Adam sat in his home office, waiting anxiously for Nathan to upload the factory project on Shikongo Industries' site.
Betty entered with a drink. "Why do you look so tense?"
"I don't know why Nathan hasn't uploaded the files yet."
"He just got to the office. Give it time. Here—juice." She handed him a glass.
Adam took it, eyes misty.
"What is it?" he asked.
Betty hesitated, then spoke quietly. "Are you not going to tell me?"
"Tell you what?"
"I miss my husband."
Adam sighed, setting the glass down. "I'm right here. You haven't lost me."
Betty's voice trembled. "If your 'mom' knows so much about the Shikongo wealth, why couldn't she claim it herself? Why does she need to pit you against your own people?"
"You said you'd support me no matter what."
"And I meant it. But this… this doesn't feel like you, Adam."
He got up, voice tight. "You know me."
He walked out. Seconds later, Catty entered.
"Oh good, you're here. I need your help with—" But Betty brushed past her, silent.
"…Didn't expect that," Catty muttered.
Her phone rang.
Meanwhile, Monica and Daniels were waiting for Monica's ex—Marcus—outside a rundown building.
"This place is creepy. Why not meet at a restaurant?" Daniels grumbled, chewing nervously.
"You want to order dessert too?" Monica snapped. "Be brave. He doesn't bite."
"I need to pee."
"Be quick."
Daniels darted away. Just then, Marcus arrived—with four friends.
He greeted Monica with a cocky smirk. "C'mon, don't I get a hug? Maybe a kiss?"
"Your phone," Monica said coldly.
Marcus blinked. "Relax. Just because money's dirt to you doesn't mean you can treat us like soil."
"Oh, right. The money-for-pictures exchange." Marcus leered. "You're so gorgeous I almost forgot."
Monica threw a bag at one of his friends. "There. Delete the pictures. Now."
"Hold on," Marcus said. "Gee, count it."
"You think I brought less than agreed?"
"You're not an ATM. You might've missed a hundred."
"I added fifty grand extra just in case," Monica said.
"Yeah, this is more than 50k," Gee confirmed.
Daniels returned, spotting Monica surrounded. He panicked—then ducked back toward the car.
As he opened the jeep's door, he spotted a young boy beating up some other kids.
"Hey! What's going on?"
"They bully my sister every day after school. Not today. I'm here!"
"No beating, no bullying. That makes you cowards," Daniels said.
The kids froze.
"My mom says a man who hits a woman is a coward. My sister's a girl. You touch her, you touch me."
Daniels stared, something shifting inside him.
He grabbed a stone, started the engine, and turned back toward the building.
Marcus was deleting the pictures when—THWACK!—a stone smashed into one of his friends' heads. The man collapsed, spilling cash and papers.
Everyone froze.
"Monica, RUN!" Daniels yelled.
She bolted, but Marcus fired a warning shot. She stumbled and fell.
"You've got no idea what I'll do to you," Marcus growled, yanking her up.
"Leave my sister, you monster!" Daniels shouted, hurling more stones.
Marcus's friends grabbed them both.
The twins were tied up and tossed into the jeep.
The vehicle roared off—monsters at the wheel, with vengeance in their eyes.