Her sarcastic remarks had Lucian furrowing his brows and tightening his grip uncontrollably.
As Roxanne felt the pain in her wrist, she inhaled sharply and lifted her eyes to stare at Lucian warily. The latter’s expression was so dark that it was frightening.
After a long while, he inched toward her abruptly. She wanted to back away. Yet, he was gripping her wrist, which made it hard for her to move.
For a moment, the distance between them was so close they could almost feel each other’s breath.
Subconsciously, Roxanne slowed down her breathing and clenched her fists that were hanging by her sides.
She felt Lucian’s intense gaze on her as he stared at every inch of her body while tightening his grip on her wrist.
Just when she thought he was going to do something to her, he let go of her wrist unexpectedly.
Roxanne was taken aback by his action.
“Herbscape Group still has some stock in another city for those medicinal herbs. I can get someone to send them to you as soon as possible if you need them.” Lucian spoke in a deep and awkward tone.
Indeed, he almost lost control when Roxanne ignited his rage.
However, he recalled his purpose of coming over and also Jonathan’s words this morning. Hence, he resisted acting impulsively.
Doubts filled Roxanne’s eyes when she heard his statement, for what he said didn’t match his attitude at all.
Yet, after staring at him for a long while, she noticed nothing odd in his expression at all.
Therefore, she had no choice but to believe him. She replied coldly, “Thank you, Mr. Farwell. But we don’t need it.”
In truth, they really needed the medicinal herbs. But Colby had told her that he would figure it out.
Besides, Roxanne had no reason to accept Lucian’s inexplicable act of kindness.
The atmosphere around Lucian immediately became gloomy when he heard her rejection.
Without hesitation, Roxanne pulled herself away from him before he could reach out to her and increased the distance between them.
“I don’t know why you want to help the research institute so suddenly. But, considering your business strategies, I think it’s best if we avoid getting involved with you.”
With that, Roxanne raised her head and looked at Lucian as if she was insinuating something. “After all, I can’t be certain about the method you’ll use to deal with us if something bad happens during our collaboration.”
She was referring to Lucian’s retort against her words earlier.
If Lucian really wanted to take action against the research institute, it wouldn’t be as simple as starting a fire.
Lucian’s expression darkened when he caught the meaning behind her words. “What kind of person do you think I am?”
Roxanne avoided his gaze and responded nonchalantly, “I’m not thinking anything. This is who you always were.”
Herbscape Group was a huge pharmaceutical company. Yet, it was destroyed within days after Farwell Group took action against it.
Lucian’s business strategies were truly horrifying. Moreover, Roxanne was just working in a small research institute. There was no way she would risk the research institute just to go against Lucian.
Lucian narrowed his eyes dangerously. “Herbscape Group backed out on the contract first, and they play an important role in my project. What’s the issue with me using my way to get my project back on track? As for your tiny research institute, is there even a worthy reason for me to take action against it?”
Roxanne remained unfazed. “Maybe there isn’t any reason right now, but we can never guarantee what will happen in the future.”
Besides, she hadn’t found out who was the mastermind behind the fire that happened at the research institute. Thus, she couldn’t put her trust in Lucian so soon.
Lucian stared at Roxanne with a grim expression. Even if she did not say it out explicitly, he could tell that she was still being suspicious of him.
Realizing that, Lucian’s expression darkened terribly, while the tone of his voice became colder. “Since you are refusing my offer, Ms. Jarvis, I won’t insist upon it anymore.”
With that, he turned around and left the study. As she watched his retreating figure, Roxanne’s eyes glinted with an unfathomable emotion. Confusion filled her heart at that moment.
Lucian’s words still left her wondering why he had decided to come all the way to see her in the first place.
She wouldn’t believe his claim that he was merely here to provide the medicinal herbs.
However, Lucian did not mention anything else besides that.
Roxanne mulled over it in the study alone, but she could not find an answer to her doubts.
After quite some time, she finally decided to leave the room.
Meanwhile, the children had finished their dinner and were playing in the living room.
“Ms. Jarvis!”
When Estella noticed Roxanne coming out, she came to her side and clung to the latter’s leg, acting coyly.
Roxanne was taken aback by Estella’s action. It was surprising for her to see the little girl still there, which meant Lucian hadn’t left the house yet.
At that thought, she glanced around the living room.
Sure enough, she noticed him sitting on the couch.
He didn’t even bother looking up at her as if he had never heard anything at all.
Frowning slightly, Roxanne lowered her gaze toward Estella as she forced a smile at the little girl while caressing her hair.
Sensing something was amiss, Estella stared at Roxanne’s face incessantly with her bright, doe-like eyes.
Roxanne knew the children were sensitive toward her emotions. In an attempt to avoid their sight, she turned her head, but it was already too late.
“Are you in a bad mood, Ms. Jarvis?” Estella asked, tugging at Roxanne’s dress cautiously.
Upon hearing those words, Archie and Benny came over and stared at their mother.
Seeing the three children staring at her made Roxanne feel a little embarrassed.
As she recalled the conversation between Lucian and her, she felt her current emotion was all his fault.
With that thought in mind, Roxanne could not help but glance at the man who was sitting on the couch.
Lucian’s dark eyes met her gaze instantly, much to her surprise.
As their gazes met, Roxanne somehow felt a sense of guilt within her. She then retracted her gaze nonchalantly.
Furrowing his brows, Lucian got up and said, “It’s getting late. We should go home now.”
Upon hearing Lucian’s words, Estella tightened her grip on Roxanne’s dress and looked at her father hesitantly. “B-But…”
It looks like Ms. Jarvis is in a foul mood. I just want to comfort her.
However, Lucian was unfazed by Estella’s reaction, merely looking at them emotionlessly.
Roxanne glanced at the man, who was standing not far away from them, before turning her attention back to Estella again. Unable to bear hurting the little girl, she ruffled Estella’s hair.
“Be a good girl, Essie. Go home with your Daddy and get some rest. Archie, Benny, and I will come to pick you up tomorrow.”
The thought of going camping tomorrow with them made Estella feel slightly better.
Suddenly, she thought of something and quickly glanced at Lucian, who still remained expressionless. However, he did not mention anything about the camping trip.
When Estella saw her father hadn’t refused the trip tomorrow, she breathed a sigh of relief. She then let go of Roxanne’s dress hem reluctantly.
I thought Daddy and Ms. Jarvis had a fight again, and he won’t allow me to join her camping trip!
“Ms. Jarvis, you’ll come pick me up early tomorrow, right?
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.