Calliope listened quietly, then glanced at Archie.

Archie was already looking at her, searching her face for answers, as if silently asking: "What should I do?"

Should he really cut ties with the Yoder family for good? He hadn't gotten everything he wanted from them yet. His original plan had been to inherit it all—the family name, the assets, the legacy.

He wasn't about to let all those years of playing Gavin's golden boy go unpaid, was he?

Calliope's eyes softened thoughtfully. "It's your choice, Archie. Whatever path you take, I'm here for you. I'll always have your back. Count on it!"

Portia piped up from behind, "Honestly, with a dad like that? Who needs him anyway! If you want a job, come join us at Sutton Group. If your own dad can't see your talent, I sure as hell can! Right, Crispin?"

Crispin nodded enthusiastically. "Archie, the doors at Sutton Group are always open for you!"

Silas shrugged, barely glancing up from his phone. "Baker Group could use someone like you too, and let's be real, we treat our people better than the Yoders ever did."

Uriah chimed in, a lazy smile on his face. "I'm just saying, you could do worse than work with me. You've got options, Archie. More than you know."

Calliope grinned at Gavin, her voice sly. "I've got a couple of companies myself. I'd treat you better than this old man ever did. And don't worry, you won't have to sell your soul to any weirdo heiress."

Quentin and a few others laughed, joining in.

"We've got your back too, Archie," Quentin said warmly.

"If you want to start your own company," Norton added, lounging with a grin, "we can help. Don't sweat the money. We can pull together a few hundred million if you need it, easy."

Julius raised his hand, grinning. "I can handle the PR. I may not be good for much, but I've got enough followers to launch a brand overnight."

Archie looked around at the group, his eyes stinging. He realized it was all for Calliope's sake, but they were all genuinely willing to help him. With friends like these, who needed family?

Hell, even Silas was rooting for him. Why shouldn't he fight back?

He fixed his gaze on Gavin, this time with real confidence.

"You hear that?" Archie said, his voice steady. "Any one of these people here is a better father to me than you ever were. Why should I turn them down, just to do your dirty work, to be used by you? They're all standing by me. Why shouldn't I stand up for myself?"

He turned to Gavin, voice clear and cold. "You love your precious youngest son? Fine. Go be with him. As of today, I'm not your son anymore. From now on, your old age, your sickness, your problems—they're not my concern."

He looked at Chester, Gavin's favored son. "Chester, you have your father's love. But I have my friends, and they're worth more. They give me strength and wisdom you'll never understand."

He turned back to Gavin, voice laced with scorn. "You can't compare to me. You don't have my guts or my brains. All you know is how to waste money and act entitled. When it comes down to it, you've got nothing."

Archie let out a cold laugh. He turned to Calliope, gesturing at the fireworks tube in her hand. "Mind if I borrow that?"

She handed it over with a knowing smile.

Gavin's face turned a furious shade of red. "Archie, you little punk, what the hell do you think you're doing?"

Archie grinned. "Merry Christmas, Dad!"

Quentin had a lighter ready; Archie lit the firework and aimed it straight at the house.

With a boom and a flash, fireworks exploded, lighting up the whole living room with sparks and color.

Chester and the others dove for cover, ducking behind couches.

"You're insane!" Gavin screamed, but Archie just laughed, free at last.