Lucian was the first one to exit the vehicle.
Sonny followed closely behind, then turned around and helped Aubree.
Gina and her husband had been waiting for a long time by then and hurriedly came to greet them when they saw Lucian.
“What happened, Lucian? How did Aubree hurt herself?”
Then, she glanced around and added anxiously, “Where’s Aubree?”
As soon as she spoke, she saw her daughter appear with Sonny’s help.
The couple scowled. Though they knew of Lucian’s intention to cancel the wedding, they did not expect him to be that harsh to their daughter.
Lucian had already explained over the phone that Aubree might have a hairline fracture, and despite knowing the severity of her condition, he did not even bother to help her.
If somebody had taken a photograph and circulated it, their engagement would have become a joke. The couple’s minds raced with the best course of action before resigning to humble themselves. “What happened, Aubree? How did you hurt yourself so badly?”
Not seeming to notice Lucian’s cold attitude, the couple directed their concerned attention to their daughter and took over Sonny’s job in assisting her.
Aubree allowed her emotions to run rampant at the sight of her parents. She scowled, refusing to answer them.
Sonny stepped forward to speak out. “Ms. Pearson had fallen down the stairs, and her ankle is hurt. It’s not serious and she is going to be fine with a couple of days in a cast and rest.”
Gina turned pale at those words. “How could you say that a fracture is not serious?” Aubree gave her mother a meaningful gaze at the latter’s hostile tone.
Upon realizing she had said something wrong, Gina suppressed her anger.
The full extent of Aubree’s injury was ascertained after paying a visit to the orthopedic specialist and taking an X-ray.
The group watched as Aubree’s foot was put in a cast.
Lucian glanced at the time and frowned. “Now that you’re here, Mr. and Mrs. Pearson, I should get going.”
At that, he inclined his head at the two elders before turning to Sonny. “You will be responsible for following up on Ms. Pearson’s progress. Expedite her recovery.”
Naturally, Sonny promised without hesitation.
“Lucian!” Gina called to stop him as she glanced at her daughter and then at Lucian’s departing back.
Lucian’s stride faltered as he turned around. “Is there anything else?”
Gina gave a dry laugh. “Look at how badly injured Aubree is. Besides, her father and I have been busy of late and may not be able to handle her. Why don’t Aubree stay with you—”
Before she finished her sentence, Lucian interrupted, “I will send somebody to care for her if need be.”
Gina gulped and turned to face her husband with a furious expression.
Samuel knew what his wife was up to and chimed in at once, “That’s not what we meant. Besides, we won’t feel at ease having an outsider care for her.”
Their words could not be more explicit: they hoped Aubree would be allowed to stay at the Farwell residence.
As Lucian was still courteous enough to give them due respect as elders, Samuel was reasonably confident that Lucian might agree his request.
To his surprise, Lucian rejected him casually.
“In that case, I can send her to my mother’s.”
In an instant, the Pearson family of three was dumbstruck.
However, Lucian had still shown respect to the two elders by providing a reason.
“I’ve been swamped of late. Besides, I need to care for Essie. I have my own obligations to attend to.”
Upon realizing that their plan had fallen apart, Gina and her husband gritted their teeth and swallowed the indignity.
Gina simpered, “There’s no need to trouble Mrs. Farwell. I’ll take care of Aubree at home these coming days.”
Lucian nodded noncommittedly. He turned and left after nodding once more at the two of them.
Lucian’s phone rang when he arrived at the hospital entrance. It was the landline from home. “When are you coming back, Daddy?”
Estella’s demure voice sounded from the other end as soon as he picked up. “I’m on the way,” Lucian replied softly. “Go to sleep first, I’ll be home to see you soon.”
Estella promised and hung up quickly after that. It was already late at night when Lucian arrived back at his manor. Then, he made his way to Estella’s bedroom as soon as he got home just like how he had promised her.
To his surprise, he found the child still awake. She watched him enter indignantly without saying a word. Lucian frowned. “What are you angry about this time?”
“You’re back so late!” Estella complained. I would love it if Daddy spent all night with Ms. Jarvis, but he was with Ms. Pearson. I dislike her! Counting in the travel time, it would not take him more than an hour to make it back.
Lucian’s brows twitched at the child’s complaint. The child had never complained when I was out all night caring for Roxanne. It was obvious that both women were given very different treatment.
“I ran into Mr. Pearson and Ms. Walker,” he explained patiently to the child while suppressing his exasperation. Estella’s cheeks remained puffed with displeasure.
Lucian knew the child would not be deterred from speaking with him about Roxanne, so he did not bother explaining further.
Estella was still considering how to talk to her father, but his reply never came.
However, she was not going to give up that easily after spending all night mulling over it.
Then, Estella steeled herself to begin, “I don’t want Ms. Pearson to be my mommy.”
Lucian agreed with an indifferent expression. “I know.”
“I want Ms. Jarvis!” she added quickly, staring at her father.
Estella’s reaction did not surprise Lucian.
His brows furrowed, and his gaze at his daughter turned grave.
“Don’t be mad at Ms. Jarvis, please, Daddy?” Estella begged forlornly.
Lucian fell silent for a long time before standing up from the bed.
“Daddy!” The child reached out to grab his shirt when she thought her father was going to leave.
Lucian merely stood on the spot. His gaze fell onto her little hand.
Though Estella knew her father had always accommodated her, it seemed to her that he had become really angry this time.
Aware of that thought, Estella let go of her grip with an aggrieved expression on her face.
“You promised me, Daddy.”
What’s more, he was the one who suggested it. Now Daddy is going back on his word.
Lucian’s gaze softened at the sight of the child being close to tears.
Several seconds later, he leaned over and caressed her head comfortingly.
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.