Both of them knew perfectly well what she meant in the silence of her unspoken words.
Frowning, Lucian fell silent for several seconds. Within several short seconds, the smile slid off Aubree’s face. Until Lucian’s voice sounded once more.
“Judging by Essie’s demeanor this morning, the relationship between you seemed to have improved by a lot.” Aubree froze for several seconds at his words before she registered what he said.
It was true that the child had been receptive toward her that morning. Aside from rejecting her touch, Estella had responded to almost everything she had said. It was a big improvement compared to before.
“I was the one at fault back then,” Aubree replied with a laugh. “I wasn’t patient enough. with Essie. Now that I’m a little more patient, Essie can sense it and responds accordingly.”
“That’s good,” Lucian answered solemnly. “Enjoy each other’s company.”
Smiling, Aubree assured him she would. Without discussing it any further, Lucian ended the call on the pretext of work. Though he had already decided to proceed with the engagement, he did not have anything to say to Aubree.
Meanwhile, Aubree hung up, but the smile remained on her face. She asked Frieda out for dinner. After Frieda hung up, she packed up before heading out of the Queen residence.
As she emerged from the bedroom, she ran into Jonathan, who had just gotten out of bed and was in a foul mood for having too much to drink the night before.
In addition to being reminded of Lucian’s words the night before upon waking up, he became irritable, and his expression turned from bad to worse.
“Where are you off to this early in the morning?” Jonathan asked with a frown when he saw Frieda smiling from ear to ear.
Frieda looked pleased with herself. “Aubree invited me out for a meal. You wouldn’t know as you had too much to drink yesterday, but Lucian had Aubree pick him up and even had her send Essie to school this morning.”
Jonathan was stunned by those words. He had the vague recollection of Lucian asking Aubree to pick him up.
However, he did not expect his friend to hand Estella over to Aubree’s care so quickly. Frieda became even more pleased at her brother’s dumbfounded expression.
“I’d told you long ago that Aubree would become Mrs. Farwell, but you didn’t listen and insisted on helping Roxanne. Do you believe me now?”
Jonathan nodded halfheartedly. “Whoever it is, it’s still the Farwell family’s business.”
Frieda was about to say something scathing, but he rudely interrupted her. “Drive safely. Also, think before you do anything. Don’t let yourself be used as a pawn as you did back then.”
Without another word, Jonathan walked down the stairs. Gazing at his back disappear down the stairs, Frieda stamped her feet in anger.
Though their elders treated them equally in the Queen residence, Jonathan had always been. held in higher regard for official business matters.
It had been challenging to be on the right side this time, but Jonathan did not allow me to brag about it.
After being rooted to the spot for a long time, Frieda regained her composure and strode downstairs noisily in her heels.
She even glared at Jonathan on her way past the dining table, where he was having breakfast. However, Jonathan was too preoccupied with deciphering what Lucian was thinking to notice her glare.
When she noticed that he did not react, Frieda became even more annoyed when she left the house. Her expression did not recover even after arriving at the restaurant where she had agreed to meet Aubree.
“What’s going on?” Being in a good mood, Aubree asked with genuine concern upon noticing her friend’s gloomy expression.
“Let’s not talk about it.” Frieda took a sip of water irritably as she threw her purse aside. Aubree raised her eyebrows with a smile. “Let me guess. Did you quarrel with your brother?”
Frieda’s expression shifted slightly in silent admission. Aubree’s smile became wider at the sight. She produced an exquisite box from her purse.
“Don’t waste your energy on him. Take a look at this.” Frieda froze for a moment, puzzled, before receiving the box from her and opening it for a glimpse.
The box contained a necklace by her favorite designer that haunted her dreams. “Aubree, I…” Frieda gazed in shock at the person before her.
Aubree surveyed the other with her chin in her hand. “It’s a thank-you gift. The idea you gave me worked out well.”
Frieda’s gloom was swept away in an instant. Putting the box away, she asked about Aubree’s situation, “How are things between you and Essie?”
Aubree was all smiles upon recollecting the incident that morning. “Not bad. The kid isn’t ignoring me anymore.”
She shrugged with a chuckle before continuing. “It would have been better for her if she had behaved this sooner don’t you think? I might have been nicer to her.”
Frieda did not dare ask how she used to treat Estella, so she merely said with a smile, “As long as your relationship with Lucian has improved.”
“The most important thing is Lucian has acknowledged the improvement in my relationship with Essie,” Aubree said, casually mentioning the most important news.
Frieda was surprised at those words. “Why did you say that?”
Aubree recounted the exchange with Lucian over the phone earlier that morning. Frieda nodded eagerly. “If that’s the case, your marriage with Lucian is secured.”
Aubree nodded impassively. “So, you need not be angry anymore. When I marry Lucian, I’ll put in a good word to Old Mr. Queen for you, and he will bring you back to power.”
Frieda smiled and raised her glass of water. “In the absence of wine, this will have to do. Congratulations in advance, Aubree.” The pair clinked their glasses, then their breakfast in high spirits.
In the meantime, Archie and Benny climbed out of bed early that morning, though without the same fervent excitement as they used to at the thought of returning to school.
With Daddy and Mommy’s quarrel in such a state, Daddy will no longer let Essie come to our kindergarten. At that thought, the boys descended the stairs in low spirits.
Upon arriving downstairs, they noticed their mother was already seated at the table. “You’re up, boys. I was just about to come up and wake you.”
Roxanne smiled at the children and began to set the table. The children’s mood improved somewhat at the sight of their mother.
“Must we stay in this school, Mommy?” Benny asked instinctively after taking his seat at the dining table.
Roxanne’s hands froze at those words as she smiled helplessly at the child. “Are you not doing well at your current kindergarten?” Benny lowered his head. “We want to be with Essie.”
Roxanne’s heart twinged bitterly. She understood how the children felt. When Lucian came earlier, she wondered if she
could convince him to have Estella transfer back to her old school. Unexpectedly, her intention backfired.
Not only had she failed to have the child return, but she had also incurred Lucian’s ire to such an extent that he took her away.
“…I’ll send you guys to school later.” Roxanne spoke up hesitantly while they were having their meal. “Mommy, are you done with work?” Archie and Benny’s eyes lit up when they heard that.
Although Estella was no longer in the same kindergarten as theirs, they were still delighted that Roxanne could send them to school.
Roxanne had been avoiding Lucian and Estella lately, so Lysa was the one who sent them to school.
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.