Tay takes a deep breath, his face somber.

Tay: "Sorry, Earth, I can’t. Phuwin is young; he just graduated and wants to experience so many things in his youth. It’s not his time for marriage. I know Pond is a good guy, but I want my son to marry someone he loves. So, I can’t do this to him."

Earth, desperate, tries to persuade Tay again, his voice trembling with urgency.

Earth: "Please, Tay, my reputation will fall! I can’t find another partner for Pond now. And Pond… he’s useless..."

Before he can finish, Phuwin’s patience snaps. He stands up, his voice filled with anger and frustration.

Phuwin: "Uncle, please mind your words! You’re talking about someone’s life here...your own son’s life! All you care about is your reputation. Do you care at all about Pond’s feelings? How he feels about this unwanted marriage? He didn’t want to marry that girl, but only because of you, he agreed and kept silent. But what do you do? All you do is insult him at every moment you get, even in front of everyone!"

Phuwin pauses to take a breath, his voice trembling with emotion as he continues.

Phuwin: "You don’t care how he feels when you just order his wedding date and everything. You use him like a puppet, ordering him around, and even now, you blame him for Sora’s disappearance. How can you think like that, Uncle? And now you want to marry him to another one? Do you think of him as a puppet, huh? That you can order him to do anything, and he has to fulfill it without refusing?"

The room is silent as Phuwin’s words hang in the air. He takes a deep breath, calming himself down.

Phuwin: "I don’t have anything against Pond. In fact, I respect him for what he’s going through silently. I just see him as a friend and nothing more than that. And I definitely care about his feelings right now. I don’t know how he’s coping, how he feels about suddenly being told he has to marry someone else. I’m seriously disappointed in you, Uncle. Please, just accept your mistake and talk to him. Ask him what he wants and let him do his things. Don’t cage him. And I refuse your marriage proposal."

The room is thick with tension, everyone watching Earth closely, waiting to see how he’ll respond. Earth looks around, seeing the disapproval and concern on everyone’s faces. His face flushes with anger and shame, but there’s a hint of realization in his eyes as he finally grasps the gravity of what he’s done.

The tension in the living room is still palpable as Earth glares at Phuwin and the others. He’s clearly frustrated and at a loss for what to do. His shoulders slump slightly, and he runs a hand through his hair, exasperated.

Earth: "So, what should I do, huh? The only way to fix this is to keep Pond out of sight for the wedding. That way, we can make up a story and tell the media something that won’t ruin everything."

Phuwin’s anger flares again. He steps forward, unable to believe what he’s hearing.

Phuwin: "Uncle, are you even listening to yourself? How can you suggest something like that? How can you think of restricting Pond from attending his own brother’s wedding? And it’s not even his fault! Because of someone else’s mistake, you want to give him such a punishment? That’s not fair, Uncle."

Joong, who has been silently watching the heated exchange, nods in agreement. He stands up, his voice firm but calm.

Joong: "Yes, Dad. I want Pond to attend my wedding. He’s my brother, and you can’t do this to him."

Earth sighs heavily, rubbing his temples in frustration. He looks around the room, seeing the disapproving faces of everyone present.

Earth: "Then what should we do? Tell me. What’s the solution if we don’t keep him away from the wedding?"

Phuwin, now more composed but still determined, takes a deep breath before speaking.

Phuwin: "Uncle, just release a statement saying that Sora eloped and you’re breaking off the marriage. It’s the truth, and it’s straightforward. After the wedding, if you want, we can hold a press conference to explain the situation or not—it’s up to you. But you’re not obligated to answer everyone’s questions. Just release a statement announcing the cancellation of the wedding. That’s all. If you face some loss, you can earn it back. But if you don’t change your attitude towards Pond, you might lose him forever. Please, Uncle, think about your son’s happiness for once."

The room falls silent after Phuwin’s impassioned plea. Everyone’s eyes are on Earth, waiting for his reaction. Earth’s face goes through a series of emotions...anger, frustration, and then finally, realization. He realizes the truth in Phuwin’s words. He lowers his head slightly, the weight of his actions settling on his shoulders.

After a long pause, Earth lets out a sigh and nods.

Earth: "Fine. Joong, release a statement about what Phuwin said. Make sure it’s clear and concise. No need to elaborate too much."

Joong nods, understanding the gravity of the situation. He watches as Earth turns and leaves the room, heading toward his bedroom, his steps heavy and slow. The others begin to disperse, the tension slowly dissipating now that a decision has been made.

Phuwin, still feeling the weight of everything that has happened, watches as everyone else leaves for their rooms. Just as he’s about to head to his own room, he stops, thinking about Pond. He realizes he hasn’t seen Pond since the heated exchange and feels compelled to check on him.

He turns back toward the living room entryway, but as he approaches, he stops short. There, standing just outside the doorway, is Pond. He looks utterly heartbroken, his eyes red and swollen from crying. It’s clear from his expression that he has heard everything.

Phuwin’s heart aches seeing Pond like this. He feels a deep sense of guilt and sorrow for what Pond has been through. Pond, not making eye contact with anyone, begins to walk toward his room, his movements slow and robotic, like he’s on autopilot. His face is drained of any emotion, his eyes hollow and distant.

Phuwin: "Pond…"

He calls out softly, but Pond doesn’t respond. He keeps walking, his shoulders slumped, looking like a shell of his usual self.

Phuwin watches him go, feeling a deep sadness in his chest. He wants to reach out, to comfort him, but he knows that Pond needs space. Phuwin sighs and leans against the wall, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, trying to hold back his own tears. He knows things have to change, and he silently vows to be there for Pond, no matter what.

---

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Another long chapter....

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