Filed to story: Leaving the Country After Divorce Novel (Lucian & Roxanne)
Estella gripped the corner of the desk sadly.
“Didn‘t you promise Mommy this morning that you‘ll learn how to talk slowly?” Benny gazed at her. “If you can‘t talk, you can call our names.
We‘ve been calling your name, Essie, but you‘ve never said our names!”
Estella parted her lips but nothing came out of her mouth. She grew anxious and was about to burst into tears.
Seeing that, Archie and Benny gave her the pencil instead of forcing her to talk.
However, for the next few days, the two boys grew distant from her at home and at the kindergarten.
Every time Estella came to them, Benny would huff angrily, “We treated you well, but you wouldn‘t even call our names! We‘re going to ignore you!”
Estella was devastated.
For the next few days, Esiella played with Roxanne at home but had no playmates at the kindergarten.
She could only watch as Archie and Benny played with the other children and ignored her entirely. Finally, she plucked up her courage to run to them.
The boys shared a look and put on stern expressions. “What do you want?”
Estella clutched the corners of her skirt until it was all crumpled up. Her brows snapped together as she stared at them solemnly. Parting her lips, she tried to make a sound.
Archie and Benny were both worried and anxious.
If they had no idea she could actually talk, they wouldn‘t be forcing her to talk now.
A while later, they were about to give up when they heard a tiny whisper, “Arch… Ben…”
Estella‘s cheeks were flushed, but she only managed to utter a syllable from each of their names. She hung her head low despondently.
Both Archie and Benny were elated. They gave her a hug and exclaimed, “Good job, Essie!”
Estella was taken aback by their sudden hug. Hearing their praises, she snapped back to reality and broke into a smile.
After the first try, it was easier for her to pronounce their names.
As she seemed to have overcome an obstacle, Archie said solemnly, “Mommy treats you well, and you adore her, too. Am I right? But you‘ve never called her name. I believe she‘s way more upset than Benny and me.”
Estella grew flustered once again. She grabbed Archie‘s shirt and said, “Arch… ie!”
She wanted him to teach her how to comfort Roxanne
A cunning look flashed across Archie‘s eyes as he explained slowly, “You called our names, so we‘ve forgiven you. If you can call Mommy Ms. Jarvis, she‘ll be delighted!”
Estella nodded vigorously.
She then spent the entire day at kindergarten practicing the word “Ms. Jarvis.”
Roxanne was really busy these few days.
The project Harvey handed her was urgent and challenging. He might‘ve informed her about the details, but there was still stuff he missed.
Thus, Roxanne and her team had to figure out those by themselves.
This was the first time she got to work with most of the researchers in the research institute. They weren‘t familiar with each other, and thus their project was behind schedule.
Fortunately, Colby was around to help her catch up.
By the time the first phase was completed, Roxanne was depleted of energy.
She glanced at her watch and realized Catalina should‘ve picked the kids up from kindergarten already.
Thus, Roxanne drove back home to prepare dinner for them.
Shortly after, the door to the mansion was pushed open. A series of footsteps sounded followed by Archie and Benny‘s chatter.
“Mrs. Farwell?” Catalina was about to head into the kitchen when she saw Roxanne inside. “Why are you back early today?”
Roxanne shot her a smile. “I got off work earlier than usual today. Dinner‘s almost ready. Please help them wash their hands, and we can eat soon!”
The kids ran into the kitchen and surrounded her.
Benny began telling her stories about his day in kindergarten.
Roxanne‘s exhaustion faded into thin air as she took in their smiling faces.
“Miss!” An adorable voice rang out after Benny was done talking.
Stunned, Roxanne lowered her head to look at Estella, who was standing beside her.
Estella was hugging her leg and staring at her intently. The little girl‘s lips were still parted.
Once their gazes met, she repeated slowly, “Miss!”
It took Roxanne a while before she regained her composure. Squatting down, she flung her arms around the little girl and replied happily, “Yes, I‘m here! That sounds amazing, Essie!”
Tears threatened to escape her eyes.
After taking care of Estella for a while, she was already treating the little girl as her own daughter.
When she heard Estella doing her best to address her as “Ms. Jarvis,” she was transported back to the day when Archie and Benny learned how to call her “Mommy.”
Despite being busy at work, Lucian would show up at Roxanne‘s door every day.
His mind kept replaying the scene where Roxanne met Larry and how she questioned him harshly.
After their argument, Roxanne even suggested he bring Estella back with him. Thus, Lucian only dared to observe the four of them from afar instead of showing up before Roxanne.
Estella was becoming livelier day by day. Lucian assumed it was because she adored Roxanne. He had no idea she was starting to talk now.
Meanwhile, Aubree appeared at the Farwell Group‘s building when it was time to get off work.
“I‘m sorry, Ms. Pearson. Mr. Farwell just left.” Cayden reminded her when he saw her pressing the elevator button to head to the CEO‘s office. He had just got off work.
Hearing that, Aubree knitted her brows. “Where is he?”
Cayden shot her a professional smile. “I don‘t know his schedule after work. If you‘re curious, you‘re welcome to call him and ask him where he is.”
He gave her a polite bow and turned to leave.
When the elevator doors slid shut before her, Aubree bit her lip. A wave of fury crashed through her.
Even though Lucian humiliated her in public and made her the laughingstock of the upper–class society, she refused to give up just yet.
These few days, she didn‘t stop contacting Lucian in hopes that he would change his mind.
If Lucian were to change his mind and confirm their wedding date, the rumors would be scotched.
That was the only way. There was nothing else she could do to turn the tables for now.,
Aubree was bitterly disappointed after her constant tries to contact bim were met with cold rebukes.
After the incident at the birthday party, Lucian didn‘t bother comforting the Pearson family. Instead, he got all wrapped up in Roxanne.
There was no need to call Lucian, for Aubree knew he was obviously with that wicked woman.
With that thought in mind, Aubree pushed the elevator button and marched out.
Back at the Pearson residence, she saw Samuel and Gina in the living room.
When she came in, they were about to ask whether she got to meet Lucian when they noticed her expression. Comprehension dawned on them. “Lucian isn‘t around again?”
For the past few days, Aubree and her parents tried to meet Lucian but to no avail. The man refused to spare them any time.
Aubree went to him a few times, but he refused her entry.
Infuriated, Aubree tossed her bag to the floor. “It‘s all that b*tch‘s fault! What exactly is so great about her?”
Looking forward to more chapters