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Novel Catalog
Chapter 79
Mr. Brown sighed deeply and shook his head, his voice firm yet understanding as he spoke to his son. “Hank, I understand your frustration. I can see that you feel overwhelmed, but what you’re saying—this violence, this anger—it’s not the way to resolve things. Liberty is your wife, and no matter how difficult it gets, you have to communicate. You can’t keep bottling up your feelings or taking it out in ways that could hurt her, especially not physically. Marriage is built on understanding, and it’s not about power. It’s about compromise, finding solutions together.”
Hank clenched his jaw, his fists still tight as he glared at his father. “I know, Dad. But it’s hard when I’m the one doing everything and Liberty just seems to take it all for granted. I’m working hard every day to make sure everything runs smoothly, but she spends money like it’s nothing. I just want her to realize how hard it is for me to keep everything together. And now she wants to split chores? It doesn’t make sense.”
“I understand, son,” Mr. Brown said, his tone softening. “But think about this: you’re both in this together. If you want Liberty to be more responsible with the money, talk to her. Don’t just impose things on her. If you want her to help out more at home, let her know how you feel. But do it calmly. Do it in a way that doesn’t make her feel like you’re turning everything on her. Marriage is about giving and taking. It’s never one-sided.”
Hank took a deep breath, still struggling to contain his anger. “I get what you’re saying, Dad. But she keeps pushing me, testing me. I don’t know how much more I can take.” His voice was shaky now, frustration seeping through. “She acts like I’m supposed to do everything, but she doesn’t lift a finger unless I force her to. It’s like she doesn’t care about what I’m going through.”
Mr. Brown shook his head slowly, his eyes filled with concern. “I know you’re working hard, Hank. I know you want to provide for your family. But if you push too hard, if you try to control everything, you’ll end up pushing Liberty away. You don’t want that. No one’s perfect, and neither are you or Liberty. But you have to meet her halfway. Talk to her, really talk. Let her know what you need, but also listen to what she needs. She’s not your enemy. You’re supposed to be a team.”
Hank was silent for a long moment, clearly conflicted. Chelsea, who had been quietly listening, decided to step in. “You know, Hank, what Dad’s saying is true. Liberty’s your wife, and you both need to work things out. But you also have to remember that it’s not all on her. You can’t just blame her for everything. The both of you need to find a balance.”
“Balance?” Hank scoffed, looking at his sister. “It’s hard to find balance when she keeps demanding things from me. I have to do everything—work, pay the bills, take care of everything—and she just sits at home like it’s nothing.”
Chelsea sighed, her voice calm. “Look, I know it’s frustrating. But you’re not the only one who’s making sacrifices. Liberty’s at home with Sonny all day. She’s taking care of the household. That’s a full-time job too, Hank. It’s not easy, especially when she doesn’t have her own income. I get that you want her to help out more with the house, but maybe instead of forcing her, you should try asking her. Maybe she feels like she’s not doing enough or she’s not being appreciated. Communication goes both ways.”
Hank rolled his eyes, but there was a slight shift in his demeanor as he considered his sister’s words. “Maybe. But it’s hard when she doesn’t see it the way I do. She thinks she can just spend my money without a care in the world.”
Chelsea nodded sympathetically. “I know, I know. But at least try talking to her before you blow up, okay? For Sonny’s sake, if nothing else.” She paused, her tone softening as she added, “You’ve been together for a long time, Hank. Don’t let small things break you apart.”
Hank exhaled slowly, clearly weighing the situation. “Alright, alright. I’ll try. But it’s not easy, Chelsea. I’m doing my best here.”
Mrs. Brown, sensing the conversation was winding down, decided to steer it back toward the original topic. “Hank, now that we’ve got that out of the way, what about the kids? We should focus on what’s best for them. Chelsea, you’re right. They’ll need to be enrolled in school, and we should start planning for that.”
Chelsea, relieved that the tension was starting to fade, smiled. “I was thinking the same thing. I’m glad you’re on board, Hank. We’ll get them settled, and everything will work out.”
Hank nodded, still a little tense but willing to cooperate for the sake of family. “Yeah, we’ll get them into a good school. And Liberty can handle the rest. If she wants to play housewife, she can do all the housework.”
Chelsea gave him a pointed look but chose not to argue further. “Let’s just focus on the kids for now, okay? We’ll figure everything else out later.”
Mr. Brown nodded approvingly, satisfied that the conversation had shifted toward a more positive direction. “That’s the spirit, son. Family first.”
