Dead silence filled the car. The atmosphere was markedly different from when Jonathan had been present, heavy with unspoken tension. Roxanne sat rigidly, her gaze fixed straight ahead, trying to ignore the man beside her.
She wasn't sure if she was imagining it, but his piercing gaze had seemed locked on her since Jonathan's departure, making her subtly tense. Suddenly, Lucian's voice broke the silence.
"Have I offended you in any way, Ms. Jarvis?"
Relief washed over Roxanne. She offered a detached smile. "Why would you say that, Mr. Farwell?"
Lucian eyed her with a dark look, his voice laced with displeasure. "If that's not the case, why are you avoiding me, Ms. Jarvis?"
Frowning slightly, Roxanne feigned ignorance. "When have I avoided you, Mr. Farwell? Frankly, our work doesn't intersect, so I haven't had much opportunity to see you."
They had no personal relationship beyond their professional association; in fact, they barely interacted at work. Avoiding him was illogical.
The moment she spoke, the car's atmosphere chilled.
Driving, Cayden cautiously glanced at the backseat passengers through the rearview mirror, inwardly worrying about Roxanne. Why is Ms. Jarvis provoking Mr. Farwell when she knows he's in a bad mood? he wondered.
As he fretted, he noticed Lucian lowering the partition between the seats. He quickly averted his gaze, no longer daring to observe.
Seeing Lucian lower the partition without warning, Roxanne's heart leaped. She instinctively twisted sideways, pressing herself against the car window to create distance. Lucian narrowed his eyes in annoyance. "Roxanne Jarvis," he questioned icily, "why are you shying away from me like this? You said I hadn't offended you. Are you afraid I'll bite?"
A frown creased Roxanne's face, a faint wariness in her eyes. In a distant tone, she explained, "I simply feel we aren't close, and your actions were rather sudden, Mr. Farwell."
At her wary expression, Lucian smirked scornfully. "What do you think I'm planning to do?"
Roxanne remained silent, but their kiss at the hotel after her return—the only time he'd initiated anything since they'd met—flashed through her mind. Ironically, it had been when she no longer needed it. The current situation felt eerily similar.
Lucian stared at her, a storm brewing in his eyes. "Since we parted at the café," he thought, "she's avoided me. She even had her housekeeper manage the children's kindergarten arrangements. Only Jonathan's excuse gave me this chance to see her, and she's been distancing herself all night!"
He'd initially thought he understood her, but her behavior fueled his anger. He'd planned to drink away his frustration, but the alcohol only intensified his rage.
Roxanne felt the tension in the car intensify. Her hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms as she fought back panic.
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