A Second Chance at Forever

Chapter 1443

When Elbert learned the truth, he was shocked, and just as wild with rage. The Pines and the Laurences were basically enemies, and now, thanks to Bernard’s meddling, they were awkwardly stitched together as relatives. Who could swallow that bitter pill?

Elbert had been nursing dreams of vengeance, but old man Sheldon Pine put a stop to that real quick. “He’s family now, son,” he warned, “and that’s the end of it. Unless some blind bat from the Laurence clan stabs us in the back, you leave Bernard be.”

Of course, Sheldon was just looking out for the last scion of the Pine family. With Elbert’s hotheadedness, he didn’t stand a chance against Bernard’s wits. So, the old man sweet-talked him into seeing reason.

His argument was a sly one, “It’s Bernard who should be squirming, not us. That boy has to call me ‘Uncle Sheldon’, putting us a rung above the Laurence’s in this twisted family ladder.”

The moment Elbert realized he had the upper hand in this bizarre hierarchy, his eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh in excitement, shaking Sheldon’s arm. “Dad, you’re a genius!!”

Sheldon looked at Elbert’s goofy grin, shook his head, and playfully cuffed him on the ear before booting him out of the house to cool off.

Elbert couldn’t wait to spread the news to his cousins in Chiang Rai. Stepping out of the airport, he practically bumped into the very subjects of this mess. What were the odds?

glee, Elbert neglected one tiny detail. “Robin, Bernard’s gotta call your mom ‘Aunt’ and my dad ‘Uncle’! Isn’t this family tree a

could barely stand, but the others in the car exchanged awkward

the heart to burst his bubble until Elbert started ribbing Robin. “Hey, you’ll

his annoyance while starting the car, fixed Elbert with a withering glare. “You want to die laughing, or do you prefer dying a stranger’s death in a foreign land?”

under his breath about

have to call him ‘cousin’, but so do you.

hit Elbert like a ton of bricks. He wasn’t the one with the upper hand over Bernard;

finally spoke, his voice devoid of emotion, “Family ties are a mess, but I’m happy to be your ‘cousin’, and my wife is more than willing to be

gentle nature, so the new

glum, my dear second cousin?” Elbert teased, quick to adapt to the new family roles. “Not thrilled about your new cousin

asked coldly, “You want your mouth torn open, or prefer to take a dive out of the