Upon that thought, the temperature around Lucian gradually dropped. The moment Roxanne heard Jonathan mention Estella, she tried her best to keep calm and refrain from asking about the girl’s condition.
Upon hearing Lucian’s reply, she felt even guiltier. Roxanne was aware that she was the cause of Estella’s mood swings, but she still uttered those harsh words to her. “Essie must hate me very much now,” she thought.
Once again, Jonathan spoke, “What exactly happened? Essie’s condition has been stable for quite a while now. In fact, I thought she was getting better. Before we can celebrate the good news, her condition worsens again. At this rate, how is Essie ever going to make a full recovery?” As he said that, Jonathan cast a glance at Roxanne, who was sitting in front of him.
All the mention of Estella’s condition made Roxanne’s heart clench, yet she couldn’t show it in front of Lucian. Just when she was determined to feign indifference, Jonathan abruptly shifted the subject to her.
“I remember Essie liked you a lot back when you came to rent from my grandfather, Dr. Jarvis. I wonder if her condition will improve if she spends more time with you.” After saying that, he nonchalantly added, “It was the first time I have ever seen her show such affection for someone else. I was shocked by it.”
Roxanne’s grip on the fork in her hand lightened. She didn’t know how to tell him that she was the reason for Estella’s deteriorating condition. Beside her, Lucian agreed with Jonathan and stared at her with a pensive look in his eyes.
In the past, she would relent as long as Essie was mentioned, but this time, it was painfully clear that she had already hardened her heart to it all.
Silence reigned at the dining table, and Roxanne could distinctly feel the women’s gazes on her. It was as though they were both compelling her to respond. Truly, she had no idea how the meal turned into such a crisis.
A long while later, she forcefully composed herself. Then, she lifted her eyes calmly and said to Jonathan, “I’m also very worried about Essie’s condition, but I don’t think I have that much influence over her. In terms of keeping her company, I believe that Ms. Pearson is far more suited to do so. After all, they’re going to be mother and daughter in the future.”
As her words rang out, Jonathan was visibly stunned. He instinctively wanted to refute her statement, for she was Estella’s biological mother despite Aubree wanting to be Estella’s stepmother.
However, he then abruptly realized that she had no inkling about it. With that thought, words eluded him, and he didn’t quite know how to reply. He glanced at the man beside him in embarrassment.
The instant Lucian heard Roxanne’s response, his gaze darkened, and his lips curved into a smirk. “Ms. Jarvis is right. Essie has nothing to do with her, so why should she help take care of Essie?”
Roxanne’s expression momentarily stiffened upon hearing that, but ultimately, she didn’t contradict him.
At her tacit agreement, fury blazed in Lucian‘s eyes
Noticing the tense atmosphere between the two of them. Jonathan felt a touch guilty and regretted having broached that subject.
I initially thought that Roxanne would relent slightly upon hearing about Essie‘s condition and decide to visit her since she‘s the latter‘s birth mother. Alas, I forgot that she‘s in the dark about the truth. Besides, she was the one who personally told her that she was going abroad. Therefore, she likely knows full well that she’s the reason Essie is emotionally unstable. But really, I never thought that she‘d be so cruel to that little girl.
Following that line of thought, a scrutinizing look entered his gaze as he studied Roxanne.
I wonder if she‘d regret her remark today if she were to learn the truth in the future.
Regardless of his wandering mind, he still remembered to clean up the mess in his wake. He casually cleared his throat. “It was just an offhand suggestion. I forgot that you‘ve still got to deal with the matters concerning the research institute, so you probably haven‘t the time anyway, Dr. Jarvis.”
Roxanne remained silent.
Chuckling sheepishly, Jonathan raised his glass to her. “Let‘s not talk about this anymore. Here‘s to a smooth collaboration with the medicinal herb suppliers, Dr. Jarvis! I‘ll contact you right after they‘ve confirmed the time.”
At that, Roxanne forced a smile. “Thank you for acting as the middleman, Mr. Queen.“
Jonathan expended a great deal of effort before he managed to smooth things over. He then kept on engaging Roxanne in conversation about the present pharmaceutical industry in Horington.
Roxanne patiently chatted with him.
Meanwhile, Lucian didn‘t utter a single word further, merely downing his wine silently,
When Jonathan glimpsed more than half the bottle of wine gone, he hastily concluded the meal. “It‘s late now, so let‘s call it a day. I‘ll urge the medicinal herb suppliers to finalize the time as soon as possible.”
Roxanne didn‘t want to stay any longer, so she agreed unequivocally.
The three of them went downstairs side by side. Roxanne was going to foot the bill, but Jonathan stopped her from doing so.
“I was merely joking back then. How could I possibly have you treat me to a meal? If my grandfather were to learn about it, he‘d skin me alive!”
While saying that, he quickly went over to settle the bill. Subsequently, he quirked a brow smugly after walking back to Lucian.
Lucian frowned without saying anything.
Seeing that Jonathan had brought Alfred up, and the pittance was indeed a drop in the bucket to him, Roxanne didn‘t insist.
By the time they left the restaurant, it was already close to nine o‘clock.
Although they were all acquaintances, Roxanne had drunk quite a bit at the dinner table and was slightly buzzed. As the night breeze blew past, it sobered her up considerably.
Jonathan‘s voice rang out beside her. “How are you going home, Dr. Jarvis? Would you like to hitch a ride with me?”
In truth, Roxanne drove there. But since she had imbibed, she naturally couldn‘t drive home.
Hearing that, Roxanne lifted her eyes and scanned the traffic. “Thank you for the offer, Mr. Queen. But it‘s okay since my place is out of your way back to the Queen residence. I‘ll hail a taxi myself.”
After she had said that, she headed toward the side of the road.
Jonathan cast a look at the man beside him.
With a frown marring his countenance, Lucian stared at her fragile back in the night with a dark gaze.
“It happens to be rush hour now, so it‘d take eons for you to get a taxi. I‘ll give you a ride. Anyway, we‘ll be traveling by car, not on foot,” Jonathan hurriedly called out to Roxanne.
Roxanne halted in her steps. It‘s rather inappropriate for me to turn down such a trivial offer repeatedly when he has just done me such a huge favor:
Clocking her hesitance, Jonathan added, “Don‘t stand on ceremony with me. My grandfather specifically urged me to take good care of you when he knew that I‘d be having dinner with you.”
Unable to decline further, Roxanne turned around and walked back to the man. She flashed him a polite smile. “My apologies for troubling you, then.”
Jonathan fervently waved his hands in dismissal. |“Not at all! It‘d only be troublesome if you‘d adamantly refused to allow me to give you a ride.”
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.
Leave a Reply