Chapter 11 Threats Chapter 11 Threats "Violet, you'd better tell me this is a joke. I didn't give you permission to break up with Gavin!" Violet shrugged, her tone light and teasing. "What can I say, Dad? We're already done." Sylas shot up from his chair, raising his hand as if to slap her. But Violet stepped back, dodging easily. "Dad, one slap was enough. You think I'd just stand there for a second one?" Sylas paced back and forth. "Gavin agreed to this? Our families have a marriage contract-he can't just call off the engagement!" "He doesn't need to agree. This isn't the Middle Ages, Dad. Freedom to love-do I really need to spell it out for you?" "Violet, think carefully. If you dare break this engagement, you'll be paying for your grandma's nursing home fees yourself." "That's $70,000 a year. You sure about this?" Violet's anger flared. Was this really her father? The same man who used to hoist her onto his shoulders and push her on the swing? To think he'd use her grandma's nursing home fees to threaten her? "Dad, that's just shameful." Sylas stayed cool as ice. "The Miller family's on the brink of bankruptcy. Where do you think I'd get the money for her fancy nursing home? If you're so dutiful, take your grandma home and care for her yourself every day." Violet laughed bitterly. "Fine, I'll cover it. From now on, Grandma's my responsibility-don't you worry about it!" With that, all pretense was gone. Violet stormed out, slamming the door behind her. The secretaries outside were stunned. "Shannon, who was that? She's got some nerve yelling at the boss like that." Shannon Lane shook her head. "Mind your own business." The boss had warned them not to gossip, so Shannon kept her lips sealed. She quietly sent a text to Sienna. [Madam, Violet just had a blowout with Mr, Miller.] Sienna smirked at her phone. "Cora, looks like your dear sister pissed off your dad again today." "Mom, what'd Violet do now? She's always stirring up trouble" Cora muttered under her breath. "I was hoping Dad would buy me a new car." Sienna soothed her, "We'll talk about the car later. Your dad's in a foul mood today. Be good, sweetheart-everything in this family will be yours one day." Cora grumbled but nodded reluctantly. After a night of heavy drinking, Gavin woke up in an unfamiliar room and bolted upright. Luna, dressed in cozy loungewear, strolled in with a mug. 14:46 Left Me Hanging at the City Hall? I Married Your Uncle 8.3% Chapter 11 Threats "Gavin, you got wasted last night, so I brought you to my apartment. Here's some honey water-it'll help." Gavin's memory was patchy, but he vaguely recalled drinking at the Prestige Club. "Thanks, Luna. Where'd you sleep last night?" Her apartment was tiny-one bedroom, one living room. Luna's cheeks flushed slightly. "The bed's big enough. I was worried you'd feel sick, so I crashed here too." "Don't worry, Gavin. I won't tell Violet." Gavin's heart skipped a beat, a flicker of unease settling in. "Alright. I've got to head to the office, so I'm out." Dressed and ready, Gavin grabbed his phone and paused at the door. "Luna, this place is too small. Let me get you a bigger condo." Luna flashed a sweet smile. "Sweet, thanks, Gavin!" At the office, Gavin felt off, restless. He kept checking his phone-no texts, no calls. A sudden pang of panic hit him. Was Violet serious this time? He called his secretary. "Get in touch with Ms. Violet Miller at Monarch Law. Have her come to the office." "Yes. Mr. Braxton." "Don't say it's me who's asking," he added quickly before hanging up. The secretary frowned, puzzled. Since when did the boss care so much about some junior lawyer? "Got it. I'll reach out to Ms. Miller immediately." She wanted to cut ties with him completely? Not that easy! Violet had just paid off her apartment in full the day before, leaving her bank accounts with only $25,000-barely enough for three and a half months of her grandma's nursing home fees. Her grandma, Mabel Miller, used to live in the Miller Villa. But her health wasn't great, and she preferred peace and quiet, Sienna, on the other hand, belted out opera every morning. Once, a maid mixed up Mabel's meds, and after that, she insisted on moving to a nursing home, Violet had objected at first, but after seeing the top notch care-personalized service, a top tier medical team, and retired specialists from major hospitals-she relented. It was more comfortable than home. Violet made time to visit her every week. In the whole Miller family, Mabel was the only one who truly cared about her. To think Sylas would use his mother as a bargaining chip-it was heartless. Nite Wal2 I Married Your Uncle 8.5% Chapter 11 Threats "Grandma, I'm here!" Mabel's face lit up at the sight of her favorite granddaughter. "Violet, you're here!"/ She looked her granddaughter up and down. "You've gotten thinner! Violet, no dieting-you'll stop looking pretty if you keep this up." Violet smiled softly. "No diets, Grandma. I'll do whatever you say." Mabel chuckled, half exasperated, as Violet hugged her. "What's this? It's only been a few days, and you're already getting all mushy." "Are you worn out from work? Someone giving you a hard time out there?" Violet shook her head, saving all her tenderness for the woman who loved her most. "Nope, Grandma, I just missed you." "Heh, I missed you too. How's your dad doing? Your sister hasn't been giving you grief, has she?" Mabel had never liked Sienna. She'd moved to the nursing home partly because she couldn't stand Sienna. What could she do when her own son turned out so unfilial? "Cora?" Violet snorted. "She's not exactly a mastermind. Can't stir up much trouble." "Grandma," Violet hesitated, "I came to talk about something." Mabel saw the serious look on Violet's face and grew solemn. "What's wrong? Who's got my girl feeling down?" "Grandma, I broke up with Gavin." Mabel and Byron's wife, Nora Braxton, had been best friends, even arranging a marriage pact in their youth. But Mabel only had a son, and Byron's daughter married early, so the engagement passed to the next generation. Before passing. Nora had told Byron her grandson's wife had to be a Miller. Byron, devoted to his wife, took her words as gospel. Even as the Miller family's fortunes fell, he never wavered on the match. Mabel was shocked. "Did Gavin mistreat you?" She knew how much Violet had adored Gavin. Truth be told, she'd never thought it was a great match-her granddaughter loved him too much. Mabel would rather Violet find a man who loved her more, not one she had to pour her heart into. Only those who'd been married could understand why that mattered. "Yeah, I'm done with him. Grandma, I don't want to get married anymore. Please, just let me have this one wish." Mabel fell silent, then let out a long sigh. "Let's call off this engagement. My Violet deserves better." Violet buried her face in her grandmother's arms, "Grandma, you're the best. I love you so much!" A knock came at the door. "Ma'am, there's a visitor for you. Says his name's Braxton." Violet assumed it was Gavin and her sinile vanished. "I'm not seeing him." A tall figure stepped forward, his voice low and teasing. "Violet, not even me?" 14:47 Left Me Hanging at the City Hall? I Married Your Uncle 8.8%