Chapter 63


    At noon both Elias and Sonya stayed at the manor for lunch. Aubree also made up an excuse and


    stayed.


    At the dining table, she put on an attentive act. Not only did she take soup and food for the couple


    every so often, but she even helped Este peel prawns that she didn’t eat much herself.


    “Here, I remember that you love eating prawns, so I peeled them especially for you, Essie.”


    Aubree slid the te of prawns she had peeled to Este.


    Este merely lifted her head and nced at it. Then, she dipped her head again and continued


    eating the food in her bowl as though she didn’t see anything.


    Aubree’s hand was still on the te, and the smile on her face stiffened slightly.


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    Some time passed, but still, Este didn’t touch that te of prawns at all.


    “Essie, why are you not eating the prawns Ms. Pearson peeled especially for you. Besides, you


    didn’t even thank her,” Sonya chided.


    Este turned a deaf ear to it and continued eating.


    Upon seeing that, Sonya frowned slightly, and her voice turned significantly harsher as she said,


    “Such behavior is exceedingly rude, Essie.”


    Stilling, Este lifted her head, her eyes brimming with obstinacy.


    I just don’t want to eat anything from this evil woman!


    Beside her, Aubree hurriedly acted considerate and sensible when she saw that Sonya was


    standing up for her. “Don’t be angry, Mrs. Farwell. Perhaps Essie isn’t eating the prawns because


    she’s already full. Besides, she’s emotionally unstable in the first ce. You’ll frighten her.”


    “What a considerate girl! I’ll rest easy with you taking care of her in the future,” Sonyauded in


    gratification.


    Aubree cautiously shifted her gaze to Lucian with a somewhat forced smile on her face.


    Likewise, Sonya looked at her son, but her eyes were filled with recrimination.


    As Lucian met their gazes, his expression tensed, and he said to Aubree in a clipped voice, “Essie


    doesn’t eat food from outsiders. You don’t need to try anymore.”


    When Aubree heard that, a sh of hurt flittered across her face, and she sheepishly took the te


    of prawns back.


    Sonya wanted to smooth over their rtionship upon seeing that Aubree was hurt. She turned and


    chastised her son, “This is all on you for pampering her.”


    Lucian remained indifferent. “Children should have some safety awareness in the first ce. At


    the very least, she won’t simply eat food from strangers when she’s outside.”


    Sonya wanted to speak further, but Elias beside her gave a cough and seconded. “Lucian is right


    Essie likes to wander around these few days. No one can afford to take responsibility if she eats


    something she shouldn’t be eating outside.”


    Only then did Sonya relent.


    After lunch, Lucian still had work to handle, so he asked them about their ns.


    Regarding her granddaughter lovingly, Sonya remarked, “It’s been a long while since Ist brought


    Essie out to shop. Essie, I’ll bring you out to buy some beautiful dresses!”


    Although she was dissatisfied with her son’s marriage, she still loved her granddaughter from the


    depths of her heart. Considering that her son was a man and would inevitably be negligent in that


    aspect, she would always bring Este out to buy things favored by little girls every time she visited.


    Este was just about to agree when Aubree came over. “I’ll go with you, Mrs. Farwell. I can also


    see what Essie likes.”


    “Sure!” Sonya agreed with a smile.


    Having said that, she reached out to take Este’s hand, only to grasp empty air.


    Este shook her head at her grandmother before writing in her notebook: I don’t want to go out


    today. I want to practice writing at home.


    I don’t want to be with this evil woman!


    Sonya didn’t force the issue.


    Elias led his granddaughter to the couch for a seat. “Here, I’ll teach you. Tell me what word you’d


    like to practice today.”


    Recalling the names of the two boys she glimpsed written on their books when she was in


    kindergarten, Este wrote “Archie” and “Benny” in her notebook.


    At that, puzzlement inundated Elias. “Why do you suddenly want to practice writing these two


    words?”


    After all, those two words weren’tmon nouns, and he couldn’t think of any special meaning to


    them.


    Shaking her head, Este tugged at her grandfather’s sleeve, imploring him to teach her.