She sighed inwardly, adjusted her expression, and slowly lifted her head. Unbeknownst to her, the children saw her expression when she bent her head down.
Just as Roxanne raised her head, she heard Benny asking, “Were you blushing earlier, Mommy?”
Upon hearing Benny’s words, Roxanne felt embarrassed again after having just regained her composure. Echoing through her ear, Lucian’s deep voice carried a hint of amusement. “Take a look. Do you like it? I wasn’t really sure what to buy and the sales attendant recommended me another design. However, I think this one suits you better.”
Roxanne seized upon the opportunity to avert her gaze from his. Turning around, she checked the rearview mirror to see how she looked.
She was greeted by the sight of a platinum necklace circling her neck. Hanging between her collarbones was a minimalistic round pendant that was covered with crushed diamonds. Sitting right in the center, it made her look as if her collarbones were sparkling. It was a sight that bedazzled her.
Lucian, who had somehow walked up behind her, asked anxiously, “Do you like it?” Upon regaining her senses, Roxanne turned around and smile. “It’s beautiful. I love it, Mr. Far-”
She almost addressed him as Mr. Farwell out of habit, but the thought of their currently ambiguous relationship made her change her mind. “Thank you. I appreciate it very much.”
As what she almost called him by didn’t escape his notice, Lucian’s gaze darkened although he refrained from commenting. Meanwhile, the children surrounded Roxanne and gasped in awe.
“Mommy, you’re gorgeous!” “The necklace really suits you. In fact, it looks even more beautiful on you!” “Mr. Farwell has a sharp eye indeed!”
The praise they showered on her caused Roxanne to blush. Trying hard to hide her emotions, she looked down at the children and smiled. “You haven’t opened the presents I bought you, have you? Let’s go inside and do it.”
Elated by the mention of presents, the children followed Roxanne into the mansion. After the children settled down on the sofa to open their presents, jubilant cheers echoed in the living room from time to time..
When she saw how happy the children looked, Roxanne beamed with satisfaction. At that moment, a warm and familial atmosphere filled the living room.
Standing by the side and watching Roxanne interacting happily with the children while wearing the necklace he gave her, Lucian couldn’t help but imagine it to be a proposal ring that Roxanne was wearing on her finger. I wonder how long does Roxanne want me to wait…
Just as he was lost in his thoughts, the children’s voices suddenly rang out beside his ear. “Daddy, look! I’m wearing the same outfit as Archie and Benny!”
Estella’s voice brimmed with excitement. When Lucian looked down, he noticed all three of them were wearing the T-shirts and shorts Roxanne bought them.
She had chosen vibrant colors on purpose so that both boys and girls would look equally good in them. Dressed in the same outfits, the children looked up at Lucian.
In that instant, he suddenly felt as if all three of them resembled each other. Nonetheless, the feeling quickly dissipated. when they turned their attention away. “Daddy, help us take a picture!”
Only Estella maintained her gaze as she tugged at his sleeve. “I want to take a picture!” When Lucian raised Estella, he seldom took pictures of her. Hence, the only pictures at home were mostly taken by Sonya when she visited.
However, ever since Estella began to spend time with Roxanne, the latter’s habit of taking pictures rubbed off on her. Thus, she would often wish to have her picture taken for the sake of memory. Since it was a simple task, Lucian had no reason to refuse. Whipping out his phone, he did his duty as the cameraman.
Before they knew it, darkness took over the sky. After acting as a driver and mover for the day and giving Roxanne a gift, Lucian naturally stayed back for dinner.
Once they had their fill, he played with the children for a while before taking his leave. “It’s getting late, so I’ll be going home now. Essie-”
Before he could even finish, Essie declined, “I want to stay with Mommy!” Lucian threw her a glance before continuing, “I’ll leave Essie with you for the next two days. Tell me if you can’t manage, and I’ll come and pick the children up.”
Archie and Benny’s eyes lit up when they heard Lucian’s words. Given how smart they were, they caught the most important part of his sentence-he considered them his children.
Even though they couldn’t address him as “Daddy” yet, he had already seen them as his own. Both of them were ecstatic when the fact dawned upon them.
As for Estella, she was filled with delight upon receiving permission to stay with her mother. Stroking Estella’s face gently, Roxanne agreed with a smile. “She’ll be in good hands.”
Lucian flashed a smile. “I know.” Even if Roxanne didn’t do anything in particular, Estella would be happy just staying by her side. With that, Lucian drove back to the manor after leaving Roxanne’s home.
The moment he stepped in, he was greeted by the glum-looking Sonya sitting on the couch. “What are you doing here?”
With an equally solemn expression, Lucian took a seat in the armchair beside his mother. Sonya’s brows knitted at her son’s question. “Why can’t I drop by? What’s wrong with me wanting to visit my granddaughter?”
Lucian gave her the side-eye while maintaining his frosty expression. “Essie’s not here. She’s with her mom.” His voice made it sound like he and Roxanne were a married couple who happened to be separated by distance. The frown on Sonya’s face deepened.
“I was the one who painstakingly raised Essie, while that woman abandoned her after giving birth. She should be thanking me for allowing Essie to acknowledge her instead. Don’t you think it’s unfair to me to let Essie stay with her and allow her to enjoy the fruits of my labor?”
From Sonya’s perspective, Roxanne had no hand in bringing Estella up into a healthy and obedient girl. That woman wasn’t around when Essie needed her the most, so why is she acting all noble now?
Lucian furrowed his brows. “Roxanne is Essie’s birth mother. Besides, what happened back then was a misunderstanding. I’m sure you heard of it too. Roxanne had thought that Essie was dead.”
Sonya snorted in response. “Nobody knows if she’s telling the truth. Back then, she left without saying a word. I wouldn’t be surprised if she does anything terrible now.”
Upon hearing his mother’s words, there was al hint of disbelief as Lucian stared at her. Sonya changed her tact reluctantly, cognizant that she had upset her son.
“I was the one who raised Essie, so how can I not miss my granddaughter? By leaving her with Roxanne, what am I to do when I miss her?”
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.