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.”
