Chapter 801: Covered in Vomit

Lucian knelt before Archie and Benny, a frown creasing his face. "I've been meaning to ask," he began hesitantly, "why are you two helping me?"

The boys exchanged relieved glances. "Because you treat Mommy and Essie so well!" Benny chirped.

Lucian scrutinized them, trying to gauge their truthfulness. Unsure, after a long stare, he stood. "It's late. I'll look after your mother. You two should go to bed."

The children, immensely relieved, obediently left. They wondered how Lucian would react upon learning their secret identities.

Waiting until they were gone, Lucian turned to the sleeping Roxanne. He sighed helplessly. "Even the children see I'm treating you well. How do you feel about me?"

She didn't answer.

He sat on her balcony chair, working on his phone. A noise from the room startled him. He rushed back to find Roxanne frowning deeply, mumbling in her sleep.

Leaning closer, he heard, "Why do you keep ignoring me, Lucian? Am I not good enough for you?"

He tensed, remembering a similar incident during their vacation—her drunken ramblings about six years prior. Why does she keep saying this? he wondered.

Then it struck him. Six years ago, Roxanne had fallen for him, but preoccupied with repaying the Pearsons, he'd completely ignored her. She likely experienced the same pain I'm feeling now, he realized. No wonder she doesn't see how well I'm treating her.

With an apologetic look, Lucian gently squeezed her hand. He started to speak, but Roxanne's brow furrowed. She woke, frantically trying to cover her mouth, too late. She leaned over, vomiting.

Roxanne instinctively tightened her grip on his hand. He couldn't pull away in time; he was covered in vomit.