Filed to story: Leaving the Country After Divorce Novel (Lucian & Roxanne)
Lucian did not say anything in the end, thinking that he would just head over and pick up the little girl in two days.
Estella was very well-behaved with her grandparents and fell asleep obediently after dinner.
Meanwhile, Sonya called Aubree, telling her to come over in the morning to send Estella to kindergarten, as she always felt that the little girl did not like Aubree because they spent too little time together.
The following morning, Aubree arrived early, and after greeting the elders, she reached out to take Estella’s hand.
Estella had just eaten breakfast, and her face fell when she saw Aubree coming over. Upon seeing the latter’s outstretched hand, she shrank back further, expressing great resistance.
“Be good, Essie. Ms. Pearson is sending you to kindergarten. If you don’t leave now, you’ll be late,” Sonya patiently persuaded for a long time.
Hearing this, Estella hesitated for a while. However, at the thought that she would be able to see the two little boys when she arrived at the kindergarten, she dragged herself into the car.
On the way to the kindergarten, Estella sat in the backseat while hugging her backpack with her gaze lowered, looking a little upset.
Aubree was also determined to win the little girl over. At least, they had to appear close on the outside.
Looking at Estella’s state through the rearview mirror, she pretended to ask in concern, “Are you not feeling well, Essie? Do you want me to take you to the hospital?”
Estella did not even lift her head upon hearing her voice.
Aubree frowned and continued to express concern in a sweet voice, “How about I excuse you from school, and we head back to rest for the day?”
Despite those words, she still received no reply.
After waiting for a while, Aubree grew impatient. “I’m asking you a question, Estella Farwell. What’s with that expression? I can’t even have a decent conversation with you?”
Hearing her displeased tone, Estella shuddered and hugged her backpack tighter.
Upon noticing Estella’s visible resistance to her and recalling Sonya’s words the night before regarding the reason Lucian was unwilling to marry her, Aubree grew angrier the more she thought about it.
If it weren’t for this little brat’s attitude toward me, would Roxanne have any reason to be by Lucian’s side now? I also won’t have to feel on edge because Roxanne is back in the country!
After thinking for a while, Aubree drove the car to the side of the road in displeasure and slammed on the brakes.
Estella was caught off guard and tipped forward unsteadily. She pursed her lips as she looked up and promptly met Aubree’s burning gaze through the rearview mirror.
As soon as they locked eyes, Estella’s eyes constricted, and she looked around frantically.
Every time this awful lady does something to me, she always has this expression, but there’s no way for me to ask for help now…
Aubree’s anger rose upon seeing her frightened look. She opened the car door and entered the back seat before slamming the door closed.
Estella hurriedly moved to distance herself from Aubree, but the latter grabbed her arm roughly.
“What is the meaning of this, Little Mute? You’re displaying hatred toward me for your dad to see, isn’t it?” Aubree looked at her ferociously as she exerted more force into her grip. “Have I not treated you well all these years? I’m so close to worshipping you like my ancestor, yet this is how you repay me? Do you truly think I dare not to do anything to you?”
Estella was in so much pain that her eyes reddened, but she still bit her lip and made no sound, merely lowering her eyes and not daring to look at the woman.
Aubree grew angrier at her lack of response. She pulled Estella onto her lap and slapped the little girl’s bottom without holding back. “Stupid mute. Do you truly think that I would appease you if it wasn’t for the sake of being with Lucian? Disrespectful creature. It’s one thing not repaying me, but daring to show affection toward Roxanne, that b*tch? Such an ungrateful child! Let me tell you this. You have to accept my marriage to your dad no matter what! Otherwise, don’t blame me for what happens next.”
The crisp slaps echoed within the car alongside Aubree’s vicious cursing.
Despite her reddened eyes and tears threatening to roll out, Estella stubbornly bit her lip, unwilling to cry in front of the wicked woman.
“You’re still being stubborn!” Upon seeing that the little girl remained silent, Aubree pinched her inner thigh mercilessly. “Let’s see how much you can tolerate!”
Estella kicked her leg in pain as tears flowed out uncontrollably. While crying silently, she tried to get off the woman’s lap by struggling hard.
Aubree only allowed Estella to get off of her when she heard the child beginning to get out of breath from crying so much.
Estella immediately crawled toward the window on the other side of the car while enduring the pain and clutching her schoolbag to her chest as she continued sobbing.
“Good! It was supposed to hurt,” Aubree scoffed as she glared at the little girl. “If you tell anyone about what happened today, I swear to God that you’ll never see that woman ever again.”
Only then did she go back to the front seat and drove Estella to the kindergarten.
“We’re here. Wipe those tears off of your face,” Aubree commanded after they reached the kindergarten.
Estella hurriedly dried her face, afraid that she really wouldn’t be able to see her beloved Ms. Jarvis after this because of Aubree’s threat.
Aubree glanced at her and felt like her face seemed clean enough. She opened the door, and as they walked toward the gates together hand-in-hand, she hissed, “Don’t cry or make a fuss again. If anyone can see even a single mark of a tear on your face, you’ll know what I have in store for you.”
Right after she had hissed at Estella, Aubree looked back up again with a sweet smile plastered on her face.
Estella did her best to hold her tears back and obediently walked toward her teacher, bowing toward her.
“Hello, Estella!” her teacher greeted cheerfully. She spotted the hastily dried tears on Estella’s cheeks and frowned in concern. “What happened? Why have you been crying?”
Aubree’s expression changed rapidly but settled just as quickly. “I don’t know what’s gotten into her. She was making a huge fuss today and didn’t want to come to school. We spent the longest time having to coddle her before she finally let us drag her out here.”
The teacher frowned in confusion upon hearing that. “Really? Estella has never hated school before. What happened?”