“I reckon Mr. Oucen has told you about the incident that befell my research institute this time. and I‘m sure you know the culprit behind it, Mr. Farwell,” Roxanne stated.
Bluntly, she continued, “Despite having avoided you such, Mrs. Farwell still misunderstood things. As you can see, all she needed to do was to say a few words. Consequently, not only had my small research institute been plunged into turmoil, but it might not even be able to survive in Horington. I only came back this time because of the research institute, so I don‘t want any other trouble nor can I afford to be embroiled in any. Therefore, please be considerate of my predicament, Mr. Farwell.”
Her words were like a dagger, stabbing Lucian right in the heart.
In truth, that was also the reason he allowed her to avoid him recently.
He didn‘t want to see her getting into unnecessary trouble because of him.
When he was being personally reminded of that fact, however, a peculiar feeling rose within him.
He was both anguished about her predicament and regretful that he ultimately wasn‘t firm enough with his mother, failing to protect her.
Roxanne didn‘t want to continue further, nor had she the strength to do so. She merely stated, “Please have Mr. Lawson pull over, Mr. Farwell. We‘re now close enough to my house that I can take a taxi home.”
Lucian was silent for a long moment. In the end, he raised the partition and ordered Cayden to pull over in a tense voice.
Cayden found it strange, but he also knew there must have been some conflict between his boss and Roxanne. Surprisingly, it was Lucian who relented.
Al the man‘s orders, he pulled over at the nearest intersection.
After thanking the man detachedly, Roxanne opened the car door and alighted from the car.
“Are we leaving, Mr. Farwell?” Cayden inquired cautiously upon seeing that the woman had gone a distance away.
Lucian said nothing, his gaze fixated on Roxanne at the side of the road in the distance,
Indeed, it was ditficult to hail a taxi at that hour. Roxanne waited a long time by the roadside before she managed to get a laxi. Opening the car door, she climbed into the taxi.
When Cayden received no response from Lucian after a while, he naturally knew why the man was waiting
Seeing that Roxanne had gotten into the taxi, he asked once more, “Where are we going, Mr. Farwell?”
“Follow the taxi,” Lucian instructed tersely.
Although Roxanne‘s every word angered him, he couldn‘t help worrying over her.
Murmuring in acknowledgment, Cayden started the car and followed behind the taxi at a moderate distance.
He trailed it all the way to Roxanne‘s mansion and watched as the latter alighted from the taxi and entered the mansion before turning around and merging into the traffic, driving toward the Farwell residence.
By the time Roxanne arrived home, it was already close to ten o‘clock. Due to her stalemate with Lucian earlier, weariness was written all over her face.
Archie and Benny had been waiting for her downstairs. When they caught sight of her stepping into the house, they immediately trotted over in concern. “Mommy! You look exceedingly tired! Is the problem with the research institute very tricky?”
Forcing a smile, Roxanne patted their heads in reassurance. “I‘m fine. I‘m just a touch sleepy.”
Benny took the jacket she removed. Just when he was going to hang it up, he found the smell clinging to it somewhat familiar.
This seems to be… Daddy‘s smell!
He instinctively scrutinized Roxanne.
Exhausted physically and mentally, Roxanne didn‘t notice his abnormality. She apologized 10 them in a gentle voice, murmuring, “Sorry I came home so late. It‘s late now, so I‘ll take you both upstairs to rest.”
Failing to perceive anything amiss about her, Benny frowned in puzzlement.
Considering the smell, Mommy must have met up with Dadıly.
He glanced at her weary face again, swallowing the question on the tip of his tongue.
Judging from her look, it must have been unpleasant, even if that‘s the case. Hence, asking her about it will only upset her.
After hanging up the jacket, he obediently followed Roxanne upstairs to rest.
It was already late in the night when Lucian returned to the Farwell residence
Estella had already fallen asleep a long while ago.
Lucian‘s heart ached when he was reminded of how Roxanne had completely avoided mentioning Estella just now. He went upstairs to Estella‘s room.
The little girl had a serene sleeping posture. She lay on her side with half her face covered with blanket, seemingly sound asleep.
Lucian‘s gaze softened at the sight of his daughter. He lifted his arm and patted her head. Then, he tucked her in before getting up and left.
Just when he reached the door, he suddenly heard a sound behind him as if Estella was sobbing.
He stopped abruptly in his tracks, turned on his heels, and returned to her bedside. Lucian gently pulled away the blanket covering Estella‘s face and saw her brows furrowed, eyes shut, and beads of tears staining her long eyelashes.
He wondered what kind of nightmare she was experiencing
Lucian felt sorrowful when he saw her daughter in that state. He raised his hand, wanting to wipe the tears off Estella‘s face.
However, at that moment, she muttered in her sleep, “Ms. Jarvis… Don‘t go, Ms. Jarvis…”
Lucian frowned upon hearing that.
In the past few days, he left right after coaxing Estella to sleep. Even when he checked in on her in the middle of the night, he merely glanced if Estella had kicked her blanket away before turning to leave.
How many times has Essie experienced similar dreams without my knowledge? Essie misses Roxanne so much. Yet, Roxanne was so merciless. She was completely unfazed even when she heard of Essie‘s condition,
Al that thought, Lucian felt the temperature around him dropped.
Estella seemed to be frightened by him in her sleep because she suddenly started bawling
He snapped back to his senses, carefully carried Estella, who was still wrapped in the blanket, and
clumsily palled her back.
“It‘s all right, Essie Daddy is here.”
However, Estella continued to cry her eyes out. “No. Don‘t go. Boohoo…”
Lucian‘s frown deepened as he listened to Estella‘s wails.
How could I not hear her if this is how loudly she cries?
Just when he was blaming himself for his lack of attentiveness, Estella woke up. She groggily hugged his neck, staining Lucian‘s clothes with her tears.
Lucian did not mind. He asked with concern, “Don‘t cry, Essie. Daddy is here. Tell me. What did you dream about?”
Estella had yet to recollect herself as she whimpered Roxanne, Archie, and Benny‘s names.
Needless to say, she had dreamed of the scene when Roxanne, Archie, and Benny left.
Lucian could not bring himself to probe Estella further. He tightened his arms around her in an embrace.
After a long while, she was finally wide awake. She pushed herself away from him by supporting her tiny arms on Lucian‘s shoulder.
He freed one of his arms to wipe the tears off her face. “Did you dream of Ms. Jarvis?”
She nodded in grievances.
Estella had a dream about Roxanne, Archie, and Benny boarding a plane. She called them, but they ignored her, so she had no choice but to chase after their plane. However, Estella failed to catch up with them and even tripped over.
When she was reminded of the scenes in her dreams, Estella‘s eyes reddened again.
“Be good. Ms. Jarvis has yet to leave. I just met with her just now.” Lucian tried his best to suppress his dissatisfaction toward Roxanne and tenderly comforted his daughter.
Estella leaned closer to him doubtfully and took a sniff with her nose wrinkled. Her face gradually slackened when she caught a sniff of Roxanne‘s body odor on Lucian.
Lucian asked again in concern, “Do you have this kind of dream every night, Essie?”
She pursed her lips and shook her head.
Lucian knitted his brows in confusion at that sight. Essie did not meet with Roxanne recently, nor did she dream about her previously. Why is she having this dream now and crying so badly today?
“Archie and Benny told me Ms. Jarvis will take them overseas once she is done with her work at the research institute.”
Estella was crestfallen when she recalled her conversation with Archie and Benny at the kindergarten yesterday.
She thought Roxanne was merely lying to her previously, and Archie and Benny also told her they would not be leaving
However, the two kids informed Estella that they would not stay much longer in the country…
Moreover, since Roxanne told Estella she would be going abroad, Estella had not seen the latter.
With that thought in mind, Estella could not contain her urge to shed tears again.
Hearing his daughter‘s words, Lucian‘s face gradually darkened.
According to Archie and Benny, Roxanne would have been abroad now if it weren‘t for this incident!
Estella tugged at the hem of her father‘s shirt and uttered in a childish voice, “Daddy, I am reluctant to see Ms. Jarvis go.”
Lucian pulled himself back to reality and held her daughter‘s tiny hands. He consoled her, “I know. I‘ll have a good talk with Ms. Jarvis.”
Estella nodded. Her eyes glazed over as she let out a yawn.
Lucian placed Estella on the bed and tucked her in, “Go to sleep. I‘ll stay here and keep you company.”
Her head lolled to the side, and she dozed off after lying on the bed for a short while.
Complicated emotions churned within Lucian as he took in his daughter’s calm sleeping face while pondering on her words earlier.
After Estella was sound asleep, Lucian tiptoed out of the room and returned to his bedroom.
When he was done washing up and ready to sleep, it was already past midnight.
Early the next morning, Lucian suffered from an intense headache.
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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