Chapter 1849: Out of Ideas

Elektra arrived aboard the cruise ship. "The plan failed," she announced. "Sonya is determined to be a good mother-in-law and won't suspect Roxanne." Elektra looked dejected, awaiting Christina's response.

Christina's face contorted with rage. "Goddammit! Why did nothing happen to Sonya? She trusts Roxanne so much! Very well, then. We'll have to make Roxanne suspect her," she hissed, her voice menacing.

"I'm afraid that won't be easy," Elektra replied. "Your plan alerted them. Lucian has increased security around Roxanne."

"What are you afraid of?" Christina snarled. "We'll start with the children! I have nothing left to lose. I haven't been afraid of anything for a long time. It was my fault for not being cruel enough to eliminate them earlier! Everything would be so much better now if I had!"

A cold gust of foreboding sent shivers down Elektra's spine. She realized the grave mistake of working with Christina. This woman harbored a deep grudge, and nothing was beneath her. If anything went wrong, she could simply escape back to Hawen and her Mr. Goldstein.

Elektra's momentary darkening of expression drew a glare from Christina. "What is it? Are you worried I'll mess up?" Christina asked, teasingly.

Elektra remained calm. "You said we wouldn't harm them directly. It seems you're out of ideas."

Christina's expression froze, but she quickly recovered. "Acting against the children is idiotic. It's fine if you don't want to participate. We'll think of something else."

That night, Roxanne finished the broth Sonya had made, feeling its warmth spread through her. Emerging from the study, Lucian gently hugged her from behind.

"Please ask your mother to stop cooking for me, Lucian," Roxanne said. "I'm no longer in pain, and she hasn't fully recovered yet." Roxanne had been drinking the broth for days, and her period had ended. She knew Sonya was trying to make amends, and her persistence convinced Roxanne that she had genuinely changed. "Perhaps she really has," Roxanne mused.

"Don't worry about it," Lucian said. "Let her do it if she's willing. She actually feels the same way I do. The Farwell family owes you and the children a great deal."

Inhaling her scent, Lucian gathered her long black hair and tucked it behind her ear, kissing her cheek. An instinctive urge surged within him, like a starved wolf cornering its prey. Roxanne's cheeks flushed; she tilted her head, her eyes mirroring his intent. But then she spoke, extinguishing his fire.

"We'll wait two more days."

Lucian could only release her. "I'll go take a cold shower."

Roxanne laughed, pleased by his frustration. "Be careful not to catch a cold!"

The sound of rushing water filled the bathroom. Roxanne returned to the study, picked up her book, and resumed studying the Cerulean Needle Technique.