Roxanne was speechless at their despondency.
Thankfully, Archie and Benny knew their mother couldn't bear to leave Estella. Although upset, they regained their composure, finishing dinner silently.
By the time Roxanne finished, she was exhausted. The boys went upstairs to rest, no longer in the mood to play.
Watching them sleep, Roxanne gently stroked their cheeks and whispered, "Sorry, darlings."
At such a young age, Archie and Benny had been moved from place to place because of her. They deserved a better life. Had she told Lucian the truth, the Farwell family would have taken them back, and they would have enjoyed all the privileges. Yet, Roxanne chose to keep them.
She had worked hard to make it up to them, but it seemed insufficient.
After watching them for a while, Roxanne kissed their foreheads, turned off the lights, and left.
When they heard the door close, Archie and Benny opened their eyes and exchanged glances. They had been awake and heard her apology. "Why did Mommy apologize?" Archie wondered. "Did she do something bad?"
Returning to her room, Roxanne packed before lying on her bed. Expecting to fall asleep quickly after a long day, she found herself plagued by images: Sonya's confrontation, Estella's pleas, and the disappointment on Archie and Benny's faces.
Roxanne felt helpless. "My life is nothing but a joke," she thought. Despite years of hard work, she felt unprepared to face the Farwells. To them, she was insignificant. Once again, she would leave the city because of them.
After what seemed like a long time, Roxanne finally fell asleep.
The next day, Roxanne woke with a headache. Remembering the Queen Group's herb delivery, she forced herself to get up. Even while getting ready, she felt dazed.
Downstairs, Archie and Benny were already eating breakfast. Seeing their mother, they recalled her apology. They believed she had apologized while they were asleep to avoid a conversation, so they didn't question her.
Noticing her appearance, they asked, "Did you not sleep well, Mommy?"
Roxanne was surprised.
"You have dark circles under your eyes," Archie added worriedly.
Understanding their concern, Roxanne smiled and said, "I couldn't sleep well because I had too much coffee at work yesterday. Thanks for your concern, darlings."
The boys exchanged skeptical glances, but after a few more questions, they settled down.
After breakfast, Roxanne asked Lysa to take them to kindergarten, then went upstairs to apply makeup before driving to the research institute.
During the drive, she felt anxious. Jonathan had promised her the herb, but she remained insecure without seeing it. Past experiences with business associates had taught her that problems often arose during deliveries, and they rarely volunteered information.
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