Skip to content
Novel Catalog
Chapter 62
Lucian walked into the house and froze when he saw his parents standing in the living room. “Dad, Mom, what are you doing here?” he asked, his brows furrowing in surprise.
Sonya, inspecting her granddaughter with a worried frown, whined, “I had to drag your dad over because I was so worried when I heard that my baby girl went missing this morning. And why didn’t you tell me?”
Lucian didn’t know how to answer her. His mind was still focused on the morning’s events, and he was too exhausted to explain himself.
Sonya’s concern shifted back to Estella as she stepped closer to the child. “Essie, come here. Tell Grandma where you’ve been.” Her voice softened with relief as she pulled the little girl into a hug. “How could you run away from home like that? You’re still so young, darling. Grandma was so worried. Please, don’t do this again, okay?”
Aubree, standing nearby, joined in with her own gentle reprimand. “You can always talk to me if something’s bothering you. Don’t just run away without telling us. We were all so worried about you, Essie. If you hadn’t come back, I would’ve gone out to look for you.”
Estella didn’t react much to either Sonya’s hug or Aubree’s question, her face remaining cold and distant, a clear reflection of her discomfort.
Lucian, sensing the growing tension, stepped in to ease the situation. He walked up to Sonya and gently took Estella from her arms, holding her close. “Essie was just around the neighborhood. She’s a smart girl, so there’s no need to worry about her,” he reassured his mother, though his voice lacked conviction.
Estella, still upset, flung her arms around Lucian’s neck and buried her face in the crook of his shoulder, her small body trembling slightly.
Sonya, heartbroken at the sight of her granddaughter’s distress, turned to Lucian with a mix of frustration and concern. “You must be neglecting Essie! You’re always busy with work, and look how it’s affecting her. If you’d married someone who could take care of her, she wouldn’t have run away. She needs someone there for her.”
Lucian’s expression hardened at his mother’s insinuation, and he knitted his brows. He knew exactly where this conversation was headed. “I’ll try to stay home more on weekends from now on, Mom. I didn’t plan to leave today, but an emergency came up, and I had to go to the office,” he explained, trying to deflect her criticism.
Sonya, not satisfied with his answer, shook her head. “Don’t try to avoid the subject. I’m not going to beat around the bush anymore. When do you plan to marry Aubree? She’s waited for six years, and now you’re asking her to wait even longer. Don’t you feel bad for her?”
Aubree stood by Sonya, holding onto her arm with a gentle smile, her eyes fixed on Lucian, as though eagerly awaiting an answer. She had orchestrated this meeting, hoping that with her parents here, Lucian would have no choice but to discuss their wedding plans.
Lucian, however, dashed her hopes with his response. “Mom, I’ve been busy lately, and you saw what happened with Essie. She’s been having a hard time, running away from home often. Now is just not the right time for me to think about marriage.”
Sonya scowled at her son’s words, her patience wearing thin. “All the more reason for you to marry Aubree! She could help take care of Essie. She’s always treated Essie like her own daughter.”
Lucian’s patience snapped. “Mom!” His voice was firm, filled with a quiet anger. “I said this is not the right time, and I’ll always put Essie first before making any decisions. So, stop pressuring me!”
Aubree’s face fell slightly, the tension between them palpable. She stepped in, attempting to smooth things over. “It’s all right, Mrs. Farwell. I can wait. I believe Essie will accept me one day. We’ll give her more time.”
Sonya, touched by Aubree’s understanding and patience, reached out to gently pat her hand. “What a gentle, affectionate child,” she murmured, thinking to herself. I don’t understand why Lucian won’t marry her right away.
Meanwhile, Estella, having overheard their conversation, grimaced in disdain. I don’t want this woman to be my mother! Her small hands tightened around her father’s neck as she pressed her cheek against him, silently rejecting the very idea.
