Over the decades, Maddie continued to mourn Ike's death as his widow. Thus, Kaden tolerated her for her steadfastness in giving birth to the Flemmings' only offspring back then. Plus, Everly was outstanding enough to bear the responsibility of helming Flemming Group.
Kaden could rest in peace after death.
That was why, for the past few decades, the Flemmings continued to support the Zellers, and Kaden merely closed an eye whenever Maddie sent things to her birth family. It was only some supplements, after all, as his daughter-in-law did not have access to large amounts of money and her authority was limited to the household. She held no decision-making power, nor could she interfere in anything else.
However, the Zellers constantly tried to manipulate Everly through these ties, and Kaden had seriously had enough of it.
It was not once or twice. It had happened countless times now.
No matter how good-tempered or how great the debt of gratitude was, he could not tolerate it anymore.
"Thank you for asking. They're doing well."
Kaden nodded and made a sound of acknowledgement before saying, "That's good then. You give them supplements so often that if they weren't doing well, it'd be an affront to your filial piety."
Upon hearing this, Maddie flushed in embarrassment.
She said in a small voice, "Dad, I-I'll stop giving them so many things."
"Maddie, I'm not telling you to stop giving them things. As their daughter, it's only natural to show your filial piety, but you don't have the same duty to your siblings."
Maddie flushed an even deeper red.
It was only after a long moment of
silence that she said, still in the same small voice, "They're not as well off as we are, and we're not
short of supplements
either. We
wouldn't even be able to finish them ourselves, and I was worried it would expire, so I took some forthem.
“Dad, if you don't like it, I-I won't take so much next time.”
"Maddie, I'm fine with you wanting to help out your siblings, but you have to consider if it's worth it. You keep helping them, but they keep trying to scheme against your daughter and sabotage our family.
"I'm not asking you to cut ties with your family, but you're my daughter-in-law, and Everly's your only child. She's your family now, and you have to put your nuclear family, you and your daughter, first.
"You can't put your siblings first. They each have their own families, and they're all fully able adults who can work to earn their own living. None of them are jobless, and each and every single one of them has an income every month.
"They're fully capable of supporting their families on their income alone. They might not be as well off as we are, but they're still much better off than ninety percent of the country's population.
"It's been almost thirty years since you married into our family and started giving them things. You should know how much all of it is worth. How much is it if you add up over these thirty years?
"And in the end? They're not
thankful. Instead, through you, and
using you, they're trying to
manipulate my granddaughter, your
daughter. How many times have I
told you guys there's no need to worry about Everly's marriage and not to interfere?
"I have my own plans, and Everly has her own opinions. Even you can't change her mind, much less your siblings. Do you really know what sort of characters they've tried to introduce to Everly?
"Maddie, Everly's the only offspring of our family. Her marriage carries too much significance to just settle for less. You can't get anxious just because she's twenty- eight and tell her to settle down with any old man.
"She's outstanding enough to deserve better. Which of the so-called great guys her aunts and uncles have introduced truly have capability? They're all spoiled brats who only know how to spend money, and their objective is to get at the Flemming assets by marrying Everly.
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"Everything under the Flemming name is to be handed over to Everly, so they've basically set their sights on your daughter's assets, her inheritance. Are you seriously willing to let your daughter's inheritance be swallowed by someone else?"
Maddie paled.