"Oh, what about Grandfather? We could still talk to him!"

Thea, still crying, suddenly realized something. Tugging on James's arm, she said, "Let's talk to Grandfather! He loved me most when I was young. He would never cast me out. We can beg him to take me in!"

She grabbed James, pulling him behind her. Seeing Thea's tearful face, James's heart ached.

"Calm down," he said. "Let's go to the villa now and speak to him."

"Yes. Let's go now."

Thea had just escaped Trent's clutches and, coupled with being cast out of her family, was on the verge of a mental breakdown. Foolishly, she believed she would be welcomed back after speaking with Lex at their villa, unaware that he was the one who had cast her out.

James had no choice but to calm Thea and stabilize her emotions before deciding what to do next. He didn't want to crush her hope, so he took her to the villa.

They soon reached the entrance. Thea rang the doorbell and paced anxiously. After a while, the door opened. It was Tommy, Howard's son.

Seeing Thea, he yelled, "Thea Callahan, you jinx! You're still alive? What are you doing, coming back here?"

James slapped Tommy. He had restrained himself out of respect for Thea's mother when she scolded her, but Tommy was in no position to rebuke Thea. The slap was powerful, reddening Tommy's face and sending him spinning to the ground. He was dazed for a few seconds, his ears ringing.

A few seconds later, he recovered and, pointing at James, shouted, "How dare you hit me? I'll kill you!" He raised his fist to strike.

"What's this?"

Lex approached, leaning on his cane, wearing a blue suit. Sternly, he said, "Why are you causing such a ruckus? Is there no order in the house anymore?"

Tommy, chagrined, mumbled, "Grandfather, James hit me. How dare he? This is our home!"

Meanwhile, Thea fell to her knees, pleading, "Grandfather, please don't cast me out."

Lex fumed at the sight of Thea. He blamed her for nearly destroying the family. He raised his dragon-head cane, about to strike her, but hesitated at the last second. Pointing outside, he roared, "Thea, you've been cast out of the family. You're no longer a Callahan. Leave! I never want to see you again!"

Thea was shocked. She crumpled to the floor, tears welling in her eyes. James helped her up and led her away.

She was in a state of shock. After leaving the villa, she looked at James and began crying again, feeling like the unluckiest woman in the world. James hugged her, trying to console her.

"Don't cry," he said. "If you want to go home, I'll figure something out. I promise your family will be begging for your return before the day is over."

"Ah, my life is terrible!" Thea cried. She had endured humiliation and ridicule for ten years without shedding a tear, but now her repressed emotions erupted.

Henry, who had been following them at a distance, approached at James's signal. James helped the heartbroken Thea into the car. They didn't return to the House of Royals, but to Nine Dragons Street, where the Common Clinic was located.

Thea cried until she exhausted herself and fell asleep. James went outside and called Alex.

"Alex, it's me."

"Ah, Dragon Mister Caden," Alex stammered, clearly frightened by the call.

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