Dallas, Texas

"You did what?!" not even really trying to eavesdrop, simply hearing the argument down the hall because of how loudly Sue Ellen was shouting, Miss Ellie's stomach dropped; she didn't know what they were arguing about, but whatever it was, it couldn't be good. Her nervousness and worry only increased as silence followed the few moments of indistinguishable shouting between her son and daughter-in-law; silence meant one of two things, they were either making up, or something much more sinister had happened, and right now, she wasn't sure she would put her money on making up.

Down the hall, shaking her head in disbelief and anger at JR's words, Sue Ellen sighed heavily before taking a deep breath and looking him directly in the eye as she spoke, responding to his earlier confession and explanation in a much calmer manner than she had just had. "Why would you agree to that in the first place? Why would you agree to such a degrading, manipulative and immoral agreement? And why does there even need to be a reward promised in order for you to be a proper husband? I understand, Ewing Oil is important to you and the eventual presidency and ownership is something that you're entitled to, not only as the eldest Ewing son, but also as the hardest working and most knowledgeable son, so to be offered the chance to legally guarantee that entitlement is obviously enticing, but did it have to happen this way? Did it have to be tied to the success of our marriage? I want our relationship to be good and healthy because you and I both want that, not because I want it and you want Ewing Oil. Does that make sense? I don't want to be just another business deal, I see how business deals are done in the Ewing family and I won't stand by and allow myself to be the pawn in your plan to gain control and ownership of Ewing Oil. Your daddy was wrong to suggest such a plan in the first place, but you never should have accepted it or purposely kept it a secret from me; withholding information is on the same level as lying, it's not right and it's not nice. I appreciate that you've recently made moves to try and repeal that part of the contract, but it doesn't really make me feel any better about the situation in general. It's humiliating to think that this whole time, you've had an ulterior motive, one that drastically affects your motives for being the husband you've been lately. How am I supposed to trust you when you're constantly lying and hiding things from me?" Speaking sadly but sharply, Sue Ellen considered what JR's words meant for them and their future together. She was angry with JR for his actions and withholding the information from her for such a long time, but more than that, she was angry at Jock for manipulating his eldest son into constantly having to jump through hoops to get what was rightfully his. If their sessions with Doctor Williams had clarified anything, it was that a great majority of JR's thoughts, actions and motivations were about pleasing his father, and in a way, although Jock probably acted subconsciously in some ways, other actions were very much conscious and were very much purposely manipulative, and she hated to see JR treated that way.

Lost for words, JR was quiet for a few moments before responding, stepping a few feet closer to his wife and touching her hand as he began to speak. "I know it doesn't mean much anymore, because I've said it so many times and I still manage to make a mess of everything, but I really am sorry, please believe me. I initially had my doubts about the contract, because I didn't want my personal success and business success to be so closely tied to each other, but the reason I negotiated a deal and then signed it really came down to the risk and benefit assessment I did at the time. I had already made the commitment to be a better husband to you prior to any mention of a deal; you and I were working on our relationship and I was feeling good about that progress, so when daddy came to me a while later and proposed making my commitment legal, it didn't seem like a terrible idea. I know it's selfish, but I'm weak when it comes to daddy and Ewing Oil; I liked the idea that the future presidency and ownership of Ewing Oil was being legally offered to me, because although I don't distrust that daddy intends for me to take over, it's no secret that Bobby is his favourite and that'll probably never change. I'm not stupid, I know that my daddy was playing games with me by manipulating me into acting a certain way for a guarantee of something that should have been mine anyway, however, as I said, at the time, it didn't seem like such a bad deal, because I had already made a personal commitment to you. I didn't tell you, because I foolishly believed that I didn't need to, I had already made a commitment to you, an honest one, my deal with daddy was just a legal version of that deal. I understand now though that those thoughts were wrong. I understand that I should never have used you or our relationship as a pawn in a deal and I never should have withheld information from you, our marriage means more than Ewing Oil and my behaviour as a good husband should not be dependent on the reward of Ewing Oil, it should be because I love and respect you. I know you don't believe me, but I really do mean that, I understand that what I did was wrong and I understand now that hiding it from you was also wrong, and I really am sorry for both of those things. I love you and I truly do care about our marriage, I'm just not very good at interpersonal relationships or seeing personal consequences for my actions before they happen, I'm a flawed man, but I truly am sorry and truly do wish to right my wrongs". Still holding her hand, he finished his words and then sighed, he was vulnerable, sad, disappointed in himself, upset with his father, and he was scared, scared that he was about to lose his wife, his son, his livelihood and his place in the Ewing family. Everything was such a mess and he really had no idea how he was supposed to fix it.

To be continued…