However, she was eager to find out about Roxanne’s answer since the latter was right before her.
In contrast to the excited young girl, Roxanne was briefly astounded when she heard those words. Instinctively, she shot a glance at the man before her.
A concert? That can’t possibly be Essie’s suggestion. I’m sure she must be acting under Lucian’s order. Throughout the conversation, Lucian had never shifted his eyes away from Roxanne.
When met with her gaze, the man calmly explained, “I happened to get two tickets yesterday. We can bring the kids along ast well. I wonder if you’re interested in it, Ms. Jarvis?”
It was just as she had expected.
Though her mind was in a whirl, she turned down that invitation readily. “I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I don’t have time for that.” Then she looked at Estella apologetically. “Essie, if you want to watch it, you can go with your daddy.”
Not expecting Roxanne to reject her so outrightly, the young girl turned to look at Lucian for help.
However, the man stared at her and gestured that there was nothing he could do either and for her to try her best.
Pouting, Estella shifted her gaze back to Roxanne and continued to tug her sleeve pitifully. “I want to watch it with you, Ms. Jarvis.”
As much as Roxanne could not bring herself to see the young girl’s pitiful appearance, she did not want to get involved and led by Lucian again.
Regarding those words Lucian had said to her yesterday, she was, in fact, still in puzzlement and disbelief. Yet, even before she had enough time to gather her wits, he was asking her out to a concert.
Deep down, Roxanne feared that she would grow more attached to the relationship. “Ms. Jarvis, if you aren’t going, then I won’t be going too.” Estella lowered her head in disappointment.
Looking from above, Roxanne could only see the young girl’s fluffy hair and trembling shoulders.
It was apparent she was silently sobbing with her head lowered.
Roxanne felt her heart ache terribly at that sight. She shot Lucian a look, hoping that he would say something.
Unexpectedly, he stood still, seemingly with no intention of speaking.
Left with no choice, Roxanne could only agree to Estella’s invitation. “Don’t cry,
Essie. I’ll go with you, all right?”
As soon as Estella heard that, she lifted her hands aggrievedly to wipe off the tears on her face before raising her head with a smile.
Roxanne was shocked to find that the young girl had really burst into tears. “I’m sorry for making you sad.” She bent down and caressed the girl’s cheeks.
Shaking her head earnestly, Estella then ran up to Lucian, pulled out the tickets from her school bag, and passed them to Roxanne.
The woman, despite feeling conflicted, eventually accepted the tickets. Before she could utter a word, Estella’s voice rang out again.
“Goodbye, Ms. Jarvis!” The young girl was afraid that Roxanne would change her mind, and thus she quickly waved goodbye and headed into the kindergarten after passing her the tickets. “See you at the concert!”
In response, Roxanne swallowed her words back down and gave Estella a slight nod.
With that, the three children held hands and entered the kindergarten together. leaving Roxanne and Lucian alone at the entrance.
As she lowered her eyes to look at the tickets in her grip, she could vividly feel the man’s intense yet indiscernible gaze directed toward her from behind. A turmoil of emotions surged within her almost instantaneously.
Agreeing to watch the concert with Essie means I’ll have to spend time with Lucian again.
Had it been the old Roxanne, she might have been able to persuade herself that she would only have to spend a little time with him.
But frankly, she was a little scared after yesterday’s incident. After all, she had no idea what Lucian would do or say at the concert.
“Ms. Jarvis.” While she was lost in her thoughts, Lucian’s voice sounded from behind her.
Lucian raised his brows meaningfully as he uttered, “Thank you for accepting the invitation. I’ll pick you guys up on the day of the concert.”
A frown formed between Roxanne’s brows as she replied without hesitation, “Don’t bother. I’ll bring Archie and Benny to the venue by myself. I shan’t trouble you, Mr. Farwell.”
She figured the outsiders would view them as a family again if she accepted Lucian’s suggestion to pick them up.
She did not want others to have such misunderstandings again. She stared at the man in front of her, her nerves stretching tautly. She had even thought about how she would reject him. if he continued to insist.
Little did she expect that Lucian would be indifferent to her answer. “That’s fine too. We’ll see you guys at the entrance, then.”
Then he turned and left without waiting for Roxanne to respond..
At that moment, Roxanne thought she saw a hint of smugness on his face, and she wondered if it was merely a figment. of her imagination.
It was until Lucian’s car vanished within her line of sight that she snapped back to reality.
He must’ve planned everything so that I won’t have any chance to reject him! I was still hesitating if I should go for the date, but his words swayed my attention to how I’m going to head over to the venue. In other words, I’ve made a silent acquiescence to attending the concert with him.
That thought made Roxanne feel overwhelmed by frustration..
Meanwhile, Lucian sped through the roads toward the office..
Throughout that, Roxanne’s expression from earlier flashed through his mind every so often. At the thought of how she was led by him earlier, the man wore a faint smile on his face.
It’s the first time I’ve played such a trick on someone. I can’t believe she actually fell for it so easily. Lucian began to look forward to the date.
Roxanne stood outside the kindergarten for some time before she could recover from her trance. Putting away the tickets. she got into her car and headed back to the research institute.
Just as she arrived at the office, Jack gave her a call. “The date has been decided; it’s tonight. Is that fine with you?”
Hearing those words, Roxanne, whose mind was still in a mess, was slightly taken aback. It took her some time before she recalled what Jack had said when he had come over yesterday.
We’re probably going to meet those doctors we’re collaborating with tonight. On the other end, after not getting an answer from her, Jack urged, “Ms. Jarvis? Is anything the matter? Is that not an appropriate timing?”
Only then did Roxanne snap out of her thoughts. “It’s nothing. I’m free. I’ll arrive on time tonight.”
Though Jack found her reaction a little strange, he did not probe further since they were holding the conversation over the phone. He merely left her some reminders before concluding the call.
Because of the incident that morning, Roxanne seemed to be absent-minded for the rest of the day.
Later that afternoon, Roxanne ended work about thirty minutes earlier since she had the banquet to attend that night. Out of respect for the doctors, she wanted to return home to freshen herself up.
Just as she was ready to leave her house since it was about time, she received a call from Larry.
“Where are you?” Larry’s voice sounded. the second the call connected.
Roxanne was baffled. “At home. What is it?”
Larry chuckled. “I’ll go and pick you up.”
Comprehension dawned on Roxanne after she heard his words. Larry is probably also one of the doctors we’ll be working with this time.
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.