Chapter 253: Leaving the Country After Divorce

After everyone arrived, Pippa asked them to gather before allowing them to board the bus according to the name list compiled the previous night. Roxanne, Archie, and Benny were at the end of the list. Since the other children didn't have siblings, Roxanne was the only one with two children. They were assigned the last row.

After calling Archie's and Benny's names, Pippa, looking up to confirm their presence, spotted someone standing beside Roxanne.

"Mr. Farwell," she said, "what are you? Is Estella coming, too?"

Lucian nodded indifferently. "Estella wants to join."

Pippa looked uncertain. "ButEstella has never joined this activity before. I assumed she wouldn't be participating and didn't reserve bus seats or a hotel room for her."

Lucian frowned. "Is there a problem?"

Pippa apologized. "Since you've never participated before, I assumed you wouldn't come this time. You might have to squeeze in with the other parents. It's my oversight, and I'll take care of it."

She continued, "You didn't inform me that Estella would be coming when I collected the names the other day. I should have considered reserving extra seats and a room, just in case." With the seating already planned, she couldn't free up two seats.

Lucian glanced at Roxanne. "Ms. Jarvis has two children. I wonder if she'd be willing to let Estella and me share a seat."

Roxanne, preparing to board with Archie and Benny, halted when she heard her name. Pippa, thanks to Lucian's suggestion, immediately turned to Roxanne.

"Ms. Jarvis, Archie and Benny get along well with Estella. Do you think?" (Pippa's unspoken thought: She's hoping I'll give up a seat.) But if that happens, we'll end up sitting together.

Roxanne looked at Lucian and calmly suggested, "Mr. Farwell, your driver is still waiting outside, right? Why not have him take you and Estella? It would be more comfortable than the bus."

"I sent the driver away," he replied impassively.

Roxanne's lips pressed together slightly; she couldn't think of another excuse. [The promotional text for Findnovel.net has been removed.]

Pippa looked at Roxanne pleadingly. After a moment, Roxanne relented.

"All right. I'll sit with Mr. Farwell."

She boarded the bus, followed by Lucian and Estella. Five seats were in the last row; a father and daughter already occupied two. The remaining three were for Roxanne, Archie, and Benny. Roxanne wasn't sure who to hold.

Archie thoughtfully said, "Benny wriggles around, so let him have a seat." Benny agreed. (Benny's unspoken thoughts: I know Mommy loves us equally. And Archie's right; it'll be uncomfortable.)

Roxanne held Archie, leaving a seat for Lucian and Estella. As soon as Lucian sat down, everyone looked at him. They had previously seen Estella's different treatment of Roxanne, and now saw him sitting next to her. They were perplexed but assumed it was because Archie and Benny were close to Estella.