"I''m just telling it like it is. You''re an idiot. Archie is way better than his silly brother, but you''re choosing the fool over Archie. One day, he''s gonna ruin this whole


    family for you."


    Calliope stared Gavin down, a smirk curling on her lips.


    "Or maybe... you''ll just have to watch it all fall apart and be powerless to stop it."


    "Archie''s got us. He doesn''t need his dear old dad to be somebody. He''s got all the strength he needs."


    With that, Calliope didn''t bother with Gavin anymore. He tried to step in her way, but Ss blocked him with a stone-cold re.


    Calliope headed straight for Archie, with Mavis and Portia close on her heels.


    The rest of the group kept Gavin at bay, Willow and Chester included.


    "Mr. Myers, what''s your deal, huh? Seriously, what are you even trying to do?" Gavin looked like he was losing his mind as he stared at Ss.


    "My wife''s here to see her friend. I''m here to support her," Ss answered coolly.


    "Your wife?" Gavin nced over his shoulder. "You mean the one lugging the bazooka around earlier?"


    Ss nodded.


    Gavin just stood there, speechless, his emotions all over the ce.


    "That''s my son," Gavin tried to reason with Ss. “Shouldn''t a father have a say in what happens to his own kid? Mr. Myers, maybe you should ask your wife to step back. This is family business. She''s got no ce here."


    "If my wife wants to get involved-hell, if she wants to take on the president himself—I''ll be right there beside her," Ss shot back. "If I say it''s her business, it''s her business. You don''t get a vote."


    Ss''s eyes were like steel.


    ef.n


    "Give it up, Mr Yoder," Uriah chimed in, lounging back like he was watching a football game. "We''re alr here for Archie. Whatever you''re nning for your oldest son, forget about it. We won''t let it happen. Not today. You really think you can take us all on?"


    He raised an eyebrow at Gavin. "Mr. Yoder, smart people know when to walk away."


    Gavin''s face turned red with anger. He knew he couldn''t cross Ss or Uriah. But this was his son they were talking about. Wasn''t it a bit much for these people to meddle with how he handled his own family?


    "Mr. Myers, Mr. Stewart, don''t you think you''re crossing a line here?" Gavin protested. "He''s my son. I should be able to decide what''s best for him I don''t care what else you meddle in, but stay out of my business with my boy. Who he marries, that''s my decision! I''m his father. Don''t stick your nose where it doesn''t belong."


    His voice was full of warning.


    "That''s right," Willow added, frowning, "He''s our child. We''d never hurt him. We just want to find him a good match."


    "Archie can''t do better than this," Chester piped in. "He should be grateful we found someone decent for him!"


    "Oh yeah?" Ss shot Chester a look that could freeze water. "If this ''decent


    match'' is so great, maybe you should take them for yourself."


    Chester instinctively shrank back, hiding behind his father.


    "Coward,” Ss sneered at Gavin. "This the son you''re so proud of, the one cowering behind you?"


    Gavin nced over his shoulder.


    "He''s my son. Of course I love him!" he snapped. "Why wouldn''t I love my own boy? Even if he''s a screwup, he''s still got me. I''ll always protect him."


    Ss just stared at him, saying nothing.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!