Meanwhile. Lucian didn’t notice the boys in the car as he strode into the kindergarten, well aware that he was late.The moment he stepped in, he saw two figures by the slide together with Estella, who had squeezed herself into Roxanne’s arms by then.“Mr. Farwell, you’re here!” the teacher greeted respectfully when she saw Lucian.Lucian nodded in acknowledgment as he walked up to them. After throwing his daughter a glance, he stared coldly at Roxanne. “Why are you here?”Sensing his hostility, Roxanne knitted her brows in confusion.The teacher then looked at them in surprise, “Do you know each other?”Just a while ago, she had assumed that Roxanne didn’t know Estella.However, considering how dependent Estella was on Roxanne, she figured that it wasn’t such a surprise at all.After nodding at the teacher without answering the question, Roxanne shifted her attention toward Lucian. “I came here to pick my boys up. It was your daughter who refused to let go of my clothes, forcing me t
Lucian arched his brow at her body language. “You getting mad isn’t going to change my mind.”Estella furiously snapped her head to him and shot him a death glare.Daddy is the worst! I hate Daddy the most! I like the beautiful Ms. Jarvis and Archie and Benny. Why did Daddy have to fight with her and even forbade Archie and Benny to attend kindergarten?Estella was crestfallen at the thought of never being able to see Archie and Benny at the kindergarten anymore.Daddy is too unreasonable! I don’t want to like him anymore!Estella sulked the whole way back.She ignored Lucian who was trailing after her and dashed up the stairs to her room without one glance back at him. After slamming the door, she even locked the door angrily.Catalina was standing at the door when the father and daughter arrived, so she noticed Estella’s angry mood. When she shifted her gaze to the expressionless Lucian walking behind Estella, she knew they were once again at outs with each other.“Mr. Farwell, what
Roxanne didn’t know how to answer her at that moment.Yesterday, the boys’ teacher did tell me Estella liked following the boys around. However, I neverthought she’ll be bold enough to take a cab to my house alone just so she can play with them. Moreover, she can’t speak. If she met some bad people on the way here…Roxanne didn’t dare to think about what would happen.“Mommy?” Archie and Benny had been waiting inside for a while and didn’t see Roxanne come back in, so they came out to have a look.When they saw the little girl at their front door, they had the same reaction as Roxanne. “What … are you doing here?”Estella was about to scribble in her notebook when Roxanne explained on her behalf, “Essie just wanted to play with you guys.”Archie looked around at Roxanne’s explanation, thinking he would see his dad, but there wasn’t an adult man anywhere.“How did she get here?” Archie flitted his gaze to Roxanne.Roxanne replied resignedly, “She took a cab here alone.”Even I have a
Lucian scoffed internally at the thought of how she had escaped his previous antics. “What do you want?” he asked in the same frigid tone the woman used.Roxanne glanced at the little girl beside her. What’s with that tone? I would’ve hung up right away if it weren’t for the child!“Essie came looking for me first thing in the morning. Come and get her if you’re free. Or you can tell me your address, and I’ll take her there.”Upon hearing that, Lucian furrowed his brows slightly. “Give me your address.”“32, Durwest Garden.”The man hung up right after that.Roxanne breathed an internal sigh of relief as she watched her screen turn black. She turned toward the little girl standing beside her, saying, “Your daddy’s coming over to pick you up. Be a good girl and go home with him, okay?”Estella nodded but secretly began pondering over her next move.She had finally gotten the chance to be with this pretty lady and didn’t want to have to leave so soon.But Daddy’s on his way here. What s
After Roxanne was done tending to Estella, Archie and Benny returned downstairs while carrying Estella’s gifts.They each had a strange-looking stuffed toy in their hands and walked up to the little girl. “We bought these with our pocket money. You can have them.”The dolls looked adorable yet hideous at the same time and didn’t seem to suit Estella at all.However, this was the girl’s first time receiving gifts from peers her age whom she liked very much. Thus, she joyously accepted the stuffed toys and hugged them more tightly than she did her previous doll.After a long while, Estella finally put the toys down and scribbled a massive word of thanks on her notebook, showing her writing to Archie and Benny.This was the boys’ first time seeing her beam like that.They used to avoid her because she was a child their father had with another woman.But after they saw how adorable she looked, their hearts skipped a beat as they exchanged glances and scratched their heads sheepishly.She’
Benny turned to the other boy in a daze, but he immediately came to a realization upon meeting the latter’s warning glance.Right! We can’t show this guy how much we like Essie!Remembering that, Benny hastily shut his mouth, using only his eyes to express his discontent.Lucian took notice of everything the boys had just done.Still, he didn’t know what they were thinking. Assuming he had frightened them, he fell silent for a moment before softening his expression.They might be another guy’s kids, but they’re still young. Lucian knew he shouldn’t take his annoyance out on the children.“In any case, the fact that Essie showed up at your door early in the morning must’ve caused you some trouble. Thank you for playing with her,” he tried his best to state calmly.The boys nodded icily in response.Then, the living room fell into silence.“Where’s your mommy?” Lucian asked in frustration a while later, rubbing his temples.Despite having a daughter, he wasn’t particularly good at inter
Povonne’s chest tightened at the sight, but with Lucian here and whatever happened vesterdav. no words of comfort could come out of her mouth.“Thank Ms. Jarvis, then we’ll go home,” Lucian instructed frigidly.Estella’s expression softened more as she heard that, and she stared at Roxanne expectantly, hoping that the woman would invite her to drop by again next time.Yet, after all that waiting, she received not a single word of response.The girl looked down dejectedly.“Ms. Jarvis has to go to work. We shouldn’t bother her anymore,” Lucian urged.Estella finally picked up her notebook and began to write in it again.It seemed to take her a long time just to write “Thank you.”Yet, when she was done scribbling, she raised her notebook at Lucian instead.Daddy, can I come to see Ms. Jarvis again next time? I want to be friends with Archie and Benny.Everyone saw what she had written.Roxanne and her two boys felt sorry for her, but they dared not say anything due to Lucian’s sullen e
Roxanne noticed the man was overwhelmed with emotions. She could even predict what he was about to say next.Before he could say anything, however, Roxanne shut her eyes for a bit to conceal all her emotions and interrupted their conversation nonchalantly, “All right. Essie is not crying anymore, so it’s time for you to go home. I should get to work soon, too.”She then released the little girl and gently stroked her head. “Go home with your daddy, all right? You can always come and visit Archie and Benny next time.”Pleased with Roxanne’s assurance, the teary-eyed Estella broke into a smile and nodded before returning to her father.Lucian’s eyes darkened for a second. He decided not to ask further since it was clear that Roxanne did not want to continue the topic.As the little girl with red-rimmed eyes walked toward him, he rubbed her head quietly and toned down his voice. “Say goodbye to Ms. Jarvis.”Estella raised her hand and waved Roxanne and the two boys goodbye.The mother an