“Yes. I like Essie a lot, but that doesn’t mean I’m willing to marry you.” Without giving Lucian a chance to answer her, she added, “What happened six years ago is still fresh in my mind. I don’t wish to make the same mistakes. You shouldn’t trouble yourself anymore, Mr. Farwell.”
Roxanne sounded anxious as she spoke. She could sense Lucian’s intense gaze on her. Fortunately for her, she managed to say whatever she wanted to say.
Lucian stared at her for a long time, and he thought of explaining himself. However, he changed his mind when he heard Roxanne’s last sentence. I did her wrong six years ago, and I’ve hurt her. I can’t blame her for not trusting me. No matter what I say, I doubt she’ll listen to me now. In fact, she might even think I’m making excuses for myself.
At that thought, Lucian said, “I was wrong for using Essie as an excuse. Regarding my feelings for you, I think you’ll see my sincerity in due time.”
Roxanne had never seen this side of Lucian, so she didn’t know how to react at that moment.
Meanwhile, Lucian had already gestured for the server to bring him the bill. When they left the restaurant, Roxanne was still in a daze.
“Miss, your flowers!” the server called out just as they reached the entrance and ran toward her with the bouquet. Roxanne snapped out of her daze and remembered that she had gone in with the bouquet in her arms.
When she turned around, she saw the server panting lightly. With the bouquet in her arms, the server looked at Roxanne enviously and said, “Don’t forget about your flowers, Miss.”
Roxanne shifted her gaze toward the bouquet. By then, the server had already reached out to pass her the bouquet. Seeing that, Roxanne had no choice but to accept the flowers and thank the server.
The server beamed. “No worries. You guys look like a match made in heaven. I hope the both of you will stay together forever!”
With that, the server waved her goodbye and rushed back into the restaurant. Roxanne held the flowers and watched as the server left. Her mind had gone blank, and she had even forgotten to explain herself.
Standing not far away, Lucian had been paying attention to the interaction between the ladies. When he saw Roxanne’s expression after the server left, his lips curled into a subtle smile, and his expression wasn’t as grim as before.
Roxanne stood unmoving for a while before she eventually turned around and walked toward him.
After they got into the car, Lucian revved up the engine and drove to the research institute.
None of them uttered a single word throughout the journey.
When they arrived at the entrance of the research institute, there was no one outside, as it was working hours. Roxanne got out of the car and wanted to leave the bouquet on the passenger seat.
As she was about to do that, Lucian said. in a cold tone, “If you don’t like the flowers, you can dump them.”
Roxanne frowned at the man in the car.
With a straight face, Lucian added, “As I said before, I don’t want the car to smell weird. Besides, it’s bad enough you’ve sent the flowers back to my office, Ms. Jarvis. If you reject them in my face, it’ll be too hurtful. If the flowers bother your so much, just dump them, Ms. Jarvis.”
Having said that, he leaned over to close the door without giving Roxanne time to react and drove away. Roxanne stood frozen to the spot with the bouquet in her arms. Thinking about what Lucian had said to her, she glanced at the flowers, and a torn look descended upon her face.
After mulling over it, Roxanne ended up bringing the bouquet back to her office. She didn’t do that because she accepted Lucian’s gestures; she just didn’t want the fresh flowers to go to waste.
That was why she had decided to send the flowers back to him prior to that. I wonder what Lucian did with the flowers I sent back to him. Did he throw them away as he told me to?
When she was lost in her thoughts, someone suddenly knocked on her door. Roxanne came back to her senses and told the person to enter.
Seconds later, someone pushed the door open and walked in. At the sight of the visitor, she asked in puzzlement, “What brings you here, Mr. Damaris?”
Jack smiled and answered, “I was in the area, and I heard you’re here, so I decided to come and see how you are doing.”
“Thank you for your concern, Mr. Damaris. I’m much better now.”
Jack nodded and entered the office. As he walked in, he sized up the surroundings. Upon seeing that, Roxanne grew anxious, and she subconsciously glanced at the bouquet she had left on the couch.
She had wanted to put them in a vase, but she had been distracted and left them on the couch. She didn’t expect Jack to show up unannounced.
Although she knew Jack wouldn’t know who the flowers were from, she still felt embarrassed. “Oh? What do you have here?” Jack’s gaze fell on the flowers, and he looked at Roxanne.
Roxanne was a bundle of nerves, but she tried her best to appear calm. “I received them this morning. I don’t know who sent it. The deliveryman has most probably gotten the wrong address.”
Jack raised his brows slightly and sized her up excuse! when he heard that. What a lame Roxanne steeled herself and met his gaze, smiling faintly.
Jack chuckled when he saw how she looked. Instead of dwelling on the matter, he said, “They seem to be freshly picked. What a thoughtful sender!”
Roxanne forced a smile and changed the topic. “I suppose you’re not just here to check on my injuries, Mr. Damaris. Is there something else you’d like to talk to me about?”
Jack sat opposite her and nodded. “You’re right. There is.”
As an heir to a prominent family, Jack behaved exactly like one. Even when he was sitting down, his back was straight, and he exuded an ascetic aura.
Seeing that Jack was willing the change the topic, Roxanne heaved a sigh of relief. She put on a serious expression and gestured for him to continue talking.
“Apart from your research institute, the Damaris family has also picked a few renowned doctors to take part in our collaboration. Would you like to meet them?”
Roxanne was more than happy because she could meet more prominent figures in the medical industry. “It would be my honor,” she answered unhesitatingly.
Jack smiled in response. “Good. I’ll let you know once we’ve decided on the time and place.”
Roxanne nodded.
Jack then stood up to excuse himself after talking to her regarding the collaboration. The reason he was there that day was to invite Roxanne. Since he had already done that, there was no other reason for him to stay.
As he left the office, he couldn’t help but glance at the flowers again. I wonder who sent her those flowers.
Roxanne’s reaction moments before had definitely piqued his curiosity.
After Jack left, Roxanne got up to look for a vase for the roses. When she saw the roses, the emotions she had worked so hard to suppress came flooding back again.
With a slight frown, she went back to her desk with her mind in a mess. She then forced herself to focus on the information shown on the computer screen.
However, she couldn’t retain much information even after staring at the screen for a long time. When it was time to get off work, Roxanne went home right away as she didn’t need to work overtime.
At the office, she couldn’t keep her mind off the roses on her desk. The more she looked at them, the more messed up her mind was.
Upon arriving home and seeing that Lysa, Archie, and Benny weren’t home yet, Roxanne decided to make dinner to clear her mind.
The moment she was done making dinner, the door to the mansion opened. Roxanne put the dishes on the dining table and looked at the door with a smile. “Darlings!”
Happiness shone in Archie’s and Benny’s eyes when they saw that she was home.. “Mommy!”
Lysa was surprised as well. “Why are your home so early today, Ms. Jarvis?”
In the past, whenever Roxanne went to work, she would only reach home after the others. That day, however, not only did Roxannel get home earlier than them, but she had even made dinner.
Roxanne smiled nonchalantly and said, “I was free today, so I came back first.. Dinner is ready! Wash your hands and dig in while everything’s still hot!”
“Okay!” Archie and Benny ran to the bathroom to wash their hands. After that, they ran back to the dining table and took their seats.
While eating, Archie and Benny thought about Roxanne’s injury. “Mommy, how’s your injury?”
Roxanne smiled gently and answered, “I don’t feel pain anymore. Once the scab is gone, I’ll be good as new.”
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.