying to help a family that doesn't know the meaning of loyalty."
Jedidiah stood. "We are family after all."
Jane quickly gestured to the chair. "Family, you say?"
He turned slowly, fire behind his eyes. "Do you know what family means? A grandfather who's hated me since birth? A mother who sleeps with men and is now with her husband's best friend—a snake? A drunkard father entangled with a woman who already has two kids? Siblings who are devils incarnate? That's family to you? I spent years trying to be accepted, and all I received was disgust and rejection."
Hayden stood defensively. "I thought you came to take the company and win grandfather's favor."
Jedidiah faced Dr. Raymond. "Six months. That's all I needed to help you. Now they think I'm here to be your next of kin? If it wasn't for your company issues and my respect for your old colleague who asked for my help, I wouldn't have returned. I need to prepare for my journey back."
And with that, Jedidiah left.
The atmosphere shifted from tense to chaotic. Dr. Raymond turned on the others, scolding Jane, Michael, Kate, and Pete for speaking without caution.
"You made things worse," he snapped.
He stormed out with Kennedith, motioning to Aquileia to follow. The three brainstormed their next steps in the car. As they mulled over their options, Kennedith remembered something.
"Jedidiah used to be close to Aunt Sophia… Alice's younger sister. He trusted her. More than he trusted any of us."
Dr. Raymond didn't hesitate. "Then both Sophia and Alice need to go see him before he leaves. Now."
In the car, the sisters sat in silence at first. Then Alice sighed. "I was a terrible mother. I don't even know what to say to him. I left him when he needed me the most."
Sophia nodded, staring out the window. "There was a time I helped him. I appeared like an angel to him... then disappeared. I lied. Deceived him. And I'm about to do it again. I should've stood by him. But I chose comfort."
They arrived at Jedidiah's house. Inside, he was packing. He noticed them but didn't speak. As he squatted to fold his clothes, he finally said, "You have ten minutes to convince me not to leave. And that's only because Sophia once helped me. Don't get your hopes up. I knew the care was fake—but I needed it anyway."
Ten minutes passed. Silence.
Jedidiah stood. He looked at them for the first time, then turned to leave.
"What about a deal?" Alice suddenly blurted. Her voice stopped him mid-step. Sophia looked at her, shocked.
"I said," Alice repeated, more clearly now, "what if we make a deal that benefits you, your company, and us?"
He turned slowly, arms crossed.
"Talk."
She laid it out: 10% of their monthly earnings to him personally. 10% to his company. In exchange, his company would advertise their product, which would also earn another 10%. If it worked out, the collaboration would continue internationally. Hayden would be publicly punished. She promised a full public apology.
Sophia added, "We can guarantee it in writing. We will let you draft the terms. It won't erase the past... but maybe it can reshape the future."
Jedidiah considered it, then nodded slowly. "You really should be working with the company. They've lost a valuable asset."
With everything settled, they left to inform Dr. Raymond.
Back at the house, the sisters relayed everything in front of the whole family. The reaction was mixed.
Some were disappointed. Others disapproved of the method. But Dr. Raymond and Kennedith were visibly impressed.
Kennedith turned to Alice. "Are you sure you don't want to work in the family business? You have a gift for handling people and negotiations."
Then he paused, a look of guilt on his face. "And… I'm sorry for the things I said."
Dr. Raymond attempted a hug, but seeing the hurt on Alice's face, he stopped. "We need to talk," he said softly.
She turned and walked away.
The next day, Aquileia accompanied Dr. Raymond to the company. She walked down the empty hallway, holding important documents. As they approached the conference room, murmurs filled the air. Employees whispered about the infamous letter.
Dr. Raymond's presence silenced them. He turned to the staff, his voice stern.
"I don't want to hear another word about what happened. If I do, there will be serious consequences."
He dismissed them.
Inside the conference room, Aquileia stood by the door. Dr. Raymond addressed the board.
"I am deeply disappointed. Your childish actions have pushed this company into bankruptcy. Hayden must apologize publicly. This is the only way to resolve the situation with Jedidiah and the media."
There was silence. Then shuffling. Then tension.
Suddenly, the door burst open.
Jedidiah entered like a force of nature. The chatter returned. People whispered.
He walked straight to the center of the room.
Smiling, calm, and composed, he said, "Hello."
The air shifted. A new game had begun.