Chapter 868: Fretted

“Ms. Jarvis,” Jack said, standing at the door with his assistant. His brow furrowed at Roxanne’s expression. “Did I arrive at the wrong time?”

Roxanne swallowed her disappointment, plastering a smile on her face. “No, no, I just got home.”

Jack nodded slightly, his eyes sweeping past her to her two sons.

“Hello, Mr. Damaris,” the boys greeted him politely.

Jack acknowledged them with a nod before turning back to Roxanne. “The children are looking much better.”

Roxanne was surprised. She then remembered their earlier pretense of illness that morning, a detail overshadowed by her worries about Estella. Now, reminded by Jack, she glanced at her sons.

“Thank you for your concern, Mr. Damaris. We’ve taken some medicine and are feeling much better,” the boys replied dutifully.

“Why are you here, Mr. Damaris?” Roxanne asked, guiltily changing the subject.

Jack smiled faintly, gesturing toward his parked car. “The medicine you requested is ready. Why don’t you have a look?”

Roxanne followed him.

“Lucky for us, we arrived just in time,” Jack said as Roxanne inspected the medicine. “Herbscape Group was seized immediately after you left. If we’d been any later, we wouldn’t have secured anything.”

Roxanne offered a weak smile, her thoughts drifting to Estella. The medicine’s arrival had prevented her from reaching Estella in time. Guilt clouded her eyes, slowing her inspection as her focus shifted.

Jack noticed her unusual behavior and raised an eyebrow. He’d brought the medicine personally, curious about her hasty departure. He’d initially assumed it was because of her sons, but now doubted that.

“It looks good. Thanks for the trouble, Mr. Damaris,” Roxanne said gratefully.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m just concerned about its impact on your research,” Jack replied calmly, his gaze shifting to the boys. He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but they seemed wary of him, as if he were trying to take something from them.

“Mommy!”

At the sight of him, the boys immediately clustered possessively around Roxanne, as if afraid she would leave with Jack. She looked down at them, bewildered, as they clutched her skirt.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

The boys opened their mouths, then shut them, shaking their heads. “It’s nothing.” They’d wanted to dissuade her from going with Jack, but couldn’t think of anything to say. Jack had seen through their earlier pretense of illness. Even if they’d wanted her to take them out, she was surely not in the mood. The thought fretted them.