Filed to story: Leaving the Country After Divorce Novel (Lucian & Roxanne)
However, Sonya seemed unfazed by that. “Sonya has told me about this already. Essie was the one who had not been obedient, and Aubree only punished her in that way in her panic. She has already apologized to me. Essie is at fault too. Aubree will be her stepmother in the future, but she’s still kicking up fusses like these.”
Hearing that, Catalina realized she could not say anything else. All she could do was cast a pitying look at Estella.
The girl had just walked out of her own world recently. After this crying session, Catalina was afraid that she might revert to her state from the day before.
After Archie and Benny heard their conversation, they guessed that the unfamiliar woman was Estella’s grandmother. Nevertheless, they did not hold themselves back as they refuted, “Essie didn’t kick up a fuss. That bad woman is in the wrong to have hurt a kid! Why would you listen to an outsider and scold Essie? She’s been badly hit, but you don’t feel upset for her at all? If not for my mommy’s care, Essie might not have recovered by now!”
Sonya was disgruntled with the way the children were chiding her. “What do you know? Children shouldn’t be intervening in the business of adults!”
With that said, she grabbed Estella’s arm again. “Look at them. They’re completely uncultured. If you keep staying here, you’re going to be just like them. Come home with me right now!”
Estella remained rooted to the spot, but her arm ached from Sonya’s pull. Tears kept rolling down her cheeks as resistance shone brightly in her eyes.
Roxanne had decided not to intervene in Estella’s matters after the earlier conversation, but she was reminded of how the girl was like the day before at the sight of her tears. Hence, she drew her brows together and said, “Mrs. Farwell, I’ve heard that you dote on Essie a lot, but is this the way you dote on her? Essie’s crying, but you won’t even heed what she wants?”
Sonya gave her a side-eye. “Who knows how you’ve bewitched my granddaughter?”
Just as the two were at a stand-still, someone rang the doorbell again.
Knowing that it must be their father, Archie dashed to the door to open it.
Lucian froze for a second when he saw the boy. Then, he noticed the tinge of anger on the boy’s face.
When he lifted his head to look straight ahead, he saw his mother grabbing Estella’s arm tightly and Estella sobbing in utmost distress in the living room.
At that, Lucian frowned and strode over to pry his mother’s hand away. “What are you doing?”
Sonya’s scowl deepened. “If I had come any later, my granddaughter was going to be someone else’s granddaughter.”
She then shot her son a discontented look.
She could not believe that he had not told her that an outsider was taking care of her granddaughter, let alone the fact that the outsider was Roxanne.
Lucian’s eyes then flicked toward Roxanne, who had a similar cold look on her face.
The tension in the living room was palpable.
Finally, Lucian looked back at his mother and uttered, “Let’s have a talk.”
Right as he said that, he turned and exited the mansion.
Sonya stared at her son’s retreating figure dubiously and hesitantly for a few seconds before she followed him out.
Just as she stepped out of the house, she said to her son, “Let me tell you now that, no matter what you say to me, I’m still going to take Essie away from here with me!”
Upon hearing his mother’s words, Lucian gave her a noncommittal nod.
Assuming that he had agreed, Sonya turned around and prepared to take Estella with her. However, Lucian’s voice suddenly rang out.
“You might not be aware of how Essie was over the last two days.”
His words caused her to stop abruptly. Although she had heard from Catalina about Estella’s autistic episode over the last two days, she wasn’t aware of how serious it was.
“Essie’s episode this time was more intense than the last. Even James had no solution for it. Only when she’s with Roxanne does she behave like a normal child. Furthermore, Roxanne has even managed to get her to talk the other day. Do you know how significant this is compared to the past?” Lucian questioned with a deep voice.
Essie has talked?
Sonya was filled with shock, as she had mentally prepared herself for Estella to remain mute her entire life.
I can’t believe that woman managed to get her to speak!
When he saw the astonishment on Sonya’s face, Lucian pursed his lips. “I was equally surprised, but there’s no denying it. In fact, Essie refuses to leave Roxanne’s side despite not even knowing the latter is her mother. Even if you refuse to admit it, there’s no way you can erase the instinctive bond between them.”
Sonya knitted her brows in displeasure. She knew that Lucian was right despite her unwillingness to accept the truth.
At that moment, she couldn’t find the words to rebut him.
“Mom, we have spent many years trying to cure Essie to no avail. But now, we finally have hope. Even if Essie accepts Roxanne, I have no objections as long as she can fully recover.”
Lucian spoke in a mellow and convincing voice. “Given how much you love Essie, I’m sure you, too, want the best for her. Therefore, I hope that you won’t disrupt their lives anymore, as Essie can’t afford to suffer another blow.”
Even though the thought of Estella’s autism caused Sonya to waver, she still couldn’t get over the past. She questioned angrily, “Are you saying that you’re willing to accept her even after what she has done to you?”
Lucian replied, “That’s between the two of us. I’ll deal with it properly.”
Sonya pressed on. “What about Essie? By allowing her to grow close to Roxanne, what’s going to happen when she finds out that she was once abandoned by the latter? How will she feel? Will she be able to take it?”
Lucian furrowed his brows together.
Given that the matter was potentially a misunderstanding and it wasn’t fully investigated yet, he had no intention of explaining. He simply answered, “There’s no need for you to worry. Whatever Essie deserves to know, I won’t hide it from her.”
In other words, he would continue his relationship with Roxanne and also allow Estella to do the same.
Cognizant of her son’s character, Sonya knew that whatever she said would be useless. Nonetheless, she still couldn’t help but remind him of Aubree. “What about Aubree? What do you expect her to do? After she waited by your side for so many years and sacrificed so much for us, do you plan to abandon her just like that?”