Chapter 1997: Lifelong Imprint

“How is that possible?” Madilyn exclaimed, surprised. She searched her memory of her many years knowing Roxanne, finding no evidence of a teenage encounter between Roxanne and Lucian. During their first three years of marriage, Roxanne had been little more than a wife in name only; Lucian ultimately divorced her heartlessly. Six years of separation followed, during which Roxanne gave birth to triplets. Estella nearly died, the hospital deeming her unlikely to survive. Unexpectedly, after many twists and turns, Ethan located the hospital in Epea where Roxanne delivered the triplets, rescuing Estella and bringing her back to Horington. Roxanne then lived with Archie and Benny, while Lucian cared for Estella, their lives proceeding separately for six years. Roxanne had returned to Horington almost a year ago. Aside from the past decade, she'd never mentioned knowing Lucian previously.

“Well, it’s a long story. Maybe I shouldn’t say anything,” Roxanne teased, her tone casual, seemingly unfazed by the purple wish bottle.

“No! You must tell us!” Madilyn protested. “I’ll get Jonathan; we’ll come over and hear your story.”

At the manor, Roxanne smiled. “Fine. You two lovebirds can come over. I’ll tell you everything.”

When Roxanne returned home after dropping off the children, Madilyn and Jonathan were already there. Jonathan held the still-sealed purple wish bottle. They eyed Roxanne suspiciously, unconvinced she'd written the letter.

“Roxanne, no matter how you put it, Lucian and I buried this wish bottle the year before university. I don’t remember knowing you then,” Jonathan explained, reiterating what he'd told Madilyn in the car. Back then, he, Lucian, James, and Elektra often spent weekends together, despite attending different schools. While they socialized, their pursuits differed. Lucian immersed himself in business cases, James showed a keen interest in psychology (it seemed to Jonathan that James's mother, Yennefer, was already ill), and Elektra followed fashion trends and celebrity styles. Jonathan was the only one focused solely on his studies, relying on rote memorization due to a lack of natural aptitude.

Roxanne nodded, her expression becoming distant as she reminisced. “Indeed, I would never have met Lucian under normal circumstances. His high school, a renowned national art academy, was an elite private school. Like you, Jonathan, I attended an ordinary high school.”

Jonathan nodded.

“However,” she continued, “you were stubborn. Your family could have afforded the same school as Lucian. He told me that himself.”

“Yes, that’s true. Lucian told you that? You must have been very close then?” Jonathan asked.

Roxanne shook her head, a faint, contented smile playing on her lips. “Actually, we weren’t close. Fate is fascinating. Remember the student exchange programs? Lucian was an exchange student at my school for a short month, but he left a lifelong imprint on my heart!”