The Cherished Wife

"Mom!" Bob cut her off, his eyes narrowing, a trace of annoyance flickering through them. "I know what I'm doing. Cascade City can wait. It's mine, anyway. Are you really worried I won't be able to handle it?" "Alright then!" Yitty pressed her lips together and placed her glass on the table.

Bob realized that this was a conversation where he and Yitty would just go around in circles. "You should get some rest, Mom. I'll head out now."

Once he stepped out of Yitty's tastefully decorated room, Bob dialed Sean's number. "What have you been up to today?"

Sean had just gotten home and was about to crash when his phone buzzed with Bob's call. The tone was pure interrogation. He quirked an eyebrow and replied, "What could I possibly have done? I went to see Noelle, just like you asked, didn't I?" Bob squinted suspiciously. "What did you tell Jade? She's called my mom, and she's absolutely livid!"

marry Noelle right now, this instant. No, scratch that, she's pressuring you, Bob! I can't agree to that, can I?" Bob's frown deepened. Things were unfolding just as he had predicted. "Get Charles to

to set up, not me!" Sean grumbled, unable to hide his exhaustion. "I'm tired, and I've got an operation first thing

and you're a Smith. Remember,

I'll talk to Charles about it, okay?" Sean groaned, feeling cornered. "Sometimes I wonder if I owe you and Charles from a past life or something, the way you guys keep hounding me." He clenched his jaw in frustration. "Anything

of determination in his deep, dark eyes. It took a moment before he finally headed downstairs. He bumped into Sean's dad, Harrison Smith, who let out a weary

"Our Smith family's got this huge legacy, but nobody wants to step up. Grandpa's getting on in years, and so are you. It's gonna fall to Sean and me eventually, but Sean's