Chapter 616 – Her Sudden Departure: A Tale of Love and Redemption (Lucian & Roxanne)

Refusing to believe that Jack was capable of something like that, she was anxious for an answer. However, her mention of Jack caused Lucian’s eyes to narrow.

He still couldn’t shake the scene from the surveillance cameras of her happily chatting with Jack. Even now, she’s still worried about him.

Lucian felt an uncontrollable fit of rage welling up inside him. However, the thought of her busy silhouette in the kitchen earlier helped him suppress his anger with remorse.

After a slight pause, Lucian began to speak. “As of now, there’s no concrete evidence of any kind that points to Jack.”

Even though his words triggered a sigh of relief from Roxanne, he continued speaking before she could declare that Jack wasn’t involved. “That itself makes him more of a suspect.”

Roxanne knitted her brows in shock. “What makes you say that?” When Lucian sensed how protective she was over Jack, his tone took a turn. “I’ve checked the surveillance feeds but didn’t find anything. incriminating in them.

However, Jack is the one who has spent the most time in the lab other than you. A few minutes before the incident, he went out to take a call. Wasn’t it too much of a coincidence?”

Furthermore, his suspicions were intensified by the deep understanding Jack had on poisons. Thinking back to what happened the previous day, Roxanne began to waver.

Although it was true that Jack coincidentally left the lab then, she still couldn’t accept casting suspicion upon the very person who had invited her to join the project.

Moreover, she felt that Lucian was being. influenced by his personal emotions in making the accusation.

Holding that thought, Roxanne sighed under her breath. “If you’re accusing Mr. Damaris without any corroborating evidence, I would advise you. to be more rational in your investigation, Mr. Farwell.”

As they lock gazes with each other, Lucian’s displeasure couldn’t be any more obvious. Nevertheless, Roxanne maintained eye contact without any intention of backing down.

After a long while, Lucian finally retracted his gaze and got to his feet, all while desperately suppressing the anger within him. “I have sent the drugs you used that day for tests. We’ll talk about the results once they’re out. As for your advice, I’ll keep that in mind.”

With that, Lucian turned and left before Roxanne could respond. After watching the video from the surveillance cameras and seeing how protective she was of Jack, Lucian couldn’t predict what he would do if he continued the conversation. Losing his composure in front of her was something he swore not to repeat.

Roxanne’s eyes brimmed with helplessness as she watched Lucian’s leaving silhouette. Meanwhile, the three children were playing happily outside when they saw Lucian emerge with a scowl on his face. The sight instantly caused their smiles to freeze.

“Daddy…” Estella warily grabbed hold of Lucian’s sleeve. “Did you argue with Ms. Jarvis again?” Given how hard it was for Lucian and Roxanne to mend ties, she didn’t want to see them on bad terms again. Archie and Benny, too, gave him a look of concern.

Made aware of his glowering expression, Lucian quickly regained his composure and tousled the children’s hair. “It’s nothing. We just have different opinions about work.”

Since Roxanne had often used the same excuse every time they quarreled, his words served to deepen the children’s suspicions.

Cognizant of what was going through their minds, Lucian comforted them, “I’ll come and see you again tomorrow.” That was his way of promising that he would return.

Only then were the children’s concerns eased as they bid him goodbye. Over the next few days, Lucian would have dinner at Roxanne’s house under the pretext of visiting Estella.

Whenever Roxanne wanted to turn him down, he would then claim that there was progress in the investigations to report. Consequently, the former had no choice but to accommodate him.

Throughout that period, Estella stayed in Roxanne’s house and had entirely forgotten about the new kindergarten.

Pamela, who still felt guilty over the bullying incident, didn’t dare call Lucian to inquire about her absence. Hence, she had no choice but to contact Aubree instead.

“Ms. Pearson, is Essie not feeling well the last few days?”

Aubree was puzzled by the question. “What? Why did you say that?” A sense of hope began to swell within her. If Estella was really sick, she could pretend to visit the former just to approach Lucian.

However, Pamela was equally clueless. “She hasn’t come to school recently, so I thought she was sick, isn’t she?” The words caused Aubree’s face to darken.

Over the last few days, she had been scheming on how to break Roxanne and Lucian up. Although she had contacted him a few times, he would quickly brush her off. Thus, she had no idea what was going on with Estella.

Little did she expect the latter to have missed kindergarten for a few days.

Based on Lucian’s previous attitude, sending Essie to the new kindergarten was his way of declaring that his relationship with Roxanne has ended. Now that Essie isn’t going there anymore, does it mean that he has changed his mind?

The thought filled Aubree with frustration. Meanwhile, when Pamela didn’t receive a response, she carefully called out, “Ms. Pearson?”

Regaining her senses, Aubree desperately suppressed her anger despite wearing a scowl on her face. “Essie is feeling under the weather. I’m sorry that I forgot to inform you about it.”

Pamela didn’t think too much about it. “That’s a relief. I thought-”

She subsequently let out an awkward chuckle before changing her words mid-sentence. “In that case, she should take her time to recuperate at home. There’s no rush to come back to school.”

After grunting in acknowledgment, Aubree ended the call before Pamela could say anything else. She was afraid that she would lose her temper if the conversation were to drag on any longer.

After all, the scene of Estella crying her eyes out when she saw Roxanne hadn’t slipped Aubree’s mind. Roxanne must be the reason that little b*tch didn’t go to school!

No matter how she thought about it, Aubree. just couldn’t calm down. It wasn’t until she gave Cory a call that she found out about Roxanne’s discharge from the hospital.

Without a doubt, the news further unsettled her. After much contemplation, she steeled herself and gave Lucian a call. However, she had to wait for a long while before she heard an answer in a frosty voice. “What is it?”

Despite gritting her teeth, she maintained at caring tone. “Lucian, I just received a call from Ms. Yaxley saying that Essie has missed school recently. Is she not feeling well?”

The moment she finished, Aubree felt her heart tense up as if she was afraid of hearing Lucian say that Estella was at Roxanne’s.

Furrowing his brows in brief silence, Lucian replied, “Essie is at my mom’s. You don’t have to bother. As for the teacher, just inform her that Essie is sick.”

Due to the bad blood between Aubree and Roxanne, Lucian didn’t plan on letting the former know where Estella really was. In addition, Lucian was certain of his feelings for Roxanne after the poisoning incident.

That was the reason he felt the need to draw the line with Aubree. However, Aubree doubted the truth in his words.

Given how important I am to Sonya, I’m sure she would invite me over if Essie was by her side. After all, it’s a great opportunity for me to bond with the little girl. Since that didn’t happen, I’m not buying Lucian’s story.

Coming to that conclusion, Aubree felt her heart sink. At the same time, she replied in a skeptical tone, “Really? I’m surprised that I didn’t hear about something this important.”

With no intention of continuing the conversation, Lucian remarked, “I still have a meeting to attend. If there’s nothing else, I’m ending the call now.”

With that, he hung up on Aubree before she could react. Upon hearing the call end tone, Aubree’s face. lost all color. That little b*tch must be at Roxanne’s. I can’t think of any other reason Lucian would lie to me.

Amidst her fury, a sudden knock on the door was heard. Aubree stood up to get it despite looking upset. When she saw who it was, she didn’t bother hiding her displeasure.

“Aubree, what happened? Why do you look so angry?”

Worried that Aubree would do something impulsive, Frieda came over to check on her. Concern filled her mind the moment she saw the look on Aubree’s face.

Aubree seethed as she spoke. “That little b*tch has gone to Roxanne’s house again!” The news shocked Frieda. “Isn’t she supposed to be in the hospital?”

She clearly remembered Jonathan telling her that Roxanne’s poisoning was extremely serious. Hence, she was surprised at how fast Roxanne was discharged.”

Aubree slammed the door to vent her frustration. “That b*tch is da*n lucky. Why didn’t she die from the poison?”

Frieda still couldn’t believe what happened. “Have you asked Mr. Zaythrone about it? Given Roxanne’s critical condition, the poison in her body would still take time to dissipate even after she woke up. How did she manage to leave the hospital so soon?”

The frustrated Aubree, annoyed by Frieda’s incessant questioning, gave the latter the side- eye. “How would I know? Cory is nothing but a coward. Ever since I told him that I was trying to kill Roxanne, he stopped contacting me. If I hadn’t asked him about it, he would probably not have told me!”

Unsettled by the tantrum Aubree was throwing, Frieda felt the need to calm the former down. “Um… How did you know that Essie is at Roxanne’s place?”

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