Chapter 163 A Woman’s Duty

Estelle’s POV

“You’re always so busy with work that you’re barely even home,” Dorothy continued. She gestured to Finn, who was messily digging into his food like he had been starved for days. “Look at Finn. He doesn’t even have his mother around to teach him proper manners.”

She looked at Asher and frowned. “And Asher,” she said, “you’re not a responsible father. What have you been teaching your son?”

“I’m sorry, Grandmother,” Asher said. “I will pay more attention to Finn’s upbringing. I have always depended on Estelle, and I know that it’s been hard on her.”

“That’s more like it,” Dorothy said with a satisfied nod. “As husband and wife, father and mother, you two are responsible for the child’s upbringing together. More than that, you two are the Alpha and Luna of the pack—this pack is like your child. You need to work together to nurture and love the pack in order for it to grow strong and prosperous.”

Dorothy turned her attention to me, frowning when she realized I had started to tune out.

“Estelle,” she said. “You should not be spending all your hours working. Spend some time with your family instead. As a woman, your duties are at home with your mate and child. Now that Asher is finally capable enough to take over, you needn’t work too hard anymore. Rest.”

That was the final straw.

I set my fork down carefully and looked at Dorothy with as much respect as I could manage.

“Grandma Dorothy,” I said quietly. “Asher and I will solve our problems ourselves. In our own time. Just because I’m not working doesn’t mean that our problems will magically disappear.”

The problems between us weren’t something that could be fixed with a simple conversation or gesture. They ran far deeper than Dorothy could possibly understand.

But I had no intention of explaining any of that to her.

I stood up from the table. “Please remember to take those supplements if you’d like. They’ll help stabilize your body, especially as you get older.”

I turned toward the door without another word.

“Estelle!” Dorothy’s voice called after me. “Come back here! We’re not finished talking!”

I kept walking, not looking back.

***

Third POV

“Estelle!” Dorothy’s voice echoed through the hallway, sharp with authority and frustration.

But Estelle didn’t slow down. Her footsteps remained steady as she walked toward the front door.

Dorothy’s voice called out again, louder this time. “Come back here! We’re not finished talking!”

Estelle kept walking. She didn’t even glance back.

Behind her, Ashley let out a disgusted scoff.

“Can you believe that attitude? She has absolutely no manners.” Ashley shook her head in disbelief. “Grandma has always been so nice to her. And this is how she repays that kindness?”

Jessie nodded in agreement, her lips pressed into a thin line. “Such disrespect. In my day, we would never dream of walking away from our elders like that.”

Dorothy stood frozen for a moment, staring at the empty doorway where Estelle had disappeared. Then she whirled around to face Asher.

Her hand came down hard on his shoulder with a sharp smack.

“What are you waiting for?” she demanded. “Why aren’t you chasing after her?”

Asher rubbed his temples slowly. The stress was clearly getting to him. “Grandmother, she obviously wants some time to herself right now.”

“I already warned you that Estelle is busy with work,” he added tiredly. “She’s under a lot of pressure.”

Dorothy’s eyes flashed with anger. “Work, work, work! That’s all you know how to say!”

She stepped closer to him, her voice rising. “You’re giving that poor girl too many duties! As a woman, her only responsibility should be staying home and raising your children.”

Her sharp gaze turned toward the dining table, where Finn sat completely unbothered by the commotion. He was happily spooning dessert into his mouth, seemingly oblivious to everything happening around him.

Dorothy’s frown deepened. “Look at that boy. He has no manners whatsoever.”

“That’s entirely the fault of his parents,” she continued, her voice cold with disapproval. “Both of you care more about work than proper upbringing.”

Jessie seized the opportunity to add her own opinion. “Maybe it’s just in his genes,” she said with a shrug. “Finn is adopted, after all. Perhaps his real parents were just naturally… problematic people.”

The effect was immediate.

Finn’s spoon clattered against his bowl. His green eyes snapped up to glare at Jessie with pure fury.

Before anyone could react, he grabbed a large chunk of chocolate cake from his dessert plate.

“Don’t you dare!” he screamed, his young voice cracking with emotion.

He hurled the cake directly at Jessie’s face.

Jessie barely managed to dodge to the side. The cake splattered against the wall behind her, leaving a dark stain on the expensive wallpaper.

“My mother is the most wonderful woman in the world!” Finn yelled, his face red with anger. “Don’t you dare say bad things about her, you bad old lady!”

His small fists were clenched at his sides, trembling with rage.

Jessie straightened up, her face flushed with both embarrassment and fury. Bits of frosting had splattered on her dress.

She pointed an accusing finger at the five-year-old boy. “See! This child is a menace!”