Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Laura paused briefly , her voice tinged with a mix of bitterness and regret as she continued , Rupert wouldnt 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 Ruperts neck , they didnt even bother to hear Doriss side of the story . My dad just launched into a tirade , punishing her without a second thought . That night , she wasnt 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 wouldnt 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 doesnt kill you makes you stronger . And it did make her stronger . Youre like a silver lining in her hard life . Im sorry , Ive probably said too much … Not at all , Lewis replied , his tone refined and reassuring . It helps me understand her better . Lauras sigh carried a weight of years gone by . When Doris got into college , our parents refused to let her attend . They claimed they couldnt 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 . Id send her money whenever I could , but she shouldered the majority of it alone . Thats how she made it to graduation . Lauras voice softened , filled with an aching sorrow . Shes been through so much . Thats 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 its the only thing that wont betray her . But underneath it all , shes deeply insecure . She wont let herself depend on anyone , swallows her pain , and bears every burden alone . Shes too strong for her own good , and it breaks my heart to watch . Please , Lewis , take good care of her . Im 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 Doriss story struck a nerve he hadnt 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 . Ill let you go now . 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 Doriss parents , Claudias parents , Rupert , and Claudia were still engrossed in discussions . Meanwhile , in the meeting , Maisies expression darkened . She turned to Jimmy with barely concealed disdain . Jimmy , Ive 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 , 1/3 13:18 Wed , 26 Feb Chapter 22 Mrs. Robinson , didnt we just agree that Claudia and I would get married next month ? 85 % +5 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 , isnt it normal for the groom to have a house and a car before marriage ? She continued , As her mother , I cant stand by and watch Claudia marry into such a burden . Its unfair to her . Shes our pride and joy , the daughter weve 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 , Ill never let Claudia bear the burden of that one million dollars . My parents arent unreasonable people . He turned to Claudia , gripping her hand tightly , his eyes filled with unwavering affection . I truly love Claudia , Mrs. Robinson . Shes the only woman Ill 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 Doriss 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 . Theres no scenario where Claudia would have to shoulder that debt . Andre beamed , Jimmy , Im so relieved to hear that . But Maisie wasnt done . Her gaze turned back to Rupert , her tone firm yet matter of fact . Rupert , theres 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 shell be in good hands . If you cant do this , I wont agree to this marriage . With these words , Maisie effectively absolved Rupert and Claudia , the young couple , from any connection to the Reed familys one million dollar debt . Rupert didnt hesitate . I promise . Maisie , ever the strategist , pressed on . 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 wasnt secured before her daughters marriage , it would soon become joint property after the wedding , and they absolutely wouldnt let themselves be at a disadvantage . Okay , well 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 . Lauras lips tightened as she lowered her gaze , her silence speaking volumes . Meanwhile , Claudia discreetly pinched Ruperts 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 . Were planning to hold the wedding next month . Before the ceremony , I want to add Claudias name to the deed for the house . That way , shell feel secure , and her parents can have peace of mind . Ruperts 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 hadnt mentioned it . 2/3 13:18 Wed , 26 Feb Chapter 22 < 85 % 1 自 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 , youre the best son in law I could have hoped for . Claudias happiness really depends on you now . Rupert basked in the praise , his chest puffing up slightly with pride . Ill love Claudia with all my heart and make sure shes never wronged not even a little . But not everyone was so enthusiastic . Jimmys 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 . Were not asking for much here . Adding Claudias name to the deed can wait until after theyre married and have their first child . It was clear this was Jimmys 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 . Maisies tone turned icy . So , what youre saying is you want Claudia to marry into your family just to act as a servant , right ? Youve 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 Maisies pride . Her heart burned with indignation . If I dont fight for my daughters 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 wont be living with us after the wedding . Were not asking Claudia to take care of us . In fact , Ill even help them out cleaning the house , doing the laundry , cooking meals . And when Claudia has a baby , Ill be there to help her care for the child so she wont have to worry about a thing . Shell be treated like a queen in our family . Maisies patience snapped . Oh , really ? A queen , you say ? That child Claudia gives birth to will carry the Reed family name , wont it ? Your familys child , your responsibility . Are you expecting us to take care of the baby ? And now youre telling me that the house , the one shell call home , wont even have her name on the deed after she marries your son ? How do you think that makes her feel ? Do you honestly think shed feel secure enough to have children in these circumstances ? Andre , his face stern , added his weight to Maisies argument . He yelled , Exactly . Who would dare have children under those conditions ? No name on the deed , no children . Its as simple as that . · ~ £ …. for „ kailadhan the surfac vallow Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!