All James wanted was to make Thea happy. He'd asked the Blithe King for an invitation, but hadn't expected someone else to take credit for it, causing Thea to misunderstand. He ran after her when his call with Henry ended.

"Thea," he called, catching up and gently taking her arm. "I wasn't lying to you. I had someone send the invitation, but I didn't expect them to take credit."

"You're still trying to steal credit? You're useless!" Gladys snapped. "Haven't we been humiliated enough?!"

"Sis, he's just a retired soldier," David interjected. "There's no way he's as capable as he claims. Just divorce him!"

Tears welling in her eyes, Thea said, "Enough, James. I'm grateful for how well you treated me, and I'm forever grateful you healed me. But I don't want to see you right now! Please leave!"

She turned and ran, sobbing. James panicked. He'd never felt so helpless, not even facing thousands of enemy troops. "Useless lout! Can't even do anything right!" Gladys cursed.

James watched the Callahans leave, then took a deep breath. He chased them home, but was refused entry. With no other option, he went to Henry's clinic.

Henry greeted him with, "James? What brings you here?" He stopped, noticing James's expression, and wordlessly tossed him a cigarette. James was frantic. He wanted to make Thea happy, but hadn't expected such shameless credit stealing.

"Should I not have come back, Henry?" James asked, taking a drag. Smoke curled from his fingers.

"What happened, James?"

James told Henry everything. Henry smiled helplessly. "I've never been in a relationship, so I can't help there. But, if you want, I can get rid of the Oswalds."

"No, forget it," James sighed, dismissing the suggestion. "It's not that serious. Besides, this is Cansington, a peaceful city, not the southern border. We can't use those tactics against our compatriots." Henry remained silent.

"Oh, right. Henry, you've been handling my assets. How much do I have?"

James had been through a lot since returning to the city. He'd always considered money worthless, but recently it had become essential.

"How would I know? Let me see You took some gold mines from an enemy country and sold them for around thirty billion. You saved a rich man from enemy troops—he gave you ten billion in gratitude. And there were rich merchants on the southern border who paid you yearly for protection. Add it all up, and you've got at least two or three hundred billion!"

"I'm that rich?" James exclaimed, surprised. He'd never cared, but now that he did, the sum shocked him.

"You're the Black Dragon Commander of the Southern Border, James. The south is chaotic, but it's easy to get rich there. You have countless assets; you just didn't bother to pursue them. Otherwise, you'd be the richest man in the world."

"Looks like I was pretty stupid," James muttered.

"Why do you suddenly care about money, boss? You have that Black Dragon card the higher-ups gave you—ten billion is on there. You shouldn't be short of cash."

"Thea said I was hiding money from her and took it. Said she'd hold onto it for our kids." James smiled subconsciously at the mention of Thea.

"Henry"