Chapter 1078: An Insult
Tears streamed down Estella's face as she sobbed, "Ms. Jarvis, please forgive Daddy!" Roxanne's eyes flickered. She had just promised to stay out of Estella's affairs, but the little girl's tears nearly broke her resolve. Hesitating only briefly, she reached out to wipe away Estella's tears.
"Essie, don't cry," she began. Roxanne had wanted to explain that she wasn't angry with Lucian, but remembering his earlier words, she couldn't bring herself to say it. Lucian raised an eyebrow, appearing eager to hear her, but she left her sentence unfinished.
Lucian's face darkened, while Estella's cries intensified. Roxanne opened her mouth wordlessly, feeling sorry for Estella. Looking up at Lucian, she signaled for him to comfort her, only to meet his blazing fury. Their eyes met, and Roxanne's heart skipped a beat.
"That's it," Lucian declared. "Essie, come. Let's go home."
Estella, already flustered by their argument, knew their disagreement had escalated upon hearing her father's tone. She cried harder. Archie and Benny ran up the stairs. "What's wrong, Essie?"
Roxanne, already stressed by Lucian and Estella, felt the boys' arrival as the final straw. Closing her eyes and rubbing her temples, she spoke softly, "It's nothing. You guys wait downstairs."
Confusion crossed their faces, but they obediently retreated. Roxanne's expression remained grim.
Turning to Lucian, she confronted him. "What was that, Mr. Farwell? Even if you want Essie to sever ties with me, this isn't the way to do it!"
Lucian averted his gaze, his features unreadable. "You agreed to cut ties with Essie, so how it happened doesn't matter, right?" He spun around and strode downstairs with Estella in his arms.
"Lucian!" Roxanne yelled. She felt a strange decisiveness in his departure; he was acting as if they were strangers, even sworn enemies. A premonition struck her: if she let them leave, she might not see them again. It was what she’d always wanted, yet now, a sharp pang of regret pierced her heart.
Downstairs, Lucian paused as she'd hoped and turned. His voice dripped with disdain. "Ms. Jarvis, is there anything else you need?" Before she could reply, he mocked, "Don't tell me you changed your mind and want to interfere in Essie's affairs again. If that's the case, you should consider my suggestion."
A deep line appeared between Roxanne's brows. His suggestion was the same as before: he wanted her to be Essie's mother, but this time, he omitted Aubree's name. It was clearly an insult. His composed attitude only fueled her suppressed anger.