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Novel Catalog
Chapter 20
Her Relationship with That Man
Roxanne didn’t know where to go after fleeing the room, so she found herself hiding in the stairwell. She leaned against the cold concrete wall, her chest heaving with shallow breaths. Her fingers touched her lips—still tingling from Lucian’s heated kiss—as if his warmth was somehow still lingering on her skin.
A bitter laugh escaped her lips. It had been years since she had left him behind, years since she convinced herself she no longer felt anything for Lucian. Yet, here she was, struggling to regain composure after a single encounter with him.
What is it about him that still has this power over me? she thought, clenching her fists as a wave of frustration washed over her.
After a few moments, Roxanne steadied herself, wiping away the stray tears threatening to fall. She couldn’t let him have that hold over her—not anymore.
When she finally returned to the party, the atmosphere had shifted. The workers inside were still celebrating, but the noise seemed to soften when she walked in, as if they could sense the change in her mood.
Colby immediately noticed the difference in her demeanor, his brow furrowing in concern. “You were gone for a while. Everything okay? It’s like something’s off.”
Roxanne offered him a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “It’s nothing. I just made a call to my son,” she lied smoothly, not allowing him to probe any further.
Her mood had darkened, and she was ready to leave. Most of the guests had already begun to wind down by the time she returned, so Roxanne decided it was time to call it a night.
After gathering their things, Colby, ever the gentleman, offered to drive her home. “You’ve had a lot to drink tonight, Roxanne. Let me take you home. I’m worried about you.”
She didn’t argue. She hadn’t yet bought a car since coming back to the country, and right now, she could use a quiet ride away from the noise of the evening. “Thank you,” she said, grateful for the offer.
“It’s my pleasure,” Colby replied with a smile, opening the car door for her.
As she settled into the car, her thoughts were a million miles away, swirling back to the confrontation with Lucian. She had wanted to be strong, to leave him behind, but somehow, it felt like he still held a part of her in his grip.
Meanwhile, outside the restaurant, Cayden watched as Roxanne entered the car with another man. His eyes widened with disbelief.
How is this possible? he thought, his stomach churning. Why is she getting into someone else’s car?
He glanced at his employer, Lucian, who stood by the entrance, eyes fixed on the car as it slowly pulled away. The grimace on Lucian’s face was unmistakable, his anger palpable even from a distance.
After a beat, Lucian’s expression darkened further. “Find out who that man is. I want to know what kind of relationship he has with her.”
Cayden didn’t hesitate. “Yes, sir.”
Later that evening, Lucian returned home to the Farwell residence. It was just past nine o’clock. As he stepped into the living room, his eyes scanned the space, searching for Estella.
“Where’s Essie?” he asked, his voice tinged with the exhaustion of the day.
Catalina, who had been tending to Estella, descended the stairs. “Mr. Farwell, Ms. Estella is already in her room. She finished her shower and went straight to her room to rest. Would you like to see her?”
Lucian gave a slight nod. “I’ll go check on her.”
But before he could move, Catalina hesitated. “There’s something else… When Estella came home tonight, she had a bruise on her wrist. I asked her about it, but she wouldn’t say anything. She seemed upset. I’m not sure if something happened at kindergarten, but I think it’s something you should look into.”
Lucian’s face tightened, his gaze narrowing in concern. “I understand. I’ll go upstairs now.”
He made his way up the stairs, the worry for his daughter growing with each step. When he reached her door, he knocked softly, his voice gentler than usual.
“Essie?”
The door creaked open, and Estella appeared, her small face neutral but guarded. She didn’t show much reaction upon seeing Lucian, nor did she speak. Instead, she turned away and walked back toward her desk, where she had been drawing.
Lucian stepped inside and stood quietly for a moment, watching her as she returned to her artwork, not wanting to disturb her. He noticed how intently she was focused on the picture in front of her, and for a moment, he simply waited, letting her take her time.
After a few minutes, Estella finally set her pencil down, seemingly done for the moment. Lucian took a step closer, his voice soft yet firm. “Catalina mentioned that you’re hurt. Can I take a look at your wrist?”
Estella didn’t respond right away, her eyes flickering with something he couldn’t quite read. Slowly, she rolled up the sleeve of her dress, revealing the bruise that marred her delicate skin. Lucian’s jaw tightened at the sight of it.
“Who did this to you, Essie?” he asked, his voice low, a protective edge creeping in.
Estella looked away, her lips pressed into a thin line, refusing to answer. The silence between them was heavy, but Lucian wasn’t about to let it go.
