At the bland detachment in her voice, Lucian mistakenly thought he had hit the nail on the head. Immediately, the fury within him flared into an inferno.
Roxanne waited for a while with her eyes lowered. When the man before her remained passive, she made to circle around him.
Admittedly, I was in the wrong, but I only wronged Essie. I don’t think I owe him anything.
Thanks to the hindrances from him throughout the day, she was already bone-tired from worrying about Estella.
Thus, she really hadn’t the energy to bicker with him then.
Since he’s unwilling to help me out, I’ll go upstairs by myself.
However, she had only taken a step when Lucian grabbed her wrist.
Halting in her tracks, she uttered in a cool voice, “Please let go of me, Mr. Farwell.”
Alas, the grip of the hand grasping her wrist merely tightened following her request.
Pain shot through her, and her brows gradually creased. The look in her eyes as she regarded Lucian also carried a hint of wariness.
“What are you doing?”
Lucian had anger written all over his face. “What are you being guilty about? Could it be that you were still settling so-called work matters with Jack despite claiming that you were worried about Essie?”
Left with no other choice, Roxanne turned back and met the man’s gaze with a frown.
“Since you don’t believe me, Mr. Farwell, you can ask Archie and Benny what I did in the afternoon. There’s no need for you to be so adamant about getting an answer from me.”
Upon hearing her reply, Lucian snorted. “Was it not you who arranged for Archie and Benny to come over?”
Hah! She arranged for the two boys to come and placate Essie first while she spent the time with Jack!
As that possibility occurred to him, the temperature around him plummeted frightfully. “Do you find Essie all too easy to fool, Ms. Jarvis?”
Roxanne, on the other hand, merely found him unreasonable. “I can’t do anything about it if you insist on thinking so, Mr. Farwell.”
After saying that, she struggled vigorously, hoping to go upstairs to get Archie and Benny down.
He has already made up his mind about things, so it’d be futile no matter what I say further.
Verily, she didn’t want to waste any more time. Instead, she wanted to see Estella sooner.
Sensing her aversion, the rage in Lucian’s eyes blazed all the hotter. “It was some matter related to Herbscape Group, right?”
At that remark, Roxanne abruptly stilled, shock flashing across her eyes.
All this while, Jack and Colby had been hinting to her that the trouble in Herbscape Group was Lucian’s doing.
Although she harbored some suspicions, she had been persuading herself not to simply draw conclusions before having any evidence.
However, Lucian’s tone at that moment had the scales within her start tilting.
So, he has always known about the problems plaguing Herbscape Group!
In the next second, Lucian verified her conjecture expressionlessly. “If so, I’d advise you two to stop wasting your time and energy. Sooner or later, Herbscape Group will belong to Farwell Group.”
As his words rang out, his eyes glinted dangerously.
Due to her utter shock, Roxanne’s struggles gradually ceased. Self-deprecation filled her eyes at the man’s definite tone.
Why exactly did I still convince myself not to doubt him when Jack and Colby had already made things so clear? Besides, Farwell Group is the only one with the motive and ability to do that in the whole of Horington.
“As expected of you, Mr. Farwell. Your methods in the business world are truly astounding.”
She corralled her thoughts even as her gaze dimmed and her lips curved into a self-deprecating arc.
Perceiving the peculiarity in her words, Lucian frowned. “You might as well just say it bluntly if you find my methods despicable, Ms. Jarvis.”
To him, the business world was no different from the battlefield.
If a method guarantees a win, then it’s a good one. Furthermore, I want to take this chance to teach Jack a lesson and warn him not to approach my woman. That aside, I intend to wake her up and have her consider carefully whether her work or the kids are more important!
Roxanne lifted her eyes and held his gaze. “I merely want to know one thing—why are you doing this?”
When her words drifted into the air, Lucian derisively arched a brow. “As Herbscape Group dared to breach their contract with Farwell Group, Farwell Group naturally has to teach it a lesson!”
Hearing that, Roxanne surreptitiously breathed a sigh of relief.
Jack’s words back then really left me feeling very much worried. Fortunately, Lucian’s reason is in line with my thoughts.
“Why did you think I’m doing this, Ms. Jarvis?” Lucian’s voice echoed in her ears once more.
Roxanne’s expression froze for a heartbeat, but in the next second, she remarked in feigned calmness, “I just find such a method rather disgraceful for Farwell Group.”
Having said that, she forcibly suppressed the guilt within her and turned her head to the side nonchalantly.
Lucian swept a scrutinizing gaze over her face, but she averted her face.
“As long as I find a method effective, it isn’t considered despicable,” Lucian riposted coldly after a while, putting away the scrutiny in his eyes.
Her eyes flickering, Roxanne nodded self-deprecatingly. “Oh well, I’m not far-sighted enough.” Lucian stared at her thoughtfully.
Out of the blue, he offered in a much gentler tone than earlier, “If it’s to your liking, I can retain you as the technical advisor of Herbscape Group.”
Upon hearing that, Roxanne snapped her head around with a frown, meeting his gaze in puzzlement.
He was absolutely livid just now, but he’s now extending me an olive branch in the blink of an eye. Is this considered… a chance for me to salvage things?
At that thought, mirth bubbled within her.
Meanwhile, Lucian’s hand tightened around her wrist when he received no answer from her even after a long time had passed.
“Farwell Group can likewise give you the same resources as Damaris Group.”
Roxanne could sense that the surrounding temperature was gradually dropping. Her heart inexorably sank as well.
After calming herself for a few seconds, she declined in feigned calmness, “No, thank you. There are many doctors far more outstanding than me. Considering Farwell Group’s financial capabilities, you can unquestionably choose someone of greater repute to take this position.”
She only agreed to be Herbscape Group’s technical advisor back then because of their project.
But then, Herbscape Group wouldn’t have anything to do with Damaris Group’s project anymore if it ended up being acquired by Farwell Group.
In other words, there was no need for her to get involved further.
However, to Lucian, he felt that she chose Jack when given a choice between him and the latter.
Following that thought, a murderous rage enveloped him, and a storm brewed in his eyes. “What if I insist?”
At that, Roxanne’s brows furrowed. “There are some things Farwell Group can’t give me. Don’t coerce me.”
No sooner had her words fallen than the man suddenly drew closer to her.
In a flash, they were practically standing toe to toe.
Roxanne instinctively took a step back.
Little did she know that she had already retreated to the edge of the door by an inch. That single step placed her right against the wall behind her.
On reflex, she turned and glanced at her back.
When she turned back again, Lucian had already stepped forward, bringing them so close that they could sense each other’s breaths.
Her eyes went wide in panic, and she lifted her hands to push him away. “What are you doing? Let go of me!”
Alas, Lucian effortlessly caught her outstretched hands.
In a trice, he had restrained both her hands and pinned them above her head.
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.