Chapter 1045: The Answer Is Clear
Roxanne was changing Archie and Benny's dressings when her phone rang. The boys' eyes lit up when they saw the caller ID; Roxanne's, in contrast, dimmed. Her only concern regarding Lucian was the boys' injuries. He must be calling because he'd found something about the incident. She wondered if he'd identified the culprit.
"Mommy," Benny urged, "Mr. Farwell is calling!" Roxanne smiled. "Mhm. I'm going upstairs to take the call. Be careful of your wounds, okay?"
The boys were disappointed she wouldn't take the call within earshot, but Roxanne, preoccupied, went upstairs to her study.
"I've investigated," Lucian said as Roxanne answered, "and someone bribed them. However, I haven't identified the person."
Roxanne's face hardened. "Have you truly not found out, or are you unwilling to tell me the culprit's identity?" She suspected Aubree and doubted Lucian, after his investigation, wouldn't have found evidence implicating her.
Lucian frowned. "What do you mean, Ms. Jarvis? I told you I'd investigate thoroughly. If I'd found the culprit, why would I hide it from you?"
Roxanne sneered. "What if that person is Aubree Pearson, your fiancรฉe? There's nothing I can do if you're covering for her."
Lucian froze.
Roxanne continued, mockingly, "Mr. Farwell, are you saying you still have no leads on who drugged the children?"
Lucian's expression darkened. Even without direct accusation, he understood her implication. However, his men had been watching Cory, and saw no contact with Aubree. Still, he needed concrete evidence.
"You always wanted the results of my investigation," Roxanne said coldly. "I found a researcher, formerly employed by the Pearson family's research institute, stole bacteria from another institute and is now missing. Is that sufficient to raise suspicion about Aubree's involvement?"
Lucian knew little about the bacteria, nor that Roxanne already possessed incriminating clues.
"Why didn't you tell me this?" he asked.
Roxanne chuckled. "What would be the point? How can I be sure you won't cover for your fiancรฉe, as you are now?" She hadn't wanted to say this, but Aubree had repeatedly harmed her children. Roxanne no longer cared about civility.
After a silence, Lucian said indifferently, "We need solid evidence to prove Aubree's involvement. Your words aren't enough."
A heavy silence followed. Roxanne remained silent for a long time before finally laughing, a sound tinged with resignation. "Then I truly have no solid proof. If you believe I'm slandering her, Mr. Farwell, there's nothing I can do."
With another self-deprecating chuckle, she ended the call. She'd thought the answer would be clear to Lucian. She hadn't expected his defensiveness. How could she ever find concrete evidence with her limited power?