Roxanne had already started the car and turned, driving toward the road she had come from.
Archie and Benny wanted to say something, but they noticed that Roxanne was in a bad mood, so they stayed quiet.
Meanwhile, at the Farwell residence, Aubree stared at the car slowly driving off, and a smug smile appeared on her lips.
So what if Roxanne came? Lucian is mine. No one can steal him from me!
Aubree was satisfied as she watched the car drive further into the dark before her gaze switched to Lucian, and she said, “Lucian, it’s getting late. The two of you should rest. I need to get going too.”
Lucian nodded, not sparing a glance toward her.
Aubree did not get angry either as she made her way toward the entrance of the manor.
Although her efforts for the day were wasted, she had to admit that Roxanne’s action just now made her feel much better.
She could accept everything, including Lucian ignoring her.
I believe that after today, that b*tch will understand her place and stay away from Lucian!
At the entrance of the mansion, Lucian frowned as he watched Aubree leave.
He thought he might be seeing things as she had left in a seemingly good mood.
What did she do this time without me knowing?
When they arrived back home, Archie and Benny wanted to cheer Roxanne up, but she did not give them a chance to do so as she headed straight for the study.
When they saw Roxanne’s retreating figure, they felt disappointed and worried. They kept thinking that something must have happened at Lucian’s house that they did not know about.
Roxanne closed the door to the study. She had a conflicted look as she sat at the desk. The truth was, she did not have any work. That was just an excuse she came up with at the very last minute.
She thought of how she felt when she saw Lucian and Aubree together and felt a strange feeling tug at her heart.
What’s wrong with me? I knew that Lucian was using me as his tool to compete in business. His previous pursuit was all talk. But why does my heart feel heavy when I see him with another woman…
Roxanne had no idea how to face this version of herself. Suddenly, the ringing of a phone tore her away from her thoughts. She snapped back to her senses and looked down at the phone screen.
It was a call from Jack. I wonder why he’s calling me at such a late hour. “Mr. Damaris, what’s the matter?”
On the other end of the call, Jack’s voice was gentle as he said, “Did I interrupt your rest?”
Roxanne bit her lip. “No. I just came home.” Upon hearing that, Jack finally felt relieved and switched the topic. “I heard from Dr. Galloway that the medicinal herbs from Herbscape Group were also burned in the fire at the research institute.”
Roxanne was taken aback. She did not expect Colby to tell Jack about it.
Jack continued without waiting for her to answer, “I found another way to get more. I’ll send them to you tomorrow.”
Roxanne frowned and instinctively refused, “Since they were burned at our research institute, we’ll find a way to get more ourselves.”
After all, this batch of medicinal herbs was to be used for a project. Jack had found a way to get the previous batch, but they were burned at the research institute.
Logically, they should be the ones to think of a way to get more medicinal herbs this time.
However, Jack did not mind as he said, “As long as the project can proceed successfully, it’s nothing but a batch of medicinal herbs. You don’t need to take it to heart.”
Roxanne still felt guilty. “But…”
Jack had already spent so much money on Herbscape Group. It was inappropriate for Damaris Group to continue doing so.
On the other end of the call, Jack could hear the hesitance in Roxanne’s voice. He smiled and said, “Damaris Group originally led this project. You all are just researchers. Hence, it’s only right for Damaris Group to fork up the costs. If you still feel guilty about it, how about you treat me to lunch?”
Since he had spelled things out so clearly, Roxanne had no reason to refuse, be it the medicinal herbs that Damaris Group would be providing once more or Jack’s suggestion of treating him to lunch.
“When are you free, Mr. Damaris?” she asked frankly.
Jack was surprised as he did not expect she would agree to it so quickly. He was silent for a few seconds before he smiled and answered, “I’m free anytime.”
Nodding, Roxanne mulled over it before she suggested, “Since you’ll be sending the medicinal herbs here, how about tomorrow?”
Jack agreed without a single moment of hesitance.
The two of them chatted for a while before ending the call.
It was getting late, and Roxanne remembered that she had work tomorrow. She calmed herself down and left the study.
As soon as she opened the door, she saw Archie and Benny standing outside with faces full of worry.
“Why aren’t you two asleep yet?” Roxanne was stunned for a moment as she stared in confusion at the two boys standing in front of her.
Archie and Benny exchanged glances and said, “We thought you seemed in a bad mood, Mommy.” Upon hearing that, the emotions Roxanne had tried to suppress were no longer under control as they rose up within her once more.
“Mommy, what happened at the entrance of Mr. Farwell’s house?” Archie stared at her seriously. His words hinted that he somehow knew what had happened.
Yet, in reality, he had not seen anything. Roxanne patted Archie’s head as though nothing had happened. “It’s nothing. I suddenly remembered that I had work that needed to be done.”
Archie and Benny were persistent. “Then how about we visit Mr. Farwell tomorrow?”
Roxanne’s expression stiffened when she heard that. The boys stared at her with wide eyes, trying to see if they could find anything by studying her expression.
It took some time before Roxanne spoke again. She forced a smile and said, “I have something important at work that needs to be settled tomorrow. Besides, Mr. Farwell only has the flu and fever. I’m sure he’d have recovered by tomorrow.”
Initially, she was worried that Aubree might have done something to Lucian. However, when she saw that scene unfold before her just now, all her worries disappeared.
Judging by how Lucian treated Aubree, Aubree must have already reached her goal and wouldn’t do anything unnecessary anymore. Archie and Benny had predicted Roxanne’s refusal.
Benny was still unwilling to give up as he grabbed the hem of Roxanne’s skirt and complained, “But, Mommy, when you were sick, Mr. Farwell would always come to visit you.”
In other words, they should visit Lucian, even if it meant using the excuse of returning the favor.
It would have been fine if Archie and Benny did not bring up that matter. Once they brought it up, Roxanne felt a stabbing pain in her heart.
Every time she was sick, Lucian would always be by her side.
Roxanne could not help but feel touched by his gesture.
However, now that she thought about it, those were nothing but a part of his strategy to get in her good books.
Archie and Benny noticed their mother’s mood turn sour and did not dare to say anything more.
Roxanne did not have the energy to explain further to them, either. “It’s getting late. The two of you should go to sleep. If you’re worried about Mr. Farwell, I think you’ll be able to see him when you go to school tomorrow.”
With that, she walked past Archie and Benny.
The siblings lowered their heads in disappointment but did not stop her from leaving.
“Archie, should we not have pressured Mommy to visit Daddy?” Benny asked guiltily as he looked at Archie after Roxanne left.
Archie also regretted what they had done. “We already went to Daddy’s place. Let’s come up with an idea to make Mommy feel better.”
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.