Alex had always had a difficult time dealing with his cousin, Billy. Billy was a master of the verbal jab, always ready with a cutting remark or a mocking tone that could send Alex's temper soaring. At family gatherings and parties, Alex would find himself constantly on edge, dreading Billy's next attempt to provoke him.

Alex's frustration reached a boiling point one evening at a family reunion. As usual, Billy was in full form, targeting Alex with a barrage of insults and jokes. Alex tried to ignore him, but Billy's words were like a match to tinder, igniting his anger.

"Hey, look at Alex," Billy sneered, "still as awkward and socially inept as ever."

Alex felt his blood pressure rising. He clenched his fists, his jaw muscles tightening. He wanted nothing more than to punch Billy in the face.

But then, something strange happened. As Alex's anger reached its peak, something inside him snapped. He realized that Billy's words were powerless against him. They were just empty noise, meaningless insults that didn't reflect who Alex truly was.

With a newfound sense of calm, Alex turned to Billy and smiled. "You know what, Billy?" he said, his voice steady and confident, "I'm not going to let you get to me anymore. Your words don't matter to me."

Billy was taken aback. He had never seen Alex so composed in the face of his taunts. For a moment, he was speechless.

Then, Billy's eyes fell on another cousin, a young man named Jake, who was known for his athletic prowess and temper. Billy decided to focus his attention on Jake instead.

"Hey, Jake," Billy jeered, "why don't you try out for the WWE with those muscles of yours?"

Jake glared at Billy. "Why don't you shut your mouth, Billy?" he growled.

The tension in the room was palpable. Everyone held their breath, expecting a brawl to erupt.

And then, it happened. Jake lunged at Billy, fists flying. The two cousins tangled in a fierce struggle, knocking over tables and chairs in their wake.

The rest of the family watched in horror as the fight raged on. Billy, who had never been in a fight before, was no match for Jake's athleticism and strength.

In the end, Jake emerged victorious, leaving Billy lying on the floor with two broken ribs.

As the family gathered around Billy, offering their help and sympathy, Alex stood off to the side, a sense of calm washing over him. He had finally learned to control his temper and not let Billy's words get to him. And in doing so, he had inadvertently helped his cousin to learn a valuable lesson about the consequences of his actions.

From that day on, Alex's relationship with Billy improved. They were no longer constantly at each other's throats, and they even found a way to be civil to each other. Alex had discovered that the best way to deal with bullies was not to react to their taunts, but to rise above them. And in doing so, he had not only protected himself from Billy's provocations, but he had also taught his cousin a valuable lesson about the importance of respect!