abcnovels
Chatper 120
Chatper 120
Chatper 120
Chapter 120
“Please, don’t mention it, Erin. If you ever need help again, I’m all in.” Estrella quipped with a twinkle in her eye that seemed to say, “Erin, you better not slip up, or I’ll have your hide.”
Erin returned the look with a genteel grin. “Well I'll! Estrella, darling, do tell, how might | get our lovely Paula to call you ‘sister-in- law'?”
The corners of Estrella’s mouth lifted as she casually straightened Erin’s tie. “Erin, you’ve got a long way to go before you’re even in the same league as Jason.” So what if he was now the chairman of the Lamont family empire? He was still leagues behind Jason in her eyes, and not even worth a second glance.
“Oh! Is that right?” Erin leaned in closer. His voice was smooth as silk. “I have a feeling you'll come to me for a favor one day.” “We'll just see about that, won’t we?” Estrella replied, with an eyebrow arching in challenge.
From the sidelines, Kristin’s blood boiled as she overheard Erin’s flirty banter with Estrella about getting Paula to call her “sister- in-law.” That bastard! Keith was running interference for him, but he was planning to covet her son’s wife? The Lamont family truly lacked any scruples — neither Hunter nor Janie could raise a decent human being.
Paula, with her eyes fixed on Jason, already made Kristin unhappy. Now Kristin knew that Erin seemed to have set his sights on Estrella, and she felt worse.
Kristin was well aware that Erin’s interest in Estrella wasn’t just about the girl — it was a power move to outdo her son. He was aiming to knock her son off his pedestal.
Kristin spat in Erin’s general direction and muttered under her breath, “As if you could ever measure up to my son. You really think too highly of yourself.”
When Erin returned to the dining room, Kristin greeted him with a deceptive smile and piled his plate high with food. “Erin, you look so thin. Have you been feeling alright? Maybe you should see a doctor.”
Before Erin could protest, Kristin piled on. “You and Jason are the same age. Jason’s been married for two years and is about to be a dad. You don’t even have a girlfriend. Could there be an issue? If there is, you should see a specialist sooner rather than later. | happen to know an excellent andrology doctor” She added helpfully as she placed an abalone in Erin’s bowl. Kristin cursed in her heart, “Take that! You dare to chase after my son’s wife! You'd better start taking care of yourself!”
Erin was flabbergasted. What was Jason's mother playing at? Why was she suddenly serving him so much food, and each remark sharper than the last?
She knew he couldn’t handle spicy food, yet she deliberately filled his bowl with it — it was an obvious jab at him. 1/3 08:42
Kristin, watching Erin’s changing expressions, continued with a grin, “Erin, a man should eat spicy food to keep up his vigor. Otherwise, he might end up pale and uninteresting to the ladies, just like you. Just look at Jason. See how robust he looks? He takes good care of Estrella, keeps her blushing and happy.
Her insinuation was clear: you're not half the man my son is, so back off from my daughter-in-law and stop trying to undermine my son. Pah!
Erin’s face darkened at Kristin’s words, and Garrett didn’t look too pleased either.
Jason watched the drama unfold with an amused expression. He didn’t need to ask to know that his mother must have seen or heard something while she was out.
Kristin was doing a stand-up job defending him. He hadn’t pampered her in vain.
As the Lamont family men brooded, Keith’s expression darkened. “Kristin, what’s gotten into you?” The younger generation had managed to keep the peace today, but here she was, causing a scene.
Still smiling, Kristin shrugged off her father’s chiding. “I was just expressing my concern for Erin. I’ve always been open with him since our families are so close. Just look at him
he’s not as vibrant as Jason.” Erin chuckled dryly. After such a roasting, how could he look anything but worse for wear?
Paula, oblivious to the underlying tension, earnestly addressed Erin, “Are you really alright? If there’s anything wrong, you should definitely see that specialist Kristin mentioned.”
Garrett cut in sternly, “Paula, what nonsense are you spouting? Your brother’s as fit as a fiddle. He’s single because he’s busy with the company.”
Kristin chimed in, seizing the opportunity to boast about her son. “Exactly! Maybe tha because he’s just not up to it unlike my son, who manages his company so well and still maintains a vibrant personal life. He got married when it was time, and now he an Estrella are even looking to have a baby. We were just shopping for baby supplies the other day.”
“Your grandson might be busy with work, but so is my son. However, he’s living life to the fullest. In the end, your grandson is no match for him.” Kristin thought.
Estrella watched as Kristin seemed to be in rare form today, throwing shade left and right. It was quite the spectacle. Kristin must have seen Erin’s earlier flirtations and, not taking kindly to his words, decided to strike back.
Kristin, usually so straightforward and easygoing with friends and relatives, was fiercely protective of her family. She might absorb insults directed at herself, but she wouldn't
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stand for any attacks on her son and daughter-in-law.
Erin, listening to Kristin's tirade, glanced at Estrella and asked, “Estrella, are you expecting?” Estrella responded with a knowing smile, “We're working on it. It shouldn’t be long now.”
Paula’s impatience got the better of her as she turned to Jason with a flushed face. “Jason, how could you? How could you...?” Weren't his and Estrella’s relationship on the rocks? How could he have sex with her? How could they be trying for a baby?
As Paula’s face turned crimson with urgency, Jason replied coolly, “She’s my wife. We can do whatever we want.”
“Jason!” Paula’s eyes welled up with tears. Estrella was already too clingy. If she had a child with Jason, she’d surely latch onto him even tighter.
To prevent Paula from speaking out of turn, Erin intervened with a smile, “Then let me offer my congratulations in advance.”
Erin’s lips uttered congratulations, but his heart wasn’t nearly as jubilant. He wanted to go toe-to-toe with Jason, to wrest away everything Jason held dear, including his woman.
But as for a woman who had a child? He wouldn't consider. “Thanks!” Jason and Estrella expressed their gratitude. The dinner that followed was even less enjoyable.
Past nine in the evening, after the Lamonts had departed, Keith’s expression darkened instantly. He turned to Kristin and said, “You're usually so sensible and polite. What got into you today? You were just not appropriate.”
Seeing Keith still taking the Lamonts’ side, Kristin retorted with a huff, “Let me tell you. That grandson of the Lamont family, Erin, he’s no good. Don’t be fooled by him.”
Keith’s brows knotted in confusion, prompting Kristin to add even more heatedly, “If Erin wants to challenge Jason professionally, | have nothing to say. But he’s got the gall to set his sights on Estrella, suggesting she should leave Jason and become his wife.
Like | could swallow that! Does he think the Nelsons are pushovers? He can just talk about taking away our daughter-in-law like
it's nothing?”
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