To his surprise, Sonya had gone looking for Roxanne for trouble after chasing Aubree away. “I’m just worried about my granddaughter. How is this agitating her emotions?”
It had been an emotional day for Sonya. She failed to keep her emotions in check, which made her sound displeased when she uttered those words.
When she finished saying that, she reached out to pull Estella out of Roxanne’s arms. “Come here, Essie. Let me see if there are any injuries on your body.”
Panicking, Estella crawled up Roxanne’s shoulders. “Ahh! I want Mommy! I don’t want Grandma! No!”
Unfortunately, the way Estella addressed Roxanne only made Sonya scowl more. “Don’t simply address her that way! She’s not your. mommy!”
Estella only continued crying, oblivious to the words Sonya was yelling. Lucian, on the other hand, heard everything clearly.
He stood beside Roxanne and the children with a hostile expression. “Mom, what are you trying to do to Essie when she’s already in such a state? Are Aubree’s words not enough to make you reflect on yourself?”
Sonya was taken aback by her son’s words. A long moment passed before she said awkwardly, “I’m just worried about Essie.”
Rubbing his temples, Lucian suppressed his anger and said, “Do you really? If you really cared about her, why would you keep pushing her to Aubree?”
For the past five years, Estella had suffered a lot because of Sonya’s favor for Aubree. His words eluded Sonya of words.
She looked at Estella with remorse, saying, “I’m sorry, Essie. I just really want to make it up to you.” Then she glowered at Roxanne. “I can avoid touching Essie for the time being, but Roxanne has to leave the Farwell residence.
Nothing good has happened to our family ever since she appeared. I bet she’ll only be satisfied. when she wreaks havoc in our family.” Essie wouldn’t have suffered so much if Roxanne hadn’t ditched her without a word back then.
When Estella heard her grandmother talking about Roxanne that way, tears streamed down her face again. “I want Mommy! Don’t leave, Mommy!”
Estella was sobbing so hard that Roxanne did not notice the way she was addressing her. Even if Roxanne did, she would still follow Estella’s wishes. Roxanne was moved yet pained to see Estella being so protective of her..
However, the same could not be said for Sonya, who was livid. “Don’t you dare think you can actually be Lucian’s wife just because Essie called you her mommy. There are tons of people out there who dream about being in this position. Aubree’s gone now, but there’ll soon be another one. In any case, it’ll never be you.”
Even so, Roxanne ignored her and coaxed Estella softly. Just then, Lucian stepped forward and stood between Roxanne and Sonya, growling, “Only she can be my wife! If you don’t agree, I’ll gladly give up my position as the CEO of Farwell Group!”
Both Sonya and Roxanne were dumbfounded by his words. Sonya knew how much Lucian liked Roxanne, but she had never imagined he would give up Farwell Group for Roxanne.
Roxanne, too, was stupefied. She had never thought that Lucian would go to such lengths for her.
After a prolonged moment of silence, Sonya. said with a gloomy look on her face, “You’re going to go that far for her, huh? Fine! I’ll leave so I won’t get in the way of your happy little family!”
She turned around and was about to leave when Lucian called out to her, “You should stay in the manor for today. I have something to announce once Essie feels better.”
Sonya paused in her tracks and shot him a confused glance. “What is it?” This is the first time Lucian has asked me to stay over at the manor, so whatever it is he wants to announce must be very important. Wait a minute… He said he was fine with giving up his position as CEO of Farwell Group earlier… Is that what he’s going to announce? This is all Roxanne’s fault! Lucian wouldn’t have made such irrational decisions if it weren’t for her!
Sonya turned toward Roxanne and shot her a vicious glare. Roxanne simply ignored her gaze and continued comforting Estella.
“You’d better think this through, Lucian. Ask yourself if that woman is worth you giving up Farwell Group!” Sonya warned Lucian with a furious look in her eyes.
Lucian could tell from Sonya’s behavior that she was starting to get scared. “Just because I have something to announce doesn’t necessarily mean it’s about Farwell Group, so you have nothing to worry about.”
Sonya paused and looked suspiciously at them for a few seconds before going up the stairs. Realizing that Aubree and Sonya were gone from the living room, Estella slowly stopped sobbing and looked up at Roxanne with tears in her eyes. Roxanne felt her heart ache when she met Estella’s eyes. “Don’t worry, Essie. I’ll be sure to protect you.”
Essie must’ve suffered a lot while she was under Aubree’s care… Just thinking about what she said earlier makes me hate her even more! Essie couldn’t even talk at the time! How could she do that to her?
She was snapped out of her train of thought when Lucian whispered in her ear, “I’m sorry.”
Roxanne looked up at him in confusion. Lucian was plagued with guilt when he looked at them and recalled what Estella had said while she was crying earlier.
He walked up to Estella and flashed her an apologetic look. “I’m sorry I didn’t take good care of you.” Estella simply sniffled and shook her head. profusely in response.
“You’ve disliked Aubree for the past six years. I can’t believe I never realized the actual reason behind it…” Lucian continued with a look of regret in his eyes.
Estella reached out and caressed his cheek as she said, “It’s not your fault, Daddy! She’s the bad person here! She’s the worst!”
I had wanted to tell Daddy about it through text before, but Ms. Pearson lied to me and said Daddy would never kick her out. She even threatened to hit me even harder if I tried to tell Daddy, so I had no choice but to put up with her. Now I realize she was lying all along! Not only would Daddy kick her out, but he would also punish her severely!
Lucian gave Estella a kiss on the back of her hand before shifting his gaze toward Roxanne. “I’m sorry,” he said apologetically. Roxanne frowned in confusion, as she didn’t know what he was apologizing to her for.
Even so, she couldn’t help but comfort him. when she saw how guilty he felt. “You are indeed at fault for placing Essie in Aubree’s care for six years. However, the fact that Essie likes you so much indicates that you provide her with a strong sense of security, so you must’ve been a good father. Whatever happened is in the past. You’ve already punished Aubree for what she did, so that’s enough to make up for your mistakes.”
Noticing that Lucian still had a look of quilt in his eyes, Roxanne pursed her lips and held his hand as she added, “Nothing like that will happen to Essie ever again.”
“We’ll do our best to protect Essie too!” Archie and Benny chimed in. The look in Lucian’s eyes softened up a little after he heard that, much to Roxanne’s relief.
“Maybe I should bring Essie over to my place for the day. She has been through quite a lot today,” she suggested. Roxanne could tell that Estella was still unable to accept Sonya, so she was worried that Lucian’s decision to have Sonya stay over at the manor would affect Estella’s emotional state. Estella wrapped her arms tightly around Roxanne’s neck upon hearing that as she wanted to stay with her.
However, Lucian did not approve of Roxanne’s suggestion. “Take her to the bedroom and get some rest. Essie won’t pay too much attention to anything else with you around.”
Roxanne was a little hesitant to do so, but Estella nodded profusely in agreement. I’m not afraid of anyone as long as Aunt Roxanne is with me!
Roxanne couldn’t bring herself to say no when she saw the expectant look in Estella’s eyes. Eventually, she gave in and brought the three kids over to Estella’s bedroom.
Lucian, Cayden, and Cory were the only ones remaining in the living room.
Having witnessed Lucian unleash his wrath upon Aubree earlier, Cory was exceptionally cautious when approaching Lucian. “M-Mr. Farwell…”
Whatever warmth Lucian had in his eyes had disappeared when he turned around and asked, “How much do you want?” “T-Thirty million will suffice!” Cory replied nervously while holding up three fingers.
Lucian turned around and instructed Cayden, “Go ahead and pay him three hundred thousand. I do not want to hear anything about him in Chanaea starting tomorrow!”
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.