Filed to story: Leaving the Country After Divorce Novel (Lucian & Roxanne)
Beside her, Lucian heard the boys’ voices faintly and placed his work aside. He looked at her and was about to ask whether she had to head home to take care of them, but the sight of her tender
expression made him change his mind.
“Who normally takes care of the boys when you’re busy? Do they stay at home? Or do you hire someone to take care of them?” he asked.
Roxanne told him, “My friend helps out. Now, Lysa will take care of them.”
Lucian asked, “Was it the same when you were working overseas?”
Despite not knowing why he posed that question, Roxanne answered instinctively, “I’d hire someone to take care of them or bring them to my workplace. My colleagues loved them.”
Right after those words left her mouth, the living room went silent again.
Roxanne lowered her gaze to check on the little girl’s condition.
“They’re older now and easier to take care of. It must have been hard when they were younger,” Lucian said suddenly. His gaze fell on her as he pretended to ask nonchalantly, “How old are the boys? They are of similar height to Essie, so they should be around the same age.”
The sudden question made Roxanne’s heart’lurch to her throat.
Every time the boys spent time with Lucian, she worried that he’d discover the truth. Thus, she kept reminding the boys to keep their ages a secret.
She didn’t expect to be asked the question in person.
Averting her gaze, she fell silent for some time before replying, “They are around four years old. It’s normal for boys to grow faster than girls.”
That was the answer she came to a consensus with Archie and Benny previously. It was a lie, for Lucian might recall the night from six years ago if he were to know the boys’ real age. She didn’t want that to happen.
After giving her answer, she waited anxiously for him to respond.
Sometime later, she heard the man grunt in acknowledgment.
As he didn’t pursue the matter, Roxanne heaved a sigh of relief deep down.
Lucian returned his attention to the email on his phone, but he couldn’t focus on work.
The boys are around four years old, so they are one year younger than Essie. That would mean that she ended up with another man right after giving birth to Essie. She then gave birth to the boys shortly after. ”
As that thought occurred to him, Lucian scowled in displeasure.
They were both engrossed in their thoughts when Estella moved.
Roxanne lowered her head.
Estella’s brows furrowed together as she started sobbing pitifully. Her entire face was scrunched up.
Hearing her sobs, Lucian glanced in their direction.
Roxanne patted Estella’s back comfortingly, but the latter’s sobs merely grew louder. Tossing the blanket aside, she sat up and threw herself into Roxanne’s arms.
Her hands held Roxanne’s top tightly as she cried sadly. Gradually, she opened her eyes and stared at Roxanne’s face intently.
Her sobs died down after she confirmed Roxanne was still around.
By then, her cheeks were crimson from her fever and sobs. Roxanne felt her heart aching, for the little girl reminded her of her boys.
“Hush, Essie. I’m right here. Don’t cry,” Roxanne cajoled her while wiping the tears off her cheeks tenderly.
Estella sniffled as tears continued to trickle down. However, she wasn’t about to release her grasp on Roxanne’s top.
The sweat from her palms drenched Roxanne’s top and crumpled it up. Nevertheless, Roxanne didn’t utter a word and comforted her patiently.
Soon, Estella fell asleep. Even in her sleep, she couldn’t stop sniffling.
Roxanne wrapped her up in the blanket gingerly, leaving only her hands outside since she was still holding Roxanne’s top in her sleep.
An unfathomable glint flashed across Lucian’s eyes as he watched their intimate exchange. In the end, he chose not to say a word.
Catalina was still worried, so she came over to check on them. She was pleased to see Estella sound asleep in Roxanne’s arms. “Indeed, Ms. Estella can sleep soundly when she’s with you. Previously, she was a difficult child whenever she got sick. No one could calm her down, not even Mr. Farwell.”
Roxanne widened her eyes in disbelief.
What about Aubree? She’s Essie’s mother. Can’t she calm Essie down? By the way, why didn’t she show up at all now that Essie’s sick? Where is she? Doesn’t she care about her daughter?
She was about to pose that question when Lucian’s voice rang out.
“She’ll probably wake up again tonight. Why don’t you bring her to the guest room? You’ll get to rest there, too.”
Catalina chimed in, “Yes, it’s late. You came here with Mr. Farwell after work, so you must be exhausted. You should head upstairs and get some rest along with Ms. Estella.
Roxanne swallowed her question and shot the second floor a hesitating look. The past events emerged in her mind as bitterness engulfed her heart. She shook her head to reject the offer. “No
nccd. I’ll just rest here briefly. Essie only fell asleep a while ago, so I don’t want to wake her.”
Lucian and Catalina gave up on trying to convince her to change her mind.
Catalina then chatted with her briefly before leaving them alone.
The living room turned quiet.
Roxanne’s guard was still up after Lucian mentioned Archie and Benny’s age, so she gazed at the sleeping little girl and avoided looking at him.
Lucian didn’t utter a word for a long while, so she gradually relaxed.
Her schedule had been packed today. In the afternoon, she had spent a lot of effort treating Alfred, so her energy was quite low by now.
Estella’s warm body and steady breathing made Roxanne grow drowsy.
Despite trying her best to stay awake, she soon fell into a deep sleep.
The living room was enveloped in silence for some time.
Lucian lifted his head to see Roxanne sleeping with Estella in her arms.
As she was holding Estella, her posture was awkward, so she couldn’t really sleep peacefully. Every time she woke up to shift slightly, she would tighten her arms.
That very sight pulled at Lucian’s heartstrings.
Catalina showed up again to check on Estella. She had just arrived at the couch when her employer gestured for her to lower her voice.
Tiptoeing over, Catalina glanced at the sleeping mother and daughter on the couch. A smile nudged her lips.
Indeed, the bond between mother and daughter can never be broken. They haven’t met for years, but Ms. Estella is still instinctively attached to her mother, and Ms. Jarvis adores her daughter.
She frowned at the sight of the little blanket barely covering their bodies and tiptoed away. Soon, she came back with a bigger blanket and offered it to Lucian.