Chapter 542: She was so angry that she slapped her.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Emberlyn, I..."
"Dad!" Tommy's words were cut off by Gillian, who immediately explained, "Don't blame him. It was all me. I was the one who confessed to him, and moved in with him. He just went along with it. He told me long ago that we should inform you about our relationship, but I didn't let him. So if you want to blame someone, blame me. It's not his fault."
"No, Mr. Emberlyn, it's my fault," Tommy quickly admitted. "I didn't think it through. It's not Gillian's fault. I'm sorry for worrying you and making you angry."
Tommy finished speaking and hung his head low, looking like he had committed a grave mistake.
"No, it was all my doing. It has nothing to do with Tommy."
Hearing Gillian say this, Thomas felt a sharp pain in his heart. He hadn't even said much to Tommy, and Gillian was already rushing to defend him.
"Gillian, I warned you repeatedly, but you didn't listen. What did you promise me before you came to Arizona? You said you'd come home after a few days, but what happened? You hid the fact that you even got a boyfriend from me!"
"But I'm in my twenties. Isn't it normal to date?" Gillian replied emotionally. "When I was in school, you always told me not to date too early. Now I'm an adult.
When I went abroad for my studies, you started nagging again, saying I couldn't date before graduation and especially couldn't stay abroad. I listened to you then too.
Now I've graduated, and I'm well past the legal age for marriage. Why can't I date? Do you want me to stay by your side forever and never get married?"
"Gillian," Tommy quickly whispered to her, trying to calm her down.
After hearing Gillian's words, Thomas felt a tight pain in his chest. Gillian never understood his worries.
Because Mrs. Emberlyn was kidnapped and killed years ago, and Gillian was his only daughter, he was genuinely afraid. Whether she was studying domestically or abroad, he always assigned bodyguards to her.
This time, he didn't leave a bodyguard with her in Arizona because Alaric was there, and he had retired, so he let his guard down a bit.
But he always wanted to keep Gillian close, never letting her marry far away. Arizona was practically across the country from his home.
He thought she would just play in Arizona for a few days and then come home. He never expected this!
"Pack your things and come home with me immediately!" Thomas ordered sternly.
Go home? What does that mean? Break up Gillian and Tommy?
"I'm not going back!" Gillian refused firmly.
"If you don't go home, what do you want to do?"
"I want to marry Tommy!" Gillian spoke with equal determination. "You've seen it; we've already slept together. If we don't get married, what do you want me to do? If you force me to go home, I'll go on a hunger strike. Don't even think about setting me up with anyone else. I'll curse out every date you arrange. If you don't let me marry Tommy, I'll become a nun!"
"Gillian!" Thomas slammed the table in anger, truly furious.
"Mr. Emberlyn, please don't be angry. It's all my fault. Please don't be angry. I'll talk to Gillian." Tommy quickly poured Thomas a glass of water and then pulled Gillian into the study.
"Gillian, this is my fault. I didn't tell Mr. Emberlyn in advance. Of course, Mr. Emberlyn would be angry seeing this suddenly. I'll explain to him. It's all my fault. Don't say things that will make him angry. Mr. Emberlyn is only looking out for you." Tommy advised.
"I know it's our fault for not telling him earlier. I tried to explain, but he wouldn't listen," Gillian replied, looking at Tommy. "If he forcibly takes me away, what can I do? Should I just obediently go with him? If I go with him, he'll never let me out again. I'm not going!"
Tommy didn't expect things to turn out this way. He understood Thomas's anger as a father and knew Gillian's thoughts. Stuck in the middle, what could he do?
"Gillian, calm down for a bit. I'll go talk to Mr. Emberlyn."
"No, he'll make things difficult for you. When he's angry, he treats everyone like his subordinates, very harshly!" Gillian pulled Tommy back and led him out.
Tommy and Gillian returned to the living room, and Gillian tried to speak calmly, "Dad, I know it was our fault for not telling you earlier, but Tommy and I truly love each other. Whether you agree or not, I will marry him. If you insist on breaking us up, I'll die in front of you."
"Gillian, are you talking to me or threatening me?" Thomas felt truly heartbroken. "I raised you with so much care, and now you're living with Tommy. You hid this from me, and when I found out, I can't even question you? I barely said anything, and you're threatening me with death?"
"I'm not threatening you. I'm just talking to you. I'm just dating normally. We just didn't tell you in advance. Why make such a big deal out of it?"
"I'm telling you to come home with me right now!"
"I'm not going back!" Gillian shouted emotionally. "Can you stop treating me like a child? I'm already in my twenties. Why can't I have a boyfriend?
You've always been like this, so controlling, always telling me what I can and can't do, with a bunch of demands. I think Mom got sick and died early because you stressed her out.
Before you retired, you controlled me in every way. Now that you're retired, it's even worse. If you're really that bored, why don't you go find someone to date? I wouldn't mind if you found me a stepmother..."
As soon as Gillian finished speaking, he couldn't stop himself from slapping her across the face.
Every word Gillian said hurt him deeply. Since Mrs. Emberlyn passed away, he had felt guilty and took extra care of Gillian.
He worried that remarrying would negatively affect Gillian, so he never remarried. He retired despite many requests to stay, just to spend more time with Gillian.
Gillian was stunned by the slap. Thomas had never hit her before. Knowing her delicate health, he never even touched her forcefully. But today, he hit her!
"You hit me just because I'm dating? You're such a great dad!"
Gillian was furious. She and Tommy had planned to come clean to Thomas today, but now...
Alaric, that meddlesome snitch, had really reported them!
Without saying another word, Gillian ran out with Tommy's car keys. Tommy quickly tried to follow, and Thomas also hurried after her.
But Thomas was so angry that his blood pressure spiked, making him dizzy. Tommy quickly supported him, "Mr. Emberlyn, are you okay?"
"Don't worry about me. Go after Gillian!"
Tommy quickly ran out, but he was too late. Gillian had already started the car and sped away.
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