Lucian had placed his coat over her after she fell asleep last night.
Roxanne sat up and glanced around the ward, but Lucian was nowhere to be seen.
Strangely, she felt empty inside.
Roxanne was in a daze when the door to the ward was opened. Turning at her shoulder, she saw Lucian tiptoeing in, wearing nothing but a shirt. He looked really worn out.
When their gazes met, Lucian’s gaze turned dark. His voice was hoarse as he asked, “You’re up?”
Roxanne nodded in response. After a brief hesitation, she got up and placed the coat over Estella. The little girl was still sleeping soundly.
Lucian’s gaze softened when he saw what she did. He went up to her and glanced at her bandaged wrist. “How are you feeling? Do you need to redress your wound?” he asked with concern.
Roxanne shook her head calmly. “No need for that. I can change it myself at home. The medicine in the hospital could be more inefficient than my own medicine.”
As she sounded confident, Lucian arched a brow. He then recalled her job and previous experience before giving her a noncommittal nod.
After that, an awkward silence ensued in the ward.
“If there’s nothing else—”
Roxanne was about to bid him goodbye when Estella’s soft voice rang out. “Ms. Jarvis…”
The little girl sounded as though she was on the verge of breaking into tears.
An instant heartache overcame Roxanne as she turned around hastily to look at Estella.
Perhaps Estella had dreamed of last night’s event, for tears were streaming down her cheeks even though she was still asleep. Her little face was all scrunched up pitifully.
“I’m here,” Roxanne assured her as she carefully wiped the tears away from Estella’s cheeks.
Estella woke up crying. At the sight of Roxanne sitting beside her, she leaped into Roxanne’s arms and started sobbing.
Her sobs were muffled compared to her sobs back when she was trapped in the hole. However, Roxanne still felt her heart clench at her pitiful whimpers.
She must be so scared to wake up from a nightmare this morning.
Roxanne comforted Estella for a long time before the little girl quashed her sobs. Her eyes were red as she stared at Roxanne wordlessly.
Lucian’s expression had turned dark when he heard Estella calling Roxanne in her sleep a while ago.
After chatting with Estella briefly, Lucian summoned the doctor to check her condition.
The doctor confirmed she was all right, and Lucian left to handle the discharge procedures.
Outside the hospital, Estella held Roxanne’s hand. She couldn’t bear to part with her.
Roxanne patted her head. “You should recuperate back at home. Just give me a call whenever you miss me, all right?”
Estella nodded, but she showed no signs of wanting to release Roxanne’s hand.
Roxanne couldn’t bring herself to ask Estella to release her hand.
Estella was traumatized by yesterday’s events, so she wanted nothing more than to shower her love on Estella.
Seeing how stubborn Estella was, Lucian felt heartbroken. He knew Roxanne couldn’t keep Estella company forever, so he bent down and took Estella’s wrist. “Essie, let go of Ms. Jarvis. We need to head back home. Your grandpa and grandma are worried about you.”
Pursing her lips, Estella released her grip on Roxanne’s hand reluctantly.
Roxanne was slightly distracted. Essie looks disappointed. She had the same disappointed expression when I rejected her last afternoon.
“Ms. Jarvis, goodbye.” Estella bade goodbye to Roxanne softly with her head hung low.
Roxanne was taken aback. This was the first time Estella had spoken out loud since last night, except for the words that she had mumbled in her sleep earlier.
She spoke out loud to bid me goodbye.
Roxanne felt her heart turn soft. Flashing a smile, she bade Estella goodbye and left in a hurry. She was afraid she would be reluctant to leave if she were to spare Estella another look.
Lucian brought Estella back to the Farwell residence after Roxanne left.
When they arrived, Sonya and Elias were already waiting in the living room. Aubree was sitting beside them with a woeful expression.
Seeing them, Aubree immediately got to her feet to welcome them. “Lucian, is Essie all right?”
She then got down on her knees to check on Estella’s condition.
Estella retreated and hid behind Lucian. She grabbed the edge of Lucian’s shirt and refused to look at Aubree.
Aubree remained patient and reached out to take Estella’s hand. “Essie, I’m really sorry for upsetting you. I was just—”
Slap! Estella slapped her hand away abruptly.
I hate this evil Ms. Pearson! She’s the reason Ms. Jarvis stays away from me!
Aubree refused to give up yet. She came closer to Estella as Sonya and Elias were watching her actions.
I can’t let Essie show them that we’re not close to each other!
She stretched her hand out again. “Essie, don’t be afraid. I just want to check on your injury.”
Without waiting for a reply, she grabbed Estella’s hand to pull her closer.
Flustered, Estella burst into noisy tears.
Everyone stared at them.
Lucian had no idea that Estella hated Aubree this much. He also didn’t know that Aubree was bold enough to come close to Estella despite knowing that Estella hated her.
His expression turned as dark as thunder when he saw Estella crying and shaking uncontrollably. He immediately demanded, “Aren’t you going to get lost?”
Shocked, Aubree released her grasp on Estella. Displeasure rose in her heart when she realized tears were streaming down Estella’s cheeks. However, she acted as though she felt guilty and said, “It was all my fault. I knew Essie hadn’t forgiven me, but… I was worried about her. I should’ve considered her feelings.”
Having said that, she shot Lucian a cautious look. “I’m really sorry. I had no idea Essie hated me to this extent. It was all my fault. I should leave lest I affect her emotions.”
Turning to Sonya, she said, “Mrs. Farwell, I’ll take my leave now. I’ll be back to visit Essie another day.”
“Lucian, what are you doing?” Sonya had seen how her son had lashed out at Aubree and how Aubree had apologized to Estella repeatedly. She felt bad for Aubree and pulled the latter away. Patting Aubree’s hand, she said, “Stay right here. I know you mean well.”
Aubree’s lashes trembled as she came back to stand beside Sonya. She looked as though she was close to tears.
Sonya glared at Lucian. “Aubree has been blaming herself for Essie’s disappearance. She didn’t sleep the whole night and kept us company. Now that she’s apologizing to Essie, how could you treat her this way?”
Lucian frowned as his gaze turned wintry. “She should be blaming herself.”
If Aubree hadn’t made Essie angry and had taken good care of her, Essie wouldn’t have run away and suffered badly.
Lucian’s gaze turned colder when he thought of the injuries Roxanne and Estella had sustained last night.
As he kept blaming Aubree, Sonya scowled in displeasure. “Aubree feels guilty over her actions. She came back to apologize to us last night. How could you be this harsh to her?”
She then glanced at Estella, who was hiding behind Lucian.
Estella was sobbing silently.
Feeling bad for her, Sonya urged softly, “Essie, stop crying. Tell me, did you get hurt?”
Estella adored her grandmother, so she nodded wordlessly in response to Sonya’s question.
“If you knew where we found Essie, you wouldn’t have asked her that.” Lucian pinned Sonya with a withering look.
Sonya was baffled.
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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