Chapter 850: A Bit Reluctant

“Mommy!” Archie and Benny’s sweet voices called out as Roxanne wrestled with her own doubts.

The boys had been waiting patiently in the dining room. When Roxanne didn't return, they assumed Lucian had arrived with Estella and excitedly ran outside. However, the sight of the man on the couch instantly made them wary. Although they'd only met Jack once, his presence left a lasting impression. They worried he would try to come between their mother and father, especially after their parents' argument the previous day. Jack's early morning visit only heightened their apprehension.

“Hello,” Jack said, smiling and rising. “I didn’t get a chance to bring you a gift last time, so I grabbed something from my car. One moment.”

He left the mansion to retrieve the gift. Once he was gone, Archie and Benny huddled close to their mother. “Mommy, why did Mr. Damaris come today?” they asked.

Roxanne pushed aside her own frustrations, forcing a smile. “It’s just work, dears. Don’t worry.”

“Work again?” The boys exchanged glances. Yesterday, Jack had also used work as an excuse to take Roxanne away, leading to an argument between Lucian and Roxanne.

“Are you going to work today, Mommy?” Their expressions were purposefully pitiful. “You promised you’d take us out!”

Since returning home, Roxanne had made a point of taking her children out almost every weekend. Yesterday's impromptu trip with Jack to tour the research institute had forced her to reschedule their plans. A major incident at Herbscape Group the day before had worried her, but she didn’t want to disappoint her children and intended to keep her promise. She hadn't anticipated Jack's early visit, leaving her unsure of the day's schedule.

Archie and Benny hung their heads when their mother remained silent. Seeing their disappointment, Roxanne stroked their heads apologetically. “I’m sorry. If nothing urgent comes up, Mommy will try to stay home. And if I do have to go, I'll be back quickly. Okay?”

The boys remained hesitant. They weren't willing to let their mother spend another minute with Jack, much less go out with him. Roxanne, however, mistook their reluctance for simple disappointment at missing their outing and tried her best to reassure them.

As she comforted her children, Jack re-entered the mansion, gift in hand. “Your mother told me you like Lego, so I got this for you. I hope you like it,” he announced.

Despite their dislike of Jack, Archie and Benny displayed good manners. They turned at the sound of his voice and accepted the gift, replying politely, “Thank you, Mr. Damaris.”