Chapter 103 – The Abandoned Wife: Leaving the Country After Divorce Novel

Filed to story: Leaving the Country After Divorce Novel (Lucian & Roxanne)

The next moment, Jonathan turned to examine Lucian’s expression.

Taking his lack of displeasure as a sign of consent, Jonathan was about to obey his grandfather when Larry’s voice rang out. “Don’t bother yourself. I have to get home early to attend an online seminar that’s starting soon. I can drop Roxanne off on my way home.”

Jonathan felt a tangible drop in the air pressure around him when Larry spoke. Clearing his throat, he was about to reclaim his errand when another cold voice cut across him.

“I don’t mind sending Ms. Jarvis home on your behalf, Mr. Morrison, seeing as you are so busy with work.” As if addressing the crowd was not enough, Lucian then slowed down his speech to ensure that every word of his was caught. “Just as well, too. I can drop by Ms. Jarvis’ to see my daughter.”

Everybody present was stunned in an instant, with Sonya and Aubree appearing crestfallen.

They had made arrangements for Lucian to attend the banquet with Aubree in an endeavor to spend romantic time together.

Moreover, their public appearance would imply that their wedding was imminent to the guests present.

Lucian’s declaration of sending Roxanne home, and the mention of his daughter, felt like a slap to their faces.

Aubree turned pale. Clenching her fists to restrain herself, she was dangerously close to losing her temper.

“Your daughter?” Larry was puzzled. What does Lucian’s daughter have to do with Roxanne?

Lucian was indifferent to the reaction he had caused. “My daughter has been staying at Ms. Jarvis for the past two days. Is there a problem with me stopping by to see her?”

He did not lower his voice, and his words reached the ears of the surrounding guests.

A chorus of discussion and gossip erupted after a short silence.

Aubree did not expect Lucian to be that blatant. Her face turned ashen as she listened to the discussion around her. Clenching her jaw, she lowered her head to avoid the guests’ curious eyes.

The elders of the Queen family were also very surprised.

They were aware of what Estella meant to Lucian. Therefore, they were surprised to learn how Lucian and Roxanne were close to the extent of having Estella entrusted in her care.

It sounds as if Estella has been living with Roxanne for a while.

That was news to Jonathan, too. As shocked as he was, he felt he should have seen it coming. Upon second thought, he decided to remain silent.

In an instant, the atmosphere among the crowd became very strange.

Equally shocked, Roxanne bit her lip in secret anxiety as she tried to calm herself down.

While the crowd was more surprised that Estella was living with her, Roxanne was more concerned about the fact that Lucian had announced it so outrightly.

What’s going on here?

Racking her brains for something to say, she intended to defuse the palpable tension in the air.

Before she could, somebody grabbed her wrist.

“Weren’t you in a hurry? Let’s get going!”

Lucian’s cold voice sounded in her ears before the grip on her wrist tightened.

Roxanne regained her senses abruptly and was forced to abandon her notion. She only had time to utter a hasty goodbye to Alfred before being dragged away by Lucian.

Grabbed by the wrist, Roxanne was almost forcibly pulled out of the banquet in plain sight of the crowd.

She tried to break free several times, but the man’s grip was tight enough to dissuade such an attempt. It was not until they arrived outside that the grip on her wrist slackened.

Roxanne pulled away with a grimace and took several steps back to distance herself from him. “Thank you for your kindness, but I can drive home on my own. There’s no need to bother you, Mr. Farwell, to see me personally home. Your mother and fiancée are still inside. You should get back in there and accompany them.”

At that, she started toward the manor’s gate while avoiding him.

Initially planning to slip out and return on her own, Roxanne did not expect the situation to escalate to such a degree. She still could not believe that Lucian was capable of such a feat

Roxanne’s mind was a mess. All she wanted was some quiet to herself.

As soon as she strode past Lucian, he caught her wrist again in a grip even tighter than before.

Roxanne stopped in her tracks. Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, she looked at the figure beside her with as much calm as she could muster. “Is there anything else, Mr. Farwell?”

Frowning, Lucian found only apathy in her eyes. A trace of displeasure crossed his heart at the thought of her smile when she was conversing with Larry. “As I said, I want to see my daughter. Dropping you off happens to be en route for me. I want my daughter to sleep early, so please stop wasting time and get in the car.”

“I drove here,” Roxanne insisted. “And Catalina is watching them at home. You can go ahead, Mr. Farwell.”

His stern face darkened further at her repeated rejections while his eyes filled with anger at her defiance. “You had a couple of drinks earlier tonight, if I recall correctly. Are you planning to be charged with driving under the influence?”

Roxanne frowned instead of answering immediately.

Before she could respond, Lucian grabbed her wrist and took her to the side of the car.

Roxanne could not break free nor refute his reason,

He wants to see his daughter, so he’s not going out of his way to send me home. I would look like a churlish, self-indulgent idiot if I refused him again. Besides, he is right. I did have two drinks at the banquet.

Cayden was already holding the car door for them when the couple arrived, though Roxanne was still somewhat reluctant.

“Weren’t you in a hurry to go home?” Lucian demanded. “Or was that an excuse for not wanting to stay at the banquet?”

Roxanne had no choice but to get in without further delay.

Lucian followed closely behind and sat beside her. She silently moved to the window to distance herself from him, wearing an uncomfortable glower as she did’so.

The journey back was spent in complete silence as neither of them spoke a word. Cayden tried his best to diminish his presence by making his movements as noiseless as possible.

The car was dead silent,

Lucian’s eyes darkened at the sight of the woman’s profile through the reflection on the car window.

She was wearing a smile when she spoke to the man at the dinner party earlier. In my presence, she’s wearing such an expression instead.

The more he pondered the matter, the more it stung. Unable to bear the silence any longer, he cleared his throat. “Who is that Mr. Morrison to you? He mentioned that you know each other well.”

Roxanne froze for a moment at the sudden question before glancing at him coldly. “I don’t think it’s any of your business.”

She withdrew her gaze indifferently before turning to look out the window, with obvious intent not to speak again.

The car lapsed once more into silence.

The chill emanating from Lucian was almost tangible.

Cayden wished he was anywhere else but in that car. He even breathed carefully for fear of attracting the attention of his two passengers.

At long last, the car arrived at the gate of Roxanne’s house.

Almost eagerly. Cayden stepped on the brakes before stumbling out of the car to open the door for the couple seated at the back. Only upon seeing their figures enter the villa did he finally breathe a long sigh of relief.