Lucian hurried to the botanical garden. Estella, wanting to be with Roxanne, had no other option. Besides the botanical garden, there was nowhere else to go.

Lucian arrived, but Estella was nowhere in sight. His heart sank. He pulled out his phone and called Roxanne.

Roxanne, strolling with the children in the botanical garden, answered her ringing phone. She frowned at the caller ID. Lucian? Shouldn't he be with Aubree? Why was he calling her?

The phone rang several times before she answered.

"Have you seen Estella?" Lucian asked, his voice deep and tense.

Roxanne sensed his nervousness. "No, I haven't," she replied. "What happened?"

Lucian scanned his surroundings anxiously, afraid to even blink. "Estella is missing."

Roxanne's face paled. "Isn't she with you? How did she get lost?"

Lucian frowned. "It's a long story. Let's find her. She should be somewhere in the botanical garden." Roxanne immediately agreed. "Okay, I'll search with the kids."

She turned to Archie and Benny. "Mommy, what's wrong?" they asked, noticing her panic.

Taking a deep breath, Roxanne forced a calm tone. "Essie is missing. We need to look for her."

Archie and Benny were worried, but Archie, calmer than his brother, suggested, "Mommy, let's split up. We'll find her faster."

Benny agreed. Roxanne, not concerned about them getting lost, instructed, "Search the garden. If you can't find her, meet me at the entrance." They nodded and went their separate ways.

Roxanne headed for the entrance, reasoning that since no one had seen Estella enter the garden, she might be lost nearby.

At the entrance, she found Lucian, who had the same idea. His frown was deep, his lips tight.

"Any luck?" Roxanne asked anxiously.

Lucian, so focused on searching, hadn't noticed her until she spoke. He looked up, his frown softening slightly, but he shook his head.

Roxanne's face crumpled. Estella had been happily planting trees that morning, and now… she was missing.

Roxanne was filled with guilt. Earlier, Estella had wanted to come with her, but Roxanne had refused because Lucian and Aubree were present. If she had taken Estella, things might have been different.

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