Chapter 261: Control Dressed as Acceptance

Rhys

Kayden’s breathing shifted slightly beside me, and I squeezed his hand gently to remind him I was there.

Rami’s voice remained calm. "You are too important to this family to lose over a battle that can be avoided."

"A battle?" I repeated. "Kayden is not a battle. He is not a problem for you to manage. Besides, Grandfather, you already ruined everything for us. Why the hell do you care about him now?"

"He is going to be a Calder."

"He is going to be my husband," I corrected. "There is a difference."

Rami tapped his cane once against the floor. "Then let me help with the wedding."

I stared at him.

For a moment, I genuinely thought I had misheard him.

"What?"

"If the two of you are getting married, then it should be done properly," Rami continued smoothly. "Security, guest arrangements, media control, venue selection, legal protection, family representation. A wedding involving you will not be a private affair no matter how much you wish it could be."

Kayden looked overwhelmed, but before he could speak, I stepped in again.

"No."

Rami’s face hardened slightly. "Rhys."

"I said no."

"I am offering assistance."

"And I am rejecting it."

Richard finally stepped forward. "Your grandfather is trying to help you."

I turned toward him slowly. "Now? Now he wants to help?"

Richard’s jaw flexed. "You are being unreasonable."

"No, I am being careful."

"You are being childish."

A sharp laugh left my mouth. "Of course. I disagree with the family, and suddenly I am childish."

Richard’s eyes flashed with anger. "You keep running away and pretending it is strength."

My chest tightened, but I refused to show it. "I am not running away, Father. I am making a statement after everything you two put me through."

"You are," he said, his voice growing colder. "You cut everyone off, reject every conversation, and act like isolation makes you powerful. It does not. It makes you a coward."

Kayden gasped softly beside me.

The word landed harder than I expected.

Coward.

For a second, the entire room around us seemed to fade.

I stared at my father, my heartbeat thudding hard against my ribs. I thought about every call I had ignored, every dinner I had skipped, every argument I had walked away from because staying meant letting them drag me back into a version of myself I had fought too hard to escape.

A coward.

My hand tightened around Kayden’s before I caught myself and relaxed again.

When I finally spoke, my voice came out dangerously quiet.

"You think I am a coward because I refuse to be controlled by this family?"

Richard’s nostrils flared. "I think you are a coward because you would rather burn every bridge than have a difficult conversation."

I stepped closer to him. "No. I burned those bridges because every time I crossed them, someone on the other side tried to put a leash around my neck. Father, I am not you. I will never end up like you. Grandfather had a leash around your neck, but that will never extend to me. I already made myself clear weeks ago about that."

Rami’s expression darkened at that.

Good.

Let him hear how badly he had ruined his son’s life.

"I told you before," I continued, looking between both of them. "I am done. I am done asking for permission. I am done explaining who I love. I am done letting this family decide what my future should look like."

Richard’s voice lowered. "And what about him?"

His eyes shifted briefly toward Kayden.

I moved immediately, blocking his view just enough to make the message clear.

"What about him?" I asked.

"You think dragging him into your war with us protects him?"

My jaw clenched.

Richard took a step closer. "Look at him, Rhys. He is already exhausted. He has been through the league, the media, the vote, the public. Now you are making him stand in the middle of a family conflict because you cannot control your temper."

The words cut deeper because part of me knew Kayden was tired.

But no matter what, I was going to protect him until the very end.

I turned toward him, and the moment I saw how pale he looked, guilt twisted painfully inside my chest.

Kayden still held my hand, but his expression looked strained.

My anger cooled instantly.

"Kayden," I whispered.

"I am okay," he said softly, even though we both knew he was lying.

Rami watched us carefully. "This is exactly why I am offering structure."

I turned back toward him. "Do not use his exhaustion against me."

"I am using common sense," Rami replied. "The two of you are public figures now more than ever. You are engaged. He is controversial. You are a Calder. Whether you like it or not, the wedding will become news, and news without control becomes a weapon."

I hated that he was making sense.

I hated it so much that it made my skin crawl.

Rami continued. "You do not have to like me. You do not have to forgive me. But if Kayden is going to enter this family, then I will not have you torn apart by the public because you are too proud to accept protection when it is offered."

"Me?" I scoffed. "Are you sure I am the one you care about, Grandfather, and not the name I carry? You are the one who caused this problem for us, so stop acting like you had nothing to do with it. This happened because of you."

I took a slow breath through my nose. "And now, just because you voted for Kayden, I am supposed to forgive you after everything you put us through?"

"Rhys... I am trying to make amends..."

"Then apologize, Grandfather, instead of trying to force your way back into our lives!" I shouted. "Do you want to know what I think about your stupid vote?"

Rami did not say anything. He simply stared at me.

Then I laughed bitterly in his face.

"I do not care about it. No one needs your help."

"But that vote helped the omega boy remain in Northern Avalanche," Rami replied calmly. "Let us be logical here, son. Let us put the past behind us and become one happy family again. I am offering assistance here."

"And I am rejecting it."

My father released a deep sigh. "You are too stubborn. Your grandfather is trying to support you."

I chuckled bitterly as I turned toward him. "Now suddenly everyone wants to support me? After everything? I do not need it."

My father’s jaw tightened as he spoke again. "You are behaving irrationally."

I shook my head slowly. "No. I am being careful, and I do not care what either of you has to say. I am not agreeing to any of it."