Filed to story: Leaving the Country After Divorce Novel (Lucian & Roxanne)
“Are you in a bad mood, Mommy?” Archie and Benny looked at her with concern.
Roxanne was taken aback. She thought she had hidden her emotions well in front of her kids, but they saw right through her ruse.
“Why did you ask?” she asked nonchalantly, glancing at them in the rearview mirror.
Archie’s face creased in bewilderment. “You ignored Essie just now. Did Mr. Farwell annoy you?”
The slightly unsettled feeling gnawed at the pit of her stomach at the mention of Lucian.
She must have been really close with him during that period of time for Archie to have misunderstood.
Benny added, “Essie almost cried.”
Roxanne drew her brows together in a frown, and her heart wrenched as she could only imagine Estella’s pitiable face without seeing it for herself.
She wished she could apologize to Estella.
Aubree’s words further solidified her inclination to cut all ties with Lucian.
She didn’t want to interfere with the kids’ friendship, but she really wanted to limit her contact with Lucian.
Roxanne stole a casual peek at them and said, “Come out earlier after your classes end. I’ll be busy for the time being, so Ms. Lane will pick you up.”
Archie and Benny didn’t get the desired answer and exchanged puzzled glances before nodding obediently.
The doorbell rang shortly after Roxanne led them inside the house. She froze before turning to answer the door.
Madilyn stood on the other side with a pinched expression. She opened her mouth, but she noticed Archie and Benny inside, and the words caught in her throat.
“What is it?” Roxanne turned sideways to let her pass.
Madilyn sucked in a deep breath, holding on to her temper by the thinnest of threads. “I’ll tell you in a bit.”
Roxanne didn’t press her for answers and invited her to stay for dinner.
Madilyn only began her rant when Archie and Benny had gone upstairs after dinner. “I saw the news yesterday. What was Lucian trying to do?”
Roxanne was caught off guard by the question and didn’t know how to respond.
“He shouldn’t have looked for you after deciding to marry Aubree!” Madilyn slapped her hand against the table. “I thought he had turned over a new leaf when he sought you out. I never expected to see the news.”
Madilyn had always known about Lucian and Aubree’s betrothal, and she didn’t mind when it was publicized the last time.
Roxanne and she lived next to each other, and she noticed that Lucian had been visiting Roxanne more frequently. She tried to find an excuse for him the last time when he and Aubree’s betrothal was made public, thinking that he didn’t mean it.
But yesterday’s news had angered her greatly.
If Lucian wanted to treat Aubree well, why would he look for Roxanne then? He’s such a scumbag.
Bitterness ate Roxanne’s already troubled heart. “He was set to marry Aubree from the get-go. Don’t overthink things.”
Madilyn stared at her best friend in shock. The person who should be the most affected by the news is her, yet here I am, making her feel worse with my tirade.
She leashed her irritation and shot out of her seat, grabbing Roxanne’s arm. “Come on, we’re going out for drinks and won’t be back until we’re both drunk as a skunk. Forget all about those low-life men!”
Roxanne was worried about leaving Archie and Benny at home, but Madilyn assured her that she had informed Lysa beforehand.
Soon, both ladies were standing outside the entrance of a bar, and Roxanne followed Madilyn impetuously.
Madilyn was clearly a regular at the bar. As soon as they stepped in, an employee immediately greeted them and led them to a booth near the dance floor.
Pulsating music blared as well-dressed men and women gyrated on the dance floor. Roxanne found herself slowly letting loose in the electric atmosphere.
“Drinks are on me tonight. Let’s drink our fill!” Madilyn yelled in her ear.
Then, she ordered a bottle of alcohol worth ten thousand and poured a glass for Roxanne. “There are plenty more fishes in the sea. Let’s not get hung up on one!”
Roxanne accepted the glass and clinked it with Madilyn’s, tossing back her drink in one gulp.
Madilyn cracked a satisfied smile at Roxanne’s bold attitude.
She had drunk with Roxanne a few times when they were in university. Though Roxanne may look well-behaved, she could surely hold her liquor very well.
Madilyn had mentally prepared herself to throw in her lot with Roxanne tonight just to lift her spirits.
Roxanne downed a few more glasses, and she started to loosen up, putting the day’s problems on the back burner.
Madilyn wasn’t contented with only drinking, so she slammed her glass down on the table and seized Roxanne’s hand. “Let’s dance!”
Then, she dragged her to the dance floor without waiting for a response.
Their decision to come to a bar was a hasty one, so their outfits weren’t exactly appropriate while the women around them were dressed scantily.
However, their beautiful faces still attracted the gaze of other patrons.
Roxanne was wearing a long dress that reached her knees, baring her pale calves as she moved rhythmically to the music under the strobing lights. A hint of a smile pulled at her lips, and her eyes were downcast. Her body movements were erratic yet oddly mesmerizing.
Madilyn, on the other hand, was surveying the crowd as she danced, hoping to find a man better than Lucian for her best friend. Nonetheless, she was pushed to the middle of the dance floor in her engrossment and lost sight of Roxanne when she looked back.
Her expression froze, and she stopped dancing and checking out on men, frantically searching for Roxanne in the press of bodies on the dance floor.
“Are you looking for someone, beautiful?” a man asked flirtatiously.
“Get out of my way! I’m in the middle of a crisis.” She didn’t even spare him a glance.
Meanwhile, Roxanne immediately realized Madilyn was getting swallowed up by the crowd and called out her name twice, but her voice was drowned out by the deafening music, and she could only watch as her best friend disappeared before her eyes.
She wanted to go after Madilyn, but her gaze was riveted upon a couple kissing passionately, and she halted in her tracks.
She turned and went to their booth after a pause, figuring Madilyn would make her way back here once she realized they had been separated.
She wasn’t keen on clubbing, to begin with, so it was a welcome respite for her.
A cheery voice spoke beside her a few minutes later. “Hello, can I buy you a drink, if you don’t mind?”
The male voice was muffled by the cacophony of the bar, and Roxanne thought she had misheard him when she raised her gaze. Surprised crossed her face when she saw a polished man dressed in a casual shirt standing in front of her.
He was also taken aback when their eyes connected. Knowing she didn’t quite catch what he said, he leaned in closer to repeat himself a little louder, “Can I buy you a drink? You’re very beautiful and elegant. I wish to befriend you if that’s possible.”