He comforted, “We’re returning in the afternoon, so we’ll see them soon. They’re smart, so they can take care of themselves.”
Roxanne nodded. Moments later, Lucian parked the car in the underground parking lot under the commercial district. After they entered the mall, they went straight to the children’s department.
She knew what the children liked, so her hands were quickly full from carrying a bunch of stuff, like toys and clothes. They shopped until it was afternoon. By that point, Roxanne’s mood was back to normal.
She glanced at her phone and saw no doctors had contacted her. Thus, she knew the situation in the nursing home was all right and went to pay for her items. Just as she was going to use her phone to pay, Lucian handed his bank card to the cashier.
Roxanne was taken aback for a moment. When she returned to her senses, she rejected, “I can pay.” While the items were meant for children, they cost more than ten thousand in total. Hence, she didn’t want him to pay.
However, he sternly said, “Some of these are presents for Essie. Besides, Archie and Benny like me. I feel like I should gift them something. I’m not great at picking presents, so I’ll pay for the ones you choose. Consider these our gift to them.”
Hearing that, Roxanne hesitated. Meanwhile, the cashier grinned at her as they held the bank card. “Since you two are together, you should let him pay. Our store always has a rule that the dad should be the one to do it.”
Again, Roxanne pondered about her decision. She had the money to buy the items, but the employee’s words were making her waver.
I suppose the boys will be happy if Lucian is gifting them these as their father. With that thought in mind, she put away her phone and expressed her gratitude. “I thank you on behalf of my children.”
Lucian frowned, seemingly displeased by her polite attitude. However, he was aware he couldn’t really say anything at the moment, so he silently accepted her gratitude and gestured for the cashier to use the card. After paying for the items, they left the mall with many bags.
Regret bubbled in Roxanne’s heart after they walked for a while. I bought too many things for the children, especially Archie and Bennie. Ugh, it’s quite difficult to walk with these two Lego spaceships I bought for the boys. It takes up so much space!
Her speed gradually decreased as she searched for something to put the bags on to rest her hands. “Wait for me here. I’ll take these to the car before driving here to pick you up,” Lucian said. Before she could reply, he quickened his steps and went to the parking lot with hands full of bags.
Roxanne was getting too drained to move. However, she didn’t want to wait at her spot because her current location was still quite far away from the parking lot, and waiting for Lucian’s was equally tiring. Hence, she continued to advance slowly with the bags in her hands..
However, it had been a long while since she was in Jadeborough, and there had been many significant changes in the city, especially in the commercial district. The many intersections were also challenging to identify. After she passed through an intersection, she couldn’t recall where the parking lot was.
She hesitated briefly before sitting on a bench at the side of the road and putting the bags down. It’s hard to say if I’ll find the parking lot if keep going. Even worse, Lucian may not be able to locate me…
After a while, she received a call from Lucian. Promptly, Roxanne picked up the phone. “Where are you?” He sounded tense. She guiltily surveyed her surrounding and answered, “In front of a Starbucks.”
Then, fearing he couldn’t find her, she added, “I only passed by an intersection. It should be easy for you to find me.”
“Got it. Stay where you are. I’ll be right there.” Lucian furrowed his eyebrows resignedly. / asked her to stay because I was worried she’d grow tired and lose her way. It’s very easy for someone unfamiliar with the intersections in the commercial district to get lost. I didn’t expect she would disobey me. Thank goodness I know where the Starbucks is.
Soon, he spotted Roxanne sitting on a bench, looking like a child who felt guilty for losing the way after running around. The guilty expression on her countenance intensified when she saw him. Upon rubbing her nose, she stood and picked up the bags.
“Didn’t I ask you to stay there?” Lucian promptly lent a helping hand. Roxanne reflexively defended herself, “I thought I could walk further, but…”
As she spoke, she saw him grabbing half of the bags on the ground. Lucian stopped when one of his hands was full and watched Roxanne take the rest with one hand as well.
Just as she straightened her back and wanted to apologize, her free hand was seized by him. Then, he uttered calmly, “I’ll walk slowly. Follow me closely.”
He’s treating me like I’m a child… She blushed as she hummed a reply in acknowledgment and followed him. After passing through the intersection, she realized she wasn’t too far off from her destination. It was just that she went the opposite way when passing by a crossroads.
Upon realizing her foolish mistake, she felt very frustrated and regretful. Lucian led her to the underground parking lot before letting go of her hand. Then he placed the bags orderly in the trunk.
By the time Roxanne returned to her senses, the trunk was already full, so she had to put her bags into the backseat. She felt exasperated again upon seeing the packed trunk. I was so focused on buying gifts. for the children that I didn’t notice I went overboard.
After she deposited her bags in the backseat, she opened the door to the passenger seat and saw a delicate white box on it. She paused momentarily before staring at Lucian and spotting an anticipatory look in his eyes, “It’s a gift for you: See if you like it.”
“When did you buy it?” questioned Roxanne with a slightly tense tone and trembling eyelashes. We didn’t leave each other when we were in the mall, and I didn’t see him buy a gift.
Lucian knitted his eyebrow and answered in a resigned tone, “When I brought my bags here earlier. I didn’t expect you to get lost when I was delayed for a few minutes.”
His lips curled into a wry smile when he recalled the rare dazed look on her face from earlier. When he brought that up, she blushed and reflexively avoided his stare, inadvertently shifting her line of sight to the box on the seat.
Lucian coaxed, “Get in the car. It’s getting late. If we don’t set off now, it’ll be night by the time we return home.” Nodding hesitantly, Roxanne stepped into the seat.
He entered the driver’s seat and drove off. Meanwhile, she put the white box on her knees instead of opening them. He didn’t urge her either. After they left the parking lot, he asked, “Do you want to visit the nursing home first, or should we head straight back home?”
I know she’s worried about the residents there, and we’ll be heading in its direction anyway. His question came as a surprise for Roxanne. She pondered for a moment and answered, “The nursing home first.”
“Okay.” Lucian then drove toward the destination. Seeing how familiar he was with the path to the nursing home, she wondered, I don’t remember telling him the address, yet he seems to know where to go… No, I shouldn’t overthink it.
After the car was parked in front of the nursing home, Roxanne stepped into the building. She saw the doctors were still busying about, but she could tell from their expressions that the rest of the residents were in good condition.
Still, she approached a few doctors and asked them about the situation, It wasn’t until she had confirmation the residents were doing fine that she relaxed.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.