After finishing breakfast with mixed feelings, Roxanne led Estella out of the dining room.
She had barely stepped out when she noticed the prevailing tension in the living room.
The brothers were kneeling on the couch with stern looks on their faces, keeping a close eye on Lucian who was standing at the side as if he had gravely offended them.
When she saw the boys’ expressions, Roxanne couldn’t help frowning.
She had assumed that they resented Lucian because of her.
However, she recalled that they had been fine with him the very first time all of them met.
As of then, her only goal was to stay away from Lucian, but the brothers seemed to be holding a grudge against him.
No matter how hard she tried, Roxanne couldn’t figure out the reason why.
When the brothers saw Roxanne leading Estella out, they shifted their gazes away from Lucian and welcomed the two with vibrant smiles. “Mommy!”
Setting her thoughts aside, Roxanne reciprocated with a grin of her own.
Archie and Benny gave Estella a warm look. “Is Essie going to kindergarten with us?”
Roxanne glanced at Lucian.
That was what she had decided during breakfast, but she was unsure of his stance.
Without a word, Lucian stepped right out of the door.
Stunned, Roxanne led the children out and saw Lucian looking at them from his car.
She lowered her head to look at Estella, who let go of her hand.
Estella ran up to Lucian’s car and stood by the window, giving him a pitiful look. She wanted to be by Roxanne’s side.
Lucian could naturally tell what his daughter was thinking and also sense the guilt Roxanne felt for the girl. Thus, he gave his permission. “You can ride with Ms. Jarvis.”
With her eyes glistening in delight, Estella skipped happily back to Roxanne’s side. “Ms. Jarvis, Daddy said I can go you!” with
Sighing in relief, Roxanne tousled Estella’s hair and brought Estella to her car.
She had assumed that Lucian would leave after handing Estella over.
However, right after she settled the children into the car, she noticed the Bentley in front of them gradually pulling away and driving in the direction of the kindergarten.
Roxanne followed the Bentley from behind, puzzled.
On the way, the car was filled with the children’s excited voices.
Estella was visibly ecstatic, as she was a lot chattier than usual. After all, it had been a while since she had gone to kindergarten with the brothers.
Roxanne couldn’t help but think about her dinner with Jonathan the weekend before. He had mentioned Estella’s recent mood swings to her.
Back then, he had even suggested that Estella’s condition might improve if Roxanne stayed with her. At that moment, she could tell that he was right.
Nonetheless, she had no right to keep Estella by her side, and Sonya would never allow it.
When she saw Estella’s vibrant smile in the rearview mirror, a sense of reluctance descended upon her. In fact, she began to wish for their journey to be longer.
Before Estella could have enough fun, the kindergarten came into their view.
As she watched the Bentley gradually come to a stop, Roxanne, too, stopped her car some distance away before getting out of the car with the children.
At the same time, Lucian, with a pink school bag in his hand, alighted from his car and approached them.
It was then that Roxanne remembered that Estella’s school bag was in his car.
What on earth is in that mind of his? He could’ve handed me the bag and gone straight to the office.
Just as Roxanne reach out to take Estella’s bag, Lucian retracted his hand with an emotionless expression. He turned around and walked in front of them. “Let’s go.”
Roxanne regained her senses only when the children gave her sleeve a tug. She held their hands and followed Lucian from behind.
Pippa was already waiting at the kindergarten entrance.
At the sight of the group, she smiled and said to Roxanne, “Ms. Jarvis, it’s been a long time since I saw you.”
Lysa or Madilyn had been the ones to bring the children to school recently. There was no denying that some time had passed since Roxanne had last come.
“It has indeed been a while,” Roxanne replied. “Did Archie and Benny give you any trouble in class?”
Pippa quickly waved her hands. “Both of them are the most obedient students in class. There’s nothing for you to worry about.”
Relieved by that, Roxanne handed the children over to Pippa.
Estella, however, grabbed Roxanne’s hand and refused to let go.
She was reluctant to part with the latter as a long time had passed since they had last seen each other.
Even though Roxanne felt her heart melt over Estella’s reluctance to part, she had to steel herself and pry open the little girl’s hands. After all, classes were about to start, while she, too, had to go to work.
“Be a good girl, Essie. I have to go to work now. Why don’t you play with Archie and Benny?”
Displeasure was written all over Estella’s face.
Seeing that, Archie and Benny quickly held Estella’s hand and comforted her, “We’ll play with you, Essie. There’s no need to be sad.”
Estella wanted to ask Roxanne if she could stay instead of going back overseas, but she decided against it, as she was afraid of being disappointed by the answer.
As Estella refused to go in, Roxanne couldn’t bear to leave as well.
Just when she felt lost, Lucian discreetly walked into the space between her and Estella, blocking the latter’s view.
“Ms. Jarvis and I still have to go to work. Since it’s time for class now, you should go in together with the brothers.” Lucian leaned forward to help Estella wear her school bag. He put his hands on her shoulders authoritatively and turned her around.
It was only then that Estella trudged into the kindergarten behind Archie and Benny.
Looking at the children’s backs, Roxanne sighed to herself. She forced a smile to bid Pippa goodbye before turning around to return to her car.
Just when she had taken two steps, Lucian’s voice rang out from behind her. “Are you feeling better?”
The reason he had agreed to bring Estella to see Roxanne was also to check on the latter’s condition. However, they hadn’t had the opportunity to speak prior to that moment.
Hearing that, Roxanne felt a strange sensation in her heart.
Lucian, whose eyes had darkened, was about to continue when he saw her turn around to give him a look..
“I’m feeling a lot better. Thank you for your concern, Mr. Farwell.” Roxanne gave him a distant look. “Also, I hope you’ll avoid bringing Essie to my house going forward. It puts me in a difficult position.”
Roxanne might not be able to say those words to Estella, but she had no problems. doing so to Lucian.
Lucian’s face fell. “You should save those words for Essie. Besides, you, too, are aware of her condition. Once she kicks up a fuss, I have no choice but to give in to her.”
With that, he got into his car before Roxanne could react.
During his drive, Roxanne’s scathing words continued to fill his mind.
He had thought that bringing Estella to see her would cause her heart to waver. Yet little did he expect her to be so stone hearted.
Despite Essie’s concern for her, she could still say something as harsh as not to bring Essie to see her anymore. Roxanne truly hates the sight of me.
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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