532: A Dangerous Obsession

The Smirnoff family was in turmoil over Emma's sudden disappearance. Everyone suspected Clarke Zodiac was behind it, and the pressure was mounting on Teddy to resolve the situation swiftly and discreetly. When Teddy confronted Clarke Zodiac about the kidnapping, he found his father more unhinged than ever, displaying a level of obsession with Emma that was deeply troubling. "You've gone too far, Dad! Kidnapping Emma is a serious crime, and it's putting everything we've worked for at risk. You need to let her go, now!" Teddy insisted, his voice laced with urgency and frustration. Clarke Zodiac, however, was unfazed by his son's demands. His fixation on Emma had reached a point where rational thought seemed absent. "She reminds me of her, Teddy. When I see Emma, I see your mother. I can't let her go. She's the only thing keeping me anchored to any semblance of sanity and life!" Teddy realized then that his father's mental state had deteriorated terribly beyond what he had imagined.