Estella peeked into the living room when the door opened, but she saw no traces of Roxanne around. “Where’s Ms. Jarvis?” Estella asked, her eyes still red. “Is Ms. Jarvis not back yet because she’s out looking for me?”
After that, she patted her father’s shoulder and said anxiously, “Daddy, hurry up and give Ms. Jarvis a call and tell her to come back!”
She was afraid that Roxanne would panic if the latter could not find her outside.
Playing along with her, Lucian took out his phone.
Archie and Benny exchanged a look before starting apologetically, “Mr. Farwell, you don’t need to call Mommy. She just… left.”
After that, they urgently explained their mother’s actions. “Mommy wanted to stay and wait for you to come back, but we could see how upset Mommy was, so we persuaded her to go to work.”
At that, Estella teared up again.
“Don’t be sad, Essie. Mommy knows that she was wrong. She’s sad too,” Archie and Benny promptly consoled Estella.
Lucian put Estella back down on the ground to let the boys continue talking to her.
However, Estella kept her head down, one of her hands grabbing tightly on a corner of her father’s shirt.
Archie exchanged a glance with Benny. With a frown, Archie stepped forward and grabbed the girl’s other hand. He promised, “Mommy will be back once she’s done with work. Once she’s back, she’ll surely apologize to you. Don’t be sad anymore, Essie.”
Hearing that, Estella lifted her head and looked at Archie and Benny dubiously.
Without missing a beat, Benny chimed in, “Essie, why don’t you wait for Mommy to come back with us?”
Then he glanced at Lucian and asked, “Mr. Farwell, can Essie stay with us today?”
Lucian gave them a glance before fixing his eyes on Estella.
Estella had already let go of him and inched toward Archie and Benny.
Evidently, she wanted to wait for Roxanne to return.
Lucian could read her mind, and that only made him feel even more frustrated with Roxanne. Nevertheless, his tone was steady when he spoke. “Be good and stay home. Don’t open the door for strangers.”
The children could hear the agreement in his answer, so they inclined their heads obediently.
Only after Lucian watched them enter the mansion and close the door did he get into his car and leave.
Shortly after, the black Bentley sped off toward the Queen residence.
When he was on his way there, the anger in Lucian grew.
What is Roxanne thinking? How can she let those two boys clean up the mess after her? Is work that vital to her?
Meanwhile, back at Roxanne’s house, Archie and Benny synchronously pulled out toys, laid out various snacks on the table, and sat on opposite sides of Estella.
Estella’s eyes were downcast, cheeks puffed out, and sadness was written all over her face. Archie and Benny exchanged a helpless look, but they promised Roxanne they would coax Estella.
They could only try their best to figure out a way. Archie handed her a tissue a moment later, speaking in a cajoling voice, “Don’t cry, Essie. If you like Mommy, try harder to help Mr. Farwell woo her!”
She glanced at him with a pout, her attention piqued. He dabbed at the tears pooling in the corner of her eyes and frowned worriedly. “We wanted Mommy and Mr. Farwell to get closer, but it seems like he’s upset with her again.”
Benny interjected, “Mommy is in the wrong here, but we can’t be a family if Mr. Farwell continues to be angry.”
Perturbation settled over her features, blanketing the sadness. It’s all my fault. Daddy and Ms. Jarvis wouldn’t have gotten into a fight if I hadn’t thrown a tantrum.
Estella lowered her head in guilt at that thought. “It’s my fault.”
Archie and Benny merely wanted to distract her, but they ended up making her feel awful, so they tried to shift the blame to the adults. “It’s not your fault, it’s all on Mommy and Mr. Farwell!”
She was bewildered.
“Mr. Farwell wants to woo Mommy, yet he’s always mad at her,” Archie explained. “Moreover, Mommy won’t accept him even though he treats us well.”
Their conversation quickly shifted from coaxing Estella to matchmaking the adults.
In the meantime, Roxanne’s car slid to a stop in front of the research institute, and she marched inside with hastened steps, bumping into Jack and a group of people at the entrance.
She couldn’t stifle the two sneezes that escaped as she opened her mouth to greet them.
“Dr. Jarvis, are you sick?” Hector inquired.
She smiled sheepishly. “No, I’m not sure why I suddenly sneezed.”
She apologized to the rest. “Please excuse my tardiness. I had to attend to some family matters and kept all of you waiting. Lunch is on me today.”
Hector returned her smile with an airy one. “We didn’t wait in vain. Dr. Galloway took us on a tour of the research institute, which was an experience. He said you are a significant contributor to the research institute that exists today.”
Roxanne was stunned to learn that Colby had praised her in front of Hector.
Colby met her gaze and smiled gently. “And I stand by my words.”
A bashful smile tugged at her lips. “The research institute has great potential. All I did was solve a little problem.”
Hector nodded gratefully as he observed the humble Colby and Roxanne. “Both of you did an amazing job, and I’ll gladly entrust the research institute to your capable hands.”
Hector exchanged a few pleasantries with Roxanne, and the conversation went back to business as she led Hector and Jack to visit a few sites.
The tour of the research institute was nearly finished at noon, and they adjourned to the restaurant where she had made a reservation.
Jack sidled up to Roxanne soundlessly after they exited the research institute and asked in concern, “You mentioned that you had to attend to family matters. What were they, if you don’t mind my asking? The Dr. Jarvis I know would never show up late to an appointment.”
She smiled slightly, her lips compressed. “It’s nothing, just a temper tantrum by Archie and Benny.”
Jack didn’t question her answer and smiled sympathetically with a nod. “It’s understandable for problems to arise when you have kids at home.”
Hector turned toward both of them. “What are you talking about? My old ears didn’t catch it.”
They hastily pasted a smile on their faces and hurried to walk alongside Hector.
Colby wasn’t familiar with Jack and felt lower in status compared to them, so he lagged a few steps behind.
An unnamed emotion gripped Colby’s heart as he observed the good-natured conversation between Roxanne and Jack and Hector’s admiration for her.
He was always just an admirer, silently looking up at Roxanne from a distance.
He knew she didn’t lack impressive men in her life, from Larry to Lucian and now Jack.
I’m no one compared to them. Judging from how Old Mr. Damaris treats Roxanne, he would grant his blessings without hesitation if Jack were to be with her!
His gaze darkened, and his fingers balled into fists by his sides.
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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