Chapter 319: Cold

Following Sonya's orders, Lucian spent the next few days visiting Aubree in her ward after work. Sonya herself visited Aubree daily, though her visits were primarily to ensure Lucian was providing adequate care.

"How is he taking care of you?" Sonya asked with a caring smile, while Lucian was still at work.

Aubree lowered her eyes shyly. "Quite well."

Sonya relaxed, saying, "I told you Lucian isn't cold-hearted. You two have a long history; he'll always care for you." Aubree smiled, though a pang of irony struck her.

Lucian's attitude had improved, but only after she expressed her hope for continued friendship. He now treated her as a platonic friend, which wasn't enough. She wanted to be his wife.

Meanwhile, Roxanne's work at the research institute progressed smoothly. The staff had caught up with her pace, and with Colby's assistance, her workload had lessened. It was a weekend morning. After breakfast, Archie and Benny played with Lego bricks, but their enthusiasm was low. Their mother's recent illness cast a shadow over their play; their half-finished Lego model remained incomplete.

Sitting on the carpet, they played listlessly. Roxanne watched from the couch, sensing their subdued mood but unsure how to comfort them. She couldn't reconcile with Lucian. If his future wife wasn't Aubree, she might not have distanced herself from Essie. But it was Aubree, and Roxanne knew Aubree disliked her. She felt guilty about the impact of adult issues on her children's well-being. She realized she hadn't taken them outside recently, except when they specifically asked.

This realization sparked a solution. Approaching the children, she asked, "How about we go outside today, darlings?"

Archie and Benny eagerly dropped their Legos, their eyes shining. "Where?"

Their excitement lifted Roxanne's spirits. However, she hadn't planned a destination. After checking her phone, she found a nearby swimming pool. "How about we go swimming? It's been a while."

Swimming was popular overseas, and she'd already enrolled them in swimming lessons to maintain their physical fitness.

The boys hesitated. "You just recovered, Mommy. What if you catch a cold?"

Their concern for her after her recent illnesses was evident.

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