Lizetta''s words had none of her former deference or obedience to Nathan, leaving him momentarily stunned and speechless.


    When he finally gathered himself, anger seethed in his voice.


    "Lizetta! Where did you get the nerve to speak to your elders like this? Who taught you to be so disrespectful and defiant, deliberately trying to provoke me?!"


    Before Lizetta could respond, Remington''s deep voice cut in.


    "Father! And who gave you the right to shout at her like that? Let''s not forget—she''s no longer your daughter-inw, nor is she some girl you''re fostering in the Dashiell family. You have no authority to lord over her anymore, do you?"


    Nathan let out a cold, bitterugh. "So, what, she''s nevering back to the Dashiell family, is that it?"


    Remington nodded once, his expression calm. "Is the Dashiell family supposed to be some kind of paradise?"


    Since Lizetta clearly had no intention of returning, Nathan''s anger seemed to dull a little. The lines of tension eased from his brow, and he was about to speak again when Remington continued.


    "Don''t trouble yourself, Father. Even if Liz and I get back together, it''ll only be because I''m the one joining her family. With you as the patriarch, there''s no way I''d let here back and suffer in your house again."


    Nathan''s face froze in shock. He understood every word Remington said, and yet, pieced together, the idea sounded utterly absurd.


    "Marry into *her* family? Are you insane?"


    Nathan could hardly believe his ears.


    Lizetta was surprised too. She looked up at Remington, her eyes wide, clearly caught off guard.


    Remington pulled her closer, his arm tightening protectively around her shoulders. He met her gaze for a moment, reassuring her, then looked up at his father with azy confidence.


    "Do you really need me to exin what it means, Father? It means that when Liz and I marry, we won''t need your approval. If you don''t want to see us at the holidays, we won''te and bother you. If we have kids, they''ll take their mother''s surname..."


    As Remington continued, Nathan''s face darkened, turning almost ashen with outrage. He cut Remington off, practically shouting.


    "So, what, you think the Dashiell family hasn''t been humiliated enough because of her? Her father kidnapped her for ransom, for God''s sake! he hadn''t been killed in that ident he''d still be retting in


    prison. And you want to marry into *that* family?!"


    Nathan''s words left Lizetta even more bewildered. She''d been back with the Madden family for ages now-she''d even changed herst name Remington and Fiona both knew that. Was it possible Nathan still hadn''t figured it out? Clearly, neither Remington nor his grandmother had bothered to


    enlighten him.


    Remington answered calmly, a hint of a smile on his lips. "I''m doing this for Liz, not


    for her family. As long as she''s there, that''s all that matters."


    Nathan was left gaping, his chest heaving in fury until his face had gone pale.


    "Fine, fine! What spell has she put on you? You''d throw everything away for her! I just got off the phone with your godfather—he told me you''d sacrificed years of business and friendship between us and the West family for Lizetta, that you canceled a. deal without a second thought." didn''t want to believe it, but clearly, he was right!"


    Remington''s eyes narrowed dangerously.


    And in that moment, Lizetta understood why Nathan had shown up so suddenly. He must have gotten a call from Martin, who''d been friends with him for decades.


    Remington gave a wry smile. “Just as you see.”


    He clearly had no interest in arguing further. Pulling Lizetta close, he said briskly, "You''re free to do as you please."


    With that, he steered Lizetta toward the door, ignoring Nathan''s furious shouts behind them.


    Remington didn''t pause, and Lizetta wasn''t about to stop and let herself be berated. Together, they walked quickly past the entry hall.


    Suddenly, the sound of something shattering rang out from behind them. Lizetta instinctively flinched and frowned.


    "Are you sure it''s okay to just leave him like that?" she murmured.


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