Chapter 7: Family Tensions

The stillness in the Miller family's living room was deafening. Clark sat with his hands tightly held on the side of the couch. Mary was staring away from him, fingers twitching wildly at a pillow seam.

"Mary," Clark replied, his voice low but forceful. "We need to talk."

Her eyes fluttered to him, then swiftly slid away. "Now isn't the time, Clark. I'm not... I'm not ready."

He breathed rapidly, his patience running thin. "What do you mean, not ready? You've been avoiding me for days. What's going on? You're shutting me out."

Mary's stare intensified, and she stood from her seat, her back to him. "I'm not shutting you out. I'm merely trying to figure things out."

Clark stood abruptly, his frustration clear. "Figure out what? You've been avoiding me—avoiding us. Is it due to your family?"

She froze, her shoulders tight. "Clark, stop. "I prefer not to discuss this at the moment." Her voice shake, but she instantly masked it with coolness.

Clark advanced a step, his glare relentless. "I'm unable to assist you if you continue to distance yourself from me." If you're trying to isolate yourself from me owing to your brother and your father, you might at least inform me.

Before she could react, the door broke open. Fred Miller, her older brother, approached with an air of calm authority. He was never far from the worry that seized his family, and his presence only seems to intensify it.

"Mary," Fred said, his voice silky but forceful. "I want us to talk."

Mary looked up, her countenance a mixture of remorse and horror. 

"Is it important," Fred cut in, his tone hardening. "You need to hear this."

Clark's jaw hardened. He could feel the old knot of wrath in his stomach. He had no wish to be rejected by Fred, especially not now, when his relationship with Mary was on the line. He glanced at Mary, his eyes beseeching. "Don't let him manipulate you, Mary. You don't need to listen to him."

Fred flashed Clark a warning look before heading back to Mary. "We're not here to fight, Clark. Mary needs to hear the truth."

Clark shook his head, his fists clenched. "This isn't about truth. It's about you trying to control everything. About you turning Mary against me."

Fred's visage clouded, his cool façade wavering for a brief while. "You think I'm trying to control her? Look at yourself, Clark. You've gone from a man with ambition to live in son-in-law. You're dragging my sister down with you."

Mary winced, but Fred didn't notice. "You've failed her, Clark. You can't provide for her; you can't protect her. She deserves more than this."

With her heart rushing in her chest, Mary flinched back. Her face became pale as she turned to face Clark. "She murmured, barely making a sound, 'Fred is right.'"

Clark's eyes opened wide, a blend of anguish obvious on his face. "No, Mary. You can't possibly believe that. You know I'm trying to rectify this state of mine. I can do better. You know I can."

Fred placed a hand on Mary's shoulder, his words softening, almost caressing. "He's promising things he can't deliver. You need to be realistic."

Clark's hands curled into fists. "Don't you ever say that." I'm not the person who is failing in this situation. It's you, Fred. You've poisoned her mind against me!"

Mary stared at her brother, her expression concerned. "Clark, I don't know anymore. It's... it's hard. I'm trying; I honestly am, but..." She hesitated, her voice trembling. "Everything's changed. You've changed. Things aren't the same as before."

Clark shook his head, his chest constricting. "So, that's it? You're going to give up on me? On us?"

Fred moved forward, his voice shattering through the quiet. "Mary, you have to let him go. You can't keep sacrificing your future for his mistakes."

Mary turned aside, her voice breaking. "I'm not sacrificing anything. I'm just... I'm just trying to do what's healthy for myself and for both of us."

Fred's eyes gleamed with calm pride as he glanced at his sister. "Exactly. You need to focus on your future, not on someone who has nothing left to offer you."

Mary closed her eyes, her lips quivering. She could feel the weight of his words flooding in. But she also felt Clark's pain—the frantic plea in his eyes.

"I'm confuse about what to do next," she mumbled, almost to herself.

Clark came forward, his voice hoarse with emotion. "Please, Mary. Don't let him turn you against me. I'm fighting for us. I need you to fight with me."

Fred's face furrowed with displeasure. "You're not fighting, Clark. You're losing."

The words cut through Clark like a blade. He gulped hard, his brain whirling. "I'm not giving up. Not without a fight."

Fred's countenance shifted, his tone colder now. "Then you're a fool. She deserves more than you, Clark."

Mary's gaze flashed between the two guys, her heart broken in two. She could feel the pressure of her family's expectations, the crushing weight of Fred's deception, and the love she still had for Clark. But every comment from Fred seemed to touch a chord deep inside her.

"I… I need time, Clark," she replied, her voice barely a whisper. "I need time to think."

Clark stayed transfixed, his breath locked in his chest. "You can't leave me now, Mary. Please."

But she was already stepping away, her back to him, walking toward Fred. "I need to think, Clark. I'm sorry."

Fred's smile was triumphal as Mary stepped away from Clark, but Clark felt the sting of betrayal blazing in his chest. He had lost her, and the finality of it made his stomach churn.

As Mary and Fred backed away, Clark's wail rang out one last time, desperate. "I won't give up on us, Mary. I won't."

But his words were absorbed by the stillness, leaving him standing alone, the weight of defeat heavy on his shoulders. He grieve for some moment but determined to fight back.