Francisâ gaze lingered in contemplation before he finally withdrew it. âWell, thatâs good to hear. Donât let me find out youâve been in touch with people you shouldnât be,â he said with a hint of sternness.
âYouâre well aware of the lengths I went to when I pulled you out of that place. You promised me, swore on your word, that youâd never look back at the people and events of your past.
I believe Iâve fulfilled my duties to you and your mother over the years. Havenât I always provided whatever you desired?
And I donât want to hear about the past, especially from you, Regina. Donât think you can do whatever you please just because youâre my daughter. You havenât even apologized for the incident earlier.
Where did you learn to throw your silverware around like that? Back home, you were always so obedient. How come youâve changed so much since marrying into the Harris family? How are you supposed to set a good example for your sister now?â âDad, are you getting senile? Since when do I have a sister? Donât tell me youâve gone and treated someone elseâs daughter as your own flesh and blood. Am I expected to look after not only the child in her belly but someone elseâs daughter, too?â
âSis, I know itâs all my fault. I shouldnât have dawdled upstairs and upset you. Itâs all on me. Please, donât push Dad any further. Iâm more than grateful to be living here with the Tanner family. How could I dare hope for your care in the future? I promise I wonât cause any trouble for the Harris family.
Thatâs your husbandâs family. We could never show our faces if we embarrassed you i front of my brother-in-law.â
âWhat do you mean cause trouble? Supporting each other is what families do! Isnât Reginaâs husband part of our family now?â
âNo, Sis told me I mustnât get involved with her husband. The Harrises would look down on us, not to mention the trouble it would cause her. I understand that perfectly well, and Iâll make sure to keep my distance from both my sister and brother-in-law in the future.â
Regina crossed her arms. She couldnât recall when sheâd given such a lengthy lecture. She never mentioned Nolan to Madeline, yet Madeline seemed fixated on her husband, likely scheming something as usual.
If todayâs spat had been merely a squabble between Regina and Madeline, it wouldâve been trivial. But Madelineâs words had struck a nerve with Francis, making him feel as if his pride had been wounded.
How could Madeline suggest that Regina was troubled by her own familyâs actions?
Wasnât Reginaâs marriage to the Harris family due to the favors he, as her father, had called in? Had he not swallowed his pride and begged the Harrises to save his daughter from scandal, would they have even noticed her existence?
Yet now, hardly settled into her new family, Regina seemed to prioritize her in-lawsâ interests over her own familyâs welfare. This was the polar opposite of Francisâ intentions when he had arranged her marriage â it was all to gain leverage over Nolan. Now, before Nolan had even raised an objection, Regina was already saying it couldnât be done!
âWhatâs your place, anyway? Your husband hasnât even spoken up, and youâre already laying down the law. Raising you hasnât been easy for me. Do you want to see our family fall into ruin? How did I end up with a daughter so ungrateful and cold-hearted?â