As soon as Jason answered the call, his grandpa’s stern voice came through, “Jason, are you with


    Estre right now? Both of you need toe back to the family estate.”


    Jason remained silent, ended the call, and casually tossed the cell phone aside.


    Estre inquired, “That was Grandpa, wasn’t it? He wants us to head back to the family estate?”


    Tonight’s incident was bound to reach the ears of their family, and the Lamonts were sure to make a


    fuss about it.


    “It was,” Jason confirmed. Jesse, worried, asked, “Estre, do you think there will be trouble?”


    Estre chuckled and reassured, “If nothing happened at the Lamonts’, then what’s there to worry


    about at our own ce?” She then nced at Jason, who was driving, “Right, Jason?”


    “Mhm.” Jason’s simple agreement was oddlyforting.


    After dropping Jesse off, they drove straight to the family estate. No sooner had they stepped into the


    yard than they saw that all the senior family members had gathered. Even her parents had been invited


    over, and Bryce’s folks were there, too.


    The moment Jason led Estre inside, his grandpa, Keith, pped the table with a loud smack, “You


    went to someone else’s house to start a fight. Have you no respect for thew?”


    Keith was clearly agitated, yet he didn’t call Estre out by name.


    Jason, calm as ever, retorted, “What’s done is done.”


    Estre shot Jason a nce. Tonight, he had really stood by her, as if their past friction and the silent


    treatment of thest two years had never happened.


    The reason for Estre’s confrontation at the Lamonts’ had been exined by Drew to Kristin a little


    earlier. Before Jason and Estre’s arrival, Kristin had also cleared the air with Keith. So, when Jason


    spoke up like that, Keith found himself struggling to reprimand Estre.


    Seeing the stalemate, Kristin stepped in to defend, “Estre has always been a righteous kid. Isn’t that


    what you admire about her? Plus, Pa’s just a bully who targets the weak. She resented Estre


    being with Jason, and when she couldn’t get to Estre, she took it out on Jesse. You can’t me


    Estre for losing her temper. If I were in her shoes, I’d be just as mad.”


    Keith retorted, “I’m not saying she can’t stand up for what’s right, but taking matters into her own hands


    at the Lamonts’ is still not eptable.”


    15:24


    Kristin wouldn’t have it, “eptable or not, it has to be eptable now. Unless you really want Pa


    to hit back, which I doubt you do. And even if you did, Pa wouldn’t dare. She can’t beat Estre.”


    Kristin was actually quite proud of Estre’s fighting prowess. Besides, Pa should have seen the


    consequencesing the moment she hit Jesse.


    With Kristin stirring the pot, Keith was out of moves. He looked to Jason, “Jason, your wife was the one


    who threw the punches. It’s your ce to say something.”


    What Keith implied was for Jason to admonish Estre, if only for show, so he could give the Lamonts a


    more ptable response.


    Jason, however, turned to Estre and asked, “Does your hand hurt? Should we get it checked out at


    the hospital?”


    Silence fell upon the room.


    Keith was utterly speechless. One person ying favorites was one thing, but two? How was he


    supposed to discipline anyone now?


    In the end, out of options, Keith stood up in frustration, “I’m too old for this. I can’t deal with you kids


    anymore, and I won’t. You sort it out yourselves.”


    With that, he turned to Cole and Autumn, “Cole Autumn, Estre is your daughter. You take care of


    this.”


    Cole and Autumn quickly agreed, “Don’t worry, sir. We’ll certainly teach Estre a lesson and prevent


    any future misbehavior.”


    But as soon as Keith left, the Nelson elders began tofort her, “Estre, don’t take this to heart. It’s


    not a big deal.”


    “Exactly, what’s done is done. They started it, after all.”


    “Were you okay at the Lamonts’? They didn’t give you a hard time, did they?”


    Cole and Autumn gave up. They might as well take their daughter home for a ‘talk’, or else who knows


    what bad habits she’d pick up from this bunch.


    On the way back, Jason drove while Cole and Autumn sandwiched Estre in the back seat for a


    lecture. Autumn scolded, “We sent you tow school so you’d abide by thew, not break it by barging


    into someone’s house and starting a fight.”


    Estre bristled at the criticism, “Really? As if Pa doesn’t know that hitting people is illegal? Why


    should I y by the rules if she doesn’t?”


    “You could have taken legal action,” Autumn suggested. “You could sue her.”


    Estre scoffed, “Yeah, right. So I can go through all that hassle for a mere apology and some medical


    bills?”


    Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    15:24


    “And what if the Lamonts sue you?” Autumn countered. “You love being awyer. What will you do if


    you can’t practice because of a record?”


    Estre was nonchnt, “Let them sue. I’d like to see who dares take the case. Besides, if I can’t be a


    lawyer, you and Dad will be thrilled. I can always go work at thepany.”


    “You and your ways,” Autumn sighed, unable to argue further with her daughter.


    Cole frowned, “They won’t sue. It’s the businesspetition that’ll get fiercer from here on


    out.”


    Before Autumn could worry, Cole continued, “But let’s not fret over spilled milk. The Lamonts probably


    provoked this on purpose, looking for a reason to openlypete with us. We saw signs of their


    impatience during thest few projects. And let’s not rule out the Manning family’s involvement either.”


    After years in business, Cole had a knack for seeing through such schemes.


    The Lamonts had their hearts set on marrying Pa off to Jason, but Jason wasn’t having any of it. It


    was actually the Nelsons who approached the Dorvolds with a marriage proposal, saying if Estre


    didn’t tie the knot with Jason, he’d end up a lifelong bachelor.


    And the kicker? Jason was totally on board with it.”


    And let’s backtrack a bit. This feud had been brewing for a while, and it was high time for a showdown.


    Autumn was freaking out. “The Lamonts and the Mannings teaming up? What are we gonna do?”


    Cole was the picture of calm. “Chill, Autumn. I’m here, aren’t I? If I’m not sweating it, why are you? I’m


    not about to shy away from them. Just keep living your life. Estre should keep going to work as


    usual, and hey, if she ever gets a clue, she cane help out at the office.”


    When Cole brought uping back to the office, Estre didn’t bite. She was quite content with her


    current lifestyle, enjoying her freedom.


    Before long, they dropped Cole and Autumn back at the Dorvold residence, and the young couple


    headed back to their Sandalwood Oasis.


    Estre’s actions that evening caused quite the stir in their social circles. Everyone, young and old, had


    something to say.


    “Estre is fierce. She’s my


    hero


    “Pa had iting, always picking on the easy targets. I’d set off fireworks in celebration if she got


    what’sing to her.”


    “The Lamonts really embarrassed themselves this time, but Pa really deserved it.”


    15:24


    “Doesn’t Estre fear anything? Making enemies left and right, she won’t even see iting when her


    time is up.”


    While everyone had their two cents, Estre couldn’t care less. She was more preupied with the


    fact that Melinda and Damita were still atrge, which was a thorn in her side.


    Momentster, Jason emerged from the bathroom, fresh from his shower. Estre put aside her


    frustrations, shed him a teasing smile, and joked, “You’ve been so protective today. Should I repay


    you with my hand in marriage?”


    15.24