Even upon returning to the country after six years abroad and knowing that she might never end up together with Lucian, she knew that she could never love another man. The young man in her youth would forever be engraved deep within her heart.
During the afternoon, Roxanne and Lucian headed to the research institute together. With Peregrine’s help, Colby quickly settled into the research institute’s serious working environment.
As the organization ran like a well-oiled machine, there was no need for Roxanne to get involved. The reason she came was just to throw a birthday party for Colby.
Colby, who was led into a conference room unaware, was greeted by a burst of confetti falling onto his head. His colleagues then came forward, wishing him a happy birthday as they sang the birthday song.
There were many familiar faces, all of them smiling vibrantly. “Happy Birthday, Colby!” said Roxanne and Lucian upon emerging from the crowd.
Lucian came forward to help Colby put on a birthday hat before shaking hands with him. With a gentle smile, Roxanne handed Colby a fork and knife as a massive birthday cake was carted up to him. Dumbstruck by the surprise, Colby-eyes glistening-didn’t know how to react..
“Thank you. Thank you, everyone.” All of a sudden, he began tearing up. He had just returned to the research institute, and there was plenty he had to learn from. scratch.
Given that his birthday was way down on his list of priorities, he was surprised that Roxanne and Lucian not only remembered but also specially made a trip over to celebrate it for him.
As someone who had once made a horrible mistake, he didn’t think he deserved such treatment. It wasn’t until he got over the flood of complicated emotions that Colby broke into a smile. He then cut the cake and distributed it to his colleagues.
“Colby, I didn’t only come to celebrate your birthday today, for I have something else to tell you. As a loyal employee of the research institute, you deserve to be granted shares in it. Even though it’s not much after dilution, thirty percent of the company still belongs to you. After this, Old Mr. Lomax will follow up with you on the paperwork,” Roxanne announced the matter in front of everyone. Thunderous applause soon filled the room..
“This…” Shocked, Colby was at a loss for words.
Upon leaving the research institute, Roxanne and Lucian went to pick up the children from school. When the school’s management saw the two of them, they seized the opportunity to sincerely apologize for what happened.
From their explanation, Lucian and Roxanne learned that the vice principal who was bribed by Dave had been sacked. Moreover, the four students who bullied Archie and Benny were also asked to leave the school. On top of that, the school was reevaluating its disciplinary policies to prevent a repeat of similar incidents.
In the end, Lucian and Roxanne accepted their apology begrudgingly. They didn’t want to burn any bridges, as the school did provide a conducive learning environment for the children.
Finally, they returned to the manor with the children after declining an invitation to dinner from the school management. Arriving at the gate, they were greeted by the sight of Grant pacing back and forth.
He looked weary as he moved around awkwardly. Yet Roxanne utterly disappointed with him-no longer fell for the pitiful charade he had put on.
“Mommy, is that Granddad?” Estella asked upon recognizing him. Lucian’s gaze shifted to his wife as if to ask her if they should stop.. At the same time, Archie and Benny stared out the window, wondering what their grandfather wanted.
Nonetheless, Roxanne shook her head in response. She no longer wanted to be tricked again. Lucian replied to the children, “We’ll be heading home first. If there’s anything your granddad needs, I’ll deal with it later.”
Meanwhile, Grant raised his gaze and gave the car a complicated look. Realizing that the car wasn’t going to stop, he hesitated momentarily before deciding to step aside. Roxanne even averted her eyes, not wanting to spare him even a single glance as they passed him by.
Once their car drove into the manor and the gates closed behind them, Lucian told Roxanne to lead the children back to their rooms.
“If you don’t want to see him, I’ll go out and talk to him.” If Grant were to continue playing the victim at their door every day, it would be difficult for them to explain to the children. Thus, Lucian figured that clearing the air was for the best.
With that, the butler drove Lucian to the main gate in the manor’s buggy. As he walked up to Grant, the previously cordial attitude he had was now replaced by indifference. “Mr. Jarvis, what are you up to this time? Are you planning to give the children presents again? If that’s the case, you can save it. They don’t need anything from you.”
Lucian had expected Grant to panic. Yet a sense of numbness was written across his face. The listless look in his eyes made them look like a bottomless abyss.
“Lucian… I… There’s something I want to tell you.” Grant’s lips twitched as he spoke in at helpless tone. The surprised Lucian furrowed his brows. Who gave him permission to address me that liberally?
“Mr. Jarvis, I believe you have made a mistake. If money is what you need, you should be speaking to Mr. Crawford!” Lucian’s eyes narrowed. There was no need for him to conceal the fact that Grant was secretly working with Jonas.
“Is the millions given by Mr. Crawford not enough? How much money do you really want?” Lucian flashed a smirk as he waited for Grant’s reaction. Finally, the panic in Grant’s eyes began to show. “Y-You knew about it?”
“There’s nothing in Horington that gets past me, so drop your pathetic charade already. Now that the children have acknowledged you as their granddad, you had better not show your face here ever again!”
The threatening tone in Lucian’s voice was unmistakable.
Stunned by the response, Grant attempted to move his chapped lips, but all he could manage was a wry smile.
“Since you already know about it, I might as well come clean. It’s true that I succumbed to my greed and took Mr. Crawford’s bribe. His objective was to place me by your side to gather information,” Grant related the truth candidly.
“With that aim in mind, I divorced Winnie. Initially, the divorce wasn’t meant to be genuine. Once I received enough money from Mr. Crawford, she would return to my side. Unfortunately, I was a fool…” Grant mumbled away.
Meanwhile, Lucian’s brows knitted, for the last thing he wanted was to become Grant’s agony uncle. He wasn’t at all interested in what was on Grant’s mind.
After all, it was Grant’s decision to abandon Roxanne’s mother and get together with Winnie. On top of that, he even brought two children into the family, causing Roxanne trauma that she would never heal from.
“Mr. Jarvis, there’s no need to bring up the past anymore. Roxanne is well aware of your motives, so you had better not disturb our lives again. As for the children, I’ll tell them that their granddad has gone overseas to set up a business.”
With that, Lucian turned to leave but was unexpectedly held back by Grant. The latter was suddenly gripped by emotions,. and he began trembling all over.
With a pleading look in his eyes, he said, “Lucian, I know that I have committed a terrible sin and don’t deserve anything, but you have to trust me when I say that I have cut ties with Mr. Crawford. I have no way of paying back the money he gave me, so I’m currently in hiding. I. have now lost everything and no longer want anything. However, Lucian, you have to tell Roxanne this-”
Losing patience with Grant’s soliloquy, Lucian shoved the latter aside as he snapped, “I’m sorry, but I’m not interested in what you have to say. Please leave now before I ask my bodyguards to throw you out!”
He’s sorry? He has repented? A man like this will never know remorse! Lucian quickened his pace, for he no longer wanted to hear Grant’s voice again. Behind him, all Grant could do was stare blankly at his leaving silhouette.
“I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. This must be karma for what I’ve done. Even going to hell is too light a punishment for someone like me…”
Within a few seconds, he dropped to his knees with a sorrowful expression. “Lucian, I beg you to ask Roxanne to give me an opportunity to apologize. I have a terminal illness and my days are numbered. There are only two or three days left, I’m afraid. I…”
Just as Grant was yelling at the top of his voice, he swooned and collapsed head-first to the ground. Upon hearing the dull thud, Lucian stopped in his tracks immediately.
When he turned around to look, Grant was lying on the floor with his eyes closed, and his lips were pale. The sudden turn of events stunned Lucian, causing him to wonder if this was another of Grant’s tricks. Terminal illness? I’m surprised he’s using such a cliched excuse.
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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