"He deserves to live his life with freedom and joy, not under the shadow of your outdated beliefs."
Mer Chu felt a surge of gratitude and admiration for Jiho. He wanted to step forward, to show his support, but found himself rooted in place, overwhelmed by the rush of emotions.
Instead, he silently vowed to cherish and support Jiho as she was now doing for him.
Old Mer Gu opened his mouth to retort, but no words came out. The fire in Jiho's eyes, the strength in her stance, left him momentarily speechless.
Jiho turned slightly, her eyes meeting Mer Chu's. The soft smile on his face, the silent tears in his eyes, spoke volumes.
For the first time, Mer Chu felt hope—hope that together, they could carve out a new path, free from the chains of oppressive traditions and live together forever.
"You...," Old Mer Gu's expression twisted with irritation. His face flushed red as he struggled to contain his rising anger. He couldn't believe Jiho was addressing him with such defiance.
