My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse novel Chapter 643

But even as conflicting emotions swirled within her, Mrs. Evans couldn’t deny the relief that settled in her heart. Regardless of the twists and turns that fate had thrown their way, her real daughter had still ended up with her intended fiancé—without any influence from family ties.

Before Duke could respond, a movement from behind caught everyone’s attention.

Mr. and Mrs. Winters stepped forward, gently pushing past Vulture and Tristan. They were followed closely by the Patriarch, his piercing gaze fixed on the unfolding scene.

"What’s the matter? Can’t my grandson choose his own wife? What era are we living in? Do we still have to control a man’s life choices, especially now that the world has changed so drastically?"

The patriarch’s firm and unwavering voice echoed through the open space, leaving no room for argument. His stance was clear—he was standing by his grandson, ready to confront the Evans family if they dared to bring up the long-standing engagement between their families in an attempt to force Duke and his wife apart.

He was more than satisfied with his granddaughter-in-law. Not only was she capable and kind, but she also took great care of her people. More importantly, she made his grandson truly happy, and that was something he would not allow anyone to take away.

If the Evans wished to challenge this, so be it. Even if it meant going head-to-head with them, he would not back down. As the patriarch of the Winters family, he would use every ounce of his authority to make his stance known.

Realizing the Winters patriarch’s stance, Mr. Evans took a step forward, his expression calm as he offered a slight smile.

"Why don’t we continue this conversation somewhere more private? After all, this matter concerns not just two—" He paused briefly, his gaze shifting toward the Aldens before continuing, "—but three families. This situation requires further explanation, and perhaps, once everything is laid out, we can clarify the misunderstandings and discuss the best course of action together."

Mr. Evans was subtly hinting at the need to involve the Aldens and Winters in a deeper conversation—one where he and his wife could finally reveal the truth about Kisha’s origins. She was, in fact, the Evans’ long-lost daughter, missing for decades.

However, his words were misinterpreted by everyone who heard it, leading to an entirely different assumption.

The Winters assumed that Mr. Evans was trying to dissuade them from the union, possibly using the long-standing engagement agreement between the two families as leverage.

Meanwhile, the Aldens believed there was some undisclosed arrangement between the Winters and Evans, with Kisha caught in the middle, which immediately put them on edge.

Unlike Grandpa Alden, who remained wary of Duke, Grandma Alden had already taken a liking to him. She had observed their interactions before Kisha and Duke left for City B and wholeheartedly supported her granddaughter’s choice.

As for Grandpa Alden, though he had been furious with Duke earlier, his anger was more about the rapid changes in Kisha’s life than any real resentment toward the young man.

However, when Mr. Evans spoke and suggested relocating the discussion, his serious demeanor put Grandpa Alden further on guard. He wouldn’t allow anyone to pressure Kisha or take Duke away from her.

The happiest among them all was Melody, convinced that her father would fight for her and use their long-standing family alliance to force Duke to separate from Kisha.

She was certain that the Winters wouldn’t risk breaking their deep-rooted friendship over an unfamiliar woman they had only known for a month.

After all, she had grown up close to the Winters—they had witnessed her childhood, knew her character, and had always been part of her life.

In her mind, the favor should be in her hands, especially with so many people supporting her relationship with Duke.

Although Mrs. Evans remained calm, knowing exactly what her husband intended, the Evans brothers couldn’t help but feel a bit concerned for Kisha.

They loved Melody, but they didn’t want to make things difficult for their long-lost sister.

Kisha had already endured countless injustices and had spent years suffering outside their protection.

Now, her happiness was their priority above all else.

In their determination to stand by her, they momentarily forgot about Melody and how she might feel if they supported Kisha’s relationship with Duke.

While everyone was lost in their own thoughts, Duke’s grip on Kisha’s waist tightened. No matter what anyone said, no one would interfere with his decision.

If push came to shove, he wouldn’t hesitate to use force against anyone who tried to take Kisha away from him.