Brody, the deputy captain of a specialized police unit, was highly trained in combat. The security guards were no match for him, but he didn't dare retaliate. The beating had been ordered by a relative of the Xenoses, a powerful family within the Five Provinces Business Alliance. Offending one member of the Alliance was tantamount to offending them all.
The Callahans were brutally beaten. Zack, accompanied by Lucy, intervened. Zack stepped on Lex, sneering, "Heard you're egotistical, old man. Faked an invitation to the Blithe King's succession ceremony, then tried celebrating your birthday here? Get lost, or I'll break your legs!" Lucy spat on Tommy, taunting, "Look down on my family, huh? Look at you now!"
"Enough," Zack said. "No time for trash." They left.
The Callahans helped Lex to his feet.
"Dad, are you alright?"
"Grandpa, I told you not to come!"
"It's James' fault!"
"Babe, you okay?"
"Fine," Brody said. "Babe, do something! Your uncle's a secretary to a general in North Cansington's Military Region! Call him!"
"Let's go home and talk," Brody replied. He wasn't going to bother his uncle over such a trivial matter, especially since he wasn't a direct Coleman descendant, nor was his uncle a blood relative.
Lex, covered in dirt and footprints, fumed, "I won't spare that bastard James!" His pride and dignity were shattered.
At the Callahans' villa, Wendy pleaded, "Babe, Grandpa was beaten! Our family will be humiliated if you don't act. But you're a Coleman! This will shame the family!" Tommy agreed, fueled by his humiliation at the hands of his ex-girlfriend.
Lex raged, "That bastard James!" Howard urged Brody to intervene. Initially reluctant, Brody relented, wanting to impress the Callahans. He called his uncle.
"Uncle, it's Brody, from Nathan Coleman's family. I was beaten by someone from the Xenoses, maybe Zack Will you help?" His uncle readily agreed.
Brody returned, confident. "My uncle will handle Zack." Lex was relieved. "The Colemans are capable!" Brody accepted the praise with pride.
Lex then demanded, "Call James! I'll break his legs!"
Howard called James, who was happily planning to explain a misunderstanding to Thea. The call brought an abrupt end to his good mood, leaving him bewildered. He returned to the villa.
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