Roxanne had been accompanying the boys at home for the past two days. Upon hearing the doorbell ring, she immediately went to open the door.
The second she saw the people at the door, she was stunned.
Pippa gave Roxanne an awkward smile. “Sorry for the abrupt visit, Ms. Jarvis.”
Roxanne slowly looked away from the little girl she was holding, turned sideways to let them in, and went to pour Pippa some coffee.
“Is there any particular reason for your visit, Ms. Ward?” Roxanne placed the cup down and sat down on the couch beside her.
Upon hearing that Pippa had come, Archie and Benny ran over to greet her before shifting their gazes to Estella beside her.
There were still tear marks on the little girl’s face, but when she saw the boys looking at her, she still gave them a sweet smile.
Archie and Benny, however, were worried, wondering if Estella got bullied in kindergarten.
Pippa glanced at the boys before asking in concern, “Two days ago, you told me that Benny was sick. Essie was worried, so I sent her here and also came to see Benny. How is he?”
Hearing that, Roxanne looked at Estella with mixed emotions and explained to Pippa, “He’s feeling much better, but I’m still worried, so I told him to rest at home for two more days. He’ll go back to kindergarten in the next two days.”
After asking a few more questions out of concern, Pippa checked the time and appeared troubled.
Although she agreed to excuse Estella from school, she did not take any leave, and it was not good to stay outside for too long.
“Since you’ve visited Archie and Benny, Essie, let’s go back,” Pippa asked the little girl for her opinion.
However, Estella stared at Roxanne and the boys, pursed her lips, and shook her head.
Seeing Estella’s reaction, Pippa knew it would not be easy for her to take the little girl back that day. Not knowing what to do, she could only shoot Roxanne a beseeching look.
Roxanne smiled at her. “Let Essie stay. I’ll send her home later. You can go off first.”
Hearing those words, Pippa sighed with relief and got up to say goodbye.
Roxanne and the children saw Pippa out before returning to the living room.
Estella clutched the woman’s hand tightly the entire time and did not want to let go even though her hand was sweating.
Although Roxanne’s heart softened at the sight, she had to force herself to be firm.
The reason why she told Pippa to let Estella stay was that she knew the little girl would not leave easily. Secondly, she also had something to say to the girl.
Roxanne crouched down, looked into Estella’s eyes, and was about to speak when suddenly, the little girl’s stomach growled.
“Essie is hungry, Mommy,” Benny innocently reminded his mother.
Roxanne’s eyebrows knitted slightly. However, looking at the innocent and pitiful little face in front of her, the words she intended to speak could not come out. She merely said, “It’s lunchtime. Have lunch with us, Essie.”
Estella bobbed her head obediently.
On the way to the restaurant, she also clutched Roxanne’s hand tightly while staring intently at Benny beside her, her eyes filled with concern.
Benny knew that Estella was worried about him, but he had also noticed that she had not spoken a word ever since entering the house. To try to get her to talk, he pretended to be clueless and quietly sat down at the dining table.
Estella could not help but feel a little anxious upon noticing that Benny had clearly met her gaze but still had not spoken to her.
Opposite her, Benny deliberately put on a look of discomfort while peeking at Estella from time to time.
Anxious, she stammered, “B-Benny!”
Only then did he slowly meet her gaze. “What’s the matter?”
Estella frowned and pointed to his stomach. “Not feeling well,” she uttered.
Hearing her words, Benny smiled and reassured her, “I’ve recovered long ago! Didn’t you hear what Mommy said? We’re going back to kindergarten in the next two days!”
Only then did Estella feel relieved, nodding obediently with a smile on her face.
Benny, on the other hand, could not help but ask, “Did you cry just now? Was it because you were worried about me?”
Upon hearing that, Roxanne and Archie also subconsciously looked over.
From the moment the little girl entered the house, they had noticed the tear marks on her face and her reddened eyes but did not ask her about it.
Originally, Roxanne intended to explain the situation to Estella, cut off all ties, and simply be ruthless to her to the end.
However, she did not expect that there would be such warmth between them.
Hearing Benny’s question to the little girl, she still could not help but be concerned about Estella.
Estella noticed that everyone was looking at her and her smile grew sweeter. She merely thought that Roxanne and the boys were concerned about her, feeling as though she had traveled back to the time when she was living in Roxanne’s house. She nodded to them, admitting that she had cried because she was worried about Benny.
Upon seeing her nod, Roxanne felt unaccountably heavy-hearted.
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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