Estella continued to stare at him, seemingly unsatisfied with his answer.
Right when Lucian looked up, he met her glare in the mirror. Pursing his lips helplessly, he promised, “I promise not to get mad at Ms. Jarvis anymore. I’ll talk to her properly no matter what happens. If all things fail, I’ll ask for your help.”
Estella nodded in approval, and it was only then that a smile returned to her face.
However, her smile faded again as they got nearer to the Farwell residence.
She couldn’t help feeling scared when she remembered Aubree’s presence there.
“Daddy, how much longer will she be staying at our house?” Estella inquired carefully.
Lucian naturally knew who she was referring to.
When he thought of the woman in his house, he felt troubled.
While he was talking to Roxanne earlier, the only thing on his mind was her relationship with Jack.
Now that he thought about it, Roxanne was right.
With Estella’s aversion to Aubree, the former’s condition would likely worsen if he continued to let Aubree stay.
However, with Sonya meddling in their matters, he would need to find an appropriate reason to make Aubree leave.
In the end, Lucian could only give Estella a vague answer. “If you don’t like her, I’ll make her leave as soon as possible.”
Estella bobbed her head in response, albeit reluctantly.
Meanwhile, at the Farwell residence, Aubree tiptoed out of Estella’s room while on her phone.
“Don’t worry. I’ve used this drug on someone before. It takes effect once the person takes it,” Frieda claimed proudly on the other end of the line.
Aubree curled her lips coldly upon hearing that. “That’s good to hear. I’m definitely going to teach her a lesson this time!”
Only then did Frieda realize she had forgotten to ask about something. “Aubree, who are you going to use it on?”
Feeling impatient, Aubree knitted her brows and uttered indifferently, “That’s none of your business. Anyway, I’m hanging up. Lucian is back.”
With that, she hung up, leaving Frieda staring at her phone screen in bewilderment.
Aubree entered the bathroom and thoroughly washed her hands twice. Through the window, she saw Lucian’s car roll into the courtyard. She quickly schooled her expression and went downstairs with a smile.
Catalina was preparing dinner downstairs. At the sight of Aubree, she greeted her politely, “Ms. Pearson.”
“Let me help you,” Aubree offered with a pretentious smile.
Catalina had wanted to decline, but Aubree had already reached out and taken away the plate from her hand.
Catalina watched Aubree bustle about, her eyes filled with doubt.
Aubree had often stayed at the Farwell residence over the past few years, but she had never acted so helpful and attentive.
Yet, she had been going in and out of the house all day that day.
After leaving with Lucian in the morning, she returned shortly before going out again when it was almost lunch. Upon returning, she stayed upstairs and only showed herself at this time.
What is she up to? Or has she finally matured after the conflict with her family?
Suddenly, Catalina snapped out of it and shook her head hard.
How is that possible? Considering the environment she grew up in, how could she possibly change drastically in one night?
Just as Catalina was lost in her thoughts, the door to the mansion opened.
Before Catalina could acknowledge Lucian, Aubree walked past her and headed straight to the door.
“Lucian, Essie, you’re back.” Aubree had a bright smile plastered on her face, but her thoughts were the total opposite.
I hope Essie never comes back! I don’t even need to guess to know that Lucian went to Roxanne’s house again to fetch this brat. If it weren’t for her, Lucian wouldn’t have had so much time to spend with that wretched woman. And this brat won’t even listen to me!
Lucian nodded at Aubree coldly, loosening his tie with one hand while holding Estella’s hand with his other.
He knew how much Estella disliked Aubree, so he could only give the girl a sense of security this way.
When he saw the way Estella looked in front of Aubree, he regretted giving in to Sonya’s request.
“Essie, are you hungry?” Aubree crouched down and looked into Estella’s eyes, pretending to be gentle. “Come, let’s wash our hands and have dinner, okay?”
Estella shook her head immediately. She grasped Lucian’s hand and hid behind him.
Sensing her fear, Lucian frowned and looked at Aubree frostily. “There’s no need for that. I’ll take care of her. Just mind your own business.”
Having said that, he looked away from Aubree and walked past her while holding Estella’s hand.
For an instant, a dark look fleeted across Aubree’s face.
After Lucian brought Estella to wash her hands, they came out and sat at the dining table.
They sat at the same side of the table, leaving Aubree alone on the opposite side. It was clear as day that they were giving her the cold shoulder.
Feeling their aversion toward herself, Aubree dug her nails into her palm quietly to suppress her boiling rage. “Essie, did you have fun with your daddy today?” she asked with a nonchalant smile.
Let’s see if the father-daughter duo is going to tell me the truth!
Naturally, Estella turned a deaf ear to her question, and Lucian merely glanced at her meaningfully, looking as if he had seen through something.
Aubree shuddered involuntarily and steeled herself to carry on with the one-sided conversation. “I figure Essie probably had nothing to play with when she was staying at the office with you. You’re always busy with work, so I’m worried she might be bored.”
After saying that, she turned to Estella and continued with a smile tugging at her lips, “Let’s play together later, okay? I bought a lot of games for you today.”
Estella pursed her lips and shook her head.
If I hadn’t known the way Estella behaves in front of Roxanne, I would have thought that this girl is a mute. But it turns out that Little Mute has a silver tongue in front of that b*tch, Roxanne!
Waves of exasperation washed over Aubree, but the smile on her lips grew even more genuine as she went on, “What do you want to play, then, Essie? I can play with you.”
Estella lost her appetite after hearing what Aubree said. She put down the fork in her hand and gazed pleadingly at her father, silently asking for his approval.
Lucian knew that Estella wanted to go upstairs to escape Aubree’s ingratiation, but he furrowed his brows and did not agree to her request.
Essie has always been sickly. I won’t let her go without eating.
Estella seemed somewhat upset to see her father reject her.
Lucian turned his head and glanced at Aubree with a hint of warning in his eyes. “If you have time to play games with Essie, you should call home more frequently so that Mr. Pearson will stop being mad at you.”
Aubree met his gaze, then bit her lower lip and argued her case in a pitiful state. “I just want to make up to Essie. I didn’t have much time to spend with her in the past, and I don’t know much about her as well. I hope I can use this opportunity to let Essie and I get to know each other more.”
Still, Lucian remained unmoved, and his tone became even frostier as he replied, “There is no need for that. You may not have the chance to get along with Essie again in the future, so you don’t have to know her well, and she doesn’t need to know you as well.”
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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