Lily took a deep breath, pondering her options. She knew she couldn't simply ignore the problem, but she also knew she couldn't force a reconciliation with Samuel.

　　"We need to talk to Samuel," she finally replied, her determination returning. "We'll explain how we feel to him and try to find a middle ground. But first, we need to ensure he's calm enough to listen."

　　Caleb nodded, agreeing with Lily's approach. They knew it wouldn't be easy, but they were ...