Two Reborn, One Throne novel Chapter 7

"Amber..." Arthur felt a profound shift in the air. Something was fundamentally different about his daughter today, and about Lucian too.

He shook off her grip and rushed forward to block Grace. "Grace, stop yelling. He's a grown man now, and the neighbors are watching. Exams are right around the corner, give the boy some dignity. Lucian, apologize to your mother right now. Tell her today was just a mistake and promise you won't see Joanne again!"

Lucian ignored him completely. His gaze locked onto Amber, who stood a few feet away with her hands casually tucked into her uniform pockets. He let out a dark sneer. "Do you honestly think pulling a stunt like this will make me back down? Amber..."

"Don't flatter yourself, Lucian. Did you think I tattled on you? Please. I already told you, we are going our separate ways. I came here solely to take my father home. You can't honestly expect him to keep working as your family's unpaid laborer after everything that's happened, can you?"

He frowned deeply.

Grace immediately pivoted, flashing Amber an apologetic smile. "Amber, I'll beat some sense into him right now. Just tell me what it takes to make you calm down."

True to her word, she raised her hand and smacked him hard on the back.

A sharp, loud *smack* echoed through the street.

In their past life, this was the exact moment Amber would have caved. She would have instantly forgiven him and spent the next hour coaxing Grace to calm down.

Today, even if Grace beat her precious valedictorian son to his knees, Amber wouldn't budge an inch.

"Careful, Grace. He's the top student in his class. His body is very precious. If you damage him and he bombs his exams, I refuse to take the blame. Now, back to business. Are you going to marry my father or not?"

"Amber..."

Grace maintained her strained smile, completely bewildered by Amber's relentless hostility. How could a usually docile girl be this aggressive?

Ignoring the older woman, Amber locked eyes with the boy. "Well, Lucian? Why don't you answer for her? Should my father completely cut ties with your mother or not?"

Arthur grew flustered. "Amber!"

"Dad, you raised me to have a backbone even if we're poor. She clearly has no intention of being with you. True devotion can't buy genuine affection. Why force it? Do you really think we can't survive without her?"

Arthur let out a pained sigh, while Grace looked utterly cornered. Before she could try to emotionally manipulate Arthur with a soft-spoken plea, Lucian spoke up.

Grace shrieked in the middle of the street, "Lucian Juarez, you little bastard, get back here!"

*You arrogant brat, do you think hiring help is cheap? Do you think any paid worker will be as agreeable and hardworking as Arthur? And Amber hasn't even washed the diner's dishes yet! Are you trying to work your mother to death?!*

"Arthur..."

"Grace, Lucian has made it perfectly clear. I hope you can set a good example for Amber and stop stringing my father along. I won't even demand compensation for all the years you've wasted his time. Just consider it an act of charity and let my dad go."

"Let's go, Dad."

Amber gently supported her devastated father.

Even though she knew he desperately wanted to find a quiet corner to chain-smoke away his grief, she firmly guided him away.

She was officially entirely out of Lucian's life, and by the same token, the Juarez family was officially permanently banned from hers.