Filed to story: Leaving the Country After Divorce Novel (Lucian & Roxanne)
Frieda glanced at Roxanne and was surprised to see her still so calm and composed. Hence, she turned to Aubree and said with a lilt to her voice, “Aubree, you and Lucian look so much in love! Have you picked a date for your wedding yet? I’m still waiting to be your bridesmaid!”
As soon as those words were out, Roxanne froze in her tracks.
Huh? What did she mean by that? Are Lucian and Aubree not married yet?
Aubree, too, felt her smile freezing in place. After all, she hadn’t expected Frieda to bring up the wedding right there and then.
Just as she began thinking about how best to change the topic, she felt Alfred’s concerned gaze on them. “That’s right. The two of you have been together for so many years. Even Estella has grown up too. Isn’t it time to settle down?”
“Yes, you guys should’ve gotten married a long time ago. I don’t even know why you’ve dragged it on until now,” Jonathan teased.
For a moment, everyone had their eyes on Lucian as they waited for his response.
However, instead of replying immediately, he merely shot a quick look at the woman opposite him.
Even though it was a brief moment, it hadn’t gone unnoticed by those at the dining table.
Roxanne clenched her fists and managed to suppress her doubts before lifting her gaze to meet Lucian’s.
Their eyes met for a fleeting second, and Lucian noticed the indifference on Roxanne’s face. He furrowed his brows, a trace of displeasure in his heart.
Aubree hadn’t taken her eyes off Lucian, so when she saw him glancing at Roxanne for the marriage question, she began to burn with envy.
“There’s no need to rush the wedding,” Lucian replied, still staring at Roxanne.
Ha! Let’s see if she can still be so calm after this!
Although Roxanne was taken aback momentarily by Lucian’s reply, it didn’t take long for her to regain her composure.
So what if they aren’t married yet? It’s only a matter of time before they do. Why should I be súrprised?
With that, Roxanne lowered her gaze and casually resumed eating. It was as though the earlier interaction had absolutely nothing to do with her.
Aubree, on the other hand, found Lucian’s reply rather surprising.
How weird. When I last spoke to Lucian about the wedding, he already hinted at wanting to call it off. Why would he change his mind now?
Alfred frowned, clearly unhappy with Lucian’s reply.
However, before he could say anything more, Aubree hastily said, “Lucian’s right. In any case, I won’t be running off anytime. There’s no need to rush, Old Mr. Queen. We’re doing just fine, aren’t we? Besides, it hasn’t been easy for Lucian to find time to visit you, so let’s not talk about us. We should be talking about happier things!”
If we drag this topic on any longer, I’m afraid Lucian might turn the tables and reveal his intention to end our engagement. How can I risk letting him say that in front of Roxanne? I’d be so humiliated if he did!
Once again, the eagle-eyed Jonathan noticed Aubree’s reluctance to talk about the wedding and chimed in, “That’s Lucian for you. He loves his job more than anything else. Leave them be, Grandpa. I’m sure Lucian has his plans.”
“I don’t deny that work is important, but it isn’t right to keep putting off the wedding, is it?” Alfred grumbled. “It’s been so many years, yet Estella still doesn’t have a mother to look after her. I don’t know what you guys are thinking, but I know my heart aches for her!”
Flustered, Aubree gave a brief and vague response.
As soon as she thought about Estella, Roxanne, too, felt a little heartbroken.
Ah, no wonder the kid’s always clinging to me. It’s because she doesn’t have a mother,
Just as she became lost in her thoughts, she suddenly heard Alfred calling her.
“What about you, Dr. Jarvis? Are you married?”
Roxanne snapped out of her daze and replied after a moment of stunned silence, “No. Not yet.”
Alfred looked her up and down and curled his lips into a satisfied smile. “What do you think about Jonathan? Would you like to consider him?”
After several treatments, Alfred had long developed an admiration for Roxanne. It would, without a doubt, be even better if she could join their family as his granddaughter-in-law.
Caught off guard by the question, Roxanne stared back at Alfred, open-mouthed and speechless.
Frieda shot a disgusted glance at Roxanne and scoffed, “Stop trying to play matchmaker, Grandpa. No matter how capable Dr. Jarvis is, it still won’t change the fact that she already has children. As far as I know, they aren’t very young either. Given my brother’s caliber, how can you tell him to marry a divorcee with kids? You may approve of it, but I won’t! Not ever!”
“Is that so? Well, I never knew that,” Alfred muttered, genuinely surprised.
“Yes, I’ve been divorced once. I don’t think I’d be good enough for Mr. Queen.”
Hearing that, Alfred drew his brows together disapprovingly. “So what if you’re a divorcee? Given your talents, I’m sure you have no lack of suitors. What’s this nonsense about not being good enough? If the two of you do fall in love, I’ll be the first to give my stamp of approval!”
Touched by Alfred’s enthusiasm, Roxanne chuckled. “Thank you for thinking so highly of me, Old Mr. Queen. Unfortunately, I don’t think Mr. Queen and I are suited for each other. Don’t worry. I’ll continue to keep an eye out for a suitable man.”
“Yes. It must be tough being a single mother. Get married once you’ve found a suitable partner,” Alfred said with a nod.
Roxanne, too, bobbed her head in agreement.
As Lucian watched Alfred and Roxanne enjoying their chat, his gaze gradually darkened.
After dinner, Alfred returned to his room to rest.
Roxanne followed him to give him one final checkup before heading downstairs to bid her goodbye.
“It’s so late now. Let me give you a lift home;” Jonathan piped up.
“No, it’s fine,” Roxanne replied with a smile. “You still have guests to entertain.”
Jonathan knew she was right and decided not to insist further. “In that case, please be careful on your way home. Oh, by the way, I hope you won’t take my grandfather’s words to heart. At his age, he tends to worry about things like that.”
Roxanne merely smiled and turned to leave.
“It’s getting late, and I still have work to do. I think I’ll be taking my leave now,” Lucian suddenly said when he saw Roxanne walking out of the mansion.
Aubree, who had become very wary, decided to follow suit. “Oh, I’m also thinking about leaving. Let’s go together, then.”
“No. It’s not like we’re taking the same routes. I’ll be going now,” Lucian answered indifferently, striding off before Aubree could say anything else.
As she watched him walk away, Aubree stood in a daze, her face frozen with shock.