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Novel Catalog
Chapter 46
Roxanne gave a noncommittal nod, before gently guiding the boys over to greet the teacher.
Just as they were about to leave, her gaze wandered back to Estella. The little girl had stood up anxiously, her eyes fixed on them, clearly reluctant to see them go.
Worried that she might stumble, the teacher quickly moved to steady her. Roxanne’s heart softened, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she didn’t belong here. Still, she felt compelled to ask, her voice filled with concern. “Is she…?”
The boys, clearly accustomed to the situation, answered immediately. “Mommy, she’s a student here too. Actually, she’s in our class. Her mommy and daddy haven’t come yet, so she was waiting with us.”
Roxanne nodded, feeling a pang of sympathy for the little girl. Estella was mute, and it was clear that the boys had taken a protective role in looking out for her. Still, she had no intention of staying longer. Soon, either Lucian or Aubree would arrive to pick Estella up, and she wasn’t sure she was ready to face either of them.
However, Estella didn’t seem ready to let them go. Her eyes followed Roxanne’s every movement, and when Roxanne began to walk away, Estella grabbed her sleeve, holding on tightly.
Roxanne halted, her heart sinking at the sight of Estella’s pleading eyes. The little girl shook her head slightly, her eyes starting to redden. The vulnerability in her gaze made it hard for Roxanne to move, and for a moment, she found herself torn.
The teacher, noticing the situation, stepped forward with a gentle sigh. “Ms. Jarvis, Estella has become very close to Archie and Benny. Due to her autism, she often struggles to connect with other children, and most of the time, they keep their distance. But the moment Archie and Benny arrived, they’ve been incredibly protective of her. She’s grown attached to them, and now, she’s probably worried that they’re leaving.”
Roxanne’s heart clenched at the teacher’s words. Not only was Estella mute, but she also faced the challenges of autism, making it all the more difficult for her to bond with others. Roxanne’s feelings of discomfort deepened. She wanted to help but also wanted to avoid running into Lucian and Aubree.
Despite the teacher’s soothing attempts to coax Estella, the little girl refused to let go of Roxanne. It was clear that Estella was afraid of being left alone.
After a long pause, the teacher gently offered, “Ms. Jarvis, if you’re not in a hurry, would you mind staying for a bit? I haven’t had the chance to talk to you about the boys’ progress at school.”
Roxanne understood that the teacher was using this as a way to keep her there for Estella’s sake. The little girl, too, looked up at her with hopeful eyes, silently asking her to stay.
Roxanne hesitated. She had planned to leave, but the quiet plea from Estella and the gentle coaxing from the teacher made it difficult for her to turn down the request. With a quiet sigh, she swallowed her initial instinct to leave and nodded at the teacher.
At that, Estella’s face lit up with a soft smile, and she discreetly leaned into Roxanne, clutching her sleeve. From a distance, it looked as if the little girl had nestled herself into Roxanne’s arms.
Roxanne felt the warmth of Estella’s small form against her, but she didn’t stop her or draw attention to it. Instead, she focused on the conversation with the teacher, discussing the boys’ progress at school as though she hadn’t noticed the little girl’s subtle shift into her space.
