“Estre, you better…”


    Estrended two more swift ps on Pa’s face. “Going to talk now?”


    Estre’s fluid series of actions left the Lamont family’s servants dumbfounded. They never expected


    Estre to storm the Lamont household alone and take on their youngdy.


    “What’s wrong with you lot? Can’t you run out back and call my parents and grandfather instead of


    standing here gawking?” It wasn’t until Pa, through her tears, scolded them that the servants


    scrambled over each other to fetch the elders.


    By the time Pa’s grandpa hurried over, Estre had already finished the beatdown and was


    nonchntly dusting off her hands after giving Pa another kick for good measure. Pa’s grandpa


    nearly passed out from shock at the sight of his granddaughter bruised and swollen on the floor, unable


    to get up. Gripping his cane tightly, he jabbed it into the ground and spat out, “Estre, you’re out of


    control, showing no respect for the Lamont name. Is this how your parents raised you?”


    Estre slid her hands back into her trouser pockets, unfazed, and retorted, “Seems like the Lamont


    family could use some discipline. I’m just lending a hand.”


    Pa’s grandpa trembled with rage. “No matter what you think of our ways, it’s not your ce to


    discipline us, Estre!” He then turned to Pa andmanded, “Pa, stand up and hit her back, the


    same way she hit you!


    “Estre, you’re really pushing your luck,” Pa’s mother sobbed, while her father turned ashen.


    “Grandfather,” Pa whimpered, finding her voice now that her family had arrived.


    “Stop your crying and fight back,” Pa’s grandpa insisted.


    Wiping away her tears, Pa stood up and reached for an ashtray on the coffee table, but


    you. as she faced Estre, who coolly turned aside, she heard, “Go on, I dare


    Pa, intimidated by the earlier altercation, hesitated and withdrew her hand, tears streaming down


    her face as she looked helplessly at her grandfather, “Grandfather, I can’t beat-her.”


    Seeing Pa’s reluctance, Pa’s grandpa turned to her father, “What are you waiting for? Fetch my


    whip. I need to teach this insolent gir a lesson on behalf of the Dorvold family.” Upon thismand,


    Pa’s father signaled a servant who quickly retrieved the whip. Estre quietly picked up a wine ss


    from the coffee table, smashed it, and brandished


    15:24


    the jagged stem threateningly. “If you don’t mind a bit of bloodshed, go ahead and make your move.”


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Pa, seeing the broken ss in Estre’s hand, backed away in fear. This time, she was genuinely


    scared of Estre.


    “You insolent child, you…” Pa’s grandpa was so angry he was at a loss for words.


    “What’s going on here?” Suddenly, a new voice echoed from the entrance.


    Everyone turned to see Jason arrive, apanied by Drew and several men in ck


    suits.


    Upon seeing Jason, Pa’s vulnerability intensified. Sobbing, she rushed to him, “Jason, Estre is out


    of line. She barged into the Lamont estate to attack me and even talked back to grandfather.”


    Pa’s mother quickly joined in, “Jason, she trulycks manners. She’s not fit to be your


    wife.”


    Jason and Estre’s rtionship wasmon knowledge. So in front of Jason, they felt free to paint


    Estre in whatever light they wished.


    Jason, however, said, “Whether she’s fit or not is for me to decide.”


    After a nce at the whip Pa’s grandpa had just grabbed, Jason approached Estre and inquired,


    “Did theyy a hand on you?”


    Estre dropped the stem, “You arrived just in time.”


    Pa’s mother couldn’t ept this, “Jason, are you condoning her behavior? Look at what she did to


    Pa! And in our own home, no less. Isn’t that crossing the line?”


    Jason looked around and said coolly, “It’s already happened. Are you nning to retaliate?”


    With those words, the atmosphere amongst the Lamonts became tense, and even the servants


    exchangedplex nces.


    Pa had always been haughty, treating them with disdain. Now, someone hade to put her in her


    ce.


    Pa’s grandpa’s face was a mix of red and pale with anger, confronting Jason, “She’s your wife,


    Jason, and shees here causing trouble. If you don’t give us a proper exnation, this won’t end


    well.”


    Jason then turned to Estre, “You really went overboarding here alone to settle scores. Next


    time, handle it outside. Don’t take it to someone’s home.”


    Jason’s obvious bias made Pa’s father lose his patience, “Jason, are you really willing to cross the


    Lamont family over one girl?”


    15:24


    Jason surveyed the room and addressed Pa’s father, “I’ll pay for any damages Estre caused, fair


    and square. As for medical expenses, I’d suggest the Lamont family cover those themselves. After all,


    when Pa hit Jesse earlier today, Jesse paid her own way.”


    Jason never took a loss lying down. Yes, Estre had hit someone, but it was Pa who had been in


    the wrong first.


    Mentioning Jesse only worsened the Lamonts mood; they hadn’t expected Estre to so fiercely defend


    her.


    Jason had made his stance crystal clear, and Estre, turning on her heel to face Pa, issued a calm


    but stern warning, “Pa, if youy a finger on Jesse again, I’ll take you down myself.”


    Pa’s face turned as pale as a ghost.


    Off to the side, Jason lifted a hand to ruffle Estre’s hair. “You cool off?” he asked. “If you’re cool, let’s


    head home.”


    The implication was clear: if Estre hadn’t let off enough steam, she could keep at it, and


    he’d have her back.


    Estre was about to say something when Jesse stumbled over in a half-run. “Estre,” she gasped.


    Estre nced at Jason, “Let’s go.”


    As Estre approached Jesse, she patted Jesse reassuringly on the back. “It’s alright, let’s


    head back.”


    Jesse watched as Pa nursed the brunt of Estre’s wrath, and the faces of the Lamonts turned


    ashen. Her eyes brimmed with tears. Though born into the wealth of the Mannings, Jesse’s life had


    been far from easy. Meeting Estre had been the lone stroke of luck in her life, forging a friendship


    that meant everything.


    Estre tousled Jesse’s hair. “As long as I’m around, no one’s going to mess with you.”


    “Yeah. Let’s go home.”


    As Jason led them away, a seething Pained, “Mom, Dad, Grandpa, are we really going to let


    Estre get away with this?”


    Pa’s grandpa clenched his jaw. “This isn’t over.”


    “We’ll deal with it when your brother gets back, said Pa’s mother.


    In the back of the Maybach.


    Jesse rubbed Estre’s hand. “Didn’t you say you were over it? Why sneak off to the Lamonts’ without


    telling me? Good thing I had a bad feeling and called Jason.”


    15:24


    It wasn’t often Jesse was so talkative. Estre sped Jesse’s hand tightly. “No one messes with you


    and gets off easy,” she asserted, including Melinda and Damita in her protective vow.


    Jesse, moved, said, “Estre, thank you.


    As the two shared a moment, Jason’s phone suddenly rang.


    15:24