“If you have already asked someone else to send Essie, I’ll-”
Before she could finish her sentence, Lucian’s deep voice sounded. “You’re here just in time. Have you had. breakfast? If not, come join us.”
When Aubree heard that, her eyes lit up suddenly. “It’s fine. I got up very early, so I’ve already eaten.” After that, she pointed at the couch cautiously. “I’ll sit on the couch and wait.”
Lucian nodded, his expression giving nothing away as he continued to have breakfast with Estella. Estella was reluctant to go to school, and she ate exceptionally slower than usual.
Her appetite plunged with Aubree’s sudden visit, and it took a turn for the worse when the woman expressed her intention of sending Estella to school later. Estella put down her fork gloomily.
Lucian did not make much of her demeanor and assumed that Estella was only acting out because she didn’t want to go to school. In a low voice, he ordered, “Follow Ms. Pearson after you’re done with breakfast.”
Estella’s face sank. She gave her father a puppy eyed look.
However, before she could say anything. Aubree’s voice rang. “Don’t worry. It’s still early. Essie can still have more food if she’s not done yet.”
Estella furrowed her brows and shot her a look. Aubree was afraid that the little girl, if unhappy, might tell Lucian what happened yesterday. Hence, Aubree didn’t give her a chance to speak.
Noticing that Estella was looking at her, Aubree immediately said, “Are you done, Essie? We can go now if you’re done with your breakfast!”
Estella puffed her cheeks in exasperation, as Aubree interrupted her right when she was about to talk. Aubree grew more and more apprehensive as she trained her eyes on Estella.
“I’ll see you guys to the door.”
Lucian was thinking that even though Aubree’s relationship with Estella had recently improved, the little girl might still need to get herself used to Aubree taking care of her. He wanted to help the two of them get along.
Then, he put down his fork and started to clear the table. Estella was alarmed when she noticed Lucian standing up. “I don’t want to go to school!”
Lucian frowned. “If you don’t go now, it’s going to be more difficult for you to get used to getting along with others.”
Estella remained seated in her chair and turned her head away grumpily to avoid Lucian’s gaze, making a physical proclamation of her protest.
The atmosphere between the father and daughter became very tense in the dining room.
Aubree hadn’t expected that that would happen and took a few moments to fully grasp the situation.
“Lucian, Essie is still young. Don’t force her. If she really doesn’t feel like going to school, so be it. I know a friend who can do homeschooling-”
Lucian interrupted in a cold tone before she could finish, “No. We can’t indulge her.” The thought of letting Estella be homeschooled did cross his mind as well. However, when he thought about how Estella had been doing recently, Lucian was suddenly reminded of his initial intention of sending his daughter to kindergarten.
It was imperative for Estella to get along with others to improve her condition, and it would be best that others approach her.
Besides, it had taken her so much effort to improve her condition by this much. If she continued to stay cooped up in the house, Lucian was afraid that Estella might relapse.
That was definitely not something he wanted to witness. “But…” Aubree pretended to take Estella’s side.
Naturally, she was hoping that the little girl would go to kindergarten. Otherwise, she would have lost her chance to show herself in front of Lucian.
However, there were times when concessions had to be made.
It was apparent that Lucian had already made up his mind. He turned around to head for the door, not caring whether Estella had tried to keep up.
At the sight of her father turning her back. against her, Estella was aggrieved. Even Ms. Pearson is saying that it’s all right if I don’t go to school. Why does Daddy insist that! go?
Moreover, it was obvious from Lucian’s body language that he would no longer pay heed to her if she didn’t keep up.
Estella looked at her father, who was already at the door and turned to look at Aubree, who was still standing by the couch. A few moments passed, and the little girl finally begrudgingly got out of her chair and jogged to keep up with Lucian.
Aubree let out a relieved sigh and caught up to them as well. “Daddy,” Estella mumbled. She gave her father a puppy-eyed look and tugged at the corner of his shirt in a bid to curry favor with her father.
Lucian lowered his gaze to meet Estella’s. He lifted his hand and patted her head. “I’m really busy lately. Please don’t throw a tantrum at me.”
Estella pursed her lips in disapproval, refusing to believe what he said. She knew as a matter of fact that Lucian was in a bad mood because he had quarreled with Roxanne.
Estella was flabbergasted that Lucian was still trying to lie to her, despite the fact that even she knew the real reason her father was upset.
Why are adults so weird? Why doesn’t Daddy just make up with Ms. Jarvis?
Of course, Lucian had no idea what was on Estella’s mind. He averted his gaze after he was done talking and turned to look at Aubree, who was standing right behind Estella.
As Aubree’s attention had always been on him, she flashed him a smile the moment his gaze landed on her. “What’s the matter?”
Lucian furrowed his brows and asked in a low voice, “Have you asked your parents? What did they say?”
Aubree was overjoyed to hear him. However, she gave nothing away and replied, “I talked to them when I got back home yesterday. They said that since you’re busy, we could arrange to have a meal together at your convenience.”/
She sounded like a considerable and genteel woman. Aubree carefully gauged Lucian’s reaction after she was done talking.
If he was serious about setting a date for their wedding, he wouldn’t have a reason to delay having a meal together with her parents. Moreover, Lucian was the one who brought up the topic today.
Thinking that Lucian was contemplating on setting a date right away, Aubree was brimming with hope.
However, moments passed by, and she couldn’t seem to get a response from him.
Aubree’s heart sank, but she had to put up an understanding front and said, “I know you’ve been busy lately. There’s no need to rush to have a meal together. We can always do it after you’re done dealing with your matters.”
Lucian finally responded and nodded impassively. Aubree gritted her teeth.
It was clear as day that Lucian was still on the fence about their marriage. The deafening silence was Lucian trying to tell Aubree to let him off the hook.
“It’s getting late. You should send Estella to school,” he uttered in a swift attempt to change the topic of conversation.
Aubree didn’t feel right to press on and forced a smile. “All right. I’ll go pick her up later so that you don’t need to make another trip.”
A hint of hesitation fleeted across Lucian’s eyes.
However, when he thought about how he’d just got himself out of having a meal with her parents, Lucian felt bad for rejecting her goodwill yet again..
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.