Chapter 507 – Her Sudden Departure: A Tale of Love and Redemption (Lucian & Roxanne)

“Lucian…” Aubree’s expression stiffened when she saw him. “Why are you here? I thought you were indisposed, so I came to fetch Essie.”

Lucian glanced at her calmly. “I don’t recall asking you to do such a thing.” The expressions of the people around them changed the moment they heard the words.

Pippa began to feel fearful. Although she knew about Aubree and Lucian’s relationship and that Aubree would not dare to do anything drastic to the little girl, Estella was not an ordinary little girl.

If Pippa were to allow Estella to be taken away unknowingly, she would likely face repercussions. Thank goodness Essie didn’t go with her…

Relief washed across Archie’s and Benny’s faces. They had thought that it was weird for Aubree to come to pick up Estella when their father knew the little girl did not like the woman.

It was the evil woman’s ploy all along! Hmph! Good thing we stopped her. “Come here, Essie.” Lucian held out a hand toward the girl.

Still shaken, Estella sniffed aggrievedly and took her father’s hand. Lucian turned to look at Archie and Benny. Before he could speak, a strong gust of wind suddenly blew.

Lucian covered his mouth, trying to stifle his cough. “I won’t be waiting with you today. Will you boys be all right?”

Under normal circumstances, Lucian would have waited with Archie and Benny until Lysa arrived.

However, he did not have the energy to do so today.

Archie and Benny nodded obediently. “We’ll be fine!” They knew that their father was currently sick.

Pippa, who was standing nearby, hurried to reassure Lucian, “Don’t worry, Mr. Farwell. I will watch over the boys.”

Lucian nodded and walked away with Estella in tow.

Since Estella knew that Lucian was feeling unwell, she went with him obediently.

Aubree, on the other hand, was filled with guilt and annoyance after Lucian’s sudden appearance.

Lucian had made her look bad in front of so many people. Despite that, she stubbornly went after them.

After Lucian helped Estella into the car, the car started. From the corner of his eye, he could see Aubree following them in her own vehicle.

Displeasure flashed across Lucian’s eyes.

“Are you okay, Daddy?” Estella stared at Lucian, concern in her red-rimmed eyes.

Lucian patted her on the head. “I’m feeling much better.” He wrinkled his brow and said apologetically, “I didn’t tell Ms. Pearson to pick you up.”

Estella grinned. “Yup, I know!”

Lucian patted the little girl’s head and did not speak for the rest of the journey.

Without waiting for Lucian to carry her, Estella scrambled out of the car the moment they arrived at the Farwell residence and grabbed his hand.

Just as they were about to enter the mansion, the sound of a car door slamming shut sounded from behind them.

Puzzled, Estella turned to see Aubree getting out of her car and marching toward them.

“Daddy…” Estella instinctively shrank toward her father.

Lucian gripped her hand comfortingly. “You can just ignore her.”

Uneasy, Estella stood by his side silently.

Aubree approached them, smiling warmly as she glanced at Estella. It made the girl edge closer to her father. “Lucian, you must be exhausted. Leave Essie to me.”

Lucian’s rejection was cold and indifferent. “Mind your own business.” After uttering that, he took Estella’s hand and went inside.

Aubree’s expression darkened as she stared after their retreating figures. However, she quickly adjusted her expression and chased after them.

Catalina had already prepared dinner, and when she saw Lucian entering with Estella, she heaved a sigh of relief. “Dinner is ready, Mr. Farwell, Ms. Estella. Come eat!”

Just as she finished speaking, she noticed Aubree coming in the doors. Catalina’s expression stiffened slightly, but she forced herself to maintain a cordial smile. Aubree ignored her and made a beeline straight for Lucian and Estella.

Lucian, too, ignored her. The only reason he did not outright drive Aubree away was that he did not want to aggravate his mother, who would, in turn, trouble Roxanne.

However, if they expected anything more from him, then they would be sorely disappointed. Meanwhile, Lysa brought Archie and Benny home.

Roxanne was already waiting for them when they arrived. As they were eating dinner, Archie and Benny exchanged glances, attempting to broach the subject of Estella.

“Mommy, how much longer will you be busy?” Roxanne paused, lifting her head to smile at the kids. “I don’t know. It will probably take a while. What’s the matter?”

Benny asked in a childish voice, “Can Essie come over to play with us?”

Roxanne’s expression turned conflicted. Avoiding his eyes, she muttered, “Perhaps some other time. I can’t take care of you all at the moment.”

The two children were visibly disappointed after hearing her words. “Essie’s been feeling down because she hasn’t seen you in so long.”

Benny frowned. “Archie and I tried to cheer her up, but she refused to lighten up.” Archie added, “She was even close to tears today!” Roxanne furrowed her brows and asked worriedly, “What happened?”

Archie glanced at Benny as he replied hesitantly, “Essie told us that Mr. Farwell is sick.”

Roxanne’s hand, which had been in the midst of serving more food, hung motionless in the air. Lucian is sick?

“Mr. Farwell came down with a cold and has a high fever. Essie is very worried about him, but he refuses to let her near him because he doesn’t want to infect her.”

Archie added pitifully, “Essie must be incredibly distressed. Benny and I were so worried when you got sick, Mommy.”

Roxanne’s resolve began to waver after she heard the boys’ words.

I know that Archie and Benny were worried sick when I fell ill. After all, I am all they have, so they must’ve felt so helpless. In other words, Essie must feel the same. I wonder how sick Lucian is.

Seeing their mother’s apprehension, Archie and Benny purposely exaggerated, “He didn’t look too good when he came to pick up Essie earlier. He was coughing fitfully too.”

Benny furrowed his brows. “Mr. Farwell would usually accompany us while we waited for Ms. Lane to come, but he didn’t today. He must be feeling pretty terrible.”

Since Roxanne had not been picking them up from school for some time, she was unaware of that fact. At that, she turned to Lysa for verification.

Lysa nodded in response. “Yes. No wonder I didn’t see Mr. Farwell and Ms. Estella today.”

Still, Roxanne was slightly doubtful. “He drove himself?”

Archie and Benny shook their heads. “We saw Mr. Farwell and Essie get into the back seat.”

That meant the driver was the one who drove them.

A crease appeared between Roxanne’s eyebrows. Prior to this, Lucian would usually drive himself when he went to pick up Estella. Since he actually let the driver chauffer them…

At that thought, Roxanne felt as if something was not right. “Is Catalina not around? Why would he personally go pick her up if he was unwell?” Roxanne looked at Archie and Benny in confusion. Her question caused Archie and Benny to think of Aubree.

Perhaps Mommy would visit Daddy if she knew that the evil woman was loitering around him… On second thought, if Mommy went to visit, maybe that woman would even leave, and Essie won’t have to fear her anymore.

With this in mind, Archie began to explain the situation. “The evil woman was going to bring Essie home, but Essie refused to go with her. Mr. Farwell arrived before things escalated.”

Archie’s tone was quite cheerful as he said, “Mr. Farwell knows that Essie doesn’t like her.” Naturally, Roxanne was aware of the “evil woman’s” identity, but she couldn’t be bothered to correct their term of address at the moment.

I can’t believe Aubree had the audacity to go to the kindergarten. This means that she must be aware of Lucian falling sick. In fact, she may have come from the Farwell residence! At that thought, Roxanne recalled the incident with the bacterial infection.


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.