Chapter 806: Opposing Emotions
After watching the children enter kindergarten, Roxanne turned to Lucian, a mixture of emotions swirling within her. "The boys told me you sent me home last night," she began.
Lucian nodded curtly, his gaze averted. He couldn't help but recall the previous night's events, the sight of her face still vivid in his mind.
Roxanne followed his glance to his car parked by the roadside, assuming he was in a hurry. "Can you tell me how we ran into each other last night?" she asked directly.
Lucian's face hardened at the mention of their encounter. "We happened to meet in the hotel elevator," he replied.
Though he omitted details of wresting her from Jack's arms, Roxanne easily imagined the scene. His temper; his fury at seeing her with Jack; the unpleasantness that must have ensued—all were readily apparent.
What surprised her was Lucian's lack of further inquiry about her relationship with Jack. This sparked a sudden realization, bringing their previous conversation to mind. He must be trying to prevent her from attending the contract signing ceremony, given his and Jack's rivalry; that must have been his reason for being at the hotel, arriving too late to intervene. Was this the reason he seemingly no longer cared about her relationship with Jack?
A sense of slight stung her. Maintaining composure, she offered a flat expression of gratitude. "Thank you for sending me home, Mr. Farwell."
Lucian nodded, a frown furrowing his brow. The image of her and Jack together still angered him, yet the sight of her face brought back the memory of the previous night. Overwhelmed by conflicting emotions, he couldn't bring himself to question her further. An inexplicable tension settled between them.
Collecting herself, Roxanne offered a distant smile. "If there's nothing else, I'll be going."
She walked past him, leaving him no chance to respond. Lucian's eyes darkened, but he didn't stop her. Only when her footsteps faded did he return to his car.
On her way to the research institute, Roxanne felt unsettled, replaying her conversation with Lucian and his unusual behavior. In the past, he would have stopped her, said something; this time, he hadn't. His attitude toward her and Jack seemed indifferent; he hadn't even questioned her. Moreover, he appeared eager to leave, as if avoiding her.
The irony struck her—Lucian's declaration of his pursuit, her long internal struggle, her consideration of accepting him...she realized she'd been a fool to take him seriously. She even laughed at herself for wondering if he'd stayed to care for her the previous night. Given his behavior, such concern seemed utterly implausible.