"Really? And you think you can protect him for the rest of his life?"


    Calliope had already found Archie, and the two of them came down the steps together, side by side. Portia and Mavis followed behind, and everyone shot Gavin a look of pure disappointment as they saw him.


    Honestly, Gavin was being a real piece of work. He yed favorites, and didn''t even try to hide it. He didn''t care about Archie''s well-being, he only wanted to use him. They were both his sons, but Gavin treated them as differently as night and day.


    Everyone''s heart ached for Archie. Archie had never done anything wrong, but it was pretty obvious Gavin just in didn''t like him. He doted on Chester, even though Chester couldn''t hold a candle to Archie.


    "You old fool. You must be blind if you can''t see who''s good and who isn''t," Calliope said, nting herself right in front of Gavin. "Archie is a thousand times the man Chester will ever be. Yourpany wouldn''t be anywhere near where it is today without him, and now you want to just toss him aside?"


    "Dream on. Archie may not have his mom to watch his back anymore, but he''s got us. We''re his friends, and we''re not going to let you push him around."


    She stared Gavin down, not backing off an inch.


    Gavin shot a cold, sarcasticugh at Archie. "Well, who would''ve guessed? You might not be good at much, but you sure know how to pick loyal friends."


    "Guess that''s one thing I beat you at." Archie''s voice was icy as he red at Gavin.


    Gavin narrowed his eyes. "So what''s your n now? Ignore my rules and just walk out with your little gang of buddies?"


    He stared at Archie, face twisted with anger.


    "That''s right," Archie replied, his expression stony.


    "If you''re not wee at home for Christmas dinner, then you''re having it at my ce," Calliope announced. "And if you need a ce to crash,


    got a spare room."


    She red at Gavin. "You don''t get to bully my friend. Archie''s like a little brother to me. You can''t treat him like this!"


    Ss stepped up beside her. "You hear that, Mr. Yoder? If my wife says Archie''s family, then he''s family to me too."


    Gavin scowled at all of them, his re sharp enough to cut ss.


    "Mr. Myers, they''re just kids, acting out. But you''re an adult. Are you really going to stoop to their level? This is my son. I''ll handle him however I see fit. You may be friends, but it''s not your ce to meddle."


    He was practically shaking with frustration.


    "Archie, tell your friends to leave! Are you going to listen to me, or to them?" Gavin''s eyes shed as he red at Archie.


    Archie looked at Calliope, then back at his father. "I''m listening to my friends."


    "What?" Gavin stared at him in disbelief. "Are you insane? I''m your father! You should listen to me, not your friends!"


    "If you walk out that door with them, you can forget about working at mypany ever again. You''ll be left with nothing. And don''t even think abouting back to the Yoder family!"


    Gavin was almost shouting now, the words tumbling out in rage.


    "If you leave with them now, you''re no son of mine. From now on, Chester''s my only child!"