Chapter 1771: Not As Simple As She Looks
At Roxanne's request, Lucian took Elektra to a high-end restaurant for lunch. They arrived simultaneously. Roxanne wore minimal makeup, simply applying skincare products, while Elektra sported exquisite makeup, appearing elegant and refined. However, Elektra immediately recognized Roxanne's natural beauty, a stark contrast to her haggard appearance during their previous encounter at the hospital. A pang of envy surfaced; Elektra relied on makeup to conceal her own imperfections.
"Hello, Ms. Lane. We meet again!" Roxanne greeted confidently, preempting Lucian.
"Hello. You're truly beautiful, Ms. Jarvis! No wonder Lucian couldn't forget you all these years," Elektra admitted, her jealousy evident.
Lucian, momentarily stunned, quickly replied, "Indeed, Roxanne is pretty. But I'm not so superficial as to be concerned only with appearances."
Roxanne smirked at this remark. Elektra hastened to agree, "Of course! Ms. Jarvis is not only beautiful but also incredibly capable. She's a renowned doctor and a leader in high-end medical technology. Few women possess her accomplishments."
Roxanne modestly shook her head. "Not at all, Ms. Lane. My achievements are hardly impressive. Conversely, you've sacrificed much because of my illness. Your family likely misunderstands your faked marriage with Lucian, undertaken under immense pressure. Thank you."
Her sincere gratitude sounded subtly accusatory to Elektra, who, suspicious by nature, believed Roxanne was testing her.
"No, please don't mention it. I've already explained things to my family. The marriage certificate was fake and destroyed long ago. Don't worry, Ms. Jarvis," Elektra countered quickly.
"Let's go inside. This isn't the place for this conversation," Lucian suggested.
Inside a private room, Roxanne immediately offered the menu to Elektra. "Lunch is my treat, Ms. Lane, to thank you. Please order whatever you like. Lucian and I aren't picky."
Though seemingly innocuous, the words felt possessive to Elektra. It was as if Roxanne was staking her claim on Lucian. Smiling, Elektra ordered several dishes. Observing Lucian and Roxanne's close proximity, an unease settled over her. Aubree's failure stemmed from underestimating Roxanne; she was far more complex than she appeared.
"By the way, I hope the gifts I sent were suitable, Ms. Jarvis. I wasn't sure what to get, so I chose some supplements," Elektra commented.
Roxanne smiled, thanking her. "Thank you, Ms. Lane. Supplements are perfect for someone recovering from a serious illness."
"That's wonderful! I admire you, Ms. Jarvis. You were severely poisoned with a rare substance, yet you developed an antidote in less than a day! It's astonishing," Elektra continued to lavish praise.
Roxanne deflected the compliments, wary of the flattery. Madilyn's warning echoed in her mind: guard against Elektra's excessive fawning. She wanted no further complications with Lucian, especially now that her children had reconciled.