He knew that Sonya didn’t have a good impression of Roxanne because of what had happened six years ago.
Still, he hadn’t expected his mother to vilify her in such a way.
“How do you know I don’t have proof?” Sonya asked, staring at him in vexation as soon as his words fell.
Lucian turned to her in bewilderment, unsure what proof she was referring to.
With a stern face, Sonya slammed her phone in front of her son, the screen showing images of Roxanne and Jack in the middle of what appeared to be a happy conversation.
“Have a look yourself!” Lucian gazed down at the phone, initially thinking that these photos were taken from the public uproar before.
However, upon closer inspection, he realized that the woman was wearing the same outfit she had worn when she left this morning. Not only that, but Hector could be seen not too far away from the two in the photo.
A look of irony flashed in Lucian’s eyes as he thought back to the excuse Roxanne had made when she left earlier today. She said she had to show up no matter what because Old Mr. Damaris would be there.
Yet, in all of these photos, she was only talking to Jack and seemed to treat Old Mr. Damaris as though he was non-existent! Sensing the atmosphere around her son turn gloomy, Sonya continued to demean Roxanne.
“I remember people saying that Roxanne only managed to become part of the Damaris family’s project after seducing Jack. I didn’t want to believe that she’d ever do something so appalling, considering she was once part of our family, but it looks like it’s true!”
Hearing that, Lucian turned to meet his mother’s gaze with a dark glint in his eyes.
The woman scoffed, “Look at what this woman is doing. She has you in the palm of her hand while getting intimate with Jack at the same time! It’s only normal that you’d fall for her tricks given your lack of experience. But now that you’ve seen these pictures, I believe it’s about time you wake up and stay away from her!”
Lucian remained silent for a long while.
“Did you hear me? I’m talking to you! Seriously, I don’t know what you see in that woman. You’re even so loyal to her! What makes her better than Aubree anyway?”
Lucian finally responded, but all he did was reach for the phone and place it back on the table emotionlessly. “Where did you get these photos?” he asked frostily.
Sonya thought he had finally understood her words, only for him to ask such a question.
“Why do you care where I got them? In any case, these photos are real! You’d better keep a distance from Roxanne,” she replied in irritation.
Lucian immediately picked up the device and scrutinized the messages. Then he stopped at the unknown number for a few seconds before glancing back up at his mother. “Do you know who this number belongs to?”
Not expecting him to ask her that, Sonya stilled briefly before deciding not to put up an act. “How would I know?” she responded frankly. “Whoever this is, they probably came looking for me because Roxanne did something to provoke them!”
The crease between Lucian’s brows deepened.
She doesn’t look like she’s lying. She probably really doesn’t know who owns the number. But who could’ve sent her these photos? Who’s paying this much attention to Roxanne’s life?
In the middle of his silence, the sound of footsteps came from upstairs.
“Who are you talking to, Mrs. Farwell?”
A worried-looking Aubree appeared at the corner of the stairs and looked down.
“Lucian? What are you doing here?” she asked in surprise upon seeing the man.
Then, as though realizing something, she walked down the stairs and clutched Sonya’s arm in concern. “Were you upset at Lucian over something, Mrs. Farwell?”
Sonya had wanted to hide this matter from Aubree at first, but now that the latter was here, she could only comment evasively, “What makes Aubree inferior in any way? How long do you plan to make her wait?”
At the mention of herself, Aubree glanced at Lucian and curled her lips into a smile. “I’m fine, Mrs. Farwell. I don’t want to give Lucian any pressure.”
She then lowered her head, looking aggrieved. Seeing how thoughtful she was made Sonya’s heart ache. She glared at Lucian more sternly, but he remained indifferent.
“I’m not making her wait. I’ve already made my intentions clear from the start. You’re the one leading her on,” he said. “You!” Sonya cried out in exasperation, only to be held back by Aubree.
“Don’t be upset, Mrs. Farwell. Lucian has… He has his way of doing things, so there’s no need for you to worry so much about me. Let him do as he sees fit.”
Aubree gazed at Lucian in understanding before turning to Sonya to console her. The older woman didn’t know what else to say, although deep down, she felt increasingly sorry for Aubree.
Yet, Lucian didn’t seem to appreciate the latter’s gestures at all. He merely shot her a glance and then focused on his mother. “I’ll be responsible for my marriage. You should take care of your health instead of worrying about me.”
With that, he rose to his feet and walked out the door.
There was a look of desolation in Aubree’s eyes as she watched him leave and lowered her head.
Sonya just so happened to notice that.
She let go of Aubree’s hand and called out to Lucian, “Letting Roxanne marry into the family back then was a mistake! Maybe she even realized this herself when she decided to leave, so why are you still so hung up about her?”
The man stopped in his tracks.
“Think about the fact that she had the heart to abandon Essie but is raising those two boys perfectly now!” Sonya continued. “Isn’t it obvious that she doesn’t love you?”
Her words pierced into him like a knife, causing his expression to sour.
“She may be able to fool you, but she sure as hell won’t fool me. I don’t care what you think. I’ll never let a woman like her become part of the Farwell family!” Sonya declared in fury.
Aubree reached out for her arm in support.
Lucian stood at the entrance of the mansion for a mere few seconds before striding away without a word.
Sonya frowned as she watched him close the door before turning to the woman next to her. “I know it’s been tough on you the past few years, but don’t worry. What’s yours will be yours, and I won’t let anyone get in the way of that.”
Aubree nodded graciously. “Thank you, Mrs. Farwell.”
She then pursed her lips and remarked self-deprecatingly, “But still, there are always some things we can’t have our way with. If Lucian really likes Roxanne—”
Sonya cut her off before she could finish, “We don’t know what that woman is after by approaching him, but I’m sure he’ll come to a realization one day.”
Even if he didn’t, she would never let Roxanne set foot into the Farwell residence.
An imperceptible glee flashed across Aubree’s eyes when she saw how much Sonya despised Roxanne.
Just as I expected, those photos are really making her hate Roxanne even more!
With Sonya’s resistance, she didn’t have to worry about Roxanne taking her place anymore.
The sky was about to turn dark when Roxanne left the research institute. On the way home, her chest tightened as she thought that Lucian was still lounging around at her place.
However, she returned to find only the three children sitting on the couch and staring at the computer screen. Roxanne scanned the living area, but the man was nowhere to be seen.
“Mommy!” the boys greeted her as soon as they realized she had come home. Roxanne caressed their tiny heads while asking, “Where’s Mr. Farwell?”
“He left a long time ago, but we asked him to let Essie stay so that we could wait for you to come back together,” Benny explained in his squeaky voice.
The woman smiled when she heard that. Then her gaze fell on the little girl standing behind the two boys.
Unlike her usual peppy demeanor, Essie now stood timidly behind Archie and Benny, not even saying hello.
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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