496: A Pawn No More

In the aftermath of their contentious encounter, the siblings congregated, each one seething as they mulled over the audacity of Clarke Zodiac's family's actions. The more they thought about it, the clearer it became that these were not people they could trust or do business with. "Big brother, I see no reason to prolong our dealings with Teddy. Today's behavior was the last straw. It's evident that they all might be implicated in their mother's death. Clarke Zodiac and his father's character is dubious at best. “Plus, the way Clarke Zodiac looks at our sister is downright creepy—he treats her like some replacement. It’s twisted, given she might remind him of his mother. We need to cut them off for good," Maxwell asserted with conviction, reflecting a deep-seated disgust. Gable, who typically steered clear of the more volatile family discussions, felt compelled to speak up, indicating the gravity of the situation. "We can partner with anyone—even their rivals. Why stick with someon