After leaving the Callahans' villa, Thea was crying. "Jamie, I'm so sorry. I don't even have any control over my marriage."

James took her hand. "It's okay. Grandfather has made his statement. If I secure an order from Celestial Group, he'll have no choice but to acknowledge us as husband and wife."

"It's Celestial Group we're talking about," Thea worried. Born and raised in Cansington, she knew Celestial Group intimately. The company was international, having recently entered the Cansington market. The Great Four—four powerful companies—essentially monopolized Celestial Group's orders.

James smiled. "We'll never know if we don't try."

Thea suddenly remembered something. "Oh, yeah, I remember now. An old classmate of mine heads a department at Celestial Group. Let me contact her. She might connect us with higher management."

"Okay."

Holding hands, they walked home to Thea's. Her house and the Callahans' villa were in the same residential area, but while the Callahans lived in a villa, Thea resided in a high-rise building. They took a leisurely stroll. Gladys, Thea's housekeeper, had arrived home before them and refused to let James inside.

James shrugged. There was nothing he could do. "I'll go home then, Thea."

Thea nodded; she had no choice either. Securing the Celestial Group order was their priority. That would force the Callahans to accept James.

After arriving home, she contacted her classmate, whom she hadn't spoken to in years.

Meanwhile, James returned to the House of Royals, located in Cansington's most luxurious villa district. He sat on the couch, lit a cigarette, and called. "Bring me the chairman of Celestial Group."

He hesitated to use his privilege as the Dragon General, but it was necessary for the Celestial Group deal.

Soon, a heavyset, balding middle-aged man arrived, wearing a suit.

"Gen—General," the man stammered, falling to his knees upon entering.

He was Alex Yates, Celestial Group's Cansington head, hailing from the capital. Before arriving, Alex had learned his visitor's identity: the legendary Dragon General of the Southern Plains, a man feared and respected throughout the region. Kneeling, Alex felt sweat trickle down his spine.

"Alex Yates?" James, putting down some documents, waved mildly. "Why don't you stand up?"

"Yes, sir."

Alex stood, sweating profusely, but unable to wipe it away. Trembling, he wondered why he'd been summoned.

"Tomorrow, my wife, Thea Callahan, will visit Celestial Group to negotiate a thirty-million deal. You'll handle it personally. Don't mess it up."

Alex sighed in relief, breaking into a smile. "Of course, General. Even a three-hundred-million deal would be yours for the asking."

"Remember, my wife's name is Thea Callahan."

"Yes, sir."

"That's all. You may leave."

"Yes, sir."

Alex, feeling reprieved, left in a hurry, still drenched in sweat. As a Yates, he held significant power in Cansington, even commanding respect from The Great Four, but facing James reversed that dynamic.

After Alex left, James rose and muttered, "I haven't paid my respects in over ten days."

He planned to take a taxi to the ruins of the Caden house in the suburbs. However, an unmarked multi-purpose vehicle waited outside, with a dark-skinned man in a black tank top standing beside it.

James glared. "Didn't I tell you to take the men back to the border?"

"General, all the other men have returned. It's just me. Won't you let me stay?"

"Call me James. The General is no more in Cansington."

"You got it."

"Take me to the Cadens' cemetery."

"Right then, James."

Soon, James arrived at the site of the former Caden villa, now a graveyard. The first family of Cansington had been reduced to ashes and bones. The sky was dark and stormy. Rain began to fall.

At the cemetery, a young man stood under an umbrella held by another. James fell to his knees, weeping.

Ten years earlier, the Cadens were Cansington's leading family. James was eighteen. That same year, his father remarried Rowena Xavier of The Great Four, one of Cansington's most influential families. Rowena had a plan. She falsely accused James's grandfather of drugging her, ruining his reputation and the Cadens' standing. She then reported his father for corruption and bribery, which triggered a fatal heart attack. She claimed it was suicide. Following his father's death, The Great Four converged on the Cadens', killing James's grandfather, holding the family hostage, and seizing their prized painting, "Moonlit Flowers on Cliffside's Edge." They burned the house down, dividing the Cadens' assets among themselves.

"Dad, you're a sinner! You brought that vicious woman into our lives," James sobbed before his father's grave. He hated his father for his choice in wife and the ensuing destruction of the Cadens family. He hated Rowena and, even more, The Great Four—the Xaviers, Frasiers, Zimmermans, and Wilsons—who had murdered his family.

"Grandfather, I won't let you die in vain. I swear I'll avenge your death. The Great Four won't live in peace. I'll bring you their heads," he vowed.

"My condolences, General," Henry said, still holding the umbrella. He'd never seen James so broken.

"Megatron Group, belonging to the Xaviers, is having a celebratory banquet tonight. Megatron and Celestial have signed a permanent agreement, giving Megatron early access to Celestial's orders. It's also the Xavier head's eightieth birthday—a double celebration," Henry informed him.

"Megatron…" James clenched his fists. Megatron, once the Cadens' family business, was now in the Xaviers' hands.

He stood, his eyes blazing with murderous intent. "Get me a coffin. We're going to the banquet. It's time to collect a debt."

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