Chapter 206 – Her Sudden Departure: A Tale of Love and Redemption (Lucian & Roxanne)

“What about Lucian? Isn’t he with you?” inquired Sonya curiously.

“I’m not sure where he is either. Maybe he’s working overtime. I didn’t call him because I didn’t want to disturb him. My parents weren’t answering my calls, so I had no choice but to trouble you.” There was a hint of sadness in Aubree’s voice.

Hence, Sonya quickly comforted the young woman. “It’s okay. You only got hurt because of me, so taking care of you is the least I can do. Just wait for me at the hospital. I’ll be right over.”

After Aubree agreed to her request, Sonya hung up and dialed Lucian’s phone number with a hardened face.

She found it hard to believe that her son would still be working at such a late hour.

Lucian tucked Estella in after chatting with her, and as soon as he left his daughter’s room, he got a call from Sonya.

“Where are you? You haven’t gotten off work yet?” questioned Sonya suspiciously.

Having figured out why his mother called almost immediately, Lucian rubbed his temple. “I have. Essie isn’t feeling well today, so I came home early to look after her.”

When Sonya heard that Estella was unwell, her tone softened up. “How’s she doing now?”

“Better than how she was in the afternoon. I just tucked her in,” replied Lucian.

“She seemed fine the last I saw her. What happened to her today?” Sonya continued with her questioning.

Lucian fell silent for a while when he thought about why Estella was sad. In the end, he decided to brush off the question. “She’s probably just suffering a relapse.”

After that, the man suddenly thought of something, so he added, “Dr. Lambert said Essie needs me right now, so I might not be able to go to the hospital at the moment. If necessary, I can hire a top grade caregiver for Aubree.”

In response, Sonya furrowed her eyebrows in disagreement. “If that’s the case, you should take Essie to the hospital so she and Aubree can bond. I’m sure Aubree’s better at taking care of the child. After all, women tend to be more thoughtful and caring.”

“There’s no need for Essie and Aubree to bond. Besides, the environment at the hospital isn’t good for Essie’s mental condition,” protested Lucian somewhat coldly, for he was sure he had made it clear back at the café that he would not marry Aubree.

The man did not expect his mother to be so persistent even after what he said.

Rubbing his eyebrows irritably, Lucian added before Sonya could respond, “Aubree has almost fully recovered. I’ll send a caregiver over tomorrow, and if you’re still worried about her, you can always visit her. I won’t stop you.”

Frowning, Sonya was displeased with Lucian’s tone. However, before she could say anything to reprimand her son, the man voiced once again, “Essie’s awake. I have to go check on her. If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up now.”

Lucian then ended the phone call without waiting for Sonya’s response, leaving the woman to her thoughts.

Sonya’s veins immediately popped after the call ended.

The woman remained boiling with anger even after she had reached the hospital. I’ve wanted to see Lucian marry Aubree for so many years, but now he tells me that he’s planning to break up with Aubree? I won’t accept that!

Only when Sonya reached the door to Aubree’s room did she replace her anger with worry.

Curled up in bed, Aubree seemed to have fallen asleep, so Sonya tiptoed into the room to check on the young woman.

When Sonya noticed how much thinner Aubree had become, she was convinced that the poor woman had suffered because of the injury.

Even though Aubree was asleep, her eyebrows were tightly knitted, showing her discomfort.

Seeing Aubree like that only made Sonya feel more guilty. “I’m here, Aubree,” informed Sonya in a soft voice.

Aubree furrowed her eyebrows even more when she heard Sonya. Only after staring at the elderly woman for a while did Aubree regain her senses. “I didn’t expect you to be here so soon, Mrs. Farwell.”

Sonya quickly stopped Aubree when the young woman tried to sit up. “It’s okay. You don’t have to get up.”

After gazing at Aubree’s injured arm, Sonya inquired concernedly, “How’s your arm? I can get someone to check it out for you.”

In response, Aubree pretended to feel her arm for a while before smiling apologetically at Sonya. “It doesn’t hurt anymore. It seems I made a big fuss out of nothing. I’m sorry for troubling you at such a late hour, Mrs. Farwell.”

Sonya let out a sigh of relief. “I’m glad to hear that you’re fine.”

Then, Aubree looked expectantly behind Sonya as though she expected someone to be following behind the elderly woman. When she could not find anybody, she lowered her eyes in disappointment. “Where’s Lucian, Mrs. Farwell? Is he still working?” asked Aubree, pretending to be unaffected by the man’s absence.

Sonya boiled with anger once again when Lucian was mentioned, but for Aubree’s sake, she suppressed her emotions. “Lucian’s already gone home. Essie’s not feeling well, so I’m afraid that he won’t be…”

“He should stay home with Essie,” voiced Aubree with a warm smile. “My arm’s fine. Plus, Essie is more important.”

When Sonya saw how understanding Aubree, she felt even guiltier about her son’s actions, so she promised, “You’re the best daughter-in-law anyone can ever ask for. I’ll get Lucian to marry you as soon as you recover!”

To that, Aubree responded with a shy nod.

Sonya could not see it, but Aubree’s lips had already cracked into a devious smirk.

It can’t be a coincidence that the little brat got unwell as soon as she left Roxanne’s place! Aubree could not believe that her plan to keep Lucian by her side got sabotaged by a little girl, so she vowed to deal with both Roxanne and Estella.

After a moment, Aubree lifted her head to meet Sonya’s gaze. “Hey, Mrs. Farwell. I remember that Essie likes Ms. Jarvis very much, doesn’t she? Do you think it’ll help with her condition if she gets to spend more time with Ms. Jarvis?”

Sonya raised an eyebrow curiously when she heard that. “I thought you didn’t like Roxanne.”

“I was afraid she would steal Lucian from me, but I know I was wrong to think that way now. There’s nothing I can do about it if she’s the one Lucian loves. Besides, nothing is more important than Estella’s well-being,” responded Aubree with a bitter smile.

A hint of displeasure flashed across Sonya’s eyes at Aubree’s concern for Estella and at the thought of Lucian rejecting her suggestion.

If her son had heeded her words over the years to have Estella spend time with Aubree, Estella might not be so attached to Roxanne, given Aubree’s fondness for Estella.

Estella, too, would have no need for Roxanne.

Aubree made a remorseful face. “To be honest, I’m still slightly envious of Ms. Jarvis and how she gained Essie’s favor so quickly. It would be nice if Essie were that fond of me.”

Aubree glanced slyly at Sonya, who frowned at those words.

“What nonsense!” she snapped. “If you are to become Essie’s mother, it’s only a matter of time before she becomes fond of you. Who does that woman think she is, anyway? I’ve told her I will make her life in Horington difficult if she tries to contact Lucian and Essie again.”

Sonya’s words struck a chord with Aubree and filled her with delight.

Everything is falling into place! I was just trying to figure out how to convince Sonya to kick Roxanne out of Horington but she suggested it. In that case, just a little fanning of the flames would suffice.

Spurred by that thought, Aubree put on a worried expression. “Will such a day ever come, Mrs. Farwell? Essie is very fond of Ms. Jarvis. Even if Lucian isn’t prepared to marry her, Essie’s feelings would still be his top priority, like how he has been rejecting me. I feel he might even accept Ms. Jarvis for Essie’s sake.”

Sonya’s expression became stony. “I’ve told him to stay away from Roxanne.”

“Essie is still a child,” Aubree argued. “She wouldn’t understand and would cry for Ms. Jarvis no matter what we adults tell her. I think we should wait before doing anything as I can’t bear to see her upset. I will be happy for Essie if Lucian ever falls for Ms. Jarvis and decides to marry her for Essie’s sake.”

“Never,” Sonya vowed quietly.

A look of puzzlement flashed across Aubree’s face as if she did not understand the other woman.

Sonya scowled. “If we can’t stop Essie from seeing her, then we’ll have her disappear from Horington. Essie will forget her existence with the passage of time.”

Having planned that from the start, she knew it was an inevitable eventuality.

Given Roxanne’s current financial and social standing, it would only take a few phone calls to exile her from Horington.

Aubree snickered to herself while adopting a façade of panic. “Don’t act rashly, Mrs. Farwell! Ms. Jarvis did nothing wrong. Besides, it might exacerbate Essie’s condition if Ms. Jarvis disappears suddenly.”

Sonya gazed at the other’s injured arm with a concerned frown. “Your arm wouldn’t be hurt for the second time if it was not for her. Speaking of Essie’s condition, I was planning to have you spend more time with her and develop a rapport. You need to warm her up to you slowly.”

Though Aubree was already beside herself with glee, she still felt the need to put on an act of dissuading the older woman. Though every refrain sounded like she was trying to stop Sonya, Aubree was actually fanning the flames.

Sonya’s dissatisfaction with Roxanne grew the more Aubree spoke. At last, she patted the younger woman’s hand. “You shouldn’t have to concern yourself with these matters. Just focus on getting better during your stay here at the hospital.”

Aubree pretended to fall into disgruntled silence, carefully putting on a disagreeable expression as she did so.

Sonya did not plan to persuade her further. Instead, she insisted for Aubree to fall asleep while she kept her company.

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