"Moonlit Flowers on Cliffside's Edge…" James muttered. That painting was his family's most important heirloom. Before his grandfather died, he'd told James their family could be wiped out, but the painting was irreplaceable. Even ten years later, the memory remained.

"Get ready. We act tonight."

"Understood," Henry nodded.

"Alright, you should leave. My wife's about to get off work. She doesn't want me around knaves and hooligans, and your appearance clearly doesn't help. If she saw you, I'd be lectured again."

Henry's face fell. He was only slightly darker-skinned. Why did that make him a hooligan? Why a bad guy?

"Don't just stand there, get lost," James said, kicking him.

Henry left.

James glanced at the time. Thea's work was over. She'd be arriving any moment. He pushed his electric motorcycle toward the Callahans' Eternality Group. Before reaching the entrance, he saw a woman exiting the building.

She was five feet ten inches tall, impeccably dressed in a white button-down shirt, black pencil skirt, and red heels. Her chestnut-colored wavy hair framed her face, and her confident stride, briefcase in hand, commanded attention.

"Thea!"

A man approached, offering a bouquet. "These are for you, Thea. Are you free tonight? I've booked a private room at The Drunken Fairy. Dinner?"

This was Brandon Frasier, of the Frasiers, one of Cansington's Great Four. Since Thea obtained Celestial Group's order list and her friendship with Alex Yates, Celestial Group's chairman, became public, the Callahans' fame, and Thea's, exploded. She became Cansington's most beautiful woman, and a highly competent chairwoman of Eternality, turning the company around in just half a month. This earned her the title of Cansington's prettiest chairwoman. Despite having a husband, James, he was virtually unknown; wealthy heirs ignored him, pursuing Thea relentlessly.

Thea spotted James and his motorcycle. She smiled, ignoring Brandon, and rushed to James, kissing him and affectionately hugging his arm.

"Honey, that man booked a private room at The Drunken Fairy and wants dinner. I've never been there before."

"He invited you. Go. Take me, if he's okay with it. I've never been either."

Brandon's face soured. He approached. "James Caden? I'm Brandon Frasier," he said coldly, offering a card. "Five hundred thousand dollars to leave Thea!"

"Should I accept, darling?"

"It's up to you," Thea said, amused. "I think you should. You could reserve a table at The Drunken Fairy with that."

"I'll take it, then."

James smiled, accepting the card. "So, what's the PIN?"

Brandon scoffed. "Six zeroes. Take the money and disappear. Thea will have nothing to do with you."

"Yep, divorce it is," James nodded. "Hop on, darling."

Thea mounted the motorcycle, wrapping her arms around James. They rode away under Brandon's bewildered gaze. He stared after them for a few minutes before realizing he'd been tricked. He threw the flowers to the ground, shouting angrily, "You little—! This isn't over!"

James drove Thea home. Once inside, Thea held out her hand, grinning.

"What?" James asked, patting his pocket. "I got the divorce money. It's my savings."

"Divorce my foot. Give it!" Thea pouted. "I pay for your food, drinks, amenities, clothes. What do you need money for? It's for the kids."

James reluctantly handed over the card. "But this keeps happening! In ten days, I've gotten over two million. That's mine…"

"What money?"

A voice from the doorway.

"N-nothing," Thea stammered, hiding the card.

Gladys approached. "Since when do you lie? I heard everything! Divorce fees, two million… hand it over!"

"Mom, it was nothing!" Thea protested.

James nodded. "Mhm, nothing."

Gladys glared at him. "I'm talking to my daughter. This is none of your business! It's dinner time! Go cook!"

"Okay."

James cooked dinner. After thirty minutes, they ate.

Later, James pulled Thea into their room. "You didn't tell her, did you, darling?"

Thea glared. "It's your fault, shouting so loud. Mom took all the money! Payment for raising me."

"What?" James stared. "You gave her everything?"

He was broke. Unemployed since joining the Callahans, he even bummed cigarettes from Henry.

"Yeah," Thea said helplessly. "Astor's hundred thousand, Bertrand's two hundred fifty thousand, Oswald's three hundred thousand, and Frasier's five hundred thousand… Mom took it all."

James sighed. "Hopefully another rich guy offers me money to break up with you. Send me some cash, darling. I can't even afford cigarettes."

"I don't believe you. I saw a black card in your pocket. Don't tell me it's empty. Give it here."

Thea held out her hand. James produced a matte black card with a glossy black dragon. No numbers.

Thea, confused, examined it. "What kind of card is this? No numbers?"

"Well…" James hesitated. "It's linked to every major bank. It has an ID chip, so no numbers needed. Twenty-first century, after all."

Thea pocketed it, unconvinced. "What's the PIN? How much is in it?"

"PIN's eight eights. Not much."

"Eight my foot! PINs aren't eight digits!"

"Sorry, six eights," James said sheepishly.

The card needed no PIN. Any number worked. It was unique, proving his identity and power. He didn't know the balance, never having used it. The card represented ten years of service and honor, likely containing a large sum. But having reached his current position, money meant nothing to him. Thea could have it. Without her, there would be no James, no card. Thea gave him everything.

** I removed the website plug at the end. It's not relevant to the text cleanup.)**