Chapter 22
Chapter 22
Laura paused briefly, her voice tinged with a mix of bitterness and regret as she continued, “Rupert wouldn’t stop taunting Doris that day. He told her she had to bark like a dog if she wanted a taste of his treat.
“Furious, Doris fought back. When our parents came home and saw the scratches on Rupert’s neck, they didn’t even bother to hear Doris’s side of the story.
“My dad just launched into a tirade, punishing her without a second thought. That night, she wasn’t allowed dinner and was made to stand outside in the yard to reflect,”
Her voice faltered slightly, the painful memory still raw. “It started pouring rain, and Doris collapsed outside. When we got her to the hospital, her fever had spiked to 102.2°F, and it wouldn’t come down.
“The doctors said it had developed into pneumonia. She was in treatment for over a month and barely survived.”
Laura let out a deep sigh before adding, “They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. And it did make her stronger. You’re like a silver lining in her hard life. I’m sorry, I’ve probably said too much…”
“Not at all,” Lewis replied, his tone refined and reassuring. “It helps me understand her better.”
Laura’s sigh carried a weight of years gone by. “When Doris got into college, our parents refused to let her attend. They claimed they couldn’t afford it, even when she offered to take out student loans.
“But when Rupert barely managed to get into a community college, they threw a celebration and spent money on him without a second thought.
“Doris ended up working for over two months during the summer, scraping together as much as she could for tuition. I had just started working at the time and helped her with the rest.
“She worked her way through all four years of university, covering her tuition and living expenses by herself. I’d send her money whenever I could, but she shouldered the majority of it alone. That’s how she made it to graduation.”
Laura’s voice softened, filled with an aching sorrow. “She’s been through so much. That’s why she always believes she can only rely on herself. Doris works tirelessly because, to her, money is the only thing that offers security.
“She thinks it’s the only thing that won’t betray her. But underneath it all, she’s deeply insecure. She won’t let herself depend on anyone, swallows her pain, and bears every burden alone.
“She’s too strong for her own good, and it breaks my heart to watch. Please, Lewis, take good care of her. I’m counting on you.”
Her earnest plea hung in the air, as if this was the only thing she, as an older sister, could do for Doris.
Lewis felt an unexpected wave of emotion stirring within him. For someone who often prided himself on his cold and detached demeanor, hearing Doris’s story struck a nerve he hadn’t expected. “I will,” he said simply, his voice steady but laced with quiet determination.
“Thank you,” Laura said, a note of relief in her voice. “I’ll let you go now. Goodbye.”
As the call ended, Laura finally felt a sense of peace. She had made the most of a brief moment to check in, sneaking out after lunch while Doris’s parents, Claudia’s parents, Rupert, and Claudia were still engrossed in discussions.
Meanwhile, in the meeting, Maisie’s expression darkened. She turned to Jimmy with barely concealed disdain.
“Jimmy, I’ve heard rumors that you owe Mr. Watson a million dollars. Do you even have the funds to support us? I think we need to seriously reconsider this marriage between Claudia and Rupert.”
Rupert panicked the moment he heard the possibility of not being able to marry Claudia. His voice was urgent as he said,
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Chapter 22
“Mrs. Robinson, didn’t we just agree that Claudia and I would get married next month?”
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Maisie, sharp and calculating as ever, replied with a measured tone, “Rupert, I do like you, but there are some hard truths I need to address. That one million dollars your family owes has nothing to do with my daughter.
“Yes, the money went toward the house, but tell me, isn’t it normal for the groom to have a house and a car before marriage?”
She continued, “As her mother, I can’t stand by and watch Claudia marry into such a burden. It’s unfair to her.
“She’s our pride and joy, the daughter we’ve cherished since the day she was born. I hope you can understand how much I want to protect her,”
Rupert quickly interjected, his tone laced with desperation, “Mrs. Robinson, I promise, no matter what, I’ll never let Claudia bear the burden of that one million dollars. My parents aren’t unreasonable people.”
He turned to Claudia, gripping her hand tightly, his eyes filled with unwavering affection. “I truly love Claudia, Mrs. Robinson. She’s the only woman I’ll ever marry.”
Jimmy, determined to maintain his composure and pride in front of the Robinson family, chimed in with confidence, “Maisie, let me assure you, the one million dollars is compensation for Ryan and Doris’s breakup. We deserve that money.
“Even if he wants it back, one million dollars is nothing to our family. We can handle it just fine. There’s no scenario where Claudia would have to shoulder that debt.”
Andre beamed, “Jimmy, I’m so relieved to hear that.”
But Maisie wasn’t done. Her gaze turned back to Rupert, her tone firm yet matter–of–fact. “Rupert, there’s one more condition. Every cent you earn must go to Claudia. You need to love her wholeheartedly, respect her, and listen to her.
“Only then can I rest assured that she’ll be in good hands. If you can’t do this, I won’t agree to this marriage.” With these words, Maisie effectively absolved Rupert and Claudia, the young couple, from any connection to the Reed family’s one million dollar debt.
Rupert didn’t hesitate. “I promise.”
Maisie, ever the strategist, pressed on. “Good. Now, about the money–you can hand it over to us now.”
Maisie was no fool. She had done her homework thoroughly for this marriage negotiation. She knew that if the money wasn’t secured before her daughter’s marriage, it would soon become joint property after the wedding, and they absolutely wouldn’t let themselves be at a disadvantage.
“Okay, we’ll give it to you.” Rupert glanced at Jimmy, his voice resolute. “Dad, this wedding gift was decided long ago.”
Jimmy, unwilling to dig into his own pockets, replied with a practiced smile, “The money will be given to Claudia in three days.” He had no intention of paying himself and was clearly waiting for Laura to step in.
Laura’s lips tightened as she lowered her gaze, her silence speaking volumes.
Meanwhile, Claudia discreetly pinched Rupert’s palm, her signal subtle but unmistakable.
Rupert immediately understood and said, “Dad, Mom, Claudia and I will go to the city hall in three days to get our marriage license. We’re planning to hold the wedding next month.
“Before the ceremony, I want to add Claudia’s name to the deed for the house. That way, she’ll feel secure, and her parents can have peace of mind.”
Rupert’s words hit the sweet spot for both Andre and Maisie, perfectly addressing their unspoken concerns. They had already discussed bringing this up with the Reed family, even if Rupert hadn’t mentioned it.
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“You see, Rupert truly understands us as parents. He really loves our daughter, Maisie beamed, her tone full of approval
Andre nodded enthusiastically, giving Rupert a firm thumbs–up. “Rupert, you’re the best son–in–law I could have hoped for. Claudia’s happiness really depends on you now.”
Rupert basked in the praise, his chest puffing up slightly with pride. “I’ll love Claudia with all my heart and make sure she’s never wronged–not even a little.”
But not everyone was so enthusiastic. Jimmy’s expression darkened ever so slightly, a shadow of reluctance flickering across his face. His voice carried a subtle edge as he responded, “Their new house already cost one million dollars, and we spent another 150 grand on renovations.
“We’re not asking for much here. Adding Claudia’s name to the deed can wait until after they’re married and have their first child.”
It was clear this was Jimmy’s line in the sand. In his eyes, young couples today were quick to marry when in love and just as quick to divorce when things soured. It was way too risky for him.
In his eyes, by waiting until a child was born, the baby would become a bond tying the couple together, and Claudia, as a mother, would naturally prioritize the family.
Maisie’s tone turned icy. “So, what you’re saying is you want Claudia to marry into your family just to act as a servant, right?
“You’ve never truly considered her as part of your family, have you? Refusing to add her name is just a way of guarding against her.”
Hearing that the one–million–dollar house would have nothing to do with Claudia was like a slap to Maisie’s pride. Her heart burned with indignation.
‘If I don’t fight for my daughter’s rights now, what will she have if the marriage turns sour?‘ she thought, her resolve hardening.
Peyton, ever the peacemaker, spoke up in a soothing tone, “They won’t be living with us after the wedding. We’re not asking Claudia to take care of us. In fact, I’ll even help them out–cleaning the house, doing the laundry, cooking meals.
“And when Claudia has a baby, I’ll be there to help her care for the child so she won’t have to worry about a thing. She’ll be treated like a queen in our family.”
Maisie’s patience snapped. “Oh, really? A queen, you say? That child Claudia gives birth to will carry the Reed family name, won’t it? Your family’s child, your responsibility. Are you expecting us to take care of the baby?
“And now you’re telling me that the house, the one she’ll call home, won’t even have her name on the deed after she marries your son? How do you think that makes her feel? Do you honestly think she’d feel secure enough to have children in these circumstances?”
Andre, his face stern, added his weight to Maisie’s argument. He yelled, “Exactly. Who would dare have children under those conditions? No name on the deed, no children. It’s as simple as that.”
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