Tristan’s face was a mixture of guilt and desperation as he promised, “I’ll handle this.”
He hurried out of the room, and I followed him, not sure what to expect next.
Tristan held Shirley in his arms, caught between frustration and desperation.
“Stop causing trouble. If you keep this up, I’ll be angry! Go back now!”
“What trouble have I caused?” Shirley shot back, her voice getting louder with each word. “That bitch came back, and you hit our daughter! Tristan, have you lost your mind? Or do you not love us anymore?”
As if the situation wasn’t already chaotic, Shirley’s tantrum escalated into full–blown hysteria when she saw me. She charged at me, her hands raised as if she was about to rip my face off./
“Shameless bitch!” she screamed. “You dared to encourage my man to hit my daughter? You’ll pay for this, you wicked woman!”
I stood perfectly still, watching her unravel and thrash against the grasp of her own rage.
Tristan stepped in, trying to stop her, but she wasn’t backing down. If anything, her temper grew even worse, her insults sharper and more venomous.
“Weren’t you running away before?” she shouted. “Why are you back now, bringing a bastard child with you?!”
The slap that followed struck me hard, like a punch to the stomach. I was stunned, caught entirely off guard. I never thought Tristan, who had endured Shirley’s tantrums, would actually hit
her.
Shirley, momentarily stunned by the slap, stared at Tristan in disbelief. Tears, as big as marbles, streamed down her face.
“You hit me?” she asked, her voice shaking with rage. “You hit me for this woman?”
Tristan, clearly torn with guilt, softened and tried to calm her down. “I’m sorry, I lost control. Please, stop making a scene. This will only make my parents dislike you more, Shirley. Lauren has already accepted your existence. Can’t we just live in peace?”
Shirley, still crying, pointed a trembling finger at me. “You’re so biased! You hit me for her and even hit our daughter! After everything you’ve done to me, you still expect me to endure this? Tristan, you’ve changed!”
Tristan, desperately trying to reason with her, held her arms firmly. “From now on, I’ll spend Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays with you, and Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays with the family. This arrangement should be acceptable, right? Please don’t make a fuss anymore!”
But Shirley wasn’t having it. Her frustration boiled over, her emotions spiraling even further. Tristan, refusing to give up, tried again, his voice pleading. “Can’t you understand what I’m dealing with? Please don’t make this harder for me. I’m stuck in the middle. I love you, but I love Lauren too! I don’t want our marriage to end, and I can’t end it. Generations of history tie our families, and my family made a vow never to abandon Lauren.”
Then, in desperation, he coaxed, “Shirley, baby, I know you just have a bad temper. Deep down,
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families, and my family made a vow never to abandon Lauren.”
Then, in desperation, he coaxed, “Shirley, baby, I know you just have a bad temper. Deep down
you’re reasonable. Please understand me.”
As Shirley’s emotions started to calm a bit, Arthur and Eleanor showed up.
Their faces were worried, clearly upset by what was happening.
Unable to hide his anger, Arthur shouted, “What are you standing around for? Get this woman out of here! If she comes back again, I’ll break her legs!”
Tristan immediately stepped in front of Shirley, nervously pleading with his father. “Dad, please give me some time to handle this. After all, Shirley gave us a son and a grandson. She just has a bad temper, but she’s not a bad person. Please, give me some time.”
As the headlights of a car approached, I calmly walked outside, holding my son in my arms.
I turned to the McAllister family and said, “Since Shirley is so bothered by my staying here, I won’t stay. I’ll check into a hotel for now. I don’t want to cause any more trouble for your relationship.”
If she wouldn’t play the “virtuous” one, then I would. I forced out a tear, making sure it glistened just enough, and walked toward Felix’s car, acting all understanding, even though every fiber of my being was screaming inside.
Tristan, Arthur, and Eleanor grew anxious when they noticed I was about to leave.
They swiftly stepped in front of me, and Tristan immediately grasped my arm.
His expression was earnest as he pleaded with me. “Lauren, please don’t leave. Your family is here. Why stay in a hotel? I can handle this. Please trust me, okay?”
Meanwhile, Eleanor reached out and gently took my son from my arms, her voice soft as she spoke, “Lauren, our family only recognizes you as our daughter–in–law. No other woman matters to us. Don’t worry, being Tristan’s wife will be yours and yours alone. No one else will ever take
it.”
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Chapter 8
