Chapter 745: Acting

Aubree's expression darkened as she watched Lucian leave. Though he'd agreed to let her stay, he clearly intended to ignore her. She wouldn't allow that.

Lucian, meanwhile, went to Estella's bedroom and knocked. "Open up, Essie."

Hearing her father, Estella remembered Aubree's earlier words. She turned her back to the door in a huff.

Lucian received no response. She was sulking again. "What a headache," he muttered. "My mother and daughter are taking turns tormenting me tonight."

He waited longer, still no answer. He unlocked the door and entered. Estella sat on the bed, curled into a ball, hugging her knees. From his angle, she looked tiny.

His expression softened. "Grandma needed to talk to me," he said tenderly. "Tell me what happened, okay?"

Estella glared, displeased he'd entered without her permission. She was too small and adorable to be intimidating, however, only amusing him.

Lucian's smile infuriated her. "I hate you, Daddy!"

He raised an eyebrow. "What did I do wrong?"

She pouted. "You said you're going to pursue Ms. Jarvis!"

He nodded indifferently. "That's what I've been doing."

Her anger subsided, but suspicion remained. "But she said she's going to be my mommy in the future."

They both knew who "she" was.

Lucian's face fell. He'd repeatedly told Aubree there was no chance of romance between them. Yet, in his absence, she'd had the audacity to say such things to his daughter.

Estella waited for his answer.

"I'm not going to marry her," Lucian promised gravely. "I let her stay because Grandma wants me to. Don't worry, I'll send her away as soon as possible."

Reassured, Estella nodded, though a hint of resentment lingered.

He patted her head. "All right, let's go downstairs and eat."

Hesitation flickered across her face. "I don't want to. I don't want to eat with that obnoxious lady!"

Lucian understood. "If you don't like her, ignore her when I'm around. She won't dare do anything to you."

Suspicion filled him. Aubree's previous actions toward Estella, and this new incident, revealed she'd been acting. He wondered what else she'd done to Estella behind his back to cause such intense dislike, or if this was her usual behavior when alone with her.

The atmosphere thickened with tension.

Estella, hungry, hesitated briefly before following him downstairs.