Filed to story: Leaving the Country After Divorce Novel (Lucian & Roxanne)
“That’s not what I meant.” Jonathan felt helpless.
He admired Roxanne and felt that she would make a good friend. Yet, regardless of what he said, she would always steer the conversation back to Alfred’s treatment.
In no mood for idle chatter, Roxanne asked out of courtesy, “Is there anything else?”
As it would be rude to hold her back, Jonathan replied, “That’s all. Goodbye.”
Roxanne nodded before getting into her car.
After watching Roxanne drive away, Jonathan returned to the mansion.
Frieda, who was drinking coffee on the couch with a scowl on her face, gave him the side-eye before recovering her gaze.
Jonathan’s expression darkened when he caught her reaction. “Why are you behaving this way? What has Dr. Jarvis done to you for you to be so hostile to her? Don’t forget that she is Grandpa’s savior!”
Frieda looked at Jonathan and refuted, “Savior? It’s not like we didn’t offer her anything. We’re just getting what each of us needs out of it.”
Filled with displeasure, she inquired further, “Jonathan, why are you standing up for her? Has she tricked you too? In response to you asking me how she has offended me, I should be asking you if she has gotten in your head.”
Jonathan glared at her. “Stop spewing nonsense. Whatever is going on between Dr. Jarvis and Lucian is between the two of them. We have no right to question her. You better not bring it up again!”
Noticing Jonathan’s anger, Frieda kept her mouth shut despite the indignance she felt inside.
Even though Roxanne had no intention of taking Frieda’s words seriously, she couldn’t help being affected by them. Therefore, she still felt disheartened when she returned to the research institute.
After going on her rounds and realizing there wasn’t much to do, she decided to go home and rest so that she could collect her thoughts.
Just when she was about to leave, someone knocked on her door.
Opening it, she saw that it was one of the reputable professors of the research institute.
“Dr. Jarvis, thank goodness you’re still here. We have encountered a problem with our formulation during our experiments. We’ve been trying the entire morning, but we can’t seem to figure out what’s wrong with it. Can you take a look at it for us?”
With a solemn expression, Roxanne changed into her lab coat and followed him back to the lab.
After going through it, she realized that the issue was indeed a serious one. As it was related to an important project of the institute, she dived into the research without any delay.
Before she knew it, it was already the evening, and she had forgotten about the children at school.
“Dr. Jarvis, your phone is ringing,” someone meekly reminded her.
Jolted back to her senses, Roxanne picked up her phone from her lab pocket to check. When she saw the caller ID on the screen, her brows couldn’t help but knit together.
Ever since she started taking care of Estella, she had removed Lucian’s number from her blacklist.
Why is he calling me at this hour?
“What is it?” Roxanne answered after a brief hesitation.
Over at the other end, Lucian glanced at the time before asking in a deep voice, “Where are you now?”
Roxanne replied, “I’m at the research institute. We’re still figuring out a problem that we have encountered. What’s wrong?”
Lucian frowned at her answer. “I understand. The kindergarten just called and said that they couldn’t get you on the phone. Apparently, no one has picked up the children. Since you’re busy, I’ll collect them instead.”
Only then did Roxanne remember that the children were still at school.
With regard to the boys, they were used to her picking them up late when she was bogged down by work.
However, the concern was that Estella, who had just shown some progress, might be affected by it.
Holding that thought, Roxanne began to feel bad. “I’m sorry. I was too caught up with work and didn’t hear my phone. Why don’t I go and pick them up?”
Lucian was already on his way to the elevator with his jacket in his hand. “It’s fine. It doesn’t matter which of us does it. You should continue with your work.”
Just when Roxanne was about to say something, the call had already ended.
Staring at her phone, Roxanne hesitated briefly before putting it away and continuing with her research.
Since she needed more time for work, she was glad that Lucian was able to take the task off her hands.
Meanwhile, the three children were sitting on a bench at the kindergarten field with their bags behind their backs. Used to the fact that Roxanne would run late due to work, the boys sat upright and chatted with Pippa occasionally.
Sitting between the two brothers, Estella started out feeling anxious. However, after a while, she began to be slowly distracted until she cupped her chin with her hands and listened intently to their conversation.
Even when Lucian arrived, none of them noticed his presence.
When he saw the three of them sitting together, Lucian felt his heart warm up. Subconsciously, he quickened his pace and hurried up to them.
“Mr. Farwell,” Pippa greeted when she saw him.
Only then did the children look up and reacted with disappointment at the sight of him.
Faced with the drastic change in the children’s expressions, Lucian cocked a brow but didn’t comment. Instead, he informed Pippa, “I’m sorry, I was caught up with work. I’ll be picking Archie and Benny up, too.”
Well aware that the three children were always together the past few days, Pippa didn’t inquire any further. After handing them over to him, she took her leave and went home.
In spite of that, the children continued to sit on the bench without moving.
Lucian stared at them in amusement. “Do you still feel like sitting here for a while?”
Benny shook his head in reflex, for he didn’t want to continue staying there. The air was cold, while the bench was hard. Moreover, his bag was heavy, and he could already hear his stomach growling.
Archie looked at Lucian with a serious expression. “Where’s Mommy? Why are you the one picking us up?”
Estella, too, stared at her daddy and awaited his reply.
“She’s still busy at the research institute, and it would be too late by the time she’s done. I came over first to take all of you to dinner,” Lucian summarized. “Besides, I’m sure all of you are hungry. Come with me.”
Nevertheless, Archie remained hesitant.
As for Benny, he was famished and also excited that he finally had an opportunity to spend time with his father.