The sky had already darkened when Roxanne left the operating room. She saw the night sky and realized she was late to pick up her children. She quickly changed clothes and rushed to the kindergarten.

At the kindergarten entrance, she saw a man standing near a bench, his hand in his pocket. The children were sitting together, heads down, eating burgers. Roxanne stopped short.

Lucian seemed to sense her gaze; he looked up and glanced at her before turning back to the children and saying something. All three children then turned to her simultaneously, each holding a half-eaten burger, and ran to her.

Feeling apologetic, Roxanne crouched down and stroked their heads. "I'm so sorry I'm late," she said.

Archie and Benny, used to her tardiness, merely shook their heads, though they were actually worried. "Mommy, have you been working all this time? Are you tired?" they asked.

"Not at all," Roxanne replied, grinning. Despite her words, she was exhausted. Without her children, she wouldn't have the strength to lift her arm.

Years earlier, a complication during childbirth had resulted in significant blood loss, leaving her frail and weak. This explained her exhaustion after long operations and her need for extensive rest.

"Why is Essie?" Roxanne asked, staring at Estella in confusion. Lucian was already there to pick her up; why hadn't she gone home? Or had he stayed out of courtesy to care for Archie and Benny?

Conflicting emotions welled up in Roxanne as she considered this. No one knew when Lucian had arrived, but upon hearing her question, he replied evenly, "Essie refused to leave them."

Roxanne was taken aback. A self-mocking thought crossed her mind.

"I tried calling you earlier, but you didn't answer," Lucian said.

Roxanne recovered. Standing, she looked into his eyes and forced a smile. "I turned my phone off and didn't see your calls until I left the operating room. Thank you for taking care of Archie and Benny."

Noticing Roxanne's pallor, Lucian frowned slightly. "It was only right. After all, you've cared for Essie for so long."

Exhausted and with little to say, Roxanne exchanged pleasantries with him before politely excusing herself. "Okay, I'll take Archie and Benny home now."

The boys bid Lucian goodbye. Estella, however, stared at Roxanne with large, round eyes, reluctant to leave.

Roxanne's heart melted. She crouched down and stroked Estella's head. "Be good, Essie, and go home with your daddy. Archie and Benny will play with you again tomorrow, okay?"

Estella obediently nodded. "Bye-bye, Ms. Jarvis," she said in her baby voice.

"See you tomorrow," Roxanne replied, her heart softening further at Estella's adorable voice.

Roxanne then took her sons' hands and left. Lucian watched them go, his expression unreadable.

This was their first interaction since he'd taken Estella home. He mused, That woman is treating me as she did when we first met. If I hadn't helped with the boys, she likely wouldn't have spoken to me at all.

Estella waited, but her father remained motionless. Confused, she tugged on his arm.

Lucian snapped back to reality, picked up his daughter, and walked toward the exit.