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Novel Catalog
Chapter 10
The four of them returned to the mansion later that evening.
Roxanne and the two children were so hungry from the day’s events that they eagerly devoured the leftovers Madilyn had brought from the restaurant. It wasn’t long before they’d finished everything in sight, their appetites insatiable after the chaos.
Once dinner was done, the boys hurried upstairs to take a shower, leaving Roxanne and Madilyn alone in the living room.
Madilyn glanced over at her best friend, her expression full of concern. “Why are you running away from him, Roxanne? I don’t understand. I thought you two had a divorce agreement. Why are you so afraid of him? And you still haven’t told me what happened—why did you two divorce in the first place?”
Roxanne hesitated, lowering her gaze to the floor. After a moment of silence, she decided to tell Madilyn the truth, though only the bare bones of it.
“Well…” Roxanne began, her voice quiet but steady, “I drugged him, Madilyn. I drugged Lucian that night, and then I had his children.”
Madilyn’s eyes widened in shock. “Oh my God! No, you didn’t!” She looked at her friend as if she’d just heard the most unbelievable thing. “So, that’s why you ran when you heard his name…”
Roxanne bit her lip, the weight of her actions sinking deeper into her chest. “I didn’t want him to know about Benny and Archie. And… I’m still afraid. People like him—people with his power—they don’t forgive. They can destroy you, even after all this time. If it were just me, I wouldn’t be so scared. But now, with two kids to protect, I have to think carefully. I can’t afford to make mistakes.”
Her voice wavered as she spoke, and she forced a bitter smile. “Maybe I’m overthinking it. He probably doesn’t even care about me anymore. To him, I’m just a nobody.”
Madilyn frowned, her expression serious. “That’s what you thought… but I think he recognized your voice. When he came in, he asked about you. It seemed like he was coming after you.”
Roxanne’s heart sank. The blood drained from her face as the words hit her like a blow. He must hate me now… She could almost hear the cold, unforgiving tone in his voice when he would inevitably confront her about everything.
Madilyn’s voice softened, sensing her best friend’s distress. “Don’t worry, Roxanne. Horington’s a big city. You’re not going to run into him everywhere. Plus, your jobs are in completely different circles. He won’t find you easily.”
Roxanne nodded, trying to hold on to the sliver of hope her friend was offering. She could only pray that Madilyn was right.
“Mommy!”
The sound of her children’s voices interrupted their conversation. Roxanne looked toward the stairs, where Archie and Benny had just come down, freshly showered, their damp hair still glistening. They wore matching pajamas with cow prints, looking every bit the adorable pair they were.
They walked toward the women, their big eyes wide with curiosity. “What are you two talking about?” Archie asked, his little voice tinged with innocence.
Madilyn immediately swooped them both into her arms, cooing, “You two are so adorable! I love you both so much! Come, let Aunt Madilyn take you home!” She squished their cheeks together, making the boys squirm.
Roxanne couldn’t help but laugh at the scene, her mood lightening a little despite everything.
She stood and gently pulled the boys out of Madilyn’s clutches, much to their relief.
“Before I forget,” Roxanne said, her voice thoughtful, “since I came back so suddenly, and with work piling up, I won’t be able to take Archie and Benny with me all the time. Can you recommend a good kindergarten for them? And I’ll need a nanny too.”
Archie and Benny stayed silent, sensing that their mother’s words weren’t just idle chatter. They weren’t particularly keen on the idea of kindergarten, but they understood why it was necessary. They didn’t want to add more stress to her already full plate.
Madilyn thought for a moment before responding, “I do have a great place in mind. There’s a kindergarten for children from elite families here in Horington. It’s well-known, and the kids get to learn multiple languages. The teachers are highly qualified, and a lot of wealthy families fight for a spot. You won’t have to worry about them facing bullies or anything.”
Roxanne’s eyes lit up. “Really? That sounds perfect! I’ll look up more details online. If everything checks out, I’d love to enroll Archie and Benny there as soon as possible!”
Madilyn smiled warmly, relieved that she could help in some small way. “I’ll help you out with the details. You don’t have to worry about a thing.”
Roxanne felt a sense of gratitude toward her best friend, the weight of her worries lifting just a little bit. Maybe things weren’t as impossible as they seemed.
