Chapter 30

As soon as Jason answered the call, his grandpa’s stern voice came through, “Jason, are you with Estrella right now? Both of you need to come back to the family estate.”

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

Estrella 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, “Estrella, do you think there will be trouble?”

Estrella chuckled and reassured, “If nothing happened at the Lamonts’, then what’s there to worry about at our own place?” She then glanced at Jason, who was driving, “Right, Jason?”

“Mhm.” Jason’s simple agreement was oddly comforting.

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 Estrella inside, his grandpa, Keith, slapped the table with a loud smack, “You went to someone else’s house to start a fight. Have you no respect for the law?”

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

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

Estrella shot Jason a glance. Tonight, he had really stood by her, as if their past friction and the silent treatment of the last two years had never happened.

The reason for Estrella’s confrontation at the Lamonts’ had been explained by Drew to Kristin a little earlier. Before Jason and Estrella’s arrival, Kristin had also cleared the air with Keith. So, when Jason spoke up like that, Keith found himself struggling to reprimand Estrella.

Seeing the stalemate, Kristin stepped in to defend, “Estrella has always been a righteous kid. Isn’t that what you admire about her? Plus, Paula’s just a bully who targets the weak. She resented Estrella being with Jason, and when she couldn’t get to Estrella, she took it out on Jesse. You can’t blame Estrella 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 acceptable.”

15:24

wouldn’t have it, “Acceptable or not, it has to be acceptable now. Unless you really want Paula to hit back, which I doubt you do. And even if you did, Paula wouldn’t dare.

should have seen the consequences coming the moment

to Jason, “Jason, your wife

admonish Estrella, if only for show, so he

to Estrella and asked, “Does your hand hurt? Should we get it checked out at the hospital?”

fell upon

one thing,

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

and Autumn, “Cole Autumn, Estrella is your daughter. You

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

elders began to comfort her, “Estrella, don’t take this to heart. It’s not a

done is done. They started

okay at the Lamonts’? They didn’t give you

well take their daughter home for a ‘talk’, or else

way back, Jason drove while Cole and Autumn sandwiched Estrella in the back seat for a lecture. Autumn scolded, “We sent you to law school so you’d abide by the

hitting people is illegal? Why

could have taken legal action,” Autumn

can go through all that hassle for a mere apology

15:24

Chapter 30

you?” Autumn countered. “You love being a lawyer. What will you do if you

see who dares take the case. Besides, if I can’t be a lawyer, you and Dad will be thrilled. I

unable to argue

business

out.”

not fret over spilled milk. The Lamonts probably provoked this on purpose, looking for a reason to openly compete with us. We saw signs of their impatience during the last few projects. And let’s not rule out the Manning family’s involvement

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255