Chapter 21: Trent's death a few days earlier caused an uproar. No one knew who the man in the ghost mask was, but Alex knew it was James, the Black Dragon of the Southern Plains.

James asked, "How's the partnership with Eternality going?"

"All good, Mr. Caden."

"Terminate it. Tell the Callahans that Celestial will only work with Thea. Now that she's no longer part of the family, the partnership is terminated. As for the rumors between you and Thea, sort it out yourselves. I don't want her to be in trouble because of them."

"Of course. I'll do it now."

Alex took a deep breath and hung up. He immediately made the necessary arrangements, instructing those handling the Callahan account to terminate the partnership.

Meanwhile, at the Callahan residence, Howard Callahan, the current executive chairman of Eternality, burst in. "Dad, something's happened!" he shouted.

Lex raised an eyebrow. "Howard, why are you still acting like a child at your age? How am I supposed to pass the torch to you? Can our family ever truly join the upper class?"

"I understand, Dad, but Celestial Group terminated our partnership. They even said"

Lex stood up abruptly, shaking. "What? What did you say?"

Howard hung his head, his confidence lost. "Celestial terminated our partnership," he said quietly. "Several trucks are waiting at the factory to take the raw materials back."

Lex slumped heavily onto the couch, sweat beading on his wrinkled face. Working with Celestial had been the Callahans' best chance to rise in the ranks. Now, that opportunity was gone.

"What else did they say? Tell me!" Lex thumped his cane on the floor in anger.

"Celestial's chairman, Alex Yates, said he'd only work with Thea. With her gone, he won't work with us," Howard replied.

"Then what are you all standing around for? Go get Thea now!" Lex whacked Howard, Tommy, and the other Callahans present with his cane. They hurried to locate Thea.

Nine Dragons Street. Common Clinic.

Thea sat on the bed, head in her knees, hugging her legs. She stared silently into space. James sat beside her, trying to cheer her up with jokes, but she remained silent.

Her phone rang. She didn't answer. James glanced at it; it was Howard. Understanding the situation, he ended the call. The Callahans could wait.

"Whowho was that?" Thea turned to James, her eyes red and swollen. She was a shadow of her former self.

"That was Howard."

"Oh."

Thea's single syllable conveyed her despair. She felt numb.

"Thea, do you really want to go home? Considering how the Callahans are treating you, it's not a terrible loss if you don't," James said honestly. He didn't want her to return either.

"Go back? Can I even go back there?" Thea mumbled, shaking her head. "I can never go back. I'm cursed. I've caused so much trouble for my family. Now, Grandfather has cast me out. Even Mom doesn't want me anymore."

Her phone rang again. James held it out to her. "Do you want to answer it?"

Thea took the phone and answered. Howard's anxious voice filled the room.

"Thea, where are you? Tell me, I'm coming to pick you up!"

Thea trembled, then her eyes lit up. "II'm at the Common Clinic on Nine Dragons Street."

She hugged James excitedly, crying tears of joy. "Jamie, Uncle's picking me up. I'm going home! I'm going home!"

The final line, a website plug, has been removed as it is not part of the story itself.