Although it was normal for Lucian to hold Estella’s hand, there was something strange about it this time. “Daddy, your hand feels hot.”
Lucian furrowed his brows and silently let go of her before walking behind her instead.
Estella did not dwell on that, and she climbed into the car.
Lucian started the car engine.
“Daddy, let’s go to play with Archie and Benny,” came Estella’s voice a moment later.
Lucian only frowned and replied, “Ms. Jarvis is busy lately. Let’s wait for her to be done with work first.”
That was what Roxanne had told him after all.
The light in Estella’s eyes dimmed at that. “But it’s been such a long time since I’ve seen Ms. Jarvis…”
Roxanne had not contacted him ever since that call, and the fury in Lucian had yet to die down.
Frustration was the only thing he felt when he heard Estella mentioning Roxanne.
“We’ll see her once she’s done with her work,” Lucian uttered in a strangely hoarse voice.
Estella could sense that something seemed off about her father, but she could not figure out what exactly it was, so she stayed quiet.
Upon reaching the Farwell residence, Lucian got out of the car first. Then he turned around to carry Estella down as well.
Carrying Estella had always been an easy task for him, but he stumbled this time.
“Daddy!”
Estella was frightened, and once her father regained his balance, she looked up at his face in concern.
The sight that she saw was Lucian’s pale face.
Seeing the worry in Estella’s eyes, Lucian patted her head gently in consolation. “I’m fine. I might have caught a cold.”
He had been feeling weak the entire day, and the girl had pointed out how hot his palm was earlier.
It must be because I caught a cold, then.
Lucian did not think much about it. He had always been as healthy as a horse; this was only a cold. He was sure that he would be fine after a night’s rest.
However, Estella was worried.
She had never seen her father this weak before.
“Go on in.”
Fearing that he would pass the virus to her, Lucian did not hold the girl’s hand again.
Estella stared at her father’s back as worry washed over her.
“Mr. Farwell,” Catalina greeted him when she saw him enter. She had prepared dinner. “Dinner is—”
Before she could finish her sentence, Lucian interrupted tiredly, “I won’t be eating; I’ll be resting upstairs. I’ll leave Essie to you.” Right as he said that, Estella entered the house.
Noticing that Lucian seemed unwell, Catalina said nothing else. After watching Lucian head up the stairs, she led the girl to the dining table.
Estella was staring up the stairs with a worried look on her face. “Daddy’s not feeling well.” Catalina patted her head and reassured her, “I’ll go and take a look at him later. Eat while dinner is hot, Ms. Estella.”
Estella was still worried and was distracted throughout dinner. After finally finishing her meal, she made to run up the stairs. Catalina hurried after her.
The door to Lucian’s bedroom was tightly shut. Estella knocked on the door cautiously but received no response. “Daddy?” she called out. Silence answered her. She glanced at Catalina anxiously.
Even Catalina was starting to worry. She had seen how pale Lucian looked. Still, as she thought that he would be able to take care of himself, and since Estella needed taking care of, she did not head upstairs right away.
She did not expect the situation to be this serious. Catalina and Estella exchanged a glance before the former hesitantly opened the door.
Fortunately, Lucian did not have the habit of locking his door, so they could get into the room with ease. As it turned out, Lucian was lying on his bed, securely under his covers. He was asleep.
He seemed fine at the first glance, but the two of them soon notice the unnatural blush on his face and his furrowed brows. “Daddy!” Estella ran to the side of his bed to take a better look at her father’s condition.
Unlike her, Catalina hastily made a call to the family doctor. Just as she ended the call, Lucian woke up from their voices.
When he squinted at the side of the bed and noticed the small figure there, he quickly said, “Go out, Essie. I’m sick, and I’ll spread it to you.” Estella shook her head fervently.
Lucian’s voice was raspy, and Estella knew that he had a bad cold. “I want to take care of you, Daddy!” the girl protested. Lucian was unfazed by it. “Catalina, bring Essie out.”
Catalina gave him a curt nod and walked over to the side of the bed. “Mr. Farwell, I’ve asked Dr. Elswick to make a trip here.” Lucian inclined his head. “Please bring Essie out.”
“No!” Estella stubbornly ran away from Catalina. “I want to take care of Daddy!” Not daring to use any force on the girl, Catalina had no choice but to call out, “Ms. Estella…”
With a somber look, Estella uttered, “Daddy always takes care of me when I’m sick, so now it’s my turn to take care of Daddy!” Catalina turned to look at Lucian with a frown.
“You want to take care of me?” Lucian asked, staring at his daughter. Estella bobbed her head vigorously.
“Then please get me a glass of water from downstairs.”
Hearing that, Estella spun around without hesitation and went out of the room.
It was only then Lucian said to Catalina, “Go after Essie and take care of her. When Dr. Elswick is here, get him to come upstairs.”
Catalina nodded and turned to leave.
Right as Estella brought water over, she saw Catalina exiting the room and closing the door behind her. At that, she quickened her pace and jogged over to the doorway before looking at Catalina angrily.
“I want to give this to Daddy!” The second Catalina turned around, she was greeted by the sight of the sulking girl. A resigned look crept into her eyes. Mr. Farwell enjoys giving me challenges like these, doesn’t he?
“Ms. Estella, Mr. Farwell isn’t feeling well, and he has gone to sleep again.” Catalina dared not look into Estella’s eyes as she spoke, for she could not bear to lie to the girl.
Upon hearing that her father had gone to sleep, Estella looked at the glass of water in her hands in disappointment and in silence.
Catalina glanced at the time. It would still take some time before Sonny got here, so she brought Estella back to her room to rest.
Half an hour later, Sonny walked into the mansion with his medical kit.
By then, Catalina had already coaxed Estella to sleep, so she came out to lead Sonny into Lucian’s bedroom.
Lucian had fallen asleep again.
“Mr. Farwell did not seem well when he came home today,” Catalina said to Sonny as she looked at Lucian worriedly.
Sonny nodded. Then he stepped forward to give Lucian a checkup.
During the checkup, Lucian woke up from the doctor’s movement. When he realized it was Sonny, he asked in a hoarse voice, “So what is it?”
“You’re ill because you’re overworked,” Sonny said. “And something’s bothering you, so your flu-like symptoms are extra worse. You’ll need to rest well during 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.