After arriving at the manor, Aubree pressed on the doorbell.
Catalina hesitated for a moment when she saw Aubree at the door. However, she opened the door for the woman when she recalled what Lucian said.
“Ms. Pearson,” greeted Catalina respectfully. Lowering her head, Catalina took a step back.
She was trying her best to stay away from Aubree’s sight. They weren’t exactly seeing eye to eye when they met the last few times.
Though Catalina only did as she was told, she couldn’t help it when Aubree still held prejudice against her.
Noticing that Catalina was trying to avoid her, Aubree pursed her lips in disapproval and .sneered, “You’re fast to open the door this time.” Catalina kept quiet.
“Where’s Lucian? He’s not home?” Aubree did not wish to dwell on Catalina further. After all, she had already planned to fire the latter after marrying Lucian.
“Mr. Farwell headed to the office to work overtime early in the morning.”
Before leaving, Lucian had told Catalina that Aubree was allowed entry at the Farwell residence at any time.
That was the reason Catalina opened the door for Aubree. Aubree nodded and cast a glance at the stairs leading upstairs. “How about Essie? I’m here to visit her.”
Catalina tensed up. Nonetheless, she chose to answer truthfully. “Ms. Estella is in her bedroom.”
With the cake in one hand, Aubree no longer paid heed to Catalina and headed upstairs.
Catalina followed closely behind her. In the morning, before Lucian left, he had told her not to let Estella and Aubree be alone for the time being.
The truth was, he still had reservations about Aubree.
Noticing that Catalina was tailing her, Aubree halted in exasperation. “Why are you following me? Do you think I’m going to hurt Essie?”
“Mr. Farwell asked me to keep close tabs on Ms. Estella. She might not feel well these two days.”
Aubree was not pleased that Catalina had brought Lucian up. Nonetheless, she said nothing. After she reached Estella’s bedroom, Aubree knocked on her door and tactfully kept quiet.
It did not take long for Estella to open the door. The little girl thought it was Catalina and had not expected it to be Aubree instead.
Her expression stiffened, and it soon turned into an alarmed look. Aubree noticed the change in Estella’s demeanor and was dismayed.
However, she recalled Frieda’s advice and suppressed the hatred she had for Estella. She a smile and lowered herself to level with Estella. “Essie, look. I’ve brought some cakes for you. Do you want to have it downstairs or in your room?”
As if afraid that Estella could not see the cakes, Aubree waved them in front of the little girl. Estella appeared indifferent and turned to Catalina with a deadpan look on her face.
She didn’t want to be alone with Aubree and wanted Catalina to send her away. Despite realizing what Estella wanted, Catalina was unsure of what she could do about the situation.
The only thing that she could think of was to ensure that Estella was not left alone with Aubree. Aubree’s patience soon wore thin when Estella did not respond to her. However, she still had to continue with her act. “You don’t like cakes? Why don’t I take you out for a spin in the afternoon? We can go play with Grandma,” Aubree coaxed.
Aubree alone was already too much for Estella, and she grew even more repulsed after hearing that the woman was planning to bring her to see Sonya.
Catalina couldn’t bear to see Estella suffer. “Ms. Pearson, Ms. Estella has just woken up and might still feel sleepy. Why don’t you let her sleep a little while longer?” Estella hurriedly nodded along and even feigned a yawn.
The innocent looks on her face made her acting look convincing. A furious look fleeted across Aubree’s face, but she managed to regain her composure.
“It seems my timing is not right then. Go on and rest, Essie.” Feeling utterly relieved, Estella didn’t even say anything before hastily closing the door. The smile on Aubree’s face faded as the door shut in her face.
She wanted to scowl at Catalina and tell her to mind her own business.
However, she thought that Catalina must have followed her on Lucian’s order. Surely, the woman had been tasked with observing how she was getting along with Estella.
Aubree reckoned that since she was putting up an act, she might as well put in more work to make it believable.
With that in mind, Aubree recomposed herself. She got up and cast a glance at Catalina.
“I’ll come over more often these two days to accompany Essie. I only brought cakes because thought she liked them. Anyway, it seems like I’m mistaken. You’ve been taking care of Essie for many years. Do you know what she likes?”
Then she flashed Catalina a rare smile. Catalina lowered her head as the disdain for Aubree festered in her heart.
She had been taking care of Estella for many years, and all these years, Aubree had always taken the liberty to come uninvited. Yet, the wretched woman had the cheek to ask her what Estella liked.
It was obvious that Aubree had never taken Estella’s interests to heart.
Not realizing Catalina’s disdain toward her, Aubree went on, “I was too ignorant of Essie’s feelings in the past and had been shoving my own interests at her. It’s really no wonder that she dislikes me. I know I’m wrong now. Catalina, I hope you can guide me on the right path from now on.”
Aubree’s tone was sincere. She completely disregarded the fact that she had been treating Catalina harshly these few days.
Of course, Catalina was reluctant to divulge a single thing. “Ms. Estella doesn’t particularly fancy anything. Besides, I’m only the cook around here. I don’t really know anything about her preference.”
“Then what does she like to eat? I’ll try to learn.” Catalina deliberately told her something that was difficult to make. Aubree’s brows creased a little and were almost unnoticeable.
Despite the fact that the dish was difficult to prepare, Aubree didn’t seem bothered. After all, she could always buy it.
They headed downstairs, and right when Catalina thought she was leaving, Aubree sat on the couch. “It’s not likely that Essie will sleep for a long time. I’m just going to wait for her to wake up here.”
Then Aubree took out her phone and texted Frieda. Needless to say, she hadn’t stayed to wait for Estella to wake up. She just wanted to show her face in front of Lucian when he was back.
A whole afternoon passed by, and still, Estella did not head downstairs. Instead, she unexpectedly heard Catalinal receiving a phone call from Lucian.
Aubree observed Catalina intently. After the latter hung up the call, she immediately asked, “What did Lucian say? When is he coming back?”
“Mr. Farwell said he’s going to be late today and asked me to bring Ms. Estella for dinner first,” Catalina replied. “Are you going to stay for dinner, Ms. Pearson?”
Aubree’s expression turned grim as she got up from the couch. “It’s okay. I’ve got an appointment later.” Before she left, Aubree reminded Catalina, “Please pass the word to Essie when she comes downstairs later.”
Catalina nodded respectfully and saw her to the door.
Lucian had wanted to go back to eat with Estella. Estella had been in a bad mood ever since Aubree came by the day before, and Lucian was afraid that she would go back to how she used to be.
However, in the afternoon, Jonathan abruptly called As it turned out, Jonathan had heard about his and Roxanne’s matter from somewhere, and that was why he made the call.
Instantly, Lucian’s mood soured, and he ended up inviting Jonathan out for a drink that night.
At night, Lucian, who was wearing a dress shirt and had his jacket draped on his arm, strode out of the first floor of the Farwell Group office building.
Right as he walked out of the entrance, he heard the sound of a car honking. He turned around and spotted Jonathan’s car, which was parked right in front of the building.
Lucian lifted a brow and walked over. “Didn’t we agree to meet at the club? Why are you here?”
Jonathan wound down the window and winked at him. “How can I let a crestfallen man drive? I’m your buddy, and I’ll be your driver this time.”
Lucian’s gaze darkened at that, and he pursed his lips. “How can be crestfallen over nothing?”
He opened the car door and got into the car before tossing his jacket on the back seat.
Jonathan frowned, and he parted his lips to say something Yet, when he turned around, he saw that Lucian had already closed his eyes to nap.
Clearly, Lucian did not want to listen to anything else from him. In resignation, Jonathan looked away and started the car.
As it turned out, the invitation for a drink was really just that. Lucian did not even want to spend any time talking. Things must be really bad between them this time, Jonathan thought.
On the way to their destination, both kept their -silence, deep in their own thoughts. Half an hour later, the car came to a stop outside the club. Both men opened their doors and got out of the car.
Jonathan gave his keys to the valet, then went upstairs to the private rooms with Lucian This was a club they frequented, and they knew the owner of the club.
Right as they took their seats, the owner sent some of his employees to serve them a few bottles of expensive wine before smartly telling the rest of his employees not to disrupt them from then on.
Only when Lucian and Jonathan were the only ones left in the room did Jonathan open the bottle of expensive wine. Then he poured a glass for Lucian and himself. “I hear that Essie’s matter ended up quite messy.”
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.