Chapter 42

When Brendan answered the call, Jackson's serious tone was evident. "Brendan, are you with Naomi? You both need to come back immediately!"

Brendan didn't reply; he snapped the phone shut and tossed it aside.

Naomi asked, "Was that Grandpa? Should we go back to Yellowind Bay?"

Given tonight's events, a Sabella family complaint was certain.

Brendan nodded. Bailey asked worriedly, "Naomi, is everything okay?"

Naomi smiled. "If everything's fine at the Sabella house, why would anything happen at ours?" She looked at Brendan, who was looking ahead. "Right, Brendan?"

"Yeah." His simple affirmation was remarkably reassuring.

After dropping Bailey off, they went straight to Yellowind Bay. Entering the courtyard, they saw all the elders—including Dennis, Christine, and Ronald's parents—gathered there.

As Brendan and Naomi entered the house, Jackson slammed his hand on the table. "How dare you go to someone else's house and start a fight? How outrageous!"

Even in his anger, he avoided mentioning Naomi's name.

Brendan calmly stated, "It's done. We can't change the past."

Naomi glanced at Brendan, surprised by his consideration. There seemed to be no lingering unpleasantness from the incident, nor any trace of the silent treatment they'd endured over the past two years.

Jason had already explained Naomi's reason for going to the Sabella house before their return. With Brendan's firm statement, Jackson found it difficult to reprimand Naomi.

Sensing the tension, Heather interjected. "Dad, Naomi's always been righteous. And Madelyn's a bully! She's always resented Brendan and Naomi, so she took it out on helpless Bailey. That's why Naomi got angry. I would be, too."

Jackson sighed. "I'm not saying she isn't righteous, but going to someone else's house to start a fight is inappropriate."

Heather added indifferently, "The past is the past. Otherwise, do you want Madelyn to fight back? Even if you did, she wouldn't dare. She's no match for Naomi."

Heather seemed proud of Naomi's fighting abilities. Madelyn should have anticipated the consequences of attacking Bailey.

Chapter 42

With Heather's intervention, Jackson felt helpless. He turned to Brendan. "Brendan, your wife started the fight. Say something!"

He was hinting that Brendan should lecture Naomi, symbolically asserting authority in response to the Sabella family.

However, Brendan looked at Naomi and asked, "Does your hand hurt? Do you want to go to the hospital?"

Everyone was dumbfounded, Jackson especially. With Heather and Brendan protecting her, he had no right to lecture Naomi.

Finally, sighing helplessly, he stood up. "I'm getting old. I can't manage you all. I won't interfere anymore. Deal with it yourselves!"

He then looked at Dennis and Christine. "Dennis, Christine, Naomi is your daughter. You should educate her."

Dennis and Christine hastily agreed. "Mr. Ludwig Senior, don't worry. We'll definitely lecture her. She won't act so recklessly again."

After Jackson left, the Ludwig elders consoled Naomi.

"Naomi, it's not a big deal. Don't take it to heart."

"Yes, it's just a fight. They started it."

"You're okay, right? Did you get hurt?"