After finishing breakfast with mixed feelings, Roxanne led Estella from the dining room. She had barely stepped outside when she noticed the tense atmosphere in the living room. The brothers knelt on the couch, stern-faced, intently watching Lucian, who stood aside as if having gravely offended them. Roxanne frowned at their expressions.

She had assumed their resentment stemmed from her. However, she recalled their initial amicable meeting with Lucian. Her goal remained distancing herself from Lucian, yet the brothers seemed to harbor a grudge against him. She couldn't fathom the reason.

When the brothers saw Roxanne and Estella, they shifted their gaze from Lucian and greeted them with bright smiles. "Mommy!"

Setting aside her bewilderment, Roxanne returned their grins. Archie and Benny looked warmly at Estella. "Is Essie going to kindergarten with us?" Roxanne glanced at Lucian.

She had decided this at breakfast, but was uncertain of his opinion. Without a word, Lucian simply left.

Stunned, Roxanne led the children outside and saw Lucian watching them from his car. Estella, releasing Roxanne's hand, ran to Lucian's car and peered at him with a pitiful expression, clearly wanting to stay with Roxanne.

Lucian understood his daughter's feelings and sensed Roxanne's guilt. He granted permission. "You can ride with Ms. Jarvis." Estella's eyes gleamed with delight; she skipped back to Roxanne.

"Ms. Jarvis, Daddy said I can go with you!"

Sighing in relief, Roxanne tousled Estella's hair and guided her to her car. She expected Lucian to leave after handing over Estella. However, after settling the children, she noticed his Bentley pulling away, heading toward the kindergarten. Puzzled, Roxanne followed.

The children's excited chatter filled the car. Estella, much chattier than usual, was visibly ecstatic, having missed going to kindergarten with her brothers.

Roxanne's thoughts drifted to her dinner with Jonathan the previous weekend. He had mentioned Estella's recent mood swings and suggested that spending more time with Estella might help. He had been right.

Nonetheless, she had no right to keep Estella, and Sonya would never allow it. Seeing Estella's vibrant smile in the rearview mirror, a sense of reluctance washed over Roxanne; she wished their journey would last longer. Before Estella's fun could end, the kindergarten appeared.

As Lucian's Bentley came to a stop, Roxanne parked some distance away before exiting with the children. Lucian, carrying a pink school bag, emerged from his car and approached them. Roxanne remembered Estella's bag was in his car.

What on earth was he thinking? He could have simply handed me the bag and gone to his office.