Gideon staggered, brushing past his friends as he charged ahead.


    His friends trailed closely behind, trying to calm him down. "Gideon, take it easy, man."


    "Seriously, aren''t you the one who''s always been scared of Ss?"


    "Let''s be real, without Ss, the Baker family wouldn''t be where it is today. He''s had your back, and thanks to him, the Baker family has bread on the table. Is it really that big of a deal?"


    "He used to think pretty highly of you, didn''t he? You two got along just fine before."


    "Yeah, Gideon, cool it. You don''t want to piss him off."


    Gideon let out a bitterugh. "Ss? He''s nothing. So what if I piss him off? I want to go toe-to-toe with him!


    He stole mypany, took my girl. He even went after his nephew''s girlfriend. Can you believe that? It''sughable, isn''t it? An uncle snatching his nephew''s girl!"


    "Just because he''s got some talent and people fear him, no one talks about it?" Gideon scoffed sarcastically.


    "Gideon, stop talking! Seriously, you''re not helping yourself here!"


    "Gideon, you''re drunk. Let me take you home."


    They all tried to reason with Gideon, urging him to leave the bar and head home, but he wouldn''t budge. He was determined to confront Ss and take Calliope back.


    Gideon was as strong as an ox, and the group struggled to hold him back.


    Just as they reached the foot of the stairs, someone descended from the second floor. In the dim, noisy bar, the atmosphere suddenly seemed to hush.


    "Watch your step," Ss''s voice called out.


    Everyone instinctively looked up towards the stairs. There was Ss, gently guiding Calliope down, taking careful steps.


    As they reached the halfway point, they noticed the crowd below watching them intently.


    "Gideon, don''t!"


    "Shut up, Gideon, please!"


    His friends were frantically trying to cover Gideon''s mouth, but he fought back.


    Gideon bit down on someone''s hand, "Let go of me! Why should I shut up? I''m going to confront Ss. Callie is mine, and I''m taking her back!"


    "It''s not just about her; I''m taking back thepany too. I''m calling a press conference. I''ll make sure every newspaper and every person knows what he''s done!"


    "Ss is just Ss. Who does he think he is to take everything from the Baker family?"


    "My grandpa might be losing his mind, but I''m not! I''m going to fight back. I''m taking back what''s mine!"


    His friends turned as pale as ghosts, sweating bullets. One of them shouted, "Gideon, you''re drunk! You''re going to ruin yourself!"


    Another nced nervously at Ss, saying, "Mr. Myers, please


    understand, Gideon''s getting


    married tomorrow. He''s just... a little too excited and had too much to drink."


    Calliope hadn''t expected to run into Gideon here. On the way home, Ss had a matter to attend to, so they stopped by the bar. They had just wrapped up their meeting and were about to leave when they stumbled upon a very intoxicated and


    belligerent Gideon.


    Calliope could see it clearly now; Gideon harbored deep resentment towards Ss. He believed Ss had taken everything from him, including her.


    She couldn''t help but roll her eyes, utterly exasperated by the entire situation.