The doorbell rang suddenly. Estella, thinking it was Roxanne and the boys, leaped off the bed and rushed to open the door. The sparkle in her eyes vanished the moment she saw Aubree.

"Essie," Aubree said, her smile strained. Aubree, being a woman, had walked a difficult mountain path to reach the hotel, only to find Lucian had already left with Estella. After some time, she finally located them at the nearby hotel, obtaining their room number from the receptionist.

Lucian, too, was displeased to see her. Aubree, however, ignored their reactions, entering with a smile and asking, "Aren't you feeling unwell, Essie? Why aren't you resting?" She then gave Lucian a reproachful look. "Didn't I tell you? I'll take care of Essie."

Lucian frowned. "Essie's just tired. If you have nothing else, you should go home."

Aubree's expression froze as she searched for an excuse to stay. She then spotted the pink luggage by the bed. It clearly didn't belong to Lucian.

"This is?" Aubree asked, eyeing the luggage suspiciously.

Lucian replied, "That belongs to a parent of Essie's classmate. There weren't enough rooms, so I had to share."

Aubree looked surprised. "You're sharing a room with a woman?"

Lucian's gaze darkened. He wouldn't normally agree, but the woman was Roxanne, his former wife. They had been cautious, sleeping in pajamas and rarely speaking.

Aubree immediately recognized the woman as Roxanne, and disgust filled her. I knew it! she thought. I can't let Lucian stay with Roxanne! They were already distant in Bellridge, and now this! Her blood boiled, but she suppressed her anger, forcing a smile. "Well, maybe the hotel has rooms now. Let me ask. Even if you don't mind, it might be inconvenient for her."

She turned to leave, intending to request a room change. Lucian merely frowned. Estella, however, tugged at Aubree's skirt, her resistance clear. "I don't want that!"

Aubree sighed, looking at Estella. "Be a good girl, Essie. This will cause trouble for your father and that lady."

Estella shook her head stubbornly. (Estella's inner thoughts: Ms. Jarvis left because Ms. Pearson made her angry. This room is the only place I get to see Ms. Jarvis. If we change rooms, I don't know when I'll see her again.) Estella's behavior confirmed Roxanne's presence for Aubree.

Aubree, on the verge of losing her temper, took a deep breath. Bending down, she said patiently, "Let's get another room. I'll play with you, okay?"

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