Archie, standing aside, sensed his mother’s doubt. His eyes gleamed, and he hurriedly frowned as well. “Perhaps we caught a cold when sleeping last night. My stomach is a little upset too.”
Roxanne was finally convinced after hearing that. She turned to look at Jack apologetically and said, “I’m sorry, Mr. Damaris. The kids are not feeling well. I need to check on them.”
Jack sized up Archie and Benny before grinning considerately. “Their health is important. I don’t mind waiting a little longer. You can summon me any time if you need assistance.”
Jack was almost as skilled as Roxanne in medical practice. Not only that, but he also had a few years of experience in providing medical consultations to children. He was very knowledgeable in diagnosing children’s conditions.
Archie and Benny exchanged a panicky look when they heard Jack’s offer to help.
They nearly forgot that he was also an incredible physician.
Their pretense of being sick would be exposed if Jack was the one to examine them, and they reckoned Roxanne wouldn’t be pleased to find out about their deceit.
While the boys contemplated on the way to reject Jack’s kind gesture, Roxanne said, “It’s fine. I’m more familiar with the condition of their bodies anyway. Please sit in the living room for a while, Mr. Damaris. I’ll come downstairs right after I’m done treating them.”
Jack nodded indifferently and reoccupied the seat on the couch.
The boys let out an inward sigh of relief after Roxanne turned down the offer in their stead. Then, they compliantly followed her upstairs.
A helpless look spread across Roxanne’s face as she led her sons into the bedroom.
She had noticed the changes in their facial expressions when Jack had volunteered to help. Naturally, she could guess that Archie and Benny were probably lying.
Nevertheless, Roxanne was still a little worried, so she told the kids to lie on the bed and began to examine their bodies.
“Can you point out which part of your stomach is hurting?” She stood beside Benny and gazed at him concernedly.
Of course, Benny wasn’t feeling any pain. However, since there was no turning back, he could only brace himself and gesture randomly. “All these places are hurting.”
After saying that, he questioned his mother piteously, “Mommy, am I very sick?”
Looking at the places pointed out by Benny, Roxanne felt utterly helpless. If these places were really hurting, he would’ve been beyond treatment a long time ago. Still, if I expose him now, he probably won’t learn the lesson and will resort to tricking me with this method again in the future.
With that thought in her mind, she feigned seriousness and grasped Benny’s wrist. She checked his pulse and pressed various spots on his stomach while asking him about his signs and symptoms.
Benny felt ticklish because of the way his mother was applying pressure on his abdomen. Still, he contained the urge to laugh and complained that all the spots she touched were painful.
Roxanne thought Benny was quite pitiable for having to suppress his laughter. Ultimately, she stopped tormenting him and loosened her grip while wearing a solemn facial expression.
“Mommy…” Archie called out warily to his mother when he noticed her unusual countenance, thinking that she had seen through their falsehood.
Roxanne furrowed her brows and looked at Benny worriedly. “There’s a chance you’re suffering from acute appendicitis. You’ll need to undergo surgery as soon as possible. Don’t be afraid. I’ll send you to the hospital right away.”
With that, she pretended as if she was going to lift Benny in her arms.
The colors drained from Benny’s face after he heard his mother say he needed surgery.
“Mommy…” Benny’s voice trembled slightly as he attempted to conceal his fear. “Do I have to go for the surgery?”
Roxanne nodded fervently. “Your acute appendicitis will only worsen if you don’t, and you’ll be in even more pain. I’m worried about you.”
Benny hesitated for several seconds and gradually removed his hand from his stomach. “Mommy, I’m feeling much better. I’m perfectly fine now. Let’s not go for the surgery, please?”
Roxanne shook her head at once.
Archie and Benny eyed one another. Their eyes were full of fear and regret.
Archie tugged at the hem of Roxanne’s shirt gingerly and said obediently, “Mommy, we’re both sorry for lying to you just now. I was the one who asked Benny to pretend to be sick. Please don’t bring him for surgery.”
Benny got down from the bed and stood before Roxanne guiltily as well.
Roxanne looked down at Archie and Benny and sighed internally before ruffling their hair. “Have you learned from your mistake?”
They hurriedly nodded.
Roxanne crouched down to their eye level and asked patiently, “Can both of you tell me why you felt the need to lie?”
Archie and Benny exchanged glances again and were at a loss for words.
Roxanne waited silently and didn’t pester them for an answer.
“Because… we don’t like Mr. Damaris,” Benny admitted apprehensively, then carefully observed Roxanne’s expression.
A look of surprise flashed across Roxanne’s eyes.
She had assumed the children had pretended to be sick to prevent her from leaving. Little did she know it had nothing to do with that altogether.
This was the second time she’d heard Benny and Archie actively disliking someone.
Previously, it was Aubree, as they’d witnessed her and Frieda causing trouble for her.
However, Jack had always been kind to both her and the children.
She could not comprehend why they’d say such a thing.
“Can you tell me why you don’t like Mr. Damaris?” Roxanne asked in puzzlement.
Benny and Archie pursed their lips and did not give a reason. “No idea. We just don’t like him.”
Roxanne furrowed her brows and looked at them earnestly. “You can’t say that. No matter what the reason is, you have to give me one. Otherwise, I won’t be able to decline Mr. Damaris’ kind offers on your behalf in the future.”
Benny frowned in reluctance and lowered his head further at that.
They couldn’t possibly reveal that it was because Jack would steal Roxanne from Lucian.
Roxanne tried her luck on Archie instead at Benny’s reticence.
Archie said innocently, “The reason is that ever since you met Mr. Damaris, you’ve been spending far lesser time with us. This happened yesterday and today as well.”
His words hit Roxanne’s sore spot.
She’d indeed been busy with work after knowing Jack and had neglected her children.
Lucian had even confronted her about it the day before.
Roxanne immediately felt apologetic toward Benny and Archie and didn’t even doubt the veracity of their words.
“Mommy, can you stay and accompany us today?”
The children once again played the sympathy card.
Roxanne caressed Benny’s and Archie’s heads. “I’m sorry, but I have important work that requires immediate attention. Both of you have heard that the company is going to be seized shortly. I have to take a trip there no matter what.”
The two children stared at the ground in sullen silence. They knew how important work meant to her. However, they still detested the fact that she would be spending time with Jack in the process.
Roxanne felt apologetic yet confused as she took in the children’s reluctant looks. The children didn’t mind when she was up to her neck with work overseas.
They didn’t even utter a word of complaint when she was occupied with finding a medicinal herbs company for the research institute when she was back in the country.
What is it 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.