Lucian sized her up silently for a long while. Upon learning that she had sought a psychologist over the incident, Lucian looked a lot less hostile. His tone, too, softened when he said, “That’s very thoughtful of you.”
Detecting the change in his voice, Aubree felt her heart go wild in ecstasy. “It was my duty anyway. When I ended up hitting her, it was no surprise that she didn’t like me. This is all my fault, Lucian, and I’m willing to take responsibility.”
Unmoved by her words, Lucian continued to speak in an indifferent tone. “In that case, do you want to make it up to her?”
Aubree nodded without hesitation. “All this while, I have been wanting to apologize to her but didn’t get the opportunity to do so.”
“Then why don’t you spend some time together? Essie will be home over the next few days, while I’ll be busy with work. If you have the time, you’re welcome to come over and spend time with her.”
Lucian was implicitly placing Estella in her care.
At that moment, Aubree pinched her palm just to make sure that she wasn’t dreaming.
By asking me to come over and watch Essie while he’s at work, isn’t that the equivalent of granting me access to the manor whenever I please?
It was a dream come true for Aubree. One that she didn’t imagine could be achieved so easily.
“Essie’s mood has been volatile recently. Since you have learned from the psychologist how to interact with her, you probably know what must be done. Don’t repeat the same mistake. She can’t afford to suffer any more emotional shocks.”
Aubree nodded fervently as she listened.
It wasn’t until Lucian finished that Aubree gave him a look of surprise. “Lucian, do you mean… that you’ll continue with our engagement?”
After frowning in silence for a few seconds, Lucian nodded. “As long as Essie accepts you.”
“Then…” Aubree pretended to be unsettled. “What about Ms. Jarvis? She’s Essie’s birth mother. Do you really not want to reconcile with her?”
Lucian scowled, springing to his feet abruptly. “Don’t ever mention that woman in front of me! If you still wish to continue the engagement, then take good care of Essie. As for everything else, don’t stick your nose into them!”
He didn’t want to hear Roxanne’s name being mentioned by anyone.
Aubree was dumbfounded for a few seconds. “Okay, I won’t bring it up again.”
Lucian dismissed her with a wave without even sparing her a glance. “Essie is now in her room. You can drop by if you wish. If not, you should head on home.”
The moment he finished, he walked up to the full-length window, showing no intention of speaking to Aubree any further.
His response caused Aubree to freeze, for she wasn’t a fool.
It was obvious to her that Lucian agreeing to continue with the engagement wasn’t on the account of him having any feelings for her at all.
Instead, he returned to the meaningless engagement simply because he had given up on Roxanne.
Furthermore, it wasn’t a done deal yet, as she was still under probation.
Despite all of that, it was certainly better than him totally ignoring her.
Aubree recovered her composure, her eyes brimming with conviction.
No matter what, she would seize the opportunity to ensure her marriage to Lucian would come to pass.
Aubree broke into a smile as she gradually got up from the couch. “In that case, I won’t take up any more of your time. I’ll go and see Essie now.”
She turned around and left the moment she finished.
After coming out of the study, Aubree headed straight for Estella’s room while trying her best to school her expression.
Though she wished Estella could just disappear, she was currently under “evaluation.” She would only truly become Lucian’s woman after gaining the girl’s favor.
As long as she could succeed, she didn’t mind putting on an act longer.
She’s just a kid. I’m sure she’ll take the bait if I put my mind to it.
With that in mind, Aubree knocked on Estella’s door with a faint smile.
Estella thought that it was Lucian or Catalina, so she skipped over to open the door.
“It’s been a while, Essie.”
Aubree put on a smile, which she assumed was friendly enough, and bent down to greet Estella.
Upon seeing the woman, Estella was reminded of the things that had happened before.
She looked around and noticed there was no one else in the corridor.
Ms. Pearson used to bully me when no one was around.
Estella shrank backward and hid behind the door, only revealing a pair of wary eyes.
Aubree was well aware of the reason Estella was scared, so she was unbothered by the latter’s behavior. “Don’t be scared. I know that I’ve done wrong. Don’t worry, Essie. I promise to be nice to you from now on. I’ll treat you like my own daughter,” she said.
As if worried that Estella wouldn’t believe her, she grinned and added, “Your daddy already scolded me. I know you get scared easily, so I won’t scare you anymore.”
By saying that, Aubree was implying that she had gotten Lucian’s permission to come here and meet Estella.
When Estella heard what Aubree said, she remembered what Lucian had told her when he left the room.
Daddy said Ms. Pearson will be coming to spend time with me. So that was true? Based on what Ms. Pearson said, it was Daddy who asked her to come here.
As that realization dawned upon Estella, she forgot about her fear and started to fret.
Daddy used to keep me away from Ms. Pearson because I don’t like her. Even when we met, Daddy would stay by my side. But now, Daddy asked her to come to me on her own. Does this mean he’s really not planning to pursue Ms. Jarvis anymore?
Panic flashed across Estella’s eyes.
What should I do so Daddy can change his mind?
Seeing Estella standing rooted to her spot, Aubree thought that the girl was scared.
For some reason, she suddenly recalled an action Roxanne had done to Estella. She reached out to stroke Estella’s head in an attempt to imitate Roxanne.
Estella snapped back to her senses right away and dodged in terror.
Because of her previous experiences, she instinctively assumed that Aubree was going to hit her.
Aubree’s hand froze in the air.
Rage rushed through her when she thought of the huge difference in Estella’s attitude toward her and Roxanne.
If this were before, she would have made Estella learn the consequences of being unappreciative. It would be perfect timing to do so since no one was with them.
However, she had just talked with Lucian.
Aubree suppressed the burning anger in her and flashed a smile at Estella.
“Essie, I know I scared you before. Don’t worry. I won’t do anything to you again in the future.”
Right after Aubree said that, she vaguely heard a sound from the study door.
Knowing that Lucian had come out, she put on an even more earnest expression.
“If you still hate me for what I did, I’ll let you hit me back. How about that?”
Estella shook her head repeatedly with a helpless expression. Just as she was at a loss about what to do, she heard Lucian’s firm footsteps approaching.
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.