They got in the car after walking out of the restaurant. Lucian sat idly in the car for some time without starting the engine. Roxanne gave him a puzzled look.
The moment she raised her head to look at him, she made eye contact with him. Roxanne was momentarily stunned. For some strange reason, she felt slightly nervous.
After a moment, disappointment showed on Lucian’s face. “If only it’s pouring rain right now.” His words took Roxanne by surprise.
The children looked at Lucian curiously. “But we won’t be able to go home if there’s a rainstorm!” Lucian smiled in response. He didn’t say anything else and started the car.
The kids were still perplexed because their father didn’t give them a response. Roxanne, on the other hand, immediately understood Lucian’s intentions after the children mentioned this.
In other words, he was telling her that he didn’t want to go home that night. Her face flushed crimson, and she didn’t dare to look at him. “It’s getting late. Let’s go back now. The kids must be tired.”
The children blinked in confusion upon hearing Roxanne’s words. They could feel that the adults were insinuating something they couldn’t understand. Nevertheless, they didn’t say anything.
On the way home, Roxanne couldn’t fathom if Lucian was deliberately driving slowly in an effort to put the kids to sleep. Roxanne lowered her head and stared into space blankly as she was also slightly tired.
By the time she snapped back to reality, they had arrived at her house. Roxanne turned back to wake Archie and Benny so that they could get out of the car.
“Aunt Roxanne.” Estella would be going home with Lucian now, so she was slightly reluctant to part with Roxanne. Roxanne gave her head a reassuring pat and uttered, “You have stayed here for a long period. It’s time to go home.”
Estella was still a little unwilling. At the thought of something, Roxanne looked at Lucian hesitantly.
Before she could say anything, Lucian’s voice rang out. “I have let Cayden handle the transfer procedures for Essie. She will return to her previous kindergarten from next week onward.”
Everyone’s eyes lit up when they heard his words. Archie and Benny hugged Estella excitedly. “That’s amazing! We can go to the kindergarten. together again!”
A smile spread across Estella’s face too.
Roxanne felt as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She smiled at Estella and said, “You can meet Archie and Benny in the kindergarten from now on. If you want to, you can come here occasionally and live with me for a few days.”
The delight of transferring kindergartens replaced Estella’s reluctance of leaving Roxanne. She nodded her head obediently after hearing Roxanne’s words. “Then, you have to go fetch Archie and Benny from the kindergarten, Aunt Roxannel”
Roxanne assented with a laugh. Lucian started the car engine.
“Bye, Mr. Farwell.” The two boys waved at him. Lucian nodded and turned to look at Roxanne, waiting for her to say something. Roxanne still felt shy because of what he had said earlier.
Meeting his eyes and with a blush, she mumbled, “Goodbye.” Lucian lifted his brow. He was obviously displeased. Roxanne frowned in embarrassment and hesitated for a moment before saying, “See you on Monday.”
If she wasn’t mistaken, they would have to meet as they would be picking up their kids on Monday. Lucian smiled in satisfaction. “See you on Monday.”
With that, he hit the gas and drove toward the Farwell residence. Only after Lucian had driven far away did Roxanne turn around and return to the mansion with Archie and Benny.
Roxanne wanted to send them upstairs to rest when the doorbell suddenly rang. Archie and Benny thought it was Lucian returning with Estella. They ran to open the door excitedly despite Roxanne stopping them.
When they saw the person standing before them at the door, they were taken aback. “Where’s Roxanne?” Sonya glanced at the children in disdain.
Archie and Benny were disappointed when they were suddenly met with their grandmother’s overt dislike after just having a great time with Lucian. The smile on their faces gradually faded, replaced by a wary expression.
Sonya didn’t expect them to reply. She turned to look at the living room after asking the question and immediately saw Roxanne, who was walking over.
As soon as Roxanne heard Sonya’s voice inside the house, she hurried outside out of concern for her children. “Mrs. Farwell, it’s late. Is something the matter?”
She proceeded to shield the kids behind her back calmly before meeting Sonya’s eyes coolly. Sonya sized her up. “Let’s go in and talk.” A crease appeared between Roxanne’s brows. After a moment of hesitation, she stood aside for Sonya to come in.
It’s just Sonya by herself. She will, at most, utter a few unpleasant words. If she were to be with Lucian, she would have to face Sonya sooner or later.
When the kids saw that Roxanne had let Sonya in, they felt slightly nervous and worried that Sonya would bully her, just like Aubree and Frieda had.
Roxanne watched Sonya sit on the couch and squatted down to look at Archie and Benny. “You guys head on upstairs and get some rest. I have some words to say to her.”
Archie grabbed his mother’s hand with concern. “We want to accompany you!” Benny nodded fervently.
Roxanne felt warmth in her heart when she saw. how worried the kids were. She gave them reassuring pats on their heads. “Don’t worry. We’re only talking. Nothing will happen. Your guys have played the entire day and must be tired. Go upstairs and wash up.”
The two boys were still slightly reluctant. Feeling helpless, Roxanne turned to glance at Sonya. Seeing that Sonya was not looking at them, she promised the kids, “Even if we fight, she’s no match for me. You guys know that.”
The boys recalled Roxanne defending herself against two people and finally nodded. Before they headed upstairs, the kids greeted Sonya politely, “Good night, Mrs. Farwell.”
Sonya snorted and pretended as if she didn’t hear or see them. The kids felt disappointed but didn’t say anything. They turned around and headed upstairs.
Roxanne walked into the living room after that. She brewed Sonya and herself a cup of coffee and sat on the couch beside her.
“It’s just the two of us now. You don’t have to pretend anymore. I’m not falling for it!” Sonya glanced at the cup of coffee Roxanne had placed in front of her. She had no intention. of hiding her disdain for Roxanne.
Roxanne replied calmly, “It’s basic courtesy. Even if it’s Ms. Pearson here, I’ll do the same. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to drink it.” Sonya trembled with rage upon seeing Roxanne’s nonchalant demeanor.
She pushed the cup of coffee away and looked at Roxanne coldly. “Tell me, what does it take for you to stay away from my son? Is it money that you’re after? No matter the request, I’ll satisfy you if I can do it.”
Roxanne felt a strange sense of familiarity upon hearing Sonya’s words. She found Sonya’s actions hilarious when she suddenly thought about how similar the latter’s words sounded to those TV dramas and novels.
Unaware of it, Sonya continued, “Six years ago, you were the one who decided to leave Lucian. No one forced you to do so. Do you think the Farwell residence is somewhere you can come and go as you please?”
Roxanne tried to suppress her emotions and thoughts when Sonya brought up what had happened six years ago. “You’ve got the wrong idea. It’s not something I can decide on my own, whether it was my leaving six years ago or how far I have progressed with Lucian now.”
Sonya didn’t expect Roxanne’s retort, and she grew displeased. Roxanne continued to state matter-of-factly, “Even though you guys were aware of Lucian’s feelings for Aubree six years ago, you forced me to stand in the way of their relationship because your family needed a joyous event to bring Lucian’s grandfather good luck. I had no choice but to leave after suffering from Lucian’s cold treatment for three years.”
She was admitting that the reason for her leaving six years ago was because of the Farwell family. This was what Roxanne had always believed in. Except for the infant girl who passed away, she didn’t feel sorry for anyone for leaving six years ago.
“I was crestfallen when I left six years ago. I only came back for work. It wasn’t my intention to progress so far with my relationship with Lucian.” Roxanne stared at Sonya. “If you can’t accept me, you should tell Lucian. I have no say in this.”
Sonya was angered by her words. “Lucian was with Aubree for six years. You ruined their relationship, yet you don’t feel an ounce of guilt. Instead, you’re blaming the Farwell family? If you didn’t wish for this to happen, why did you come back? Why must you come back to Horington to work? Can’t you find a job anywhere else?”
She was being unreasonable. Roxanne frowned, but she remained calm as she retorted, “This is not up to me either. You can go and ask my professor.”
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.