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Chapter 29
“Estrella, you better…”
Estrella landed two more swift slaps on Paula’s face. “Going to talk now?”
Estrella’s fluid series of actions left the Lamont family’s servants dumbfounded. They never expected Estrella to storm the Lamont household alone and take on their young lady.
“What’s wrong with you lot? Can’t you run out back and call my parents and grandfather instead of standing here gawking?” It wasn’t until Paula, through her tears, scolded them that the servants scrambled over each other to fetch the elders.
By the time Paula’s grandpa hurried over, Estrella had already finished the beatdown and was
nonchalantly dusting off her hands after giving Paula another kick for good measure. Paula’s grandpa nearly passed out from shock at the sight of his granddaughter bruised and swollen on the floor, unable to get up. Gripping his cane tightly, he jabbed it into the ground and spat out, “Estrella, you’re out of control, showing no respect for the Lamont name. Is this how your parents raised you?”
Estrella slid her hands back into her trouser pockets, unfazed, and retorted, “Seems like the Lamont family could use some discipline. I’m just lending a hand.”
Paula’s grandpa trembled with rage. “No matter what you think of our ways, it’s not your place to discipline us, Estrella!” He then turned to Paula and commanded, “Paula, stand up and hit her back, the same way she hit you!
“Estrella, you’re really pushing your luck,” Paula’s mother sobbed, while her father turned ashen.
“Grandfather,” Paula whimpered, finding her voice now that her family had arrived.
“Stop your crying and fight back,” Paula’s grandpa insisted.
Wiping away her tears, Paula stood up and reached for an ashtray on the coffee table, but
you. as she faced Estrella, who coolly turned aside, she heard, “Go on, I dare
Paula, intimidated by the earlier altercation, hesitated and withdrew her hand, tears streaming down her face as she looked helplessly at her grandfather, “Grandfather, I can’t beat-her.”
Seeing Paula’s reluctance, Paula’s grandpa turned to her father, “What are you waiting for? Fetch my whip. I need to teach this insolent gir a lesson on behalf of the Dorvold family.” Upon this command, Paula’s father signaled a servant who quickly retrieved the whip. Estrella quietly picked up a wine glass from the coffee table, smashed it, and brandished
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the jagged stem threateningly. “If you don’t mind a bit of bloodshed, go ahead and make your move.”
Paula, seeing the broken glass in Estrella’s hand, backed away in fear. This time, she was genuinely scared of Estrella.
“You insolent child, you…” Paula’s grandpa was so angry he was at a loss for words.
“What’s going on here?” Suddenly, a new voice echoed from the entrance.
Everyone turned to see Jason arrive, accompanied by Drew and several men in black
suits.
Upon seeing Jason, Paula’s vulnerability intensified. Sobbing, she rushed to him, “Jason, Estrella is out of line. She barged into the Lamont estate to attack me and even talked back to grandfather.”
Paula’s mother quickly joined in, “Jason, she truly lacks manners. She’s not fit to be your
wife.”
Jason and Estrella’s relationship was common knowledge. So in front of Jason, they felt free to paint Estrella in whatever light they wished.
Jason, however, said, “Whether she’s fit or not is for me to decide.”
After a glance at the whip Paula’s grandpa had just grabbed, Jason approached Estrella and inquired, “Did they lay a hand on you?”
Estrella dropped the stem, “You arrived just in time.”
Paula’s mother couldn’t accept this, “Jason, are you condoning her behavior? Look at what she did to Paula! And in our own home, no less. Isn’t that crossing the line?”
Jason looked around and said coolly, “It’s already happened. Are you planning to retaliate?”
With those words, the atmosphere amongst the Lamonts became tense, and even the servants exchanged complex glances.
Paula had always been haughty, treating them with disdain. Now, someone had come to put her in her place.
Paula’s grandpa’s face was a mix of red and pale with anger, confronting Jason, “She’s your wife, Jason, and she comes here causing trouble. If you don’t give us a proper explanation, this won’t end well.”
Jason then turned to Estrella, “You really went overboard coming here alone to settle scores. Next time, handle it outside. Don’t take it to someone’s home.”
Jason’s obvious bias made Paula’s father lose his patience, “Jason, are you really willing to cross the Lamont family over one girl?”
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Jason surveyed the room and addressed Paula’s father, “I’ll pay for any damages Estrella caused, fair and square. As for medical expenses, I’d suggest the Lamont family cover those themselves. After all, when Paula hit Jesse earlier today, Jesse paid her own way.”
Jason never took a loss lying down. Yes, Estrella had hit someone, but it was Paula who had been in the wrong first.
Mentioning Jesse only worsened the Lamonts mood; they hadn’t expected Estrella to so fiercely defend her.
Jason had made his stance crystal clear, and Estrella, turning on her heel to face Paula, issued a calm but stern warning, “Paula, if you lay a finger on Jesse again, I’ll take you down myself.”
Paula’s face turned as pale as a ghost.
Off to the side, Jason lifted a hand to ruffle Estrella’s hair. “You cool off?” he asked. “If you’re cool, let’s head home.”
The implication was clear: if Estrella hadn’t let off enough steam, she could keep at it, and
he’d have her back.
Estrella was about to say something when Jesse stumbled over in a half-run. “Estrella,” she gasped.
Estrella glanced at Jason, “Let’s go.”
As Estrella approached Jesse, she patted Jesse reassuringly on the back. “It’s alright, let’s
head back.”
Jesse watched as Paula nursed the brunt of Estrella’s wrath, and the faces of the Lamonts turned ashen. Her eyes brimmed with tears. Though born into the wealth of the Mannings, Jesse’s life had been far from easy. Meeting Estrella had been the lone stroke of luck in her life, forging a friendship that meant everything.
Estrella tousled Jesse’s hair. “As long as I’m around, no one’s going to mess with you.”
“Yeah. Let’s go home.”
As Jason led them away, a seething Paula complained, “Mom, Dad, Grandpa, are we really going to let Estrella get away with this?”
Paula’s grandpa clenched his jaw. “This isn’t over.”
“We’ll deal with it when your brother gets back, said Paula’s mother.
In the back of the Maybach.
Jesse rubbed Estrella’s hand. “Didn’t you say you were over it? Why sneak off to the Lamonts’ without telling me? Good thing I had a bad feeling and called Jason.”
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It wasn’t often Jesse was so talkative. Estrella clasped Jesse’s hand tightly. “No one messes with you and gets off easy,” she asserted, including Melinda and Damita in her protective vow.
Jesse, moved, said, “Estrella, thank you.
As the two shared a moment, Jason’s phone suddenly rang.
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