Chapter 978: As Much As You Want

Lucian noticed his mother's guilty expression. "I'll handle my marriage and Estella's life. What you deem best may not be best in others' eyes." He was telling her to stop interfering. Sonya felt a mixture of anger and guilt.

"Whatever I did, I did for your own good," she insisted. Lucian remained silent, knowing his mother's stubbornness. He knew further argument would be pointless.

"Essie is my granddaughter, so of course I care about her. I wanted to bring her home, but she was crying for you. I still brought her back, didn't I? Even if Essie has accepted Roxanne, Roxanne still has two other children. If you were to be with her, what would happen to them? Are you going to give the Farwell family inheritance to those… children?" She stopped herself from using a harsher term.

Sonya hadn't previously considered this perspective. But Lucian's bias toward Roxanne forced her to confront it. What if Roxanne returned? What would happen to her children? Would they become part of the Farwell family? Could she bear watching Lucian bequeath the family inheritance to them? Absolutely not! She wanted only Aubree as his wife. Aubree was far more suitable than Roxanne! Even if Lucian and Aubree didn't have children, at least Essie would remain a Farwell descendant.

Lucian remained silent. Sonya's words, though harsh, only elicited a frown. Seeing his stubbornness, she stood abruptly, and roared, "I can't stop you from delaying your wedding to Aubree. But as long as I live, I will never accept Roxanne as your wife!" She left without looking back.

Lucian watched her depart, offering no farewell. Catalina, who had been waiting upstairs, descended with a worried expression after Sonya left.

"How's Essie?" Lucian asked.

Catalina glanced upstairs. "She's still crying." Unable to comfort Estella, she sought Lucian's help.

Lucian went upstairs. Estella was huddled at the foot of the bed, knees drawn to her chest, her head buried. It seemed her only refuge from the world. He paused momentarily before approaching, his expression calm.

"Don't cry, Essie."

Estella looked up at his voice. Her tear-streaked face was heartbreaking. He wiped away her tears. "What did your grandmother say to you?" he asked softly.

"Grandma said I can't play with Archie and Benny anymore," Estella sobbed.

Lucian patted her head. "You don't have to listen to her. You can play with them as much as you want."

"Really?" Estella questioned, skeptical.

"My word is final," Lucian affirmed.

Hearing this, Estella gradually stopped crying.