Chapter 1548 How to Respect Boundaries as Parents
The Crawford Mansion was silent. Edward opened the door, looked around, and mumbled, "So quiet."
Anthony also happened to come out and, upon seeing him, asked, "What are you doing?"
Edward scratched his nose. "Nothing, it's just suddenly too quiet. I can't shake off the feeling that Lilly has been kidnapped or something."
Anthony quirked a brow and thought it was coincidental that they shared the same vibe. The brothers exchanged a glance and immediately headed toward Lilly's room. However, when they arrived at her door, they halted.
This won't do! Lilly was now a 15-year-old girl. It was inappropriate of them to knock on her door late at night. Moreover, what if they stirred her from her slumber?
"Anthony, maybe we're being too overprotective," Edward said with a sense of guilt. "I often find students and kids online complaining about parents with no sense of boundaries."
Anthony turned silently. "Let's go."
However, when the pair of brothers arrived at the doors to their rooms, they still couldn't resign, unable to shake off the feeling that their baby Lilly had been taken away. If they didn't check it, wouldn't they just be being reckless?!
So, they returned to Lilly's door and contemplated how to approach this.
"Knock softly," Edward said, "at a volume that won't wake her up if she's asleep."
At that, he reached out...
Anthony grabbed his wrist, shaking his head. "Let's forget it."
Lilly could handle herself now. She had proven herself capable in the Nether, defeating the Manifestation of God's will and becoming the new Lord of the Nether. When it came to matters of the heart, she would surely manage well, knowing what to do and what not to.
With that, Anthony and Edward returned to their respective rooms. However, standing in front of their doors, they continued to feel uneasy. Not checking on Lilly made them anxious. What if Ivan came to steal their beloved niece away in the middle of the night?!
Just then, Gilbert also came down from the third floor. Seeing his two brothers standing before their respective rooms and taking a few steps towards Lilly's room only to retreat again, repeating the process several times...
"What are you guys doing?" he asked.
Edward sighed. "Nothing. We just think it's too quiet. It makes us uneasy. It's like Lilly has been taken away."
Gilbert's eyes widened, and the three brothers exchanged glances.
"F*ck! You have the same feeling too, don't you?!" Edward exclaimed, "Something's definitely not right!"
Lilly had definitely been taken away from them if all three shared the same feeling. At that, the three brothers rushed to Lilly's door again.
"I'll knock." Edward reached out his hand, but Gilbert stopped him, grabbing his hand. "Let me do it. You're rough."
Anthony held back Gilbert instead. "Let's just forget it."
Appearing mistrustful would give Lilly a sense of intrusion. Children needed a certain amount of space to grow. They needed to be parents with a sense of boundaries.
At that, the three brothers reluctantly withdrew. However, once again, they were unwilling to close their doors after entering their rooms.
Just then, Jonas stepped out of his room, closing the door gently behind him. His wife and child were asleep in his room, so he naturally kept his voice very low. "What are you guys doing?"
Moments later, all uncles-with the
exception of Cloud-stood before Lilly's bedroom, all exchanging glances.
off the of them couldn't shake
off the feeling that Lilly had been taken away, which clearly indicated that van had indeed incited her to sneak out. They were all desperate, yet they couldn't just knock on her door for confirmation. Alas, being parents and guardians with a sense of boundary proved quite challenging.
"Wait, where's Cloud?"
It was inappropriate of them to knock on Lilly's door in the middle of the night. However, they worried their precious niece would be lured away by that Lilly-stealing rascal. They were human, but Cloud wasn't. He was a ghost. He could do it!
"And Jean!" Edward suggested excitedly.
Jonas scratched his head. "Forget it. She probably isn't available."
Edward was indignant. "So what?! Even our sister has been taken away!"
Gilbert harrumphed, arms crossed. "And that thief is even living with us!"
Anthony muttered, "And he's spending my money."
The seven Crawford brothers felt cheated the more they thought about it. They suddenly had the urge to drag Blake out of his bed and wallop him. But they feared witnessing something they
Rovel
shouldn't, making things awkward With their sister.
For a moment, they were deeply frustrated with the situation involving their sister and niece.
In the middle of the night, the seven Crawford men tiptoed around, rummaging through boxes and cabinets until they finally found Cloud, who was meditating and cultivating. They dragged him out. "Why me?!" Cloud exasperated.
Oh, so you all are boundary-respecting uncles, while I'm the one with no boundaries, huh?!
Bryson smiled warmly. "Cloud, you're different. You can pass through walls. Lilly wouldn't be disturbed."
Max nodded repeatedly. "Exactly! You just have to sneak a peek and see if Lilly's in her room."
Gilbert agreed. "Just one look. You don't have to do anything else. We're just concerned."
As Cloud floated toward Lilly's room, he complained, "Is this sensible?! Why peek at a child?! This is no different from peeking at a child's diary! No sense of boundaries at all..."
Despite his grumbles, he, too, felt a bit empty inside. Could it be that Ivan had really taken Lilly away?! After all, the two could teleport! No, forget about boundaries! I'll just sneak a peek, just this once... With conflicting emotions, Cloud stuck his head into the room, his body outside and his head inside, peeking.