Pippa sent a message to the parents‘ group chat to get an update.
Yet every response she received was of no good news.
Everyone knew how precious Estella was to Lucian, so they had gone all out to look for her. Unfortunately, the botanical garden was located near the forest, and no one was dumb enough to go there.
Lucian read everybody‘s reply, and he looked even more upset knowing that no one found Estella.
He did not get in touch with Roxanne after the two of them parted ways at the botanical garden, so he did not know how she was doing
It was getting late, and he didn‘t feel right to have her, a physically weak woman, continue searching.
Thus, he gave her a call.
However, the automated responses told him that she was not in the service area after he made several calls.
Lucian‘s gaze became even darker.
Cayden arrived with his team at that moment. “Mr. Farwell, we‘ve sent our men to spread out in the forest and commenced the search.”
Lucian nodded and sternly informed, “Search overnight if that is what it takes to find Essie. We must hurry up.”
“Understood.”
Lucian looked at his phone screen which had turned dark. He frowned and said, “I need to drop by the botanical garden. Keep me in the loop about the search.”
After saying that, he made his way toward the botanical garden.
It‘s late. If that woman still hasn‘t returned, then there may not be anyone around to take care of the boys. There‘s no saying how much guilt she will drown in if the boys go missing before Essie is even found.
When he reached the botanical garden, he realized that Archie and Benny weren‘t there.
Lucian‘s heart sank. He turned around and went back to the hotel, praying that they were waiting there.
When he saw them waiting in the room, he sighed a deep breath of relief.
“Mr. Farwell, have you found Essie?” asked Benny worriedly.
Lucian shook his head. “I‘m still searching. Where is your mommy? Did she send you back?”
Benny‘s face was filled with worry. “Mommy left to go look for Essie after she sent us back. She didn‘t even have dinner and said that Essie went missing while looking for us.”
Benny paused for a moment at that point. He stared at Lucian in puzzlement and asked, “Did Essie really go missing because of us?”
If that were the case, Benny would feel extremely guilty.
Essie wanted to tag along earlier today, so why did I urge Mommy to hurry up? This is all my fault…
Lucian‘s eyes turned cold. “It‘s not true. This has nothing to do with any of you. Be good and wait here in the room. Don‘t open the door for anyone but Essie.”
Archie and Benny nodded and watched as Lucian turned around to leave.
They didn‘t know why, but they thought he seemed angrier when he left.
As Lucian walked out of the room, he kept replaying the words Benny had said in his mind.
Roxanne said that Essie went missing on her way to her. Only Aubree would say something like this! That woman… She made Essie angry and didn‘t keep an eye on her. That is why Essie is missing. How dare she put all the blame on Roxanne?
Judging from the look on Archie‘s and Benny‘s faces, Lucian could imagine how guilty Roxanne must have felt when she learned that Estella had gone missing because of her. That was the only reason she would forgo dinner and go to search for Estella instead.
The mere thought of it made Lucian feel even more unhappy.
My calls couldn‘t get through when I tried calling her earlier. That means she has likely gone into the forest to look for Essie.
Lucian had tolerated Aubree long enough.
If anything happens to Roxanne or Essie, I will not forgive that woman!
The second Lucian left the hotel, he rushed toward the forest. He called Cayden while he was on his way.
“Have the men pay extra attention. Roxanne has gone into the forest.”
On the other end of the line, Cayden murmured an affirmative reply. He was impressed with how much Roxanne cared about Estella. It‘s so late at night, yet she still went into the forest to look for Ms. Estella.
After hanging up the phone, Lucian heard a voice filled with fear.
“Lucian, any news on Essie?”
Aubree had searched nearby but to no avail. As she was too scared to go into the forest, she returned to the hotel instead. To her surprise, she saw Lucian at the entrance and was overwhelmed with guilt.
Lucian put his phone away and glared at Aubree when he heard her voice.
All he saw was her in a red dress that was still clean. There was not even a drop of sweat on her face. Her breathing was a little uneven, but it was possible that was just because she was scared of him.
Aubree‘s heart clenched when she looked into Lucian‘s eyes, which were burning with rage. “I‘ve searched all afternoon but couldn‘t find her anywhere. How did the search go on your side?”
“Essie went missing because she left to look for Roxanne. That is what you told Roxanne, isn‘t it?” Lucian replied with a question of his own.
Aubree‘s face stiffened and panic was written all over it.
H–How did Lucian know about this?
Lucian got his answer when he saw the look on her face. “You better pray that nothing happens to them. Otherwise, I won‘t show you any mercy despite the years we‘ve known each other.”
With that, Lucian walked past her and left
Aubree could tell that he was truly furious. She reached out and grabbed his sleeve in a fluster. “Lucian, I didn‘t mean it. She dropped by the hotel this afternoon, and I simply shared what I guessed. I never meant to put the blame on her.”
Lucian turned around. The aura he exuded was chilly and scary. “You‘re still putting the blame on others? She was never at fault! It‘s bad enough that you went behind my back and got my mom worried by telling her about this. Now, you‘ve made things worse by coming up with a lie to trigger Roxanne. What do you wish to accomplish from any of this?”
Lucian‘s intimidating aura sucked the air right out of Aubree‘s lungs. She had to force herself to stand as she defended herself. “I don‘t mean anything. It‘s my fault for not keeping an eye on Essie, and—”
“It is your fault!” Lucian shook her hand off. “Leave if have no intention of searching for Essie. Stop wasting my time.”
After he said that, he turned around and left without even glancing at her.
Cayden led his men and searched every inch of that forest.
Despite searching until ten at night, they still couldn‘t find Estella or Roxanne.
When Lucian rendezvoused with them and got an update, his foul mood worsened.
Cayden stood beside Lucian and could feel the surrounding air becoming more and more chilly. He could sympathize with Lucian.
It was late at night, and they were in the wilderness. Roxanne was a woman and Estella was a kid. Anyone would be worried.
“Mr. Farwell, perhaps you should return and get some rest. It‘s been a long day,” suggested Cayden cautiously.
He had been working for Lucian for years, but he had never seen the man in that disheveled state before.
Lucian was still covered in mud because he hadn‘t changed out of his clothes after the activities in the morning. Having searched all night in the forest, he looked pale, and his hair was messy. Yet the aura he gave off was still as overpowering as ever.
He furrowed his brows and said, “Let‘s split up and search the place.”
With that, he turned around and went deeper into the woods.
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.
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