“You can head back first. I’ll contact you when Mr. Farwell returns,” Catalina advised her upon seeing Roxanne’s remorseful expression.
Roxanne’s eyes glimmered. “I…”
She wanted to wait a little longer. I was already late just now. This time, what if they come back right after I leave? Won’t I miss Estella again?
For some unknown reason, Estella had become as important as Archie and Benny to her even though she had only known Estella recently.
Perhaps it was because of how dependent Estella was on her that made her want to reciprocate the same feelings for Estella.
Catalina sighed. “When Ms. Estella left, she was sobbing and demanding to see you. Mr. Farwell might have brought her to see you. You can go home and take a look.”
Roxanne’s eyes lit up, and she nodded gratefully at Catalina. “Thank you. I’ll head home to have a look.”
With that, she quickly turned around and drove home.
Archie and Benny were on the couch with their laptops when she got home. Archie was researching the stock market, whereas Benny was typing furiously on the keyboard.
“Mommy!” They put down their laptops and ran to her when they saw that she was back.
As they walked up to her, they cautiously peered behind her.
Roxanne smiled at them absent-mindedly and scanned the living room. There was no sight of Estella and Lucian.
“Mommy, what are you looking for?” they asked in confusion.
Roxanne met their eyes and asked hopefully, “Did Essie and Mr. Farwell come by here?”
Archie and Benny exchanged glances and shook their heads.
“What happened?” They did not understand why Roxanne asked that question.
Roxanne’s heart sank when she heard their reply. However, she did not want them to worry, so she shook her head and tried her best to remain calm. “It’s nothing.”
Archie and Benny noticed the worry in Roxanne’s eyes, but they did not probe further since Roxanne did not wish to explain.
“Mommy, why did you come back by yourself? Where’s Mr. Damaris?” Although they did not like Jack, they brought him up to distract Roxanne.
Roxanne shook her head. “Something cropped up, so I returned first.” Hearing that, Archie and Benny heaved sighs of relief. However, they could not help but worry when they looked at Roxanne’s expression.
Roxanne was worried about Estella, so she was not in the mood to chat. She said to Archie and Benny, “I’m sorry. I feel slightly unwell. I won’t be able to bring you guys out to play.”
Before she left in the morning, she had promised to bring them out after she returned. If I had reached the Farwell residence earlier, I might have been able to bring the three of them out together…
Roxanne was filled with remorse. Archie and Benny could feel the sadness in Roxanne’s tone. They smiled and said, “It’s okay. We only said that because we didn’t want you to leave with Mr. Damaris in the morning. Mommy, if you’re feeling unwell, you should come in and rest.”
As soon as they said that, they wanted to support her to the couch so she could sit down. However, Roxanne stood still. She had only returned home to check if Lucian had brought Estella to her place.
Since there was no sight of Estella, she did not know if she should stay or head back to the Farwell residence and wait.
Archie and Benny noticed Roxanne’s hesitation and shared a look. They moved forward and grabbed one of Roxanne’s arms each.
Roxanne let them lead her to the couch since she didn’t want to turn down their good intentions.
Archie poured a glass of water and handed it to her. “Mommy, have some water.”
Roxanne looked at the glass of water and smiled absent-mindedly. “Thank you, Darling.”
She took the glass and lowered her gaze. All she could think about was Estella.
Essie was wailing so miserably just now…
Archie and Benny had thought Roxanne would explain the situation to them after she had some rest.
However, she remained silent for a considerable amount of time, and her expression even turned grimmer.
They could no longer hide their worry as they asked, “Mommy, did something happen? You can tell us if anything happens. Although we’re still young, we can still help you!”
Roxanne’s heart melted, and she glanced at them. “If…”
She trailed off and could not help frowning.
She did not know what to say either.
Archie and Benny asked anxiously, “Mommy, what is it?”
Roxanne lowered her gaze as mixed feelings surged within her heart.
Estella had been so upset because she could not make it in time. Now, for some reason, she wanted to ask her boys for advice.
Unbeknownst to her, she had viewed Estella as her child.
When that realization dawned on her, she only felt worse.
When Essie raised that sudden question yesterday morning, she must have thought of me as her mother. Yet, I hurt her. Why does it matter if I act as her mother before her birth mother returns? At least she won’t be this upset, and I won’t feel so bad now.
“Mommy, is it because of Essie?” Archie asked. The thought had suddenly occurred to him because the first thing Roxanne had asked when she arrived home earlier was whether Estella had been there.
Roxanne’s expression changed immediately when she heard her son guess correctly. Archie is so perceptive! He guessed the reason in an instant! “What’s wrong with Essie?” Benny asked in a puzzled tone.
The boys grew concerned about Estella when they saw the look on Roxanne’s face. However, they also knew that if they revealed how worried they were, Roxanne would only become sadder.
So, the boys tried their best to hide away the worry and anxiety bubbling in their chests.
Roxanne hesitated a little. In the end, she asked the question that had been bothering her, “Would you be angry with me if you wanted to see me, but I didn’t show up in time?”
The boys exchanged looks and, without hesitation, shook their heads in unison. “No!”
Roxanne looked at them doubtfully.
After a while, the boys smiled sheepishly and held out their hands. They pinched their thumbs and index fingers together, showing the tiniest gap.
“Well, maybe just a little, but we won’t really be angry with you, Mommy! We will forgive you as long as you show up in the end!”
Roxanne’s heart melted when she took in the sincere expressions on the boys’ faces. “Thank you, Darlings!”
The boys threw their arms around Roxanne and whispered comfortingly into her ear, “Essie must feel the same way. Don’t worry, Mommy!”
Roxanne nodded lightly, but still, she could not help worrying.
After all, the situation with the boys and Estella was very, very different.
She could still recall the way Estella had been when she was diagnosed with autism.
It was not easy for Estella’s condition to improve. If she regressed because of Roxanne, Roxanne would never forgive herself.
Archie and Benny exchanged glances. Then, they turned to their mother and asked in a cautious tone, “So, Mommy, are you sad because of Essie?”
Roxanne nodded wordlessly. Guilt was written all over her face. “Essie cried and cried, but I didn’t manage to get to her in time.”
The boys could not help crinkling their faces in concern as they thought about Estella’s situation.
Mommy is so worried! Essie must have cried up a storm! I wonder how Essie is doing now!
Although the boys were wrecked with worries, they still put on smiles as they comforted Roxanne, “Even in such a situation, we’ll still forgive you, Mommy! Essie will too!”
Roxanne was touched.
The boys looked at Roxanne solemnly. “It’s because we know how difficult your job is, and we know how much you love us!”
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.