Repairing A Broken Home With My Patriarch System

Nora flinched at the dog’s outburst, and Jason immediately glared at it.

"Shut it, Prat. Must you scare the little girl."

The dog whimpered like it understood, then made itself comfortable in Ethan’s arms.

He smiled and patted its head. "Let’s go inside already."

Shooting the old dog one last glare, Jason went ahead and opened the door. They all stepped into the living room where Ethan’s mother was waiting.

The moment she saw him, her eyes lit up. "Oh, my boy."

She immediately moved to hug him. Ethan set the dog down and reciprocated the hug, feeling a warmth bloom in his heart.

Although these weren’t his parents, he felt completely at ease around them. They gave him the same feeling he had whenever he was with his parents as Victor.

Maria hugged him tightly, then turned to her daughter-in-law.

Evelyn smiled shyly. "Good afternoon, mother."

Maria smiled and hugged her. "How have you been doing, dear? It’s been so long since I’ve seen you."

"I’m fine, mother," Evelyn answered politely. "I’m glad you’re doing okay too."

Finally, Maria turned her attention to Nora and pried the girl away from her husband.

"Oh, our princess is looking as beautiful as ever."

Nora giggled, covering her mouth shyly. "Grandma!"

The older woman hugged her gently, then took a seat with the girl in her lap. Jason sat beside her, his expression a mask of composure.

Ethan and Evelyn sat together, facing them.

Glancing around the house, Ethan asked, "Dad, don’t tell me you didn’t prepare anything for us? That would be too cruel."

Jason shot him a glare, then suddenly smiled.

Ethan stiffened, knowing there was no love behind that smile. He could already see wickedness brewing in his father’s mind.

With his smile an inch from becoming a grin, Jason said, "I recently bought some ingredients. Since you just volunteered to cook, follow me."

Ethan’s eyes widened. "Wait, I didn’t volunteer to cook. I was just asking if there’s anything to eat."

Jason continued as if he hadn’t heard him. "Come quickly, I’ll show you the things you need. You’re really a good son."

Intimidated by the smile and partially willing, Ethan reluctantly agreed and stood up to follow his father into the kitchen.

Evelyn tried to follow them to assist her husband but Maria stopped her.

"Dear, leave them for now. Let them bond. I have a few questions to ask you."

The young woman instantly became nervous, but she composed herself and sat down obediently.

Maria smiled gently, still carrying Nora in her arms.

"Is it true that you want to divorce Ethan?"

Evelyn’s eyes widened. "What?! No, of course not. I have no such intentions."

"Eh, really?" Maria looked surprised. "But your father called us a few days ago, telling us that you’re going to divorce Ethan soon and that we should get him another woman."

Evelyn buried her face in her hands, embarrassed. Why was her father doing all this? He was starting to go too far!

Sighing, she said apologetically, "Mother, I have no intentions of leaving Ethan unless he wants to leave me. It’s just my father trying to cause trouble because... he doesn’t like Ethan."

Maria hummed softly, then said, "I can understand why James wouldn’t like him. I heard of everything he did to you. I... I’m really sorry about them all. In fact, I’m curious. Why are you still with him? Doesn’t he... tire you?"

Evelyn smiled and shook her head. "Ethan has stopped all those bad habits in a while. He’s taking good care of Nora and me now."

Maria looked a little surprised. "Is that true? I wonder what got into him. Still, this is great news."

She looked in the direction of the kitchen, then said wistfully. "That boy... he has a lot on his mind. Ever since he was a kid, he’s been... weary. Only when you came into his life did he cheer up a little. I’m glad you’re not leaving each other and he’s no longer treating you unfairly."

Nora shifted in her embrace, moving to sit beside her instead. Maria smiled and patted the girl’s head.

"I cherish you a lot, Evelyn. You gave me a granddaughter, and you stood by my son even when he wasn’t worth it. I’m genuinely happy."

Meanwhile, Ethan stood in the kitchen, checking the inventory.

"Ethan," His father called him, his tone grim and serious.

Ethan paused, then slowly turned to look at him with an equally serious expression. "Yes?"

"I want you to start taking care of Evelyn properly," Jason said calmly. "I can see that you’ve returned to being yourself. You’re no longer that son I felt ashamed of. But it isn’t enough."

Ethan listened patiently. Even though he was technically of the same age as this man, their experiences differed. Victor Caldwell never married, and he never had children.

His life was like a lone wolf left in the forest, hunting for the sake of revenge. Outside that, he was nothing.

Jason Hale was different. He was a successful man, a good husband, and a loving father. Victor wasn’t any of those.

’I’m just...’

Jason continued. "It is extremely hard—almost impossible—to find a woman who would still love you after all you have done to her. You know that, right?"

Ethan nodded.

"Good. That means you should value Evelyn much more than you currently do. Make her feel special, and wash away her pain."

Jason stepped forward and held his shoulders. "I believe in you, son. Please, don’t disappoint me."

Ethan nodded again, a determined look in his eyes. "I understand, old man. I’ll make it up to her."

Jason scowled at being called an old man, but before he could complain, Ethan hurriedly changed the topic as he moved to the inventory.

"Dad, won’t you guys give me a younger sibling? You’re not too old, and I believe you can still do it if you put in some effort. Unless you are already weak and can’t get your—"

Pang!

"Ugh!"

He winced, catching the frying pan that had smacked him in the head before it hit the ground.

"You brat. Talk more nonsense and it’ll be a knife flying at you next."

Ethan immediately shut up.

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