I’m generally a pretty peaceable guy because I know the consequences of not being so can turn deadly, so I will go out of my way to avoid a fight and even swallow MY pride.
Hassle someone I love and I would need to apply extra special restraint on myself. In this case, I’d have been in his face. Me a few decades back would have followed him outside. And if he laid a finger on a loved one, me today would have gone scorched earth.
And yes, I was talking about myself here.