Shock lingers in the air, a heavy silence settling over the room as everyone struggles to grasp the situation. "No way in hell!" Jane exclaims, her voice sharp and loud. "He'll just steal our money and run! Have you forgotten what he did last time? Worse, he might use this to punish us for what we did to him!" Her words ignite the group, and protests against the decision swell. Dr. Raymond, torn and uncertain, grapples with how to respond. The deal is already sealed, and backing out now would bring severe penalties for breaching the contract. Jedidiah steps forward, calm yet commanding. "It seems you haven't fully decided," he says evenly. "I'll take my leave. Call me when you've made your choice. But understand this: whether you agree or not, your decision will stand. Make it before next week—I'm a busy man." With that, he turns and leaves.
Disagreement still buzzes in the room. Dr. Raymond, desperate, asks, "Is there any solution with a 90% or better chance of success?" No one offers a solid answer; some suggest ideas, but they fall flat. The group brainstorms, searching for solutions, while Aquileia, Alice, and Michelle remain silent, contributing nothing. Aquileia drifts into deep thought.
FLASHBACK
Aquileia sits, hands trembling, as the vote to remove Jedidiah from his class at school is signed. He had loved her deeply, cared for her in ways she never imagined possible—listening when no one else would, believing in her talent. Yet, when his reputation was dragged through the mud, accused of stealing and bullying, she turned away. She avoided him in the halls, stayed silent, offered no defense. She humiliated him publicly, dated another on a cruel bet, and toyed with his heart. Guilt consumed her the night he vanished. Now, seeing him again—his face, once warm with smiles for her—her heart aches with shame. "He deserved loyalty, not my silence," she thinks.
Meanwhile, Alice slips into her own deep reflection.
FLASHBACK
Alice stands by the window, arms crossed, watching Jedidiah leave in the rain. She told herself she was right. "He'll recover," she whispered. "He'll survive." But when he glanced back, eyes pleading for someone to believe him, she looked away. She was never a good mother, always putting her goals before his, neglecting him, ignoring his needs. Fear gripped her then. Now, seeing him stand tall and unshaken, radiating an incredible comeback, guilt gnaws at her. "He needed me then… and I let him walk away alone," she reflects.
Michelle, too, loses herself in thought.
FLASHBACK
Michelle hadn't paid much attention back then, thinking it was just an easy out, unaware she was betraying the one person who stood by her when their parents were lost in their own world. She pretended not to know him, avoided him, and spoke ill of him—both to his face and behind his back—all to gain popularity and win favor with her stepbrother's mother. Years later, when her brother faced false accusations, Jedidiah's memory struck her hard. Too deep in her pretense, she joined the crowd against him. Now, here he stands, their lifeline, poised and calm, not angry. "I was part of the problem… and he still chose to return," she muses.
Dr. Raymond observes their silence and tries to get their attention, to no avail. Pete taps Alice and Michelle, while Kate pinches Aquileia's arm, jolting her back to reality. "I've noticed you haven't contributed," Dr. Raymond says. "Are you okay? What's on your mind?" He turns to Aquileia. "What are your thoughts on this?" He knows her history with Jedidiah and wants to ensure she's comfortable working with him, given her role in the company. Then he asks Alice, his daughter and Jedidiah's mother, and Michelle, aware that he and his daughter's family rarely see eye to eye. Michelle joins the family in opposing Jedidiah as CEO, hoping to please Kate and avoid their disdain, as they all despise him. Alice, seeing through Michelle's motives, disagrees. "I support Jedidiah representing the company," she states firmly. "Remember, he's been passionate about technology since childhood, and all our past efforts to stop him failed." Pete interrupts, "What's wrong with you? Are you trying to reconnect because he's alive? He doesn't care about you. He left, and when he returned, he ignored you." Fear seizes Pete as Alice's eyes blaze with rage, a sign he's crossed a line. She knows Pete's just currying favor with Dr. Raymond, but his words spark curiosity. The group presses them: when did they meet Jedidiah? Pete, ever the blabbermouth, blurts, "In his home." This forces Alice to explain, and she recounts what happened that day. A hush falls over the room.
Amid the gathering, Jane notices Samantha staring at Aquileia. "What's going on? I saw you looking at Aquileia. What did you do?" Jane demands. With no choice, Samantha recounts her encounter with Jedidiah at the supermarket—how a dispute with a cashier escalated, and when Jedidiah tried to return her purse, she lashed out. "Good, he deserved it," Kate snaps. Dr. Raymond remains silent, then turns to Aquileia. "What's your opinion?" he asks. "Honestly, I see no better solution than Jedidiah," she replies. "No one else with his tech expertise is willing to help. He's promised it's strictly business, nothing personal, so there's no need to worry. Six months is his limit—we can endure that." Dr. Raymond asks about his presence, and she assures him she's fine, noting he hasn't approached her personally and she's willing to make the sacrifice.
As she finishes, Dr. Raymond dials a number, and the group realizes it's Jedidiah. His words stun them. "The decision's made, and we accept your help, but I have one question: what is your goal?" Jedidiah's voice is steady. "I know you have doubts. Like you, I hoped you'd refuse so I could leave, but I can't. My goal is simple: elevate your company to international standards for global sales. That's only possible if personal issues stay out. I want to leave too, so help me help you." Dr. Raymond urges him to start tomorrow, but Jedidiah declines. "I'll begin next week. Inform the company and subordinates of your decision first." The call ends, and Dr. Raymond phones the company, issuing clear instructions about the new direction starting next week. Jedidiah notifies his overseas team of the deal.
After the weekend, the day arrives. Employees buzz with anxious anticipation, eager to see how this unfolds. In a room of directors, a discussion hums, and at the head sits Hayden, a young, vibrant man. As the meeting progresses, he's briefed on what he missed during his absence. He exudes arrogance, dismissive of the updates, until Aquileia steps in, calming him with a steady hand. The talk continues when a director takes a call, then organizes everyone in the company. Hayden, puzzled, wonders who commands such profound respect. His shock is palpable when he sees the man he's always loathed—Aquileia's ex, his indirect stepbrother. "Jedidiah!" Hayden exclaims, his face etched with disbelief. "Hello, Hayden, long time no see," Jedidiah replies, a calm smile gracing his lips.