Aubree and Frieda watched Roxanne disappear through the door. They moved to a window seat and sat down.

"Aubree," Frieda began cautiously, her eyes fixed on Aubree, "what's your deal with Dr. Jarvis? You seem to know each other, but your relationship doesn't seem great."

Aubree was furious. "How could our relationship be great? Roxanne Jarvis is Lucian's ex-wife!" she exclaimed. "If it weren't for her, I would have married Lucian years ago!"

Shock registered on Frieda's face. "She's Lucian's ex-wife?"

It was common knowledge among their circle that Lucian had been married six years earlier. They had all assumed Aubree would be his wife, until he unexpectedly married someone else. His wife had never been seen, and he rarely mentioned her. Therefore, no one knew her identity, even after their divorce.

"I never expected it to be her," Frieda murmured. The memory of Lucian and Roxanne's meeting that night played in her mind. "I naively found it strange that Lucian seemed fixated on her for no reason, yet insisted I apologize to her. Now I understand their relationship." She lamented, "No wonder Lucian defended her that day."

Aubree sharply responded, "What are you saying? Lucian defended her? What happened?"

Frieda recounted the night Roxanne had come to their door to treat their grandfather. "I made a few skeptical comments about her—she seemed so young, and her qualifications were unknown—but Lucian and Essie both demanded I apologize to her!"

Aubree's heart sank. "I went to such lengths to keep her away from Lucian, fearing he'd meet her. I even tried to solidify our marriage. But they met without my knowledge! Worse, Essie knows her and defended her! And if Lucian stood up for her, it means he isn't averse to her!"

Panic overwhelmed Aubree. "No, this can't be happening. She appeared six years ago and stole Lucian from me, but I won't let her ruin my plans again!"

After leaving the restaurant, Roxanne drove home with her two sons, Archie and Benny. The boys were still thinking about the earlier encounter. While they couldn't fault either woman's words, they sensed hostility toward their mother, and that their mother seemed upset. They exchanged a worried glance.

"Who were those two women, Mommy?" Archie asked tensely.

"One is a family member of a patient. The other is probably Essie's mother," Roxanne replied, a strange feeling inexplicably washing over her.

Archie and Benny curled their lips in disdain. "Hmph! So that woman caused Daddy to abandon Mommy and us? How could she compare to Mommy?"

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