Chapter 1328

In the darkness of their room, Archie and Benny lay awake in their beds. Benny climbed out and went to Archie's bedside. "Archie," he whispered, shaking Archie's arm, "Do you know why Mommy doesn't want to marry Daddy?"

Archie sat up, a troubled expression on his face. "I don't know either," he admitted. Then, a smile touched his lips. "But we found our sister! Isn't that great?" he exclaimed, trying to comfort them both.

Benny nodded enthusiastically. They had always believed Estella was their half-sister, sharing only a father. Discovering they were full siblings was a delightful surprise. It meant their father hadn't been unfaithful, and they had misunderstood Lucian from the beginning. Joy surged through them.

"But when will Mommy tell Daddy we're his children, too?" Benny asked, a hint of disappointment in his voice. Remembering Lucian lifting them earlier, he confessed, "I want to be like Essie. I want a mommy and a daddy. I don't want to call Daddy 'Mr. Farwell' anymore." He longed for the feeling of his father's strong arms.

Archie, though he missed his father's embrace, tried to see things from his mother's perspective. "Maybe Mommy has her own plans?" he suggested.

"Do you think it's because of Mr. Damaris?" Benny speculated, frowning. "Mommy's close to him. He even gave her flowers. Do you think she wants him to be our daddy?" He pursed his lips. "But I like Daddy more! He's more handsome than Mr. Damaris, and he cares for Mommy more!"

Archie shook his head. "I don't think so. Mommy only considers Mr. Damaris a friend." He had noticed a significant difference in his mother's interactions with Mr. Damaris and Lucian. The love in her eyes when she looked at Lucian was unmistakable.

Benny remained puzzled. "Then why didn't Mommy say yes to Daddy?"

Suddenly, Archie remembered Roxanne's hesitation—her hand reaching for Lucian's, then withdrawing when their grandmother coughed. A realization dawned. He understood his mother's actions. "I get it!" he exclaimed, his eyes bright but his brow furrowed with sadness.

Benny, sensing the shift in Archie's demeanor, grabbed his arm. "Why? Tell me."

Archie explained somberly, "It's because of Grandma. She still hasn't accepted Mommy and us. Mommy doesn't want us to suffer because of her, so she rejected Daddy."

Benny's eyes dimmed. His heart ached for his mother. "Grandma's always been awful to Mommy and us," he whispered. "I don't understand why. Mommy's the best mother ever! She must have felt pressured to reject Daddy because of Grandma, but she keeps it all to herself. What should we do to get Grandma to accept Mommy?"