Chapter 1324
Roxanne turned to Lucian, who gazed at her affectionately. The tenderness in his eyes softened her, hindering any immediate questioning or blame.
“Mommy, please say yes to Mr. Farwell!” Benny pleaded, his voice brimming with childish urgency. He tugged on Roxanne's arm, his small face alight with anticipation.
Usually reserved, Archie chimed in. “Mommy, since Essie is our biological sister, you should give her a complete family!”
Roxanne felt a pang of guilt at her sons' words. Archie’s plea resonated deeply; she knew they had longed for a father since they were old enough to understand, silently yearning for a complete family. Their unspoken desires stemmed from her past actions.
She lifted her head, her gaze settling on Sonya, standing in the shadowed corner of the garden, half-hidden in darkness. The faint light illuminated Sonya’s face as she looked at Estella, her expression etched with sorrow and distress. Yet, upon meeting Roxanne’s gaze, Sonya's face hardened, resuming its cold indifference.
Roxanne looked away, bitterness welling up inside her. She looked at Archie and Benny, their anxious faces mirroring her guilt. Her reckless decision years ago had branded her sons as "monsters" in their grandmother's eyes. She hoped Sonya would truly accept them, not merely because they were now part of the Farwell family.
“Mommy?” Archie and Benny called out anxiously at Roxanne's prolonged silence.
Snapping back to the present, Roxanne's face registered inner conflict, swiftly resolved. She gently placed Estella on the ground and addressed her sons. “Bring Essie inside first.”
Sensing her hesitation, Archie and Benny stubbornly refused to leave. Roxanne ruffled their hair reassuringly. “Don’t worry. I’ve already promised Essie we’ll never be apart again.”
Archie glanced at his mother, then at Benny and Estella. “Let’s go inside.”
Reluctance was evident on Benny and Estella’s faces, but Archie’s decisive nature prevailed. After a moment of silent resistance, Benny and Estella conceded. Estella puffed her cheeks, extending her hand. “Mommy, pinky promise! We didn’t do anything wrong just now!”
Roxanne sighed in relief, smiling as she linked her pinky finger with Estella’s. Only then did the children enter the mansion.
Roxanne turned to Lucian, calmly removing the ring from her finger. The others—Cayden included—instantly registered the action with a mixture of surprise and concern. Cayden was bewildered. Why, after everything, was Mrs. Farwell still rejecting Mr. Farwell? Sonya, however, let out a relieved sigh. It seemed Roxanne understood the Farwells wouldn't accept her.
Lucian watched the ring leave her finger, his expression grim, bewilderment battling with something darker in his eyes.
“Sorry, but I still need time to consider your proposal,” Roxanne said, offering an apologetic smile. “I’m overjoyed Essie is my child, and grateful for your care, but that shouldn't be the sole reason for us to remarry.”
Lucian’s gaze softened, a sense of relief washing over him. His proposal had been too hasty. He hadn't given her time to process everything, nor could he undo the harm he'd caused six years ago in a single day.