As though the kids had read her mind, they grabbed hold of her arms and held her in place. All Roxanne could do was watch as Lucian walked right up to her.
He stared affectionately into her eyes as he said, “I caused you a lot of suffering six years ago because I failed to acknowledge my true feelings for you. After you left me, I realized I couldn’t live without you.”
He kept his gaze fixated on Roxanne as he retrieved the ring from his back pocket and slowly knelt before her.
“I know I rushed things a little too much lately, which caused you a lot of problems as a result. Would you be willing to give me another chance by marrying me again?”
Roxanne was stunned to see the man in front of her getting down on one knee. Am I dreaming? Lucian is… proposing to me? Why would he do such a thing? He skipped this part when we got married six years ago.
At that instant, Roxanne felt a little lightheaded. She could not believe what was happening right before her eyes. She instinctively wanted to flee but was held back by the three children as soon as she took a step backward.
“Mommy, Mr. Farwell means it. Please say yes. He’s been preparing for this moment for quite some time. We saw him getting ready since afternoon,” Benny blurted. Roxanne’s resolve began to waver after hearing that.
What the children witnessed was only Lucian’s preparation in the afternoon. Little did they know how much time he had invested in turning all the flowers in the garden into traditional medicinal herbs.
I wonder how much time Lucian spent getting everything ready. “Come on, Aunt Roxanne, say yes to Daddy! I want us to become a family,” urged Estella.
One by one, the kids started persuading her to
answer in the affirmative.
Meanwhile, Lucian was staring at her, the look in his deep, dark eyes as determined as ever.
“Ive pondered a lot during your absence in the past six years. Now that you’re back in my life, I swear I’ll never disappoint you again. I’ll protect you and also take care of our children. Please trust me once more, Roxanne.”
His hand that was holding the ring didn’t move once as he spoke, not even an inch. “Mommy, Mr. Farwell is the only person we want to be our Daddy!” exclaimed Archie and Benny simultaneously.
Roxanne’s eyes darted from side to side as she started having second thoughts. She was wondering whether Lucian’s proposal was merely a gesture to make up for their marriage six years ago.
No matter how hard she tried to let go of her past, it kept coming back to haunt her, for she was deeply hurt by that horrible marriage. There was no way she could forget what was already etched in her heart.
In fact, just the word “marriage” would make her shake in her boots, especially when it came from the person kneeling before her-the culprit of her failed marriage.
Roxanne truly wanted to have more faith in Lucian. After all, he had been treating her with utmost sincerity since their reunion.
Unfortunately, the sufferings she went through six years ago were still buried deep within her heart, hindering her from reaching out to accept the proposal ring.
To Roxanne, the ring was an absolute burden, but the children’s constant urging prompted her to consider their feelings and needs. Indeed, the two kids needed a father figure in their lives, and their biological father was standing right in front of them!
I’ve been keeping this secret from the kids for so many years. Now that they finally have someone to call “Daddy,” how could I be so cruel and take that away from them? Moreover, they’ve directly expressed their love for Lucian…
After contemplating, she gave in. The pain from the heartbreak she suffered was no match for the guilt she felt toward her children. When she moved her arm slightly and was about to accept the ring, a loud and clear barking cough rang out from a nearby corner.
Roxanne’s hand froze in mid-air as she looked in the direction of the sound and saw Sonya, who appeared out of nowhere. Displeased, the older woman was glowering at her as well as Archie and Benny who were standing next to her. With that, Roxanne slowly withdrew her outstretched arm.
No, now is not the right time yet. Back then, I selfishly ran away when I was pregnant, neglecting the kids’ feelings. If I were to let them reunite with the Farwell family, I should at least wait until everyone has accepted them without a qualm.
When Lucian saw that Roxanne was going to retreat, his gaze swept across Estella “Do you really have the heart to decline? Essie dreams about having a mother. Could you bear to keep her waiting? You’ve already been.
absent from her life for six long years!” His words left Roxanne totally baffled. She looked down at Estella in shock, wondering what Lucian meant. Is it what I think it is?
The two kids had yet to realize what Lucian was talking about and simply looked at the two adults innocently.
Roxanne took a deep breath and forced herself to stay calm. Then, she turned to Lucian and asked, “What are you talking about? What do you mean when you said I’ve been absent from Essie’s life for six long years? I’m just…”
I was just an outsider to Essie. Why did he say that? The person who has missed out on watching Essie grow up should be her biological mother, no? “Lucian, what has gotten into you?”
Sonya never wanted Roxanne to be a part of the Farwell family. Furthermore, since Estella had just gone through an eventful afternoon, Sonya was afraid it would be too much for the little girl to take if she discovered the truth all within the same day.
Thus, she strode toward Lucian in frustration, trying to prevent him from saying further. It was then that Cayden stepped forward and blocked her.
“Mrs. Farwell, Mr. Farwell is proposing right now. I think it’s best you leave them alone.” Cayden’s tone was polite yet assertive. “Don’t you want Ms. Estella to grow up having a complete family?”
Sonya grimaced and shouted, “Get lost! Who do you think you are to meddle with the affairs of the Farwell family?”
Cayden kept his cool and insisted, “This is the instruction given to me by Mr. Farwell. All you need to do is to stay where you are and be a witness.”
Although Cayden dared not lay a finger on Sonya, he was more than capable to get in the woman’s way and keep her away from Lucian. Left with no choice, the livid Sonya could only gaze at the duo from afar.
She could tell that Roxanne was planning to turn Lucian down just now. However, things might change if Roxanne found out that Estella was her daughter.
Before Sonya even had the chance to do something else, Lucian revealed the truth with full confidence.
“Essie is your biological daughter. Six years ago, someone dropped her off at the gate of the Farwell residence without saying a word. I have done the paternity test, and I have the results to prove that she’s our daughter.”
Words eluded Roxanne as her body stiffened. Essie is my daughter? At that instant, all the moments she had spent with Estella ever since she returned to the country flashed across her mind like a slideshow.
Immediately, she teared up. Now I know why a familiar feeling crept up on me the first time I met her, and there’s no wonder she’s so attached to me. Essie is my own flesh and blood, my little baby whom I thought was stillborn.
Roxanne was inundated with both joy and sorrow at the same time. For a long while, she struggled to recollect herself.
Estella, who was holding Roxanne’s hand, was also in shock. She, too, could not believe her ears until Archie and Benny asked questions to clarify their relationship.
“Really? Essie is Mommy’s child? She’s our biological sister?” Lucian nodded solemnly. Then, he turned to look at Roxanne and Estella.
“I’m sorry for keeping this secret from you all these while. I was just worried that if you reject me and we don’t end up together, both you and Essie would be downright disappointed. Essie, I’m so sorry for not telling you this earlier. Ms. Jarvis is the mother you’ve always wanted. It’s time you change the way you address her. She’s no longer your Aunt Roxanne.”
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.