Fatal Coddling
James let loose a string of curses at the door before turning to glare at Helen mutinously. “Do you see
Tate’s true colors now? I told you not to believe anything that comes out of that mouth of his, but you
refused to listen! I’m not getting any younger, but because of you, I had to get on my knees to apologize
to someone! Heavens, I—marrying you must be some kind of karmic retribution for whatever horrible
wrong I’ve done in my past life!”
Helen was silent as she kept her head down. She could not argue with James, knowing that Tate had
really crossed the line this time.
After another round of abuse, James finally relented and set down a couple of ground rules for Helen:
from now onward, she was not to have any contact or get involved in anything that had to do with the
Campbells. Most importantly, no one in the Cunningham household was to bring up the Campbells in any
way.
Helen bristled at such demands. “James, I agree that Tate has gone too far this time, but don’t you
think it’s a little harsh for you to ask all these of me? Have you forgotten how Chloe helped us when we
first got married and had nothing?”
“Shut up!” James barked with renewed anger. “Just because she helped us out of a tight spot all those
years ago, it doesn’t mean we have to return the favor unconditionally! I’ve been more than hospitable to
them since their return from abroad, and I said nothing when you asked Matthew to sign the order on
Jonah’s behalf. Where do we draw the line at helping them, Helen? If Tate wasn’t in the wrong, I would
have spoken up for him, but if you try to shield him even though he was clearly at fault, then you’ve failed
in principle! You’re not helping him; you’re nudging him into self-destruction. He’s going to end up in
worse places if you keep coddling him. Do you understand?”
Sasha nodded slowly in agreement with this. “You know, Mom, if you had just let him learn his lesson the
hard way the last time he ran over someone with his car, then all this could have been avoided. Aunt
Chloe and the others spoiled Tate beyond reason, so he’s used to being entitled, and he acts without
thinking. You should be grateful that he angered Mr. Harrison this time and not one of the Ten Greatest
Families of Eastcliff; if he did, then none of us could save him even if we were to lose everything.”
Lowering her head, Helen said nothing and began considering the consequences of this incident. She
had to admit that Sasha was right; Joseph had only spared Tate because it was a favor to Matthew, but if
this involved anyone from the Ten Greatest Families of Eastcliff, then tonight would have likely ended in
bloodshed.
Tate offended the Harrisons this time, and though he survived, he barely made it. If he weren’t put in his
place, who’s to say he wouldn’t go and trifle with the Ten Greatest Families of Eastcliff? Then we’d all be
doomed!
After a long pause later, Helen finally muttered, “I… I see now that I have been wrong to stand by him all
this time. I’ll talk to Chloe and have her keep an eye on Tate from now on, so he’d stay out of trouble.
Nevertheless, she’s still my sister, and I can’t just cut her off after all she did to help us back then.”
Infuriated by her stubbornness, James waved his hand and spat, “I won’t even try to persuade you
anymore, but I’ll tell you this—the Campbells are no longer welcome at the Grand Garden, and if you
want to see them, you can head over to their place! One last thing: they’ll have to clean up their own
mess from now on, and I don’t want our family to be dragged into their business no matter what! I won’t
be helping them ever again!”
With that, he stormed into his bedroom.
Sasha took Matthew by the arm and pulled him up the stairs, having never wanted to be involved in the
Campbells’ mess in the first place.
Demi, on the other hand, merely sighed as she said softly, “There’s no use getting mad, Mom. It’s a good
thing that the Campbells would stop coming by our place. Tate and Minerva are shameless fools who
have been telling everyone that this is their home and that we’re just staying here as guests. You can’t go
easy on them; otherwise, they’d just start taking things for granted!”
“That’s enough!” Helen’s blood was boiling as she glowered at her daughter. “How could you say such
things about your own cousins? They wouldn’t go around spewing nonsense like that!”
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