Chapter 1156

Upon returning to their mansion, Roxanne prepared dinner while the boys ran upstairs. "Archie," Benny asked his older brother immediately after closing the bedroom door, "was Mommy lying to us?"

Archie frowned, his expression taut. "I sensed something odd about Mommy's tone and expression. She even avoided our gaze. She lied, but why? Is Essie having trouble? Or did Mommy not see Essie at all?"

The boys pondered these possibilities. After a long silence, Benny anxiously suggested, "Should we visit Essie ourselves?"

Archie shook his head. "Let's ask Mommy first. There must be a reason she lied." He added, after a moment, "Mommy's been acting strange since we came home. Maybe she ran into Daddy when she went to see Essie?" He glanced at Benny, then decided against voicing this speculation. Benny was too impulsive where Estella was concerned; Archie feared his brother's worry might sway his judgment.

In their bedroom, Archie and Benny discussed how to get the truth from their mother.

Meanwhile, Aubree, furious, drove toward Roxanne's house. Earlier, she'd gone to the research institute, but fearing a scene, she'd discreetly inquired about Roxanne's whereabouts. Hours passed before she confirmed Roxanne's absence. It was nearly the end of the kindergarten day, but she arrived too late. Exasperated by missing Roxanne twice, Aubree sped to Roxanne's house, slammed her car door, and strode to the mansion's entrance.

After ringing the doorbell twice, she heard footsteps, then Roxanne's voice. "Who is it?" Roxanne asked, puzzled by a late-night visitor.

Aubree took a deep breath and shouted, "It's me! Open up!"

Roxanne, recognizing the voice, stopped abruptly. "I'm sorry, Ms. Pearson," she replied indifferently, "but I'm making dinner for my children. I don't have time to see you. Please go home." Remembering their unpleasant encounter at the kindergarten, she anticipated trouble and didn't intend to open the door.

"You remember you have children!" Aubree yelled from the other side. "Don't forget you and Lucian are divorced, and you have two bastards! How dare you bother Lucian? Have you no shame? Do you think the Farwells will accept you in your current state? Stop dreaming!"

Roxanne's face darkened. "I won't forget that," she said. "You may leave now." She wanted to avoid a scene with her children upstairs.

But Aubree, seemingly enraged, continued her tirade, her voice rising. "Are you finally scared? Is that why you want me to leave? Too late! Who do you think you are? How dare you speak to me like that before Lucian, you bitch!" Aubree roared.