1977 (#10) - Stuart's opposition and the secret marriage between Peggy and Jack

During the time immediately following the rape, the Brooks family has every reason to be concerned about Peggy's emotional state, and everyone, Chris at first, advises the girl to seek professional counseling and then see a psychologist. Peggy, however, reacts with anger to the proposal and refuses to do therapy, stating with absolute determination that she doesn't need it and insisting rather that if everyone would stop pressuring her, everything would be better. During this time, Stuart also refuses to allow Jack to see his daughter, despite the opposition of the man. The opposition to this relationship becomes even firmer when Stuart and Chris realize that Professor Jack Curtis is George Curtis' older brother, Chris' rapist, years earlier. Despite attempts to hinder their love, however, Peggy and Jack, who makes very clear that he hasn't nothing to do with his brother and hasn't had any contact with him for years, continue to see each other in secret. And the prayers of Stuart and Chris, who try to warn the girl not to trust the man, are useless: Peggy is convinced that a secret marriage would be able to solve her emotional problems, so Jack, madly in love with Peggy, decides to follow her immediately to make real the idea. The two plan their love getaway and, without telling anyone, exchange their wedding vows. Peggy and Jack also plan how their wedding will take place; since they can't live together under the same roof yet, their newly weds life soon turns out to be a part-time marriage, with the girl trying to go to Jack's house as often as possible. Peggy is convinced that without the pressure of her family she will be able to achieve a normal relationship with her husband and hopes that this will help her overcome her trauma, making sure that she can finally give herself to him.

1973 (#12) - George lures and rapes Chris

The life od Chris, after telling Greg that she’s not ready for a relationship with a man other than Snapper, becomes more messy than it has ever been before. Determined not to accept a job or money from her father, Chris moves in a small rental apartment, even if she can't find a job. One day, returning from a job interview that didn’t go well, Chris stops at a bar for a hamburger and here she is observed and approached by a man named George Curtis. It comes out a conversation in which Georges fascinates the sweet and sad Chris. Soon the girl gets drunk and, after being walked to her door by George, he asks her to let him come into her place. Initially Chris seemed convinced to accept, but right on the doorstep she regain mental clarity and asks George to leave. The man, however, forces the door and once he comes into the house he rapes her. The brutality, shame and humiliation of this dramatic event destroy Chris emotionally, spiritually and physically. Stuart, constantly obsessed with the sickening thought of what happened to his daughter, feels guilty; her sisters and mother entered a state of shock and fear following the rape of Chris. And Snapper, infuriated and instinctive as his usual, proposes to take the justice into their own hands. The brave Chris, supported by her sister Leslie, decides to sue George Curtis and bring him to trial. The testimony of Chris was confusing and inaccurate, also under pressure by the defense attorney, fails to convince the jury that she was not consenting to the intercourse and the final verdict is therefore not guilty. Georges is then immediately released for lack of evidence, which causes the Brooks family's anger and disdain.