Chapter 148: Making It Up to Her
Feeling bad about upsetting the boys, Lucian stayed away for a few days, occasionally sending messages to check on Estella. Roxanne, however, was secretly relieved he wasn't visiting after recent events, remaining vigilant. She replied to his messages, noting they weren't about the boys. His frequent messages showed his deep care for Estella, yet his absence puzzled her. She wondered why he hadn't visited, leaving Estella with her. Roxanne couldn't fathom his reasoning.
Luckily, Estella was delightfulโexquisitely beautiful and exceptionally obedient. Each time Estella cuddled Roxanne, she was reminded of her lost daughter, who, had she lived, would be Estella's age. This spurred Roxanne to treat Estella like family, believing it was a way to make amends for her loss.
Archie and Benny, spending considerable time with Estella, began to see her as their sister, protectively watching over her at home and kindergarten. Estella, in turn, was constantly smiling during her stay with Roxanne, tugging at Roxanne's heartstrings. Estella's condition stabilized rapidly, meaning she'd soon be going home. This prospect made Roxanne reluctant to let her go.
That weekend, Roxanne planned a family outing, their first since Estella arrived.
"Mommy!" Archie and Benny exclaimed enthusiastically. "Let's take Essie to the aquarium!"
Roxanne checked with Estella, who nodded obediently. It didn't matter where she went, as long as she was with Roxanne, Archie, and Benny.
They packed up and headed to the aquarium. Lucian, usually busy with work, rarely took Estella out. For Archie and Benny, it was their first visit to a local aquarium. Captivated by the marine life, they interacted with the fish, while Roxanne patiently waited, taking pictures and explaining the fish she recognized. The children had a wonderful time.
Later, Roxanne took them to a children's activity center, sitting nearby. Her phone rang. Seeing Lucian's name, she frowned. He'd only been messaging; why was he calling?
Lucian's voice filled the phone. "Where are you?"
Roxanne was startled. "Is something wrong?"
"I brought Estella something, but Catalina said you'd gone out. Where are you? I'll come."
He'd visited earlier but hadn't found her. After hesitating about going home, Cayden suggested he call Roxanne.
It concerned Estella, so Roxanne replied, "We're at the aquarium."
"I'm on my way," Lucian said immediately.
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