He stepped into the room, knelt in front of Emma, and asked quietly, “Did Grandma really say that?”
Emma nodded.
Something changed in his face.
For years, Daniel had been the peacekeeper. The one who paid the bills no one else could. The one who kept things smooth, even when it cost him.
But not this time.
He stood up, pulled out his phone, and said one word.
“No.”
Five minutes later, we were on a video call.
Patricia and George appeared on screen, surprised but quickly composed.
“Daniel, honey, it’s late—”
He didn’t let her finish.
“Did you tell Emma she had to give her laptop to Lucas?”
Patricia smiled lightly. “Well, that would be the generous thing—”
“Did you tell her she couldn’t call you Grandma if she didn’t?”
The smile faded.
“I told her,” Patricia said coolly, “that if she wants to be part of this family, she needs to learn to share.”
Silence filled the room.
Then Daniel stood straighter, his voice calm—but unshakable.
“If you want to be her grandparents,” he said, “you need to act like it.”
Patricia blinked.
“You don’t threaten a child’s love to get what you want,” he continued. “You don’t guilt her into giving up something she loves.”
His voice didn’t rise.