Chapter 356 – Her Sudden Departure: A Tale of Love and Redemption (Lucian & Roxanne)

With no other choice, Roxanne followed the girl inside. I hope she doesn’t make any outrageous requests.

“Welcome!” The employee had been watching them for a long time. Her eyes were filled with excitement when she saw them finally entering the shop.

They were the most good-looking family she had met ever since she started working there. If I can get their approval to take a photo of them together later and hang that picture at the entrance of the shop, our sales will undoubtedly soar!

At the thought of this, the employee became more and more welcoming toward them.

“You kids are so adorable! What type of clothes do you like? I can help you all try them out,” the employee offered as she smiled at the children.

The children were dazzled by the many choices available, as it was their first time picking out clothing for themselves.

Roxanne had wanted to pick the clothes for the children. However, when she thought about how the shop only sold matching outfits, her mind was abuzz with chaos and she lost the mood to shop. She could only leave the children to look around on their own.

Suddenly, Estella tugged her sleeve again.

Upon returning to her senses, Roxanne followed Estella’s line of sight, her nerves stretched taut.

She saw two dresses in front of them. One was a simple fishtail dress, its shoulder straps and hem of the skirt decorated with small diamonds. It looked simple and had an unobtrusive design. The other was a pure white princess dress that came in a smaller size. The hem of the skirt was embellished with pearls, making it look much more charming and adorable.

While there were differences between the two dresses, their overall style was similar enough that people would know that those two belonged to a matching set at a glance.

Estella looked at the dresses, then at Roxanne with anticipation written all over her face.

Roxanne furrowed her eyebrows slightly. She was about to explain to Estella that matching outfits were meant to be worn with her daddy and mommy when the employee beat her to it.

“You have such a good eye, little girl! This set of matching dresses really fits you and your mommy!” Roxanne was stunned. She glanced at Estella before shifting her gaze to the employee, wanting to deny that statement.

To her surprise, before she could speak, the girl was already hugging her arm. The latter even called out sweetly, “Mommy!” For a moment, Roxanne didn’t know how to respond.

Estella, on the other hand, was filled with anticipation. Daddy said he’ll make Ms. Jarvis my mommy. It should be fine if I call her Mommy right now!

Roxanne was stunned for a long time. When she recollected herself, she turned to look at Lucian and wondered how he would react.

Lucian loves Essie very much, so I bet her real mommy probably holds a very important spot in his heart. He’ll probaably correct Essie’s mistake soon.

Lucian furrowed his brows when his eyes met hers. After staying silent for a few seconds, he approached Estella expressionlessly and looked down at her from above. “Watch what you say, Essie.”

Estella didn’t expect her attempt at helping her father chase after Roxanne would cause her to be reprimanded.

“No! I want Ms. Jarvis to be my mommy,” Estella, her eyes red, mumbled aggrievedly, upon hearing his stern tone and gave him an accusing look. “You said—”

Seeing that he was going to be sold out by his own daughter again, Lucian said in a deeper voice, “Don’t trouble Ms. Jarvis, Estella. If you like the dress, I can buy it for you.”

The employee standing at the side didn’t expect their relationship to be that complicated. “Sir, our clothes are sold in sets…”

Lucian glanced at Roxanne and uttered, “Then bag these two dresses.”

Of course, Estella knew what her father meant. He was going to buy both dresses, but she would only wear the princess dress.

Realizing that, she became even more aggrieved and angry. “No! I don’t want it anymore!”

She wanted to wear the matching dress with Roxanne.

Lucian frowned as he stared at Estella, who was throwing a tantrum.

At that moment, the atmosphere between the father and daughter became very tense.

Roxanne’s heart ached as she took in Estella’s reddened eyes and the way Lucian educated the child.

In order to comfort the girl, she leaned down, looked into her eyes, and asked, “You want me to wear the matching dresses with you, right, Essie?”

Estella sniffled and nodded vigorously.

Roxanne suppressed the strange emotion in her heart and smiled. “Okay. Let’s go and try out the dresses.”

With that, she got up and grabbed the dresses from the employee’s hands.

Estella’s eyes slowly lit up when she heard that. After shooting her father a furious look, she turned away and entered the fitting room while holding Roxanne’s hand.

After some time, they changed their clothes and came out of the fitting room.

Roxanne brought Estella to a mirror. The latter smiled when she looked at the two of them in the mirror.

Archie and Benny watched silently and enviously from behind. They also wanted to wear matching outfits with their parents. However, they weren’t as bold as their younger sister. Knowing that Lucian was their father, they tended to act more reserved in front of him.

Roxanne looked at the happy smile on Estella’s face, and her concern reduced greatly. She patted the girl’s head and said, “The dress really suits you, Essie. Let’s take it off now so the employee can bag them.”

Estella shook her head without hesitation and grabbed Roxanne’s hand tightly. She did not want to take off the dress that quickly when it was rare for her to wear the same clothes as Roxanne.

Roxanne could guess what the girl was thinking. Well, since we’re already wearing these matching outfits, I don’t think there is any difference if we wear them for a little longer. She went along with Estella’s idea and asked the employee to bag the clothes they were originally wearing.

After following the employee to the cash register, she was about to pay for the dresses with her phone when Lucian pulled out his card and gave it to the employee.

Roxanne was slightly stunned, as she thought the action seemed a little too intimate. With a frown, she said, “I can pay for it.”

Lucian looked at her, then at Estella and said, “You didn’t need to buy any clothes, Ms. Jarvis. You’re only doing so now because of Essie. So I should be the one to pay for it.”

When the employee at the side sensed the ambiguous atmosphere between the two and saw Lucian’s black card, she chimed in, “There’s no need for you to be so courteous with this gentleman, Miss. After all, a man should pay for a woman.”

Then she grabbed the card in Lucian’s hand.

Roxanne frowned and kept her phone. She knew the employee had misunderstood their relationship.

Before they left, the employee asked carefully, “May I take a photo of you with the girl?”

Roxanne refused politely, knowing what the employee was trying to do, and left with the children.

If she agreed, her picture with Estella would no doubt be put up in the shop.

By then, if anyone saw it or word got out, it might cause unnecessary misunderstandings.

Frieda watched as they exited the shop, and immediately, she noticed Roxanne and Estella had changed into new outfits. Why do their dresses look as though they were made by the same person?

It wasn’t until she stared at the dresses for a while that she realized they were matching outfits. That b*tch! Not only did she not learn her lesson last time, but she’s being more and more ridiculous! Even though she knows Lucian has a fiancée and that Essie will have a new mother in the future, she still has the gall to wear a matching outfit with her! Not only that, both of them look pretty close to each other from the back! If I allow them to continue like this, won’t Roxanne end up replacing Aubree?

At that thought, Frieda promptly pulled out her phone and took a photo of Roxanne and Estella before sending the picture to Aubree.

After that, she continued to follow them with a scowl. The sky’s turning dark. Let’s see where they’re going.

“Frieda!” Hasso was holding bags of clothing when he turned around and noticed Frieda was already leaving the shop. He quickly went after her. “How much longer do we need to follow them? I’ve already made dinner arrangements…”

Frieda pursed her lips, looking annoyed. However, when she turned to face him, her expression changed. She held his arm petulantly and asked, “Is my friend more important or is dinner more important?”

Giddy with joy that his goddess had taken the initiative to show him affection, Hasso nodded. “Your friend, of course!”

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