When she finally forced herself to regain her composure, Madilyn eyed her friend’s reproachful expression before changing the topic smoothly. “Nothing, really. So, are you enjoying yourselves on the helicopter?” The topic quickly caught the children’s attention, to which they nodded vigorously. “We are!”
At the same time, they divulged Archie’s secret. “Archie says that he wants to buy us a bigger helicopter next time!” Madilyn burst into laughter again at the children’s innocent words. This time, Roxanne couldn’t help but join her.
However, when she saw the rare expression of embarrassment on Archie’s face, Roxanne suppressed her laughter as she gave his hair a tousle. “You’ll definitely be able to do it, Archie. Don’t forget to let me ride in it next time!”
Roxanne’s encouragement brought a smile to Archie’s face as he nodded obediently. Beaming, Madilyn suggested, “There’s no need to wait till then. Your daddy already has a bigger helicopter. It’s just not suitable to fly within city limits.”
When she asked Lucian for the helicopter, she had overheard Cayden asking the latter which model to deploy. The children’s eyes lit up while their faces glowed with anticipation after hearing Madilyn’s comment.
As for Roxanne, she was shaken to hear the way her friend addressed Lucian. The words caused her heart to suddenly tense up out of habit. Madilyn clarified, “Those are not my words. Mr. Farwell acknowledged the children on the internet himself.”
Only then did Roxanne regain her senses and smile awkwardly at the children. Truth be told, Archie and Benny were the first to find out about it. That was why they weren’t surprised by Madilyn’s revelation.
Whenever Madilyn was around, the children were always in good hands, for they got along very well with her. After a short journey in the air, the helicopter landed on the rooftop of a hotel.
Madilyn stopped fooling around with the children and led them down. The moment they emerged from the helicopter, they spotted Lucian standing on the landing pad waiting for them.
He was dressed in a suit and leather shoes, while his hair was strewn all over his face from the gale emitted by the helicopter rotors. As he stared intently at the cabin door, his eyes were brimming with concern and guilt.
“I’ve brought them back to you. You had better not cause them any more trouble!” Madilyn warned. However, her words fell on deaf ears, for all Lucian could focus on was Roxanne and the children.
“Are you all right?” He strode up to her and scrutinized her quickly. After throwing Madilyn a glance, Roxanne returned her attention to the nervous Lucian. She maintained an indifferent expression despite her embarrassment. “I’m fine. It’s all thanks to Madilyn that we managed to make it here. However-”
“I just brought up the rough idea. It was Mr. Farwell who thought of all the details.”
Madilyn didn’t dare take any credit.
“Let’s talk inside the hotel. It’s getting chilly outside,” Madilyn suggested tactfully, mindful that the two were too shy to say anything in her presence. Roxanne nodded before circling around Lucian to walk ahead.
Just as she brushed past his shoulder, Lucian reached out his hand but retracted it at the last minute with a frown. Given that he was the cause of her current predicament, he didn’t want to burden her any further as she already had a lot on her plate emotionally.
Meanwhile, there was no need for them to make reservations because the hotel they were in belonged to Farwell Group. Lucian had ordered the penthouse to be cleared so that they could live there for the time being.
Upon arriving at the suite, Madilyn led the children to another room, cognizant that the two adults needed some privacy to talk. No sooner had Roxanne entered the room than she heard the door close behind her.
Turning around, she realized that she was alone. with Lucian. Madilyn and the children were nowhere to be found. Thereafter, the frowning Lucian approached her with weighty footsteps.
“Where’s Madilyn and the rest?” Roxanne asked cluelessly. Instead of replying, Lucian walked up to her and grabbed her hand in a domineering manner, preventing her from leaving.
“Are you guys all right?” Lucian repeated his question from the rooftop. A warm smile gradually broke out across Roxanne’s face when she sensed his concern for her. “We’re fine. The kids were frightened initially but calmed down after they learned that the reporters couldn’t enter.”
As she spoke, she glowered at him. “Instead, it was the sudden appearance of the helicopter that gave us a shock.” Brows knitted, Lucian explained helplessly, “I couldn’t think of any other way. Besides, I sent the smallest helicopter we have in Farwell Group.”
He, too, had his doubts when Madilyn first raised the idea. It wasn’t until he deliberated upon it that he decided rescuing the mother and children was the priority. Even though Roxanne was just joking, the mention of the helicopter did frustrate her. “I understand, but isn’t sending the helicopter too dramatic? I’m not sure how this incident is going to blow up subsequently. I’m afraid…”
The distraught look on Roxanne’s face caused Lucian’s eyes to darken as he pulled her into his embrace. He reassured her, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll deal with this. I won’t let them interfere with your life.”
Roxanne, who was about to push him away, decided against it when Lucian’s calming scent filled her senses. Thereafter, she hesitated for a few seconds before wrapping her arms around his waist.
Even though they ran into trouble today, Roxanne was touched by Lucian’s acknowledgment of Archie and Benny as his own children, a choice he made without knowing the truth about their origins. In that instant, a warm atmosphere descended upon the room. The room door flung open abruptly, heralding Benny’s childish voice. “Mommy!”
Behind him was an anxious-looking Madilyn. “Don’t go in. Your daddy and mommy need to talk.” No sooner had she spoken than she saw the two adults locked in a tight embrace. The sight caused Madilyn and the children to stop in their tracks.
The two groups stared at each other, the newcomers wondering if they could still back out of the room and pretend that nothing happened. At the same time, the disruption caused Roxanne to freeze. Upon regaining her senses, she pushed herself out of Lucian’s arms by reflex.
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.