Chapter 1298

Lucian said nothing, merely staring at her darkly. Suddenly, he bent down and scooped her up. Shocked, Roxanne instinctively clung to his neck, fearing a fall. This, inadvertently, eased his anger. The violence in his gaze softened slightly as he strode toward the shore.

Roxanne’s cheeks flushed. “Put me down! I can walk myself now,” she said, aware she had frightened him. He had lifted her out of fear of a repeat incident.

Ignoring her protests, Lucian carried her to his car and settled her into the passenger seat. He retrieved his suit jacket from the backseat and draped it over her shoulders before driving. Noticing his lingering anger, Roxanne felt helpless. “Didn’t we come here to relax? That was just a minor accident,” she pleaded.

Lucian’s brows remained furrowed. Sighing inwardly, she said coyly, “You promised me a handmade shell bracelet. Don’t forget.”

Lucian turned to her. “I won’t go back on my word. I’ll come back another day for shells. As for you…” He trailed off, gazing at her darkly for a moment. “Go rest. You don’t want to catch a cold.”

Relieved, Roxanne pursed her lips into a smile. Lucian started the engine and drove away.

Meanwhile, Cory emerged from the bushes, brushing leaves from his clothes. He checked the photos he’d taken. Pleased with the results, he transferred them to his phone, selecting a few to send to Aubree.

Aubree had been withdrawn since Lucian’s rejection, barely leaving her bedroom. “Aubree, come eat something. Perhaps things can still be salvaged. Lucian wouldn’t be that cruel,” Gina coaxed from outside, distressed by her daughter’s self-torment. Aubree ignored her.

Since the engagement annulment, Frieda had vanished, and Cory had disappeared after Roxanne’s hospital discharge, leaving Aubree feeling abandoned. None of them are reliable! Aubree fumed, her phone illuminating. Furious, she checked the message—photos from an unknown number.

The pictures showed Lucian and Roxanne sharing a passionate kiss by the sea, before he lifted her into his arms. Aubree’s disgust mounted; her grip nearly shattered her phone. “Bitch! You’re nothing but a bitch, Roxanne!”

The annulment remained public knowledge. How dare she do that publicly? I can’t let her get away with this! Gina, hearing the commotion, knocked anxiously. “Aubree, what happened? Open up!”

Aubree, ignoring her mother, texted the unknown sender: Are you Cory? She couldn’t think of anyone else who could have secretly taken those photos.

The reply came: It seems you’ve been having a difficult time lately, Ms. Pearson.