I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 428

Chapter 428

Elena rolled her eyes. “…Mom.”

Esther cleared her throat and tried to reason with her. “You need to get to know him better. From what I can see, he’s not exactly interested in you.”

Elena smacked the armrest. “I’ve made up my mind! I just want him! Besides, his sister and parents are such good people. They’re neither arrogant nor overbearing. They’re just really easy to get along with.”

That struck a chord with Kieran and Esther.

Once Elena had determinedly declared her intentions and gone upstairs, Esther leaned toward Kieran. “We both know the Ravelles. There’s no way they’d let their son become a live–in son–in- law. What do you think?”

Every child was a treasure to their parents.

The Ravelle family practically controlled half of Draventh. And George, their future son–in–law, wasn’t someone anyone wanted to mess with.

If Elena wasn’t treated well, and trouble broke out in Draventh, what could they do from Eryham? By the time they got there, she would already have suffered.

What then?

Elena had always been willful but never this resolute. Esther’s worry deepened.

After a long silence, she asked, “What if… we move to Draventh?”

For Elena, nothing was impossible.

Kieran stayed quiet, but Esther didn’t wait for him. She went straight upstairs to Elena’s room.

“Mom?”

Elena was hugging a pillow while texting Nathan. But he hadn’t replied, leaving her looking crushed.

Esther sat beside her and wrapped her up in a hug. “Elena, you need to know whether you truly like him, or if it’s just your pride keeping you from giving up. Of course I want you to be happy. And if this is the right choice for you, then your dad and I don’t mind suffering a little for it.”

That nearly broke Elena’s composure. “Mom, he’s ignoring me. What do I do?”

“Call him.”

“What if he doesn’t answer?” Elena asked.

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Chapter 428

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“Then keep calling.”

“But he’ll get annoyed.”

Esther looked at her. “Elena, you need to understand something. If he gets annoyed just because you call, it means he never liked you. His feelings for you were just built on the habit of you always being

around.

“Someone who truly cares will feel their heart race when your name pops up on their phone. They’ll be nervous, flustered–anything–but never annoyed. Do you understand?”

Elena propped her chin in her hand. “Is that how Dad won you back then?”

Esther snapped, “Just call him! I want to hear exactly why he’s not satisfied with my daughter!”

Elena made the call, but after two attempts, no one answered.

Esther’s expression darkened, and Elena grew more anxious. She regretted even telling Esther.

Finally, on the fourth try, the line clicked.

“Hello? Nathan!” Elena’s voice was bursting with excitement.

Esther pinched her arm, signaling her to stay calm.

“Yeah? I was in a late meeting. What’s wrong?” Nathan’s tone was detached as he spoke.

Elena pressed her lips together, glanced at Esther, then recalled what Rhea had said.

She gathered her courage before saying, “Nathan, I really like you, and I want to love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I’ve already considered the difficulties we might face, and this isn’t a whim. I just hope you’ll consider me.”

Esther’s heart sank. She thought that Elena was at a disadvantage. As her mother, how could Esther feel at ease?

But she was also proud of Elena’s courage. What was wrong with fighting for love?

Nathan stayed silent for a long time–so long that Elena grew increasingly anxious, until she seemed

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