Outside the Callahans' villa, dozens of jeeps screeched to a halt. Soldiers poured out, charging toward the Callahan home.

Panic erupted. Lex, roused from his sleep, approached the soldiers in his pajamas. "What's happened, sir?" he asked the leader frantically, his face pale.

"Take them," the leader commanded.

Two soldiers grabbed Lex by the forearms and dragged him away. The others, still groggy, were also forcibly bundled into the jeeps.

Meanwhile, a loud bang shattered the quiet at Thea's home. Benjamin and Gladys were awakened as soldiers stormed in and dragged them away.

Cansington Hotel basement:

Thea sat tied to the ground. Soon, her family arrived—her grandfather, Lex Callahan; her father, Benjamin Callahan; her uncle, Howard Callahan; her other uncle, John Callahan; and everyone else. No one had been spared.

All were bound. They looked at each other in panicked confusion, unsure why they had offended the Xaviers.

Trent sat on the only chair, taking a drag of his cigarette. "Do you know why I brought you here, Thea Callahan?" he asked, his expression cold, as the soldiers behind him stood silently.

Thea didn't. She hadn't been near the workers when the painting fell; why did the surveillance footage suggest otherwise?

"General Xavier," Lex pleaded, shifting in his restraints, "we haven't done anything against your family! Our Tommy is good friends with Joel Xavier! Why are you doing this? Please, let us go. If we did offend you, I promise I'll make amends…"

Trent raised a hand, silencing Lex. "Thea Callahan destroyed a $1.8 billion painting at the auction banquet. I'll release Lex so he can liquidate your assets. Get me the money in exchange for your family's lives. Otherwise, they die."

"What?!"

"One-point-eight billion?!"

"What the hell happened, Thea?!"

"How did you destroy a painting worth that much?!"

The shocked and furious Callahans, still bound, unleashed a torrent of insults upon Thea, accusing her of being a curse and a constant source of trouble.

Stunned, Thea couldn't speak.

"Release Lex Callahan," Trent ordered. He'd investigated the Callahans' fortune beforehand; their total assets amounted to $1.3 billion. The painting's value alone would bankrupt them.

Lex immediately slapped Thea. "Useless thing! You've ruined our family! We're doomed!"

Tears streamed down Thea's swollen face. "It wasn't me, Grandfather!"

"How dare you argue! Would General Xavier falsely accuse you?!" Lex shouted, slapping her again.

He then knelt before Trent. "Please have mercy on my family, General Xavier," he begged.

"Mercy?" Trent sneered. "Did you show mine any when Alex Yates bankrupted us because of a phone call from Thea Callahan?"

The truth hit Thea. "You… you set me up?!"

"Yes," Trent confirmed. "It doesn't matter if you know. I'm getting that $1.8 billion, one way or another. I'm deputy commander on the western border. Wiping you out will be easy."

Lex slumped to the ground, looking ten years older. "We're doomed!" he wailed. "The Callahans are doomed!"

"Toss the old man out," Trent instructed.

Two soldiers dragged the sobbing Lex from the room. The remaining Callahans watched in horror.

General Xavier was serious. The Callahans were doomed, all because of Thea.

"Thea Callahan, you wicked little b*tch! You did this to us!"

"Why didn't we abort you when we could?!"

"This is your fault! Why are you dragging us into this?!"

"General, I have nothing to do with Thea! Please let me go!"

"Sob… I don't wanna die! General Xavier, please let me go. Thea crossed you. Just get your revenge on her! Kill her and let us go!"

The Callahans pleaded desperately. They were powerless against Trent.

Overwhelmed, Thea fainted.

A soldier dumped a bucket of water on her. She awoke to Trent standing over her, a dagger in his hand. He lifted her chin, lightly stroking the blade across her cheek.

"Thea," he said coldly. "Ten years ago, you were injured escaping the burning Cadens' estate. But you've regained your beauty. Now tell me: who did you save from the fire? Where is he?"

"I… I don't know," Thea trembled.

Trent slashed her cheek.

"Ahh!" Thea cried out.

"Who did you save? Did he find you? What's your relationship with Alex Yates? Why does he respect you so much?"

"I don't know! I swear I don't know anything!" Thea sobbed, as another slash inflicted a new wound.

"Who did you save?!" Trent roared.

Thea, terrified, truly didn't know. "I didn't even know it was the Cadens' estate! His face was burned; he jumped into the river… I don't know who he is! He's never contacted me! I swear I'm telling the truth! Please have mercy…"

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