She clutched Caroline's hand protectively, then barked at me. "Harrison Gilbert! What are you standing there for? Bow your head and admit your mistake! Do I really need to teach a grown man how to beg?"
My father-in-law slammed his hand on the table. "No one knows a daughter better than her father. For Caroline to demand a divorce, you must have committed an unforgivable sin." He pointed a shaking finger at my nose. "If you don't give us an explanation today, don't even think about walking out that door!"
The relatives quickly fell in line.
"Harrison, you're sick," a cousin sneered. "My cousin is so gentle and sensible. What could you possibly be dissatisfied with?"
"People used to say you were a 'warm man,' emotionally stable," another relative scoffed. "In my view, you're a ticking time bomb."
"A hypocrite. I bet he commits domestic violence."
Their gazes were heavy with contempt, their words sharp enough to draw blood.
I stood there, listening to their accusations, fighting the urge to laugh. The irony was suffocating.
On the surface, Caroline appeared gentle and sensible. But behind closed doors? She was the powder keg. Her emotions were as volatile as a summer storm.