Kate's fury raged downstairs, Hayden confronted Dr. Raymond upstairs. "WHY HIM? Of all people, why would you choose him?" Hayden's voice cracked with rage.
Dr. Raymond, cutting short a phone call, met Hayden's fury with rare firmness. "It was the only choice," he said coldly. The elder patriarch laid out the situation, forcing Hayden to agree—at least for six months.
Hayden, still seething, stormed back downstairs just in time to witness Kate's accusations toward Alice. Without hesitation, he piled on. "You're selfish, Alice. You're ruining everything for your own benefit, dragging your son back here—for what? Personal gain?"
As the argument escalated, Pete, Alice's boyfriend, entered. After being quickly filled in by Michelle, Pete attempted to support Alice but couldn't resist tossing in a veiled criticism of her decisions.
The chaos halted abruptly when Kennedith, their estranged father and grandfather, entered the room. "What's going on here?" he asked, his voice calm yet heavy.
Pete tried to dismiss the commotion, but Kate immediately revealed the truth. Kennedith's face grew pale. "Jedidiah… is alive? And CEO?"
Alice, though uncomfortable, nodded again. "Yes. A lot has happened in the past week."
Kennedith's voice trembled. "So… my son is alive."
Overhearing that Aquileia had supported Jedidiah's return, Hayden's anger surged again. He called Alice a liar, but before he could continue, Kennedith snapped, his voice sharp and commanding. "Don't you dare raise your voice when your elders are speaking!"
The room fell into stunned silence. Kennedith, who for years had favored Hayden above all others—even abandoning Jedidiah—now stood in open defense of Alice and Aquileia's actions. The entire household froze in disbelief.
Pete watched with barely concealed jealousy, while everyone else slowly turned their gaze upward. There, at the top of the staircase, stood Dr. Raymond, silently observing the entire scene from above.
Meanwhile, Jedidiah, exhausted from the long day, sat quietly in the back of the private car provided to him. Though he had initially resisted using it, Dr. Raymond's persuasion had finally won him over.
As the city passed by outside, a familiar memory surfaced in Jedidiah's mind—one that remained forever etched in his heart.
FLASHBACK
Years ago, young Jedidiah often sat quietly in the vast estate's garden. Behind him, the mansion glowed with life and laughter—but none of it belonged to him. His siblings—Hayden, Michelle, and Michael—played under the warm lights, their laughter ringing through the night like music from a world that excluded him.
No matter how many times he tried to join their games, they pushed him away with cold glances and cutting words. Even at such a young age, Jedidiah had learned the cruel sting of being unwanted.
Then, one evening, the soft creak of the garden door broke the silence. His grandmother, Roseline, stepped out beneath the moonlight, carrying a thick wool blanket. She draped it gently over Jedidiah's small shoulders before sitting beside him.
They sat silently for a time, both gazing up at the stars.
Finally, Roseline spoke, her voice soft yet filled with warmth. "You shouldn't sit out here alone, child."
"Why don't they love me, Grandma?" Jedidiah whispered. "Why does Grandfather always look at me like I don't belong?"
Her heart ached at his words. She pulled him close, letting his head rest against her shoulder. "Sometimes people fear what they don't understand," she whispered. "But don't mistake their blindness for your worth. You have something inside you they cannot yet see."
From the mansion's open study window, Dr. Raymond's harsh voice drifted into the garden. "That boy will never lead this family," he said coldly. "He's weak. Hayden is my legacy."
Kennedith's voice followed softly, hesitant. "He is still your grandson, Raymond. Doesn't he deserve a chance?"
"There's nothing in him," Raymond snapped. "He is a mistake—a burden."
Jedidiah clenched his tiny fists, his body trembling—not with fear, but with a silent defiance.
Roseline gently turned his face toward hers. Her eyes held fierce determination. "You listen to me, Jedidiah. The day will come when they will be forced to acknowledge you. You may not have their love, but you have my faith. And that is enough."
For a moment, the wind stilled, as if the world itself paused to hear her promise.
Above them, the stars shimmered like silent witnesses.
And deep within Jedidiah, something shifted—a small spark that would one day grow into an unstoppable flame.
The blaring horn of a passing power bike jolted Jedidiah back to the present. Sitting in the car, he allowed himself a faint, knowing smile.
"What a small world," he whispered.
As the car arrived at Dr. Raymond's mansion, Jedidiah stepped into the charged atmosphere. The moment he entered, all eyes turned to him. Without hesitation, he locked eyes with Dr. Raymond, standing tall at the top of the staircase. Moments later, Aquileia arrived, her presence adding to the tension. Together, Jedidiah and Dr. Raymond disappeared into the office, closing the door behind them.