?


    Dailey knew the words spoken were not just empty threats.


    He understood the gravity of what his family said. But from the moment he decided to be with Christine, he was prepared for this confrontation.


    With a calm and steady voice, he said, "Grandma, if it everes to the point where youy a hand on Christine, then my ties with the rkson family will be severed for good."


    "I''mying it out now; Christine and I, we''re in this together, for better or worse."


    "You know what I mean."


    ...


    Madge was visibly upset by the ultimatum.


    Though not gravely ill, she insisted on being hospitalized, sharing a room with Caldwell.


    Given the circumstances, Dailey knew he couldn''t keep pushing back.


    His family was strict, sure, but it was never abusive.


    The line drawn in the sand was for Christine''s safety, though things hadn''t escted to that point yet.


    Jane went back to keep Christinepany.


    Gregory stayed behind, ready for any unexpected situations.


    When Normand arrived by nightfall and saw Dailey, he didn''t say a word, just kicked him.


    Dailey fell to his knees with a thud but remained silent.


    Jayne stepped in, "What are you doing? Talk, don''t start throwing punches.''


    Caldwell and Madge, lying in their hospital beds, also gestured for Normand to stop.


    "What''s the point of hitting him? You think you can beat him to death?" they said, discontent in their voices.


    Normand was furious, "This is all your coddling!"


    Jayne retorted, "When he was out in the wild for training, eating bugs and roots, did I say anything?!"


    "What do you mean ''our coddling''?"


    "Sure, he''s made a mistake, but that doesn''t give you the right tosh out."Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Normand scoffed, "I didn''t use my hands; I used my foot!"


    Jayne pped him on the back, "A son can''t hit his father, but I can hit my husband. Go on, hit me back if you dare."


    Normand, frustrated, just spun around and ended up saying, "Fine, fine, fine."


    Jayne helped Dailey up, who then knelt on both knees.


    "I was wrong to upset Grandma, but my words were not a joke. Regardless of what you think about Christine, you better noty a finger on her." "Since you''re all here, I''ll say it again."


    "Christine and I, we''re in this together, through thick and thin."


    An eerie silence fell over the hospital room.


    So quiet, you could hear a pin drop.


    After a long pause, filled only with the sound of breathing, the room awaited a response.


    Gregory knew it wasn''t his ce to speak; the rkson family needed to show whether they would budge.


    Eventually, Madge broke the silence,


    "Dailey, don''t think that just because


    you''re the only heir, you can use death as a threat. I might step back now, but not because of your threat. It''s because you carry the rkson blood."


    "And all the effort we''ve put into you can''t be wasted on a whim over a girl. You can''t escape the C


    Joy, and your life isn''


    yours to control."


    Catching Madge''s cue, Caldwell rified, "We''ll allow you this dalliance for a year, but then you must follow the family''s ns and marry."


    "If you refuse, then you might as well end this romance now."


    Normand added, "You''ve seen what our family has endured. If you insist on being with her, through life or


    as f


    death, then maybe it''s better to live dead."