Riches in Disguise

"You bitch, you have no shame at all!" Kaelyn screamed.

Just as Kaelyn and Gabrielle were about to argue, I quickly intervened. "Stop it.

Let's talk this through."

"Get out of the way!"

A crisp slap landed hard on my face, immediately silencing the argument.noveldrama

I was stunned. The women were both shocked as well.

It was obvious that Kaelyn hadn't expected to hit me, let alone hit me so hard. She probably just wanted to threaten me, but instead, she ended up striking me.

Gabrielle had intended to create some drama, but it got me slapped.

Only after a moment did I regain my composure and grit my teeth. "Madam, since you've slapped me, can you let me say something? Even if you think I'm not a good man or if you're doing this out of kindness, trying to get Gabrielle to marry a good man is your one-sided wish.

"If your house is next to a river, should you let your child learn how to swim and catch fish and crabs even if it takes them almost drowning a few times? Or should you build a bridge and have them walk on it forever, never letting them go into the water?"

Kaelyn frowned. "Of course I would want her to stay on the bridge! Drown once, and she's finished! Marrying the wrong person will ruin her life!"

"Yes, drowning could kill her. But if you stick by her, nothing will happen. Instead, it will teach her a lesson, give her some experience, and enrich her life. Besides, if you marry the wrong person, you can just divorce them, right? It's not like you're bound forever." I tried to reason with her. "And whether she walks on the bridge or learns to swim is not for you to decide. It's her life, and she has the right to choose."

Gabrielle immediately added, "Mom, I want to learn how to swim. I'd rather drown or endure some hardship. I want to enjoy the fun of swimming and catching fish and crabs than live my whole life on a bridge, mechanically and boringly."

"You!" Kaelyn glared at Gabrielle and then at me, her face red with anger.

"My daughter has always been obedient, and then suddenly, she turns rebellious. I wondered what happened. It turns out that she met a slick talking, smooth operator like yout's you who's incited her to go against me!"

Now, I was being blamed. When did I ever incite her? This was the first time we

had met, and those words were the first time I had said them.

But Gabrielle insisted I was her boyfriend, clearly trying to use me to escape Kaelyn's control, so I had no choice but to help. If I left now, she would be scolded even more harshly and possibly dragged back home.

So, I decided to play the role of the good guy. I smiled and said, "Madam, no matter how I usually interact with Gabrielle, the fact

remains-we have mutual for net

The more you try to separate us, the stronger our bond will grow.

"Have you never heard the saying? Love grows stronger through adversity. If you just accept us, we might end up arguing daily and breaking up on our own."

Kaelyn's expression clearly changed when she heard this.

She was much older than me, so she likely understood the situation better than I

did.

After a moment, she took a deep

breath. "Kid you do have a way with words. Fine: I won't break you two up for now. Do as you wish, but

Gabrielle, you absolutely

stay

in this apartment. Come home with

me right now!"

"I can't go back. If I do, you'll just lock me up again."

"Locking you up is better than you being sold. Look at the people downstairs. Do

you think any of them are good?"

I interrupted her. "Those building managers will be fired soon."