Starter Villain

Gratas and Tobias contemplate shooting Charlie, who informs them that Morrison rigged their tender with a bomb that will detonate if he does not return alive. Reluctantly, Gratas and Tobias agree to spare Charlie's life. Gratas then dispatches Tobias to fetch tools to open the crates.

Gratas reveals to Charlie his motive for eliminating the other members: There was not enough money to cover everyone's debts. When Tobias returns with the tools, they discover the crates are empty. Panic-stricken, Gratas realizes Jake planned this to dismantle the Convocation.

Gratas forces Charlie to drive him and Tobias back to Jenny's Bay, where they confront Morrison and Williams. Both deny knowledge of the empty crates. Gratas makes Morrison disarm the bomb on their boat, and he orders a missile strike on the Sandals resort in Grenada.

However, the whales responsible for executing the missile strike refuse, citing their participation in The Cetacean Association of the Americas, Chapter 2, and declaring a strike. Enraged, Gratas blames Charlie for unionizing the whales, but Charlie clarifies that it was the dolphins' doing. The dolphins emerge from the bay, insulting Gratas, who orders Tobias to shoot them, along with Charlie, Williams, and Morrison.

To Gratas's shock, Tobias reveals he has been working for Morrison, disclosing their ongoing romantic relationship. Gratas lunges for Charlie in a desperate attempt, but Tobias intervenes, injuring Gratas's ankle. As Gratas limps toward the boat, he kicks at Hera, who retaliates by attacking his injured ankle, causing Gratas to fall into the lagoon where the dolphins ultimately kill him.

Charlie realizes that if he continues to run his uncle’s business, such chaotic incidents will define his life. He decides to renounce his villainous path and shares this epiphany with Morrison, who reacts with little surprise.

A new boat enters the lagoon, revealing Anton Dobrev, who appears genuinely pleased to see Charlie.

Morrison reveals that six months prior, Jake, aware of his terminal pancreatic cancer, uncovered a plot by Gratas, Harden, and Petersson to eliminate Anton and five other convocation members. In response, Jake and Dobrev devised a plan to dismantle the Lombardy Convocation from within, necessitating Jake's death before the next convocation meeting. To execute the scheme, they orchestrated a ruse involving a fake heir, unwittingly involving Charlie. Dobrev and Morrison admit that the Lombardy Convocation had nothing to do with Charlie's mother's death.

Knowing he had no chance of surviving his illness, Jake took his own life to adhere to the timeline. Dobrev feigned his demise in the explosion, and Tobias implicated Charlie in the attack, avoiding Gratas's directive to eliminate Charlie. There is actually no legitimate heir to the estate; instead, Morrison acts as the estate's executor, overseeing the divestiture or sale of all associated companies.

In the present, Dobrev assumes control of the dolphins, motivated by his interest in Gratas's whales. He agrees to honor the labor agreement with the dolphins. Due to their influential positions, the cats present a more complex issue. Hera reveals her involvement in the process and expresses her decision not to return with Charlie.

As Morrison and Dobrev deliberate Charlie's fate, Hera intervenes, advocating for Charlie. She offers him shelter at her residence on South Grove Street. Upon Hera's recommendation, Dobrev and Morrison consent to allow Charlie to return to Barrington.

Upon his return to Barrington, Charlie notices little change in the town, with no one seemingly aware of his presumed demise. Arriving at the house on South Grove, he discovers a new Toyota Camry and a combination of funds totaling $55,000. Charlie is absolved of blame for the house fire and receives an insurance payout.

Charlie learns that the sale of McDougal's Pub is imminent and follows the news coverage surrounding the recent deaths of industrialists. Of particular interest is the demise of Ji-Jong Kim, possibly linked to the destruction of his company's satellite.

Charlie also receives a letter from Jake, expressing remorse for the berry spoons and for placing Charlie's life in danger without his knowledge or consent. Jake attempts to rationalize his decisions but ultimately acknowledges that Charlie was the most expedient solution to his predicament.

Additionally, Charlie receives a call from Andy, notifying him of a bequest from a trust unrelated to Jake's other holdings, named "Hera Holdings." This inheritance includes the house on Grove Street, various investments, and ownership of McDougal's Pub, amounting to $11.75 million, just below the estate tax threshold.

Initially apprehensive about assuming control of the pub, Charlie finds support from the former owner, who stays on for six months to facilitate the transition. Despite initial challenges, McDougal's perseveres as a beloved Barrington establishment. One evening, after closing, Charlie encounters Hera and a matured Persephone waiting outside the pub. Charlie asks if they are staying for good and takes Hera’s meow as confirmation. They head home together.