Chapter 1036: Her Friends
Archie and Benny hailed a taxi as soon as they escaped the mansion. The driver initially hesitated, but after seeing where they came from and hearing their destination, he started the engine. He mused, This will earn me a lot, given how rich their parents are! Unaware of the driver's thoughts, the boys focused on devising excuses for their father.
The car stopped before the Farwell residence. The driver waited expectantly for payment. Archie produced a hundred-dollar bill from his backpack. "Keep the change," he said. The fare was sixty, but the boys, eager to see Estella, didn't bother with the change.
The driver was startled by the tip. By the time he recovered, the children were already out of the taxi. Even on tiptoe, Archie, the taller of the two, could only just reach the doorbell.
Someone answered the intercom. "Who's there?" Catalina stared at the blank screen, momentarily stunned. Then she heard Archie and Benny's voices. "It's us, Ms. Catalina! We want to see Essie!"
Catalina felt sympathy for the boys; Estella's tears the previous night suggested she wanted to see them. However, Lucian had left with Estella that morning, instructing Catalina to deny the boys entry. She steeled herself. "Ms. Estella isn't home. You should leave," she said, hanging up immediately, unable to face them.
The boys exchanged suspicious glances. They suspected Lucian had instructed Catalina to deceive them. Abandoning the front door, they circled the manor. The fence surrounding the property had gaps; by squeezing sideways, the boys could slip through.
They found a blind spot in the surveillance cameras and squeezed through. Getting onto the property was easy, but entering the mansion proved more challenging. Benny waited expectantly for his brother's solution.
Archie studied the house, remembering the location of Estella's room. He hoped she'd see them and help. But after waiting, they saw neither Estella nor Lucian.
Just as disappointment set in, they heard a cry. "Where did those kids come from?" Two men in black suits appeared.
Benny struggled. "Let me go! I came to see Essie!"
The bodyguards ignored him, escorting the children towards the entrance to report to Lucian. Catalina emerged just then. Seeing the situation, she intervened. "You don't need to report this to Mr. Farwell. They're Ms. Estella's friends."
The bodyguards were confused but deferred to her. "Catalina, they snuck in through the fence."
Catalina's sympathy deepened. "You don't need to investigate further. I didn't lie. Mr. Farwell left with Ms. Estella early this morning."