Leaving the Country After Divorce - Chapter 256

By the time they settled into their room, it was nighttime. Pippa led the parents to the restaurant the botanical garden had arranged. Roxanne took Archie and Benny to get their food.

Far more botanical garden employees were at the restaurant than when they disembarked the bus, a fact Estella disliked. She followed Roxanne closely, never taking her eyes off her.

Roxanne, sensing Estella's gaze, turned. A pained look appeared in her eyes at the girl's timid expression. She immediately had Archie and Benny hold hands, freeing a hand to take Estella's.

Estella took Roxanne's hand without hesitation, her eyes crinkling as she beamed. All signs of her timidity vanished.

Lucian, still worried about Estella, followed. Seeing Roxanne and Estella holding hands, mixed feelings surged within him as he walked behind them.

When it was Roxanne's turn to get food, she found it difficult to carry four portions at once. Just as she considered taking one portion and returning, a large hand reached over from behind.

"I'll do it," Lucian said quietly.

She was momentarily stunned. But thinking of the hungry children, she didn't refuse. Handing him a plate, she continued to get their food, even taking a plate for Lucian.

At dinner, Estella wanted to sit beside Roxanne. Roxanne seated the three children at a table, with Lucian sitting next to Estella. The little girl was delighted to have Lucian on one side and Roxanne on the other.

Meanwhile, Archie and Benny resentfully glared at the man beside Estella. To an outsider, they might appear to be a family. However, the boys knew their father wanted to marry another woman and no longer be with their mother. Infuriated, they lowered their heads and ate.

"Let's eat, Archie and Benny!" Estella smiled, scooping food onto their plates. Archie and Benny were stunned. They looked up to see Estella solemnly using her spoon to serve food to Lucian and Roxanne. Innocently, she said, "Let's eat, Daddy and Ms. Jarvis." Roxanne's heart melted. If my daughter had survived all those years ago, she thought, she'd probably be as adorable and sensible as her…

Lucian's gaze darkened at Estella's actions. He recalled the last time the news broke; his mother visited, discussing Roxanne and him. Estella had expectantly asked if he was marrying Roxanne, expressing her desire for Roxanne to be her mother. I don't know if I'm imagining things, he mused, but Essie seems to consider Roxanne her mother. If Essie knew Ms. Jarvis was her biological mother… He glanced at Estella and Roxanne, a complex expression on his face as he ate.

Roxanne sensed his gaze and looked up, confusion in her eyes. Lucian's brows furrowed slightly as their eyes met, but he quickly looked away without speaking.

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