The weight of the letter leaves Oliver speechless. A flurry of hurried thoughts clamours within his mind, and words yearn to burst forth from his mouth. Yet, he finds himself unable to utter a single sound.

     Oliver's tightly pressed lips are like a dam, restraining a torrent of countless words within its reservoir. Fear tightens its hold around him, freezing him in place. No matter how much effort and energy he exerts, Oliver remains frozen, unable to move his muscles.

"...What should we do?" Gregory asked, raising his voice.

     Oliver takes a slow, deep breath, soothing his tingling nerves. With a sigh, he looks around the room, encountering a sea of frightful emotions that seem to stare back at him. Gathering his strength, Oliver pushes himself to speak, feeling the knot in his stomach unravel.

"...We must follow Cal's instructions," Oliver stated firmly. "We need to act accordingly to what he expects."

"And how should we do that?" Gregory questioned.

"Jean's life is at stake... our son's life hangs in the balance unless I comply with Cal's demands," Oliver explained, fear flickering in his eyes. "I must confront Cal..." Oliver stated as he moved closer to Gregory, meeting his eyes, "...alone."

     Shock snaps Gregory's veins upon hearing his spouse's words, causing his eyes to widen in disbelief. His heart pounds with an intensity akin to a sparrow's rapid fluttering wings, and he feels his chest on the verge of shattering. Annoyance ignites within his mind, mingled with suffocating anxiety that constricts his throat, leaving him tense and breathless.

"Alone!? You're going 'alone'!?" Gregory's brows furrowed deeply as he struggled to contain his rising voice.

"Yes," Oliver nodded.

"You're not going alone!" Gregory placed his hands on his hips.

"I knew where this was going..." Oliver sighed, rolling his eyes in frustration.

"I won't allow you to go out there alone and put your life at risk!" Gregory crossed his arms, his voice rising as he leaned closer to Oliver.

"Greg, we don't have time for arguments!" Oliver shouted back.

"If..." Edgar stood up. "...If Cal expects Oliver to come alone, then... he... he must go alone."

"What??" Gregory's gaze hardened as he glared at Edgar.

"Greg, you heard what the letter said," Sarrah interjected, standing up alongside Edgar. "If Cal's expectations don't align with reality, you're putting your child in danger."

"This is ridiculous!" Gregory argued vehemently. "I know Cal all too well. He uses tricks, and I am sure—very sure—deception is his skill to lure Oliver into a trap!"

"And I'm pretty sure Jean's life is in danger," Oliver asserted, pointing a finger at his chest. "I cannot let time pass along into a waste. I must oblige to the letter right away and save our son!"

"...Oli," Gregory's gaze pierced through Oliver's heart. "Ugh... if you ever catch Cal... promise me... promise us that he will deserve the harshest punishment."

"...What?" Oliver gasped. "That's madness! I already told you it's not for us to decide! I told you it's up to the court, not us!"

"I am confident that the court will side with what I said, given everything Cal has done," Gregory declared, his eyes locked fiercely with Oliver's. "Murder, attempted murder, and kidnapping," Gregory stated. "With such heinous acts, the death penalty is a just consequence!"

"...Gregory, you can't think like this," Oliver interjected earnestly. "Cal is your—"

"My father...?" Gregory's voice grew colder, clenching his teeth tightly.

     The cries of Victoria, Elizabeth, Albert, and George cease abruptly, their young minds grappling to comprehend the earth-shattering revelation. Whimpers fade into hushed, stifled sniffles as a profound silence envelops them. The weight of their father's words settles heavily within, burdening their minds and causing their heads to feel leaden.

     The children freeze in their place. Yet, their heads instinctively turn, seeking the source of their fathers' voices. Frozen and speechless, they exhale cold puffs of air into the tense atmosphere, their ears painfully absorbing Gregory's words.

"Yes, I know Cal is my father! But, he holds no place in my heart as a true father!" Gregory's voice boomed with resounding force. "He is nothing more than a malevolent presence that plants unbearable afflictions onto others!"

     Gregory's blazing anger cast a spell of stillness upon the room, freezing everyone like statues. The shock pulsated through their bodies, sending nerve-racking jolts of electricity across their skin. The paralyzing impact left them numb, making them incapable of movement. Silence engulfed the room as everyone shut their mouths, lowering their heads in unison. They resisted the urge to speak, even to release a breath through their noses.

     Victoria, Elizabeth, Albert, and George cannot breathe—as if the air has grown thick and constricting, forming a suffocating barrier in their throats. They remain trapped in their seats, consumed by the sensation of falling into an abyss created by their father's words. The children's lungs ache with a sense of oxygen deprivation. It feels like a sharp blade has pierced their hearts, leaving them emotionally wounded. The oppressive weight of the atmosphere hangs heavily upon them, wrapping them in a suffocating silence.