Chapter 773: What Is Their Relationship?

An hour later, Roxanne's phone rang. Colby had arrived. She went downstairs to greet him. Meanwhile, Lucian and the children overheard Colby's voice on the phone. Without waiting for him to speak, the children urged him to join Roxanne downstairs. Seeing their eagerness, Lucian nodded and descended the stairs with long strides.

"Thank you," Roxanne said in the courtyard, accepting the sprays from Colby. The contagious nature of the illness forced her to maintain distance, but the sheer number of sprays made it difficult to manage alone. "I'll carry them in for you," Colby offered, noticing her struggle. Roxanne immediately refused. "As you know, this bacteria is highly contagious. I already feel terrible for troubling you so late. It's best you don't enter the house to avoid infection."

Colby, having helped formulate the spray, understood the risks. He didn't press the issue. As he considered how to help, Lucian emerged from the house. He looked up, surprised. Lucian? Why was he here?

Before Colby could process this, Lucian approached with powerful strides, his expression impassive. "You're... Dr. Galloway?" He recognized Colby from a previous visit to the research institute to collect Roxanne. He remembered the men in Roxanne's life, even if he'd only met them once.

Colby, regaining his composure, extended a hand. "Mr. Farwell." Lucian didn't reciprocate, his brows furrowing slightly. "I'm infected," he explained, "so I shouldn't shake your hand, Dr. Galloway."

Colby was stunned. Roxanne had mentioned sick children when asking for the medication, leading him to assume it was Archie and Benny. But if it were them, why was Lucian here, and infected as well? What was their relationship?

Lucian's gaze was equally intense. He remembered seeing Roxanne leave the institute with Colby. Now, in this emergency, she'd sought Colby's help. What was their relationship?

A tense silence fell between them. Preoccupied with Archie and Benny, Roxanne remained oblivious to the charged atmosphere. "It's late, and given today's events, I won't invite you in."

Colby nodded, understanding. Before leaving, he gently reminded her, "Take care. Don't overexert yourself." Roxanne smiled faintly.

After Colby departed, Roxanne and Lucian watched his car disappear before returning to the house, each carrying several spray bottles. They found their three children lying sick in bed; Estella was semi-conscious with a high fever. Archie and Benny murmured weakly upon seeing them.

Roxanne immediately checked their temperatures, confirming the high fever. She quickly sprayed the children with the medication.