No sooner had Roxanne stepped out than she caught sight of the Bentley, whose headlights were already turned off, a stone’s throw away.
In a flash, memories of the events that transpired last night flooded her mind.
It belatedly occurred to her that she had no idea where Lucian had gone.
At the thought of the man, she inevitably recalled the question from him before she went to sleep last night.
For a moment, her mind turned chaotic once again.
By the time she snapped back to reality, Lucian was already standing before her, checking on the children’s condition with his head lowered.
“Daddy! Where did you go?” Estella regarded her father with curiosity etched across her features.
When she saw no signs of him upon waking up early in the morning, she thought he had already gone back.
Patting her on the head, Lucian started in a deep voice, “I’ve got something to discuss with Ms. Jarvis. Go and play in the tent for a while with Archie and Benny.”
He didn’t ask about their condition.
Roxanne might be in the dark about the children’s act yesterday, but he saw right through it.
It was obvious to him that they merely wanted to create an opportunity for him and Roxanne to interact.
Although Estella was puzzled about that instruction, she still agreed obediently.
At the side, Roxanne’s nerves stretched tautly, and she eyed the man in front of her warily.
If he wants to continue speaking of the topic yesterday, I really don’t know how I should respond.
Her thoughts were clearly written on her face.
A glimpse of her expression had Lucian’s gaze dimming, but he ultimately didn’t put his emotions on display, merely stating, “I discovered something. Come and have a look.”
Seemingly without thinking about it, Roxanne got the message that his so-called discovery had to do with the bacteria.
At that realization, she put her wariness away. Nodding solemnly, she followed behind him.
“Have you and the kids been here?” Lucian came to a stop under a gigantic tree. Stopping with him, Roxanne looked around before shaking her head. “No.”
That tree was located at the edge of the woods. Yesterday, she had been with Archie, Benny, and Estella in the woods or by the waterfall.
As such, they indeed hadn’t been to that particular spot. Nodding in understanding, Lucian motioned for her to take a look at the bottom of the tree.
Roxanne followed his gaze and took a closer look, upon which she made out a vague footprint. From the looks of it, it obviously belonged to an adult.
As the footprints moved toward the edge of the grassy area, they grew increasingly faint. Therefore, she had no way of knowing whether the owner of those footprints had gone anywhere near the tent.
However, it was certain that someone else was there yesterday other than her and the children. In fact, that person had been watching from the side while she was playing with the children.
That realization had a wave of fear washing over Roxanne. “Someone is following you guys. That aside, the person is very experienced,” Lucian concluded.
After all, it was clear as day that the footprint was left when someone jumped down from the tree. Who exactly would go to such lengths to stalk her?
He really couldn’t come up with an answer, so he asked directly, “Who do you think would want to keep tabs on you guys?”
Frowning, Roxanne shook her head. I can’t think of anyone I’ve offended recently. If I’ve got to name someone, he’s probably the only person. Besides, it was over business matters to boot. But it obviously can’t be him who did such a thing. Apart from him…
Out of the blue, a conjecture flashed across her mind. She reflexively lifted her eyes and glanced at the man before her, for the answer in her mind was inextricably linked to him.
“What, you’ve got the answer?” Lucian’s gaze had been fixated on her face, so he naturally didn’t miss her eyes on him.
Roxanne was slightly stunned, but in the end, she suppressed the suspicion she harbored and shook her head calmly. “No.”
Before having any definite evidence, she didn’t want to accuse anyone blindly.
Lucian leveled a hard stare at her in an attempt to glean something from her countenance.
Judging from her expression earlier, she has clearly thought of something. But for some unknown reason, she didn’t give voice to it.
Roxanne could almost sense his tangible gaze on her face.
She lowered her eyes in feigned calmness to avoid his stare. “We should go back. The kids are all starving.”
Since she wasn’t planning on saying anything, Lucian didn’t bother pressing the issue. He merely nodded noncommittally.
Roxanne furtively breathed a sigh of relief and followed behind him, heading toward the direction of the tent.
“Before that person is found, I’ll arrange for some men to protect you and the kids,” Lucian stated on the way back.
Hearing that, Roxanne frowned, and she instinctively wanted to decline.
Verily, she didn’t want someone keeping tabs on her.
But on second thought, having bodyguards keeping tabs on me in the open is far better than being secretly watched by the person yesterday.
With that in mind, Roxanne ultimately relented, “Thank you.”
“You’ve also got to pay more attention to your surroundings during this time. If you discover anything out of place, contact me immediately,” Lucian ordered.
Roxanne agreed to them all.
When they returned to the tent, the children weren’t playing but sitting in a row, gazing in the direction where they had left.
At the sight of the couple, their eyes lit up, and they trotted up to them.
Roxanne and Lucian packed the tent before putting away all the camping equipment with Archie, Benny, and Estella. Then, they all made the trip back by taking Lucian’s car.
They left Roxanne’s car at the camping site, having hired a garage to tow it away. When they arrived at Roxanne’s house, Roxanne alighted from the car with Archie and Benny.
Getting out of the car as well, Lucian helped them to retrieve their things from the trunk. After taking everything, Roxanne bid Lucian and Estella farewell, planning to bring Archie and Benny back into the house. “Ms. Jarvis…”
Making for a petite figure beside Lucian, Estella reached out and grabbed the hem of Roxanne’s shirt. After being with Roxanne, Archie, and Benny for a day and a night, she couldn’t bear to part with them just like that.
Her voice melted Roxanne’s heart. Roxanne dipped her eyes and stroked her head. “Are you hungry, Essie? Come in and have some food.”
As her stomach has been grumbling since she woke up early in the morning, she must be famished now. Estella’s eyes lit up, and she joyfully leaned close to Roxanne.
Subsequently, Roxanne lifted her eyes and looked at the man in front of her. “Would you like to eat something together, Mr. Farwell?”
Although she didn’t know how to face Lucian, it was undeniable that he had helped them tremendously. Thus, she had no reason to give him the boot.
She initially thought that he would agree readily, considering his temperament.
Unexpectedly, Lucian didn’t reply to her invitation instantly. Instead, his brows knitted together.
After waiting for some time, Roxanne couldn’t help finding it strange.
From his reaction, my invitation seemed to have blindsided him.
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.