Hearing Lorie's words, Miguel seemed to flip. "Is that true?" he asked Esther.

Esther gritted her teeth, unable to speak for a long while. Lorie's statement was true, and Esther hadn't anticipated this betrayal. She considered Lorie's affection for Wayne blind and unprincipled. In their generation, continuing the family line was paramount; Esther never believed Lorie would abandon Wayne.

Wayne shared this belief, assuming Lorie's devotion was unwavering, regardless of his actions. He never imagined her resorting to such measures.

During Esther's visits to Lorie, she'd made numerous pleas on Wayne's behalf, and Lorie had promised everything. Lorie firmly assured Esther that Wayne wouldn't suffer imprisonment, and that as the sole Cooper heir, she wouldn't allow the family's ruin.

Lorie had lied, Esther realized, with a shock at this eleventh-hour betrayal. Rage contorted Esther's face; she longed to inflict violence upon Lorie.

"Please get up, Mother," Miguel said, helping her.

Looking at her son, Lorie wept. "Miguel," she said, "I've been reflecting on my life's mistakes. When you were younger, you were brighter than Roger, but my strained relationship with your father, who favored you, led to my mistreating you. Deceived by Roger, I treated you even worse, while you remained kind. My regret is immense."

"Mother, it's over," Miguel comforted her, unwilling to see her consumed by remorse.

"No, I need to say this," Lorie insisted. "I'll feel uneasy otherwise. Several times at Esther's, I wanted to talk to you, but I was constantly watched and couldn't leave. I was too ashamed to see you again after all I've done. My greatest regret is ignoring your filial piety, believing Roger's false affection instead."

"It's okay, Mother. I don't care anymore. Seeing you now is enough," Miguel said, taking her hand. "Just live a good life. Let bygones be bygones!"

Lorie's remorse deepened, hating herself for her actions and contrasting Esther's family's revenge with Miguel's forgiveness.

"Mother, what about Wayne?" Miguel quickly changed the subject, sensing her self-reproach.

"Wayne…" Lorie hesitated. She'd spoiled him since childhood, showering him with love and advantages, neglecting her other granddaughters.

Esther knelt before Lorie. "Wayne is your only grandson, the Cooper family's sole male heir. If he's ruined, how can the family thrive? Mother, don't act on impulse. Don't blame Wayne for my actions. He's innocent! Do whatever you want to me, but please spare Wayne!"

"Like mother, like son," Lorie stated firmly after a pause. "If you could do this to me, so could Wayne! I remember him watching that day, offering no help. Do you think I still have affection for him?"

"But Wayne is the Cooper heir; you're destroying the family legacy!" Esther protested.

Hannah interrupted, rising and confronting Esther with a condescending gaze that instilled fear.

Hannah declared, "Women can carry on a family. It's just a surname. My child's surname will be Cooper!"

Esther, dumbfounded, argued about the centuries-old tradition of male succession in Northfield.

"But how can you guarantee Wayne will have a son?" Hannah countered.

"His wife will keep having babies until there's a son!" Esther retorted.

"There's no such guarantee," Hannah concluded. "How can you ensure Wayne will continue the family?"

"Hannah, you're being unreasonable…"

"I'm stating a fact," Hannah said coldly.

Turning to Miguel and Lorie, Hannah continued, "At least one of my children will have the Cooper name! I can carry on the family! It's just a surname. Besides, men and women are equal now."

Miguel was overjoyed. While respecting tradition, he didn't prioritize male heirs—otherwise, he would have had another son. Hannah's words were a relief; a grandchild with his surname would bring him joy.

"Do you really think so? Will Oscar agree?" Miguel asked.

"He will," Hannah declared confidently. Oscar would support her decisions. The thought of Charles as the father, however, elicited a sneer.