“Let’s have breakfast before leaving, Daddy!” Estella seconded in a juvenile voice.
Archie and Benny likewise clamored enthusiastically, “Eat with us, Mr. Farwell!”
Only then did Lucian decline in a deep voice, “No, thanks. I still got some matters to handle.”
I dismissed the meeting yesterday halfway, so I’ve got to go back and finish the meeting. Additionally, I’ve got to spend time ferreting out the culprit who made a move against the kids.
At once, his demurral had the children’s faces fall in disappointment.
Roxanne patted Archie and Benny on their heads in consolation. When her eyes alighted on Estella, she appeared to waver slightly.
What should I do about Essie when Lucian wants to leave immediately?
Just when she planned on offering to drive Estella back later, Lucian’s voice drifted into the air once more.
“Do you mind having Essie stay at your place for two days, Ms. Jarvis?”
Upon hearing that, Roxanne and the three children were all taken aback.
Ever since Lucian took Estella away from Roxanne’s house, Estella never stayed over anymore, either because Roxanne had some concerns or Lucian forbade it.
Several times, Roxanne relented due to Estella’s tears, yet Lucian never did.
For that reason, they never expected the man to voluntarily suggest it this time.
Even Estella couldn’t quite believe her ears. She gingerly tugged on the hem of her father’s shirt.
“Can I really stay at Ms. Jarvis’ house, Daddy?”
Lowering his eyes and meeting her gaze, Lucian nodded impassively.
Thereafter, he raised his eyes to Roxanne, who had yet to gather her wits about her, and elaborated, “I’m not sure whether she had healed completely. I think I’ll rest easier to entrust her to you.”
Still, Roxanne was hesitant to agree to it. “But…”
She feared that the person yesterday meant to target her, and Estella would be dragged into the mess again.
Nevertheless, Lucian interrupted her with a frown, “I’ll send some men to keep an eye on things. If there’s anything unusual, my men will contact me posthaste.”
In other words, he was telling her not to worry.
At the side, Estella had her head lifted and gazed at Roxanne, looking hopeful. Roxanne’s gaze flickered. Only after obtaining Lucian’s promise did she forcibly suppress the worry within her.
“Got it. I’ll take good care of Essie for the next few days.” Lucian indifferently inclined his head a fraction in acknowledgment. Shortly after, he took his leave and left.
Roxanne watched as his car disappeared into the distance before bringing Archie, Benny, and Estella into the mansion.
All three children were already starving to the point that their stomachs growled incessantly. Without tarrying, Roxanne prepared some quick and easy breakfast to fill their stomachs first.
After having breakfast, she had the children play by themselves while she stood up and went into the study. She simply couldn’t sit back and do nothing about the person who used the bacteria on the children.
Worse still, Lucian left Estella at her place. Hence, she wanted to catch the culprit as soon as possible to eliminate the potential dangers around the children.
As far as she knew, not every research institute was capable of manufacturing that bacteria. In the whole of Horington, only a handful of research institutes possessed that capability.
Therefore, she only needed to focus on investigating those few research institutes.
At that thought, she made calls to the researchers she was acquainted with to inquire about the amount of that bacteria their research institutes had developed recently and their uses. Throughout it all, she researched some information on the internet.
She made several calls in a row, but all the answers she received matched. That was to say, their bacteria hadn’t been taken out of the research institute.
Roxanne’s gaze fell on the remaining few research institutes. She hadn’t any acquaintances in those few research institutes, so it would take her some effort to investigate them.
While she was contemplating how she should do that, the doorbell suddenly rang downstairs. With her thoughts interrupted, she could only get to her feet and go downstairs to open the door.
Madilyn stood at the door, looking haggard. When Roxanne opened the door, she promptly put away the weariness on her face. With a frown marring her countenance, she scrutinized Roxanne and the children.
“Aunt Madilyn!” Archie and Benny hadn’t seen her in a long time. Now that she was visiting, they swiftly threw themselves at her affectionately.
Gathering them into her embrace without batting an eyelash, Madilyn checked them over carefully.
It wasn’t until she had ascertained that they were fine that she finally relaxed.
“Why did you come over out of the blue?” Roxanne inquired in puzzlement.
If I remember correctly, she worked overtime yesterday. She should be catching up on sleep at this hour.
Madilyn straightened to her full height. “You know why. Your call yesterday was abrupt, and you didn’t come home for the entire night. I was worried that something had happened to you and the boys, resulting in a fitful sleep all night.”
When she had finished working overtime yesterday, she specially came over to look in on them.
However, Roxanne and the boys were still not home though it was already past nine o’clock at night.
Mulling over it, she simply couldn’t shake off the anxiety within her.
She tried calling Roxanne, but the latter didn’t pick up.
Unfortunately, she had no idea where they had gone camping either.
Consequently, she was so worried that she almost hadn’t slept the whole night. Only when the sky started brightening did she barely catch two or three hours of sleep.
As soon as she woke up, she came over to check on the situation again.
Fortunately, someone opened the door this time.
From the look of things, Roxanne and the children hadn’t suffered any injuries.
Clocking her best friend’s sheer worry, Roxanne wore an apologetic expression. “My phone ran out of battery last night and automatically shut down.”
At that, Madilyn sighed in exasperation. “What is important is that you’re all fine.”
After saying that, she eyed Roxanne dubiously. “Speaking of that, why did you suddenly spend the night outside? Didn’t you say it was a one-day trip, so you’d be back in the evening?”
Hearing that question from Madilyn, Roxanne heaved a sigh. “It’s a long story.” Madilyn went into the living room with the children and replied unceremoniously, “Tell me everything slowly, then. Before you do so, get me something to eat.”
She had come over right after getting out of bed and hadn’t had the time to eat anything, so she was famished. Roxanne proceeded to take out the extra sandwiches she had made a while ago for her best friend to satiate her hunger.
As Madilyn ate, Roxanne narrated the experience they had yesterday. The instant Madilyn heard that the children suffered from a bacterial infection yesterday, the sandwich in her mouth abruptly tasted like ashes. “Who exactly dared to make a move against my godsons?”
The culprit even inflicted such agony on them! At the thought of the torment Archie and Benny had been through yesterday, she hugged the boys sitting beside her, her heart clenching painfully.
Knowing that their godmother was concerned about them, Archie and Benny considerately coaxed, “Don’t worry, Aunt Madilyn! We’re fine now!”
While saying that, they jumped up and down actively as though to prove they were in the pink of health.
At the side, Estella was still unfamiliar with Madilyn and stood beside Roxanne timidly.
Before she knew it, she had also been pulled into Madilyn’s arms by the woman herself. “How dastardly of the culprit to make a move against such a cutie pie!” Madilyn griped, heartbroken.
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.