“Lucian, Essie, you’re back.”
As though blinded to their change in expression, Aubree went up to them with a bright smile.
Behind her followed Catalina, who wore an exasperated expression.
Aubree came to visit out of the blue that afternoon, claiming that she wanted to check on Lucian’s recovery.
It went without saying that she had no authority to kick the woman out, so she could only allow her to stay.
Lucian merely tilted his head at Aubree apathetically before bringing Estella into the mansion. Behind them, as Aubree eyeballed their backs, a flash of something flittered across her eyes.
From what I know, Roxanne and Lucian hadn’t met ever since that night. Hah! It’s evident that the b*tch knew her place and gave up. With that being the case, I’ve got to seize this opportunity all the more and secure my position as the future mistress of the Farwell family!
Although Lucian remained indifferent to her as usual, she wasn’t deterred in the least. Upon seeing that they had gone into the mansion, she hurriedly followed suit. “Is something the matter?”
Lucian had already seen Estella back to her room and was descending the stairs. He pinned a detached look on the woman at the door.
Halting in her steps, Aubree answered smilingly, “Mrs. Farwell told me to come and see how you’re doing.” By then, Lucian had already retracted his gaze on her. “I’ve already recovered, so tell her not to worry.”
Aubree wanted to speak further, but he had promptly dismissed her, adding, “If there’s nothing else, you may leave.” At that, Aubree abruptly froze. “But—”
How could I possibly leave when I haven’t even got the time to do anything?
Lucian swept his gaze over her. “Wasn’t it my mother who asked you to come and look in on me? You’ve seen me now, so it’s best that you go over quickly and tell her how I’m doing so that she won’t worry.”
After saying that, he withdrew his gaze, unwilling to lay eyes on her any longer than necessary. His insouciance had Aubree gritting her teeth hard. Even so, I must think of a way to draw close to him!
With that in mind, she cast a glance at the stairs at the door. A second later, she retracted her gaze and flashed the man a smile. “You’re right. I’ll leave you to it, then. Please excuse me.”
In response, Lucian nodded noncomittally. Pursing her lips, Aubree smiled before whirling around and walking toward the door. Unexpectedly, her foot slipped just as she reached the stairs.
“Ahh!” A shriek echoed in the mansion. Startled, Catalina hastily ran out to see what had happened.
She was greeted by the sight of Aubree sitting on the ground pathetically, curled into a ball while cradling her ankle with both hands and hissing her breaths perpetually.
From the looks of it, she was in agonizing pain. “What’s wrong, Ms. Pearson?”
Seeing that, Catalina swiftly rushed over to help her up. Alas, Aubree kept her head lowered with her eyes trained on her ankle. Her forehead was dotted with sweat.
Panicking slightly, Catalina jerked her head up and cried out for Lucian. “Mr. Farwell, quick, come and have a look!”
No sooner had her voice rang out than Lucian’s figure appeared at the door of the mansion. He stared down at the woman on the ground. “What happened?”
It wasn’t until Aubree heard his voice that she lifted her head with a painful expression on her face and forced a smile. “It’s nothing. I just…”
While saying that, she forcibly tried to get up from the ground.
But the moment her injured leg touched the ground, a stab of excruciating pain shot through her body.
Unstable on her feet, she almost fell back onto the ground.
Catalina failed to react in time. Just when Aubree was going to take a spill, a hand materialized all of a sudden.
It was Lucian.
“Don’t force yourself when you’re hurt.”
Frowning, Lucian aloofly supported her elbow with a hand and helped her regain her feet.
Despite helping her, his tone remained impassive without a hint of concern.
When she was steady on her feet, he dropped his hand and ordered Catalina, “Help Ms. Pearson in.”
“Sorry, I… was thinking about something earlier, so I accidentally missed the step,” Aubree murmured in feigned contrition after Catalina had helped her onto the couch.
Standing behind the two of them, Lucian said nothing to that. Aubree’s heart sank, and she hypocritically remarked, “I probably twisted my ankle by accident. Let me rest for a while before going over to Mrs. Farwell’s place to tell her about your condition.”
Having said that, she acted as though she was afraid that he would worry and flashed him another smile. She initially thought that her comment would garner the man’s sympathy.
At the very least, he would allow her to stay over that night. To her disappointment, Lucian merely bobbed his head blithely. Subsequently, he crouched before her.
For a moment, she was at a loss.
A heartbeat later, a sharp pain came from her ankle, upon which her expression instantly changed.
“Does it hurt?” Lucian queried in a deep voice, a hand grasping her injured ankle.
Gritting her teeth, Aubree nodded fervently.
In the next instant, Lucian dropped his hand off her. “It’s likely a fracture.”
When Aubree heard that, her eyes lit up, and she ventured, “Is it that serious? Then, can I…”
Before she could finish her utterance with her request to stay the night at the manor, Lucian cut her off.
“Have Dr. Elswick make a trip here and check her over,” Lucian instructed Catalina, shifting his gaze away from her.
Humming in acknowledgment, Catalina immediately contacted the family doctor.
Aubree wanted to make another try, but Lucian’s voice sounded once more.
“If it’s severe, you might have to go to the hospital. Stay still and sit here to wait for Dr. Elswick to come and check on your injury.”
On the whole, those words could be considered an expression of concern.
However, Aubree knew all too well that he was merely fulfilling his obligations as the host. Otherwise, his tone wouldn’t be so icy.
If I hadn’t taken a tumble at his doorstep, he probably wouldn’t even have bothered to inquire about my condition.
At that realization, she couldn’t help recalling how the man kept Roxanne company for the entire night when the latter fell sick.
With the comparison between the two, a tidal wave of resentment surged within her. The expression on her face grew considerably grimmer.
Lucian, on the other hand, had already sat down on the couch next to her. Right then, he was checking his emails on his phone.
It was abundantly clear that he planned on having the family doctor deal with her injury.
His impassioned look had the envy within Aubree blazing all the hotter. Yet, she was also aware that it wasn’t a good time for her to speak.
Almost half an hour passed before Sonny finally arrived.
“What’s the matter, Catalina? Who did you say was injured on the phone just now?”
Hastening over, Catalina pointed at Aubree on the couch. “Ms. Pearson tripped and fell at the stairs. Go and check on her, quick.”
Sonny had been the family doctor of the Farwell family for many years, so he was naturally acquainted with Aubree.
Hearing that she was injured, he quickly stepped forward with his medical kit to check her over.
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.