“No longer related?” The sarcasm in Lucian’s eyes intensified. “This is all wishful thinking on your part.”
Roxanne’s frown deepened. I’m stating the facts! Why is that wishful thinking? It was Lucian who used me all the while, and now he’s with Aubree. How are we related to each other now?
As though reading her mind, Lucian said icily, “You may be right, but do you think Essie will give up on you when you treat her this well?”
Roxanne was left speechless.
Lucian concluded, “You are responsible for giving her false hope, which led to her committing that act, and you don’t even know that.”
Hearing that, Roxanne couldn’t stop doubting herself.
He’s right. I keep saying I want to sever ties with him, but when Essie cries, I can’t help but feel guilty and give in and shower my love on her. When she’s around, Lucian and I will inevitably have to interact. According to Lucian, Essie committed that act because of me…
A while later, Roxanne finally found her voice. “If that’s the case, I’ll do what you and Mrs. Farwell want. I won’t interfere in Essie’s matters anymore.”
Lucian found her act of showing concern for Estella to be insincere just a moment ago.
But now, hearing her agree to give up on Estella so easily, he couldn’t help but feel anger rising within him.
Roxanne was sensitive enough to sense the change in his emotions.
However, she couldn’t figure out why.
Before she could ponder over the matter, Lucian suddenly loomed over her.
Roxanne’s head snapped up warily. “What are you doing?”
Right after she spoke, Lucian held her chin and forced her to meet his eyes.
Their faces were so close to each other that she could feel his breath on her cheeks. In fact, they looked to be in an intimate position.
Roxanne balled her fists. “Mr. Farwell, what are you doing? Let me go! I have agreed to do as you wish!”
The more she spoke, the more enraged Lucian became, and the more forcefully he held her chin.
Roxanne frowned in pain.
“Do as I wish?” Lucian regarded her coldly. “You do things as you wish. Who do you think you are?”
Shock flashed across Roxanne’s eyes. She parted her lips but had no words to retort.
Indeed, she had always had her way when it came to decisions concerning Estella.
Before she had the chance to piece together her thoughts to confirm that it was all Estella’s idea, Lucian suggested, “Ms. Jarvis, if you’re so keen on getting involved in Essie’s affairs, why don’t you take it a step further and become her mother?”
His face inched nearer to her once he said that.
Roxanne’s eyes turned as wide as saucers. Before she could speak, the man covered her lips with his.
“Mm!” She struggled to free herself.
The children are downstairs and can come up any minute. What if they see us kissing? Lucian is clearly together with Aubree. What is he doing right now?
Lucian deepened the kiss, causing Roxanne to turn breathless. However, she couldn’t free herself from his grip. A wave of fury crashed through Roxanne as she raised her arm abruptly. Lucian stopped kissing her and pulled away from her.
Roxanne’s cheeks were flushed, but he seemed unfazed as though nothing had happened. She remained in a trance, her arm still lifted and her eyes glassy. “Why?” Lucian sneered. “Were you trying to hit me, Ms. Jarvis?”
Roxanne snapped out of her reverie and was about to retract her hand when an anxious but young voice cried out beside her, “No! Ms. Jarvis, don’t hit Daddy!”
Estella’s cheeks were flushed red with anxiety as she ran toward them and wrapped her arms around Roxanne’s legs. She tugged hard, desperately trying to pull Roxanne away.
Roxanne felt her mind go blank when Estella showed up out of nowhere.
When did Essie show up? Did she see us kissing?
Estella didn’t see them kiss. All she saw was Roxanne raising her arm as though she were about to slap Lucian.
“Ms. Jarvis, Daddy didn’t make you angry on purpose. Don’t hit him!” Estella pleaded as she clung to Roxanne’s legs and gazed at her pitifully.
It had been a while since Lucian followed Roxanne upstairs.
The children had finished their lunch and were sitting downstairs, but they had yet to start playing.
Remembering that the adults were still in a disagreement, they couldn’t help but wonder what the adults were discussing.
Estella clenched her fists as anxiety spread across her heart.
Daddy keeps making Ms. Jarvis angry. They are already at odds, so what if he says the wrong thing to anger her again?
The more she thought about it, the more distressed she was. Unable to stay put any longer, she decided to go upstairs to see what was happening between the adults.
Upon arriving upstairs, Estella immediately noticed Roxanne with her arm raised. The latter looked as if she was about to strike Lucian.
The next second, she heard Lucian ask Roxanne if she wanted to hit him.
Fear coursed through Estella’s entire being. She feared that Lucian had once again angered Roxanne, so she raced over to apologize on his behalf.
Seeing that the child was on the brink of tears, Roxanne felt her heart soften. She put her arm down and said gently, “I wasn’t going to hit him, Essie. Don’t be scared.”
She knelt down to meet Estella’s eyes apologetically.
It was obvious Estella had a shock.
Estella’s eyes were red. “B-But…”
She carefully looked at the hand Roxanne had just put down.
Sensing her gaze, Roxanne clenched her fingers and fought back the urge to hide her hand behind her back.
Right then, Lucian’s icy voice echoed above them. “Ms. Jarvis, why won’t you tell her the truth? Did you really not have the urge to hit me a while ago?”
Roxanne stiffened and whipped her head up to glance at him in disbelief.
What is he talking about? Does he want me to tell Essie about our kiss?
Lucian did not say anything else.
However, Estella was strung along by his words. She gripped the edge of Roxanne’s clothes. “Ms. Jarvis, don’t blame Daddy, please?”
Her voice was quivering as she struggled to contain her tears.
“It was all Daddy’s fault. Ms. Jarvis, if you’re mad at him, I can teach him a lesson on your behalf. But please don’t hit him.”
Lucian’s calculated speech and Estella’s choking voice gave Roxanne a migraine.
Tears streamed down Estella’s face as she sobbed, “Ms. Jarvis, please forgive Daddy!” Roxanne’s eyes flickered.
She had just promised to stay out of Estella’s matters, but the little girl’s tears nearly caused her to go back on her word. A brief hesitation later, she reached out to wipe Estella’s tears away.
“Essie, don’t cry. I…” Roxanne had wanted to explain that she wasn’t mad at Lucian, but after remembering what he had said earlier, she couldn’t bring herself to say that aloud.
As she began to speak, Lucian raised an eyebrow and appeared eager to hear her words. However, she left her sentence unfinished even after he waited for a while.
Lucian’s face turned as dark as thunder, while Estella’s cries grew louder.
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.