A servant entered, quietly placing Catty's bags near the door.
Before anyone could blink, Nathan stormed over, grabbed the bags, and dragged Catty downstairs by the wrist.
"Nate, please… just let it go. Everyone's still waking up," Catty whispered, her voice trembling but loud enough to echo through the hall.
Her cry drew startled eyes. Everyone turned.
The sight shocked them—Nathan holding Catty aggressively, his face twisted with rage. The delicate quiet of morning was shattered, Monica's dream slipping quietly into the ether.
"First of all," Nathan roared, "this is my house!"
"What's going on?" a family member asked, confused and concerned.
"You tell me what's going on!" Nate shot back, scanning the room for answers none of them had.
Ruben appeared at the stairwell just in time, folding his arms. Cinthia joined him quickly.
"Is he stable?" she whispered.
"More or less," Ruben said, eyes glued to the unfolding chaos. "Grab me some popcorn—I'm not missing this show."
"Why is he mad?" Cinthia asked, glancing toward the furious Nate.
"Because someone just canceled his wedding," Ruben replied, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Cinthia's jaw dropped.
"Bro, what happened? Did you finally—" Monica began, stepping forward.
"Don't!" Nate snapped, blocking her path with a firm arm. The room went silent. Kuku Veronica stood at the foot of the stairs, watching everything unfold, speechless.
"You tell me, Monica," Nate said, his voice simmering now, like a storm gathering heat. "You tell me what happened."
"I don't understand," Monica said, her face frozen in confusion.
"I leave for one business trip, and suddenly you're living my life? Making decisions for me? Do you really think you know what's best for me now?" Nate's voice cracked with emotion. "How many times have I told you to either make peace with Catty—or stay out of our lives?"
"Nate, that's not fair, I—" Monica started.
"I'm still talking!" he bellowed. Monica flinched, retreating a step. Catty smirked, satisfied.
"She's going to be my wife," Nate declared. "Soon, she'll be your sister. I'm marrying her, and no selfish heart is going to come between us. Not even you."
"Nate, are you sure you've thought this through?" Aunt Sofia intervened carefully. "Monica was only trying to look out for you."
"Aunt, for five years, this entire family prayed I'd find someone and settle down. Now that I have, you say she's not good enough?" Nate turned to the group. "Catty's the only one I chose, and Monica's the only one who keeps standing in the way."
He looked at Monica with steely eyes.
"Don't test the limits of my love for you," he said coldly. "Or my patience."
Catty stepped forward, voice soft. "Kuku, I'm so sorry. I promise Nate misunderstood. I would never disrespect this family."
"I don't ever want to come back here and find my wife packing her bags again," Nate said. Monica stood in disbelief, her eyes filling. Then she turned and ran upstairs, sobbing.
"What an ungrateful performance," Adam muttered, silencing the room.
He stepped forward. "For the record, Nate, my daughter sees you as her hero. More than her twin brother. She defends you even when you're wrong. And today—this is how you treat her?"
"Uncle, with respect—this is my life. I know what I'm doing," Nate replied stiffly.
"She wasn't stopping you," Kuku Veronica added. "She just wanted to be sure. Are you marrying Catty because she's truly the one, or because she's your childhood sweetheart?"
"Catty and I are meant to be," Nate said firmly. "I'm sure of it."
"Are you sure-sure?" Kuku asked, peering at him. Catty shifted uncomfortably.
"I, Nathan Shikongo, am sure that Catherine—uh…" he paused and turned to her. "Wait, what's your surname again?"
The room froze.
"He doesn't even know his 'wife's' last name?" Daniels said dryly. "Lord have mercy."
"I'm sure, Kuku," Nate repeated quickly, trying to recover. He pulled her into a sudden hug. "I apologize, everyone. I came down in fury, but what this house needs is love and respect."
A few murmurs of agreement rippled through the family as they began settling for breakfast.
"I need coffee," Sofia sighed.
"Aune," Nate called, "bring me my tea."
"What tea?" Sofia asked suspiciously.
Catty slid into the seat beside Nate, practically glowing.
"You'll find out," Nate said with a small smile.
But up on the stairs, Cinthia whispered urgently to Ruben.
"If Mom recognizes that tea, she'll realize Nate had another episode. We'll have to tell the entire family about Vicky!"
"Damn it," Ruben hissed. "How do we stop Nate from drinking it now?"