Chapter 853: Sore Spot

“Mommy…” Benny’s voice trembled. “Do I have to have surgery?”

Roxanne nodded earnestly. “Your acute appendicitis will worsen if you don’t, and you’ll be in even more pain. I’m worried about you.”

Benny hesitated, slowly removing his hand from his stomach. “Mommy, I’m feeling much better. I’m perfectly fine now. Let’s not go, please?”

Roxanne shook her head.

Archie and Benny exchanged fearful glances. Archie tugged at Roxanne’s shirt. “Mommy, we’re both sorry for lying. I asked Benny to pretend. Please don’t take him for surgery.”

Benny joined him, standing before Roxanne with a guilty expression.

Roxanne sighed, ruffling their hair. “Have you learned from your mistake?”

They nodded quickly.

She crouched to their level. “Can you tell me why you lied?”

Archie and Benny exchanged glances, speechless. Roxanne waited patiently.

“Because… we don’t like Mr. Damaris,” Benny admitted hesitantly, watching Roxanne closely.

Surprise flickered in Roxanne’s eyes. She’d assumed they’d pretended to be ill to prevent her from leaving. This was the second time she’d heard them express dislike for someone—previously, it had been Aubree.

She couldn't understand why they disliked Jack, who had always been kind to them.

“Why don’t you like Mr. Damaris?” Roxanne asked, puzzled.

Benny and Archie pursed their lips. “No idea. We just don’t like him.”

Roxanne frowned. “You can’t say that. You have to give me a reason. Otherwise, I won’t be able to decline Mr. Damaris’ kind offers on your behalf in the future.”

Benny lowered his head. They couldn’t reveal their true reason: that Jack might steal Roxanne from Lucian.

Roxanne tried Archie.

He said innocently, “Since you met Mr. Damaris, you’ve spent much less time with us. It happened yesterday and today.”

His words struck a chord. Roxanne had been busy with work since meeting Jack and had neglected her children. Lucian had even confronted her about it the day before. She felt immediate remorse and believed Archie’s words.

“Mommy, can you stay and accompany us today?” The children’s plea tugged at her heart.