Chapter 1487

The children were overjoyed; it was their first outing with Lucian. Benny, in particular, was already readily calling Lucian "Daddy." Lucian let them enjoy the amusement park until nightfall, then took them to the movies.

During the film, Lucian's phone vibrated. He saw it was Roxanne. Gently asking the children to wait, he stepped outside to answer.

Roxanne's anxious voice filled his ear. "Where are you? I just got home, and the kids are gone! Did they go looking for you?"

Back at the mansion, Roxanne frantically checked each room, fearing the children were hiding. She'd been working excessive overtime the past few days, neglecting them, though she'd noticed their listlessness. She'd planned a fun day out for them the following day, only to discover their absence that evening. Remembering their past behavior, she hoped they'd sought out Lucian, prompting her immediate call.

Lucian's heart ached at her worried tone. He replied, a slight frown etching his features, "I had some free time today, so I brought them out. They wanted to have fun."

Roxanne breathed a sigh of relief. "Why didn't you tell me? I was frantic when I got home," she chided gently.

Tenderness softened Lucian's eyes at her softer tone. "I called several times, but you didn't answer, so I texted. You were probably too busy to notice," he said innocently.

Roxanne felt guilty at his gentle explanation. "Oh! Let me check." She examined her missed calls and messages. Sure enough, several missed calls and a text from Lucian were there. Overcome with guilt, she confessed, "You did! I was so busy; I'm sorry for wrongly accusing you."

Lucian's expression darkened slightly. "It's alright. We're at the movies now. I'll take them home afterward. If you're tired, I can grab food on the way back."

"That's not necessary. I'm free; I'll cook and wait for you all," Roxanne replied apologetically.

Lucian grunted in acknowledgement. Concerned about leaving the children unattended, he ended the call and returned.

The movie was ending. So engrossed were the children, they hadn't noticed Lucian's return. As the credits rolled, Benny turned to Lucian and said casually, "Daddy."

Lucian paused, then smiled. "Okay, we should head home now. Mommy's waiting."

The children's faces lit up at the news. The prospect of seeing Roxanne, enjoying her cooking, and the knowledge they'd spent the whole day with Lucian filled them with joy.

Lucian's eyes warmed at their happiness; their delight was contagious, and he felt a surge of excitement on their journey home.