Roxanne had said the very same thing.
“Did she say that to Essie too? Is that why Essie came back sulking?” he wondered.
Lucian wanted his questions answered. Hence, he asked, “Did Ms. Jarvis tell you that she doesn’t like me in the afternoon?”
Estella shook her head.
Somehow, Lucian heaved a sigh of relief when Estella shook her head. He knew that Estella had only made her own deduction after observing the way Roxanne treated him.
However, given that Roxanne had said no such thing to Estella, then why did the little girl come back sulking? Estella was acting oddly during dinner time as well.
The more Lucian thought about it, the more befuddled he was. “Why did you come back sulking then? Did Ms. Jarvis tell you something?”
His question hit the bullseye.
Estella had ruminated over what Roxanne told her the whole afternoon and lowered her head sadly. In the end, she muttered, “Ms. Jarvis will not play with me anymore.”
Lucian’s eyes darkened. “Why?”
Roxanne had promised that whatever happened between them would not affect the children. Why did she tell Estella that?
Again, Estella shook her head.
Lucian pressed on, “Did Ms. Jarvis say you can’t tell me?”
The little girl shook her head.
“Then you can tell me. Maybe I can help you persuade her,” Lucian said.
Even though Estella knew the chances were slim, she could not help but see a glimmer of hope and said in a small voice, “Ms. Jarvis is moving overseas with Archie and Benny.”
She grew despondent after saying that.
Lucian’s heart skipped a beat when he heard that. His face turned cold as the air grew still.
“Roxanne is moving overseas with the boys?” he thought. It was something that he never heard before.
“Is she doing this because of me? Or is she just brushing Essie off?” Lucian thought.
If that was true, judging from the way she had been avoiding him lately, Lucian reckoned that he would not have known until after Roxanne had already left.
Lucian had been trying to locate the woman for six whole years, and had finally done so after much effort. He fumed with fury at the fact that Roxanne was planning to leave without another word.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got.
Estella’s eyes brimmed with tears as she did not manage to get a reply from Lucian. “Daddy, I don’t want Ms. Jarvis to go…”
Then, she carefully tugged at Lucian’s shirt.
When he finally snapped out of his thoughts, Lucian turned to his daughter. However, he could not seem to utter any words of assurance to her daughter.
Of course, Lucian did now wish for Roxanne to evade him once again.
Then again, given the state of their strained relationship right then, he knew that he had no right to interfere in her matters.
Seeing how her father kept silent, Estella slowly lowered her eyes. She too remained speechless for a while before lifting her head to look at Lucian with puppy-dog eyes. “Then can I play with Ms. Jarvis when I grow up, Daddy?”
Lucian was stunned once again when he heard his daughter. Estella’s still so young, yet she’s already thinking about the future. If Roxanne promised Estella that, it means she really does plan to go overseas. In fact, she will stop contacting Estella after leaving.
With that thought in mind, Lucian could not help feeling the sting of irony.
Lucian wondered how Roxanne would react if she found out that she was about to abandon Estella again after having done the same when the girl was still a baby.
Still, Estella had already made up her mind. “Ms. Jarvis said I could play with her when I got older, so I’m going to grow up faster,” stated the girl in all seriousness as she looked at Lucian.
I don’t doubt that Roxanne has taught Estella to say that. Lucian had mixed feelings when he remembered Estella’s odd behavior at the dining table just then.
Estella ate more than usual and even started conversations with me. She’s probably hoping to get better soon because of what Roxanne said to her. Does Roxanne have any idea just how much influence she has on Estella?
The girl muttered to herself for a moment before lowering her eyes again in despair. “It’d be nice if Ms. Jarvis stays…” Even though Ms. Jarvis promised me that I could play with her overseas when I grew up, it’ll take a long while before that happens. I want to see Ms. Jarvis every day.
Lucian’s face hardened when he saw how sad Estella was. “Daddy will find a way,” promised Lucian in a deep voice. Even though my relationship with Roxanne is pretty stiff now, I won’t let her get away so easily now that I know she’s planning to run off. Not only because I spent six years looking for her, but she’s also Estella’s biological mother!
Estella became hopeful again after listening to her father, so she nodded firmly.
Meanwhile, at the hospital, Aubree waited until it was time for Lucian to get off work, but still, she did not see the man. Instead, she got a call from her subordinate.
“Ms. Pearson, Ms. Estella went to look for Roxanne with her teacher. She stayed at Roxanne’s until four o’clock in the afternoon. Then, the woman sent her home.”
Aubree’s face immediately turned grim when she heard that. “What about Lucian? Did you see him?”
She only went through all the suffering because she wanted Lucian and Roxanne to have no time for each other.
Besides that, Aubree also deliberately showed how important Lucian was to her the last time Roxanne visited her at the hospital. If Lucian went to see that b*tch again today, all my suffering would be in vain!
“Mr. Farwell never showed up. However, he returned home with a man not long after Ms. Estella did. Ms. Estella seemed to be in trouble because Mr. Farwell looked anxious,” reported the subordinate hurriedly.
Aubree secretly let out a sigh of relief before ordering, “Okay. Continue to keep your eyes on Roxanne.”
With that, the woman ended the phone call.
After listening to her subordinate, Aubree assumed that Lucian stayed home to keep Estella company.
The woman then lay down on the hospital bed and began scheming against Roxanne. My plan might’ve cut down the possibility of Lucian seeing that b*tch, but it doesn’t affect the little brat. If I don’t do something about that brat, it’ll be only a matter of time before Lucian and Roxanne meet again. My only option is to get that b*tch the hell out of Horington!
After some thought, Aubree pulled out her phone and called Sonya.
It did not take long before Sonya answered the call. “Is something wrong, Aubree?”
“Mrs. Farwell, can you please come over? My arm hurts so bad, and I’m scared…” Aubree’s voice was full of unease.
“Just give me a moment. I’ll be right over,” promised Sonya immediately.
With that, the woman hurriedly got changed before striding out the door.
Only after getting into her car did Sonya begin to wonder why Aubree called her if Lucian was with the young woman.
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.
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