Jeremiah hid a smile in his eyes as he looked up at Rodney. "Alright, don't worry. There are a lot of people who like Yvette, and I…" He trailed off, leaving his words deliberately vague. The unspoken implication stirred Rodney's protective instincts. He slapped his chest dramatically, as if ready for battle.

"Don't worry, Mr. Chavez," he declared. "You're my friend. If any of those guys bother Yvette, just let me know. I'll take care of them. Clean and simple, no one will ever know." He waved Jeremiah closer and whispered fiercely in his ear, "Don't worry, Mr. Chavez. I'm an expert at making people disappear."

Jeremiah nodded, his gaze softening momentarily. "I really appreciate it." Rodney kicked his legs, beaming. "It's no trouble at all, Mr. Chavez. Don't hesitate to call me, okay?"

In the living room, at the breakfast table, Emmett, Charles, Samantha, and Eagle King watched Jeremiah and Rodney's interaction with growing bewilderment.

Samantha rested her chin on her hand, puzzled. "What's going on here?" she asked the others. "How did they go from barely knowing each other to this…in just one night?"

Emmett, Eagle King, and Charles shared her confusion. Yesterday, these two were at each other's throats; now, they seemed like father and son. The unusual closeness left the four barely touching their breakfast, their attention entirely captivated by the pair. Jeremiah handed Rodney a croissant, carefully spreading strawberry jam on it before passing it across. Rodney accepted it with a smile, then placed a piece of fried egg onto Jeremiah's plate.

Emmett's fork clattered to the table. He thought, Jeremiah and Rodney actually look like father and son. Why? Wasn't it just yesterday these two were practically at war? What the heck happened?

Their curiosity gnawed at them. What kind of trick had Jeremiah pulled on Rodney? Why the change in address? Yesterday, it was "Mr. Chavez," and now it's "Jeremiah." What exactly happened?

Eagle King's curiosity finally overwhelmed him. "So," he asked bluntly, staring at Jeremiah and Rodney, "can someone please explain what's going on here?"

Under their curious gazes, Rodney sat up straight. He put down his fork and, in an innocent voice, said, "There's really nothing strange about it. I've become Jeremiah's friend. He's in poor health, so I'm here to take care of him. You guys don't need to make a big deal out of it."

Jeremiah cooperated with a dramatic cough. "Thank you."

Emmett watched, wide-eyed, his hand trembling as he sipped his milk. His perception of the all-powerful Jeremiah had shattered.

Samantha gave Jeremiah a thumbs-up. Just look at Rodney—yesterday he wanted to slice Jeremiah into pieces, and now he's protecting him. The power of a good strategy, huh? Jeremiah's tricks worked. Her thoughts drifted to her brother Andrew, wishing he could learn from Jeremiah's cunning.

Charles observed quietly, his gaze steady. He wondered if Yvette knew the extent of Jeremiah's slyness.

Eagle King, however, felt slighted by Rodney's shift in demeanor. He'd lost interest in Jeremiah's tactics; now, he focused on Rodney's preferential treatment. He shot a glance at Jeremiah, wondering if he should feign weakness.

Then, turning to Rodney, his voice dripping with grievance, he asked, "Isn't it a little unfair to treat me differently, Rodney?"

Samantha, Emmett, and Charles turned to look at Eagle King. What is he doing? Is today the day everyone plays weak?

Feeling their gazes, Eagle King awkwardly scratched his nose. "What are you staring at?"

Rodney stared at the pouting Eagle King, then responded seriously, "I'm more drawn to good-looking guys, like Jeremiah, Emmett, and Charles, but I keep my distance from less charming guys, like you."

Samantha, Emmett, and even Charles laughed. Rodney's honesty can hurt people. No wonder he's close to Yvette—he knows exactly how to hit where it hurts.

Eagle King, fuming, felt his face burn. That was harsh. What did he mean by calling me less charming? Does he have to compare me to Jeremiah?

But Rodney wasn't finished. "And the biggest problem with you isn't even your looks." Eagle King's wounded pride shattered. What else is Rodney going to say?

Rodney sized up Eagle King, put down his croissant, and declared, "Your biggest problem is your sense of fashion. Haven't you ever heard the saying, 'Red and green should never be seen, except in the washing machine'?"

Everyone looked at Eagle King, silently agreeing. His red vest, green shorts, and blue slippers were a fashion disaster. Samantha nearly died laughing. Rodney was comedic genius, and he wasn't even trying.

Rodney turned to Jeremiah with pride. Jeremiah patted him on the shoulder, glanced at the simmering Eagle King, and nodded. "You're absolutely right."

Eagle King, deflated by Jeremiah's approval, resigned himself to quietly eating his oatmeal.

Yvette came downstairs. The moment she appeared, Eagle King roared, "Help, Yvette! Someone is picking on me!"

His dramatic outburst hinted at deep grievance. Yvette paused, then casually sat down. Eagle King, seeing his ally, immediately dropped his gloom, shooting a smug look at Rodney before turning to Yvette with a completely different expression. "Yvette…"

Yvette casually scratched her ear and looked at him with mild indifference. "What's wrong with you?"