Roxanne looked at the girl apologetically, caressing her hair. “I’m so sorry, but I have a lot to do these few days. I have been putting aside a project my professor assigned to me for personal reasons, so I really have to get back to the research institute tomorrow. I’ll have to stay back to make up for the lost time, so I won’t even have time to take care of Archie and Benny…”
Roxanne did not say explicitly that she did not have time for Estella and that she had to turn the girl down, but what she said amounted to a rejection.
Estella was dejected.
Lucian frowned and looked at the girl helplessly.
“As you said, what Essie needs now is someone who can take good care of her, and that is not something I can promise. Keeping her here will only hinder her recovery, so, Mr. Farwell, I guess you know what’s best for her,” Roxanne continued.
Although what she said was true, it was partially an excuse for her to convince Lucian to bring the girl home.
She genuinely hoped that Estella could bounce back from her sickness, and to do that, professional intervention by professional psychologists was imperative.
Lucian could not think of anything else he could say to help Estella. He pursed his lips, looking at the girl. “Well, I guess you have to say goodbye to Ms. Jarvis, then, Essie.”
Estella could not believe what Roxanne had just said. Her teary eyes were opened wide in disbelief as she pinned her gaze on the woman and held on to the hem of her shirt.
Roxanne quickly looked away. It pained her to see the girl in such a state.
She knew she could not bring herself to say no to the girl if she maintained eye contact.
“Ms. Jarvis…” Estella’s voice quivered, but Roxanne hardened her heart and refused to turn back.
Archie and Benny felt so wretched when they saw how desperate Estella was. “Mommy, why don’t we just let Essie stay? She looks so—”
“Aunt Madilyn will be taking care of both of you these two days, so make sure you guys behave,” Roxanne interrupted, trying to prove her point that she would be busy.
The boys clammed up immediately.
Then, Roxanne pulled Estella’s hand away and addressed Lucian, “It’s late. You guys should go home. You still have to go to work tomorrow.”
When Lucian heard that, he nodded lightly and got up without taking another look at Estella—he could not stand the sight of how disappointed she was.
Estella’s gaze was glued to Roxanne’s back, tears rolling down her cheeks uncontrollably.
Archie and Benny were equally miserable. They did not expect Roxanne to be so heartless. When they saw that the girl was crying, they went over and consoled her.
“Don’t cry, Essie. Mommy is really busy these few days. You can always come over and play once Mommy is free again,” Benny cajoled with a smile, yet his attempt was futile.
When Archie saw that Estella was still sobbing, he took out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears as he comforted her, “We can still play together at the kindergarten, Essie. Mommy really likes you because you’re a good girl, so don’t cry. You’ll look ugly if you keep crying, and Mommy doesn’t like that.”
Estella stopped and looked at the boy with doubt in her eyes.
“Yeah! Archie’s right,” Benny quickly chimed in with a nod. “Mommy doesn’t like kids who cry.”
It was not until then that Estella finally held back her tears with much effort.
An inexplicable glint shone in Lucian’s eyes when he saw how deeply Archie and Benny cared for Estella. “Thank you for saying that,” he said to the boys as he walked toward them.
The two children initially wanted to ignore him, but when they remembered how they were partially at fault for making Estella cry because they hurried Lucian home, they evaded the man’s gaze with guilt. “We’re just telling her the truth.”
They knew that Roxanne loved Estella, but like themselves, she distanced herself from Estella because of Lucian.
Instead of answering the boys, Lucian smiled at them and held Estella’s hand.
This time, the girl did not run away.
“Say goodbye to Archie and Benny, Essie,” he said to her softly.
The girl did as she was told and waved at them, still trying to swallow her tears. “Goodbye, Archie. Goodbye, Benny. I’ll come again.”
“We can’t wait to see you again too! Bye!” the two kids replied, forcing a smile.
After sending Estella off at the door and watching the car disappear out of their sight, the boys went back up to Roxanne. They found her staring blankly into the air in the study.
She could not stop thinking about how downcast Estella was when she turned her down.
Regret ate her up from the inside after the girl left. She had said so herself that the children were innocent. But over and over again, she had hurt Estella because of what happened between her and Lucian.
Roxanne was so deep in her thoughts thinking about Estella that she did not even realize the boys were already back.
“Mommy?” Archie and Benny whispered carefully as they went closer to her. The look on her face was telling how remorseful she felt.
When Roxanne knew she had let her mind wander off, she cracked a stiff smile and stroked their heads. “Is Essie gone?”
The boys nodded firmly. “Was she crying her heart out when she left?” she asked out of guilt after some time.
Archie and Benny nodded again.
She wanted to treat Estella well and make her happy, but she ended up making her cry again.
“Don’t worry, Mommy. She stopped crying after we talked to her,” the children said with a smile, knowing that Roxanne would beat herself up.
Roxanne smiled in relief, pulling them into her arms. “Thank you. What would I do without both of you?”
“Essie said that she likes you a lot, Mommy. She also said she’ll come again soon,” they replied, hugging her back.
Roxanne felt comforted when she knew that the boys had taken care of everything.
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.
76 responses to “Chapter 174 – Her Sudden Departure: A Tale of Love and Redemption (Lucian & Roxanne)”
Amazing how Sonya loves her granddaughter, yet she believes everything that Aubree tells her instead of her son. And that only the twins can see how horrible Aubree is to Essie.
Sonya and Aubree have the same feather😁
Iam hooked, the book is really captivating. Thanks
Great novel!
Really can’t wait to get to the part when Roxanne and Lucian found out the truth.
Please post more chapters 😊
The story is getting more and more interesting 😀.Please update as many chapters as possible, thank you 😊
The story is getting more interesting, more updates please!!
Good to see a progress has been made; looking forward to the big reveal! Pls update soonest!
Beautiful and nice Novel
Poor little essie, she need the motherly love so bad 🥺
Interesting
Love it
Great read but not enough chapters, want more
Nice story. Please send updates. Thanks.
So excited for the next chapters.
Please send updates. Thanks.
Can‘t wait for Continue reading 🙂
It interesting
I want to read more
Keep updating more chapter please its really very touching and emotional stories please update more chapter thanks
Happy reader here.
More chapter update please
Appreciate it
Very emotional and touching stories
Looking forward to read for more
Thanks
This was so heartbreaking, I wish everything would come out about them.
Enjoying the book, but when will Roxanne know about her daughter and Lucien know the boys are his. The story line dragging to long for late updates.
I agree that the story is dragging even though I like the novel…hopefully the following chapters will be fast paced and more interesting
This is so heartbreaking, poor Essie, also the kids. When is Lucian revealed to Roxanne her daughter likewise to the boys. Thank you
Loving this story. Please more chapters.
Please update more chapters…
Thanks for the update. Keep them coming
Please i want to finish the last chapter,is very nice novel, very interesting .
Great reading! I love this book
Essie is my favorite character
Please more chapters the story is getting real good!
Lucian finally stepped up…….
I really want benny to somehow make it known that they want lucian to accept them and benny and archie are his sons….. and also all these years aubree has mistreated essie.
More chapters please. I really enjoyed reading this novel.
Please update the next chapters
I wish Essie would’ve blurted out that Lucian called of the engagement to Aubree. I hope shelf of novels can release more often or more chapters. It’s getting so good. I want Lucian and Roxanne to realize they do have feelings for each other.
This is really amazing and emotional.
Please keep updating. Thanks
Love this novel, next chapters please
Please update more chapters. It’s really interesting
Heartbreaking
more chapters pls
I don’t like that Aburee if a lady
I just wish Essie could talk very well
Aburee is done for
I like this novel
Am getting Hook to this book
Love it!
Can they know the truth now , it’s been so long
Thank you for the book
It’s now amusing how I can read in English ☺️
Love this story, can’t wait for the next episode
Update pls.
An interesting story
The novel is very interesting
Plz may you update moree chapters at once🥺……..
Plz may you update moree chapters at once🥺……..
I like the novel
Love love love this novel
Please do more pages reading a couple pages at a time is not enough these are not chapters they are pages
This story is addictive
Getting interesting, more update pla
Love it
Lucian told Aubree where to get off, yesssss boy. Roxanne must stop pushing Stella away oooh my heart. Please load soon.
More more more please ,it’s getting near boiling point and all is going to turn out to be Aubrey’s fault ,evil woman so glad his told her where to go
MORE UPDATES PLEASE .
Please update…I am so hooked. I can literally feel the love between those two….I can’t wait to find out who confesses their love first.
More chapters please😊.
Kindly update. There is a lot of repetitions especially concerning Aubree and Sonya’s attitude. It is kind of incredible that up till this now, neither of the parents can see sign or resemblance of their joint parenthood of the truplet.
Please update daily or if possible update the whole novel…thanks
M loving the book I need more chapters I want to finish it
Can’t wait for the next chapters
more chapter plss…
Interesting novel, pls more updates
The suspense is on anorher level. Always looking forward to the next level
A wonderful book. The weight of first love.
So intriguing the suspense keeps m on my toes.
Can’t get enough of this book.
More chapters please I love reading the book
More chapters please. Loving this story. Thanks
Loving this story so very much. Can’t wait to find out how Lucian found out about the twins and Rox about Essie. Come on update more. This story kept me up all night.
I like the story. More chapter please.