Bodyguard: "Boss, he's not cooperating and even tried to hit us."
"Well done," Caiden smirked.
Darrick and Marina were left speechless, bewildered by Caiden's unexpected praise for someone who attempted to strike him.
"Caiden, I'm your father!"
Caiden stood there, tall and imposing, with a demeanor as cold as ice.
"Sorry, I don't recognize that."
His voice was calm, yet his words cut deep.
Darrick was fuming, pointing at Caiden, but words failed him. Marina, too, was shocked by Caiden's outright refusal to acknowledge Darrick as his father.
With that, the bond between father and son was severed. For Darrick, getting back into the Rowland family felt as out of reach as touching the stars.
Marina gathered her thoughts and decided to speak to Caiden.
"Caiden, he's your father, and that's a fact that won't change. I know I was wrong, and I see that now. Can't we just let him stay? I'll leave if that's what it takes."
"No."
Marina's hopes flickered, thinking maybe Caiden wanted her to stay too.
"Caiden, I knew you were a good kid."
Caiden: "Both of you, get out!"
Marina: What?!
Wasn't he just being reasonable a moment ago?
Caiden's icy stare pierced through Marina, making her feel like she was nothing more than an object, causing her to take a step back.
Darrick was equally shaken, realizing just how much his eldest son had changed. The boy who once followed him around, calling him "Dad," now looked at him as if he were a stranger.
"Throw them out! If they come back, don't hesitate to give them a beating."
Marina: "..."
She felt like she was on the verge of being discarded by Darrick. Even if he didn't leave her, she couldn't stand their current lifestyle any longer.
"Alright, I'll give it a go," Marina said, moving forward reluctantly.
Darrick trailed behind, talking nonstop, driving Marina up the wall.
...
Josefina heard about the whole ordeal. Driving with her earphones in, she listened to Luke recount the Rowland family drama.
"Caiden's got guts, standing up like that! Darrick and Marina have always been useless."
"Darrick and Marina never worried about money before, so of course they got along fine. Now that they're broke, I'm curious how long Marina will stick around."
Without money, life is a grind.
Luke agreed, "Boss, you're spot on. I'm curious too—let's see how long Marina lasts."

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