Repairing A Broken Home With My Patriarch System

With a stern expression on her face, Evelyn stared at her father. ”I’m more comfortable sitting with Ethan.”

With that, she pulled his hand and they sat down together on the chair facing her parents.

James frowned while Chris looked extremely surprised. Why was she being so defensive? Did something happen that he was unaware of?

”You brat...”

James sighed and shook his head, then turned to Chris. ”You came at the right time. We were just talking about you.”

Chris blinked in surprise. ”About me?”

Evelyn cut in before James could answer. ”Dad? Is Chris the person you’re talking about?”

James’s eyes lit up, and he gazed at her with tenderness. ”You can even recognize someone worthy at a glance. You truly have my eyes.”

Evelyn didn’t answer that. She turned to Chris and forced herself not to glare.

”Chris... what is the meaning of this? You know I’m married.”

Chris’s expression hardened and he answered seriously. ”I know that, Eve. And that’s why I’m not going to let you stay with this man. If it were someone else, I might have given up. But I can’t let you keep suffering in his hands.”

Evelyn closed her eyes, understanding his point. She understood them all. They all wanted the best for her—Cole, Chris, and her parents. They all did.

However, she didn’t think their concern was necessary.

For some reason, she had a feeling that Ethan had completely changed. She knew habits were hard to kill off, but Ethan wasn’t showing signs of struggling with habits.

It was as if a switch had been flipped, and he had become a different person.

’I trust him. I don’t know why, but I do. Besides, I already swore not to divorce him.’

She opened her eyes and looked at Chris apologetically. ”I’m sorry, Chris. But your worries are unfounded. Currently, I’m not suffering from anything and I hope you understand that. I’m not divorcing Ethan.”

James frowned tightly and immediately turned to Ethan. ”What spell did you cast on my daughter? Are you threatening her with something?”

Ethan rolled his eyes, but before he could retort, Evelyn spoke up.

”Dad, will you stop making wrong assumptions? Ethan isn’t doing anything to me.”

Beside her husband, Elena frowned. ”Is that how you talk to your father?”

Knowing she wouldn’t be able to confront her parents all by herself, Ethan squeezed her shoulder and spoke up.

”Sorry if this might sound rude, but aren’t you two being a bit overbearing? I married your daughter and did everything necessary. Now, you want to take her back so she can marry someone else?”

He scoffed, his gaze cold.

”What do you think she is? A toy you can sell to someone as you wish? And do you take me for a fool?”

James’s expression darkened horribly, and he shook in rage. ”You... you dare talk back to your in-laws?!”

Ethan rolled his eyes and chuckled. ”So you consider me an in-law? I wasn’t aware of that.”

He turned to Chris, his eyes flashing with a mocking glint. ”I wonder if you’re actually doing this for Evelyn or for yourself. Not like I care, anyway.”

He stood up, looking down at James and Elena. ”I respect you two as her parents. Please do not tarnish to image I have of you.”

With that, he pulled Evelyn up from the chair and called out to Nora. Soon, the little girl appeared and wisely took her father’s hand. The family of three quietly walked out of the door.

”This bastard...” James shook angrily, clenching his teeth.

Chris immediately stood up, picking the gift box. ”Father, Mother, I’ll go talk to Evelyn myself. Let me handle this.”

James’s eyes lit up, and he nodded. ”Alright, you go ahead. You two are friends, after all.”

Chris nodded and prepared to walk away.

”Wait! Where are you taking the gift? Put it down.”

Seeing James frown at him, he laughed awkwardly and put the gift on the table.

”Sorry, I got carried away.”

James smiled at him. ”It’s okay, it’s okay. You didn’t carry it away. Now go chase after her.”

Chris smiled stiffly and turned around. ’This greedy old man! Once I get Evelyn, see if I’ll give you face anymore!’

He immediately rushed outside and found Evelyn and Ethan at the gate.

”Evelyn, wait!”

He hurriedly shouted, rushing to meet them there.

With a serious expression, he said to her, ”Are you absolutely sure about this? I’m not sure what this guy has been fee—”

”I have a name. Ethan,” Ethan interrupted him with a flat look.

Grumbling, Chris continued. ”I don’t know what Ethan has been feeding you but you should never trust him. Remember all the bad things he has done to you.”

A conflicted look appeared in Evelyn’s eyes, but it was soon replaced by determination.

”You know how stubborn I am, Chris. I already made my choice, and I’m sticking with it.”

Ethan glanced at her in surprise, then looked at Nora. ”Nora, close your eyes.”

She obeyed easily, closing her eyes and covering her face.

Before Evelyn or Chris could understand why he said that, Ethan pulled Evelyn close and pressed his lips against hers.

Evelyn’s eyes widened in surprise, but seeing his eyes inches away from her, she melted into the kiss.

Chris watched with a dumbfounded expression, his heart suddenly gripped by a phantom pain.

”You...”

His expression shifted between rage, restraint, and helplessness. He couldn’t do anything because he had no rights to.

After a few seconds, Ethan pulled back and wiped Evelyn’s lips with his thumb.

Then, he glared at Chris. ”Let’s get this straight. Evelyn isn’t my girlfriend, but my wife. If you dare make moves on her any further, I won’t hesitate to destroy you. I have little tolerance for things that displease me.”

Holding his wife and daughter in each hand, he walked through the opened gate, leaving Chris standing there in shock.

He had seen it. There was absolutely no resistance on Evelyn’s face when he kissed her. That wasn’t right.

If he was threatening her with abuse or their daughter, then there should have been instinctive rejection. At least for a moment.

Yet, he saw nothing.

’It can’t be... she’s actually happy with him? What the hell happened in just one week?!’