"He cares about me? After all these years, if he had even the slightest bit of room for me in his heart, would he be trying to find Archie Summers and bring him back every single day? Mom, you’re the only one who’s still fooling yourself. When it comes down to it, he’s never respected us. At the end of the day, it’s all because in his heart, I’ve never been his real son."

"Nonsense! Jason, you are a Lockwood. I forbid you from speaking such nonsense again."

"Mom, stop fooling yourself. Don’t we both know perfectly well whether we’re truly part of the Lockwood Family?" ’So after all these years of swallowing my pride and yielding at every turn, this is the result? He brings his biological son home, and I’m just supposed to pack my bags and get lost?’

’No, that’s impossible. The Lockwood Family wouldn’t have its current status without me. They want to cast me aside after using me? Not a chance.’

’Since he no longer cares about our father-son bond, why should I hold back any longer...’

At this thought, Jason Lockwood clenched his fists. "Mom, stay out of what I’m about to do. Just remember this: everything the Lockwood Family owns must be ours."

Yuna Sullivan watched her son leave, a vicious glint in her eyes. ’The Old Master has gone too far this time. After all, I’ve worked so hard taking care of him for twenty years, and in the end, he shows no regard for our years together as husband and wife.’

She went downstairs and into the bedroom, where she found Julius Lockwood reclining on a chaise lounge, looking at a photo album.

Frowning, Yuna Sullivan angrily strode over to Julius Lockwood and snatched the photo album from him. "Old Master, what exactly am I to you?"

Julius Lockwood glanced at Yuna Sullivan, his face grim. He picked up his nearby cane, rose to his feet, and demanded harshly, "Are you here to throw a tantrum at me over Jason?"

"Old Master, I know I shouldn’t be losing my temper, but your actions have completely broken my heart. It’s clear that after all these years, Jason and I have never truly been welcomed into this great family of yours."

"Yuna Sullivan, you know you shouldn’t lose your temper, yet you did. You knew it would infuriate me, yet you did it anyway. After all these years, you still don’t understand my character at all." Julius Lockwood banged his cane hard against the floor twice. After spitting out those harsh words, he stormed out of the bedroom.

Yuna Sullivan watched the Old Master leave, so furious she raised the album to throw it. But just then, a photograph slipped out, catching her eye. She bent down and picked it up. Staring at the impossibly beautiful woman in the photo, she clenched her jaw, her gaze turning vicious. "So, after all these years, you still haven’t forgotten her."

As soon as Julius Lockwood left the bedroom, he ordered his men to prepare the car.

’Archie’s words today had unexpectedly reminded him of Archie’s mother. He hadn’t thought of the woman in over twenty years, but now her memory suddenly came rushing back.’

Once in the car, he gazed out the window with a somber expression and said slowly, "To the old Grayson estate."

"Yes, sir."

*****

「Siren’s Night.」

Tiana Grayson watched the man across from her down glass after glass of liquor. Her own eyes were red-rimmed as she said through her tears, "I know you’re hurting, and I’m hurting, too. But you can’t bring the dead back to life."

Leo Joyce threw his head back and downed another glass, a bitter laugh escaping him. "If I had just agreed to help her, this wouldn’t have happened. It’s all my fault. I was too damn selfish." ’So what if Amelia Avery liked Cassian Jennings? So what if she married him? As long as she was alive, that’s all that would have mattered.’