Roxanne returned with the medical kit and carefully applied medicinal cream to Estella's hand. Estella remained well-behaved throughout, only slightly shrinking away when it hurt, quickly replacing her hand afterward. This melted Roxanne's heart.

After applying the medicine, Roxanne sat beside Estella. Archie obediently gave up his seat, moving to sit beside Lucian.

"May I feed you?" Roxanne asked Estella.

Estella readily nodded, her expression anticipatory. Roxanne smiled, picked up Estella's plate, and began feeding her. Estella's appetite improved tremendously; she fixed her gaze on Roxanne, eagerly opening her mouth with each offering. Roxanne's smile widened at Estella's good behavior.

Lucian watched from across the table. Roxanne promptly wiped Estella's lips whenever they were stained, her feeding pace perfectly measured. Estella's eyes crinkled with pleasure as she ate. A complex mix of emotions flickered across Lucian's face.

Archie and Benny watched silently, finding Estella's eating habits cute rather than feeling jealous. They glanced at Lucian simultaneously, then exchanged suspicious looks.

"Daddy's been staring at Mommy," Archie whispered. "And it doesn't look like hate. It looksaffectionate."

Archie frowned, put down his fork, and served Lucian some food with an innocent expression. "Mr. Farwell, why aren't you eating? Eat more!"

Lucian snapped to attention, subconsciously thanking Archie. "Thanks."

The moment he saw the vegetable on his plate, his gaze darkened. It was celery, a vegetable placed far from Archie's reach. Archie had clearly served it intentionally.

After speaking, Archie buried his head in his plate, furtively watching Lucian. He remembered Lucian's intense dislike of celery from their past investigation. He pondered Lucian's past abandonment of Roxanne and his current affectionate gaze. He decided Lucian deserved punishment. This celery was just a start. (The website promotion is removed here as it's irrelevant to the text cleanup.)

Lucian picked up his fork, giving Archie a meaningful look. Archie met his gaze fearlessly. Lucian raised an eyebrow, sensing a challenge he couldn't quite understand.

"Do you dislike celery, Mr. Farwell?" Archie asked innocently, his words urging a response.

Lucian smiled. "No." He ate the celery impassively.

From Archie's angle, the flash of disgust in Lucian's eyes as he swallowed was hidden. Roxanne, however, saw it. She was instantly transported back to six years prior.

"You can leave it if you don't want it," she said softly, lowering her eyes to hide her emotions.

"I didn't say I wasn't eating it," Lucian replied calmly.

A complex mix of emotions stirred within Roxanne, leaving her silent.