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Novel Catalog
Chapter 50
Estella was in no mood for anything. The entire drive home, she barely acknowledged Lucian, who trailed behind her as she stormed up the stairs. Without a single glance back, she slammed her bedroom door with a resounding thud, locking it angrily once she was inside.
Catalina, who had been waiting by the door when they arrived, saw Estella’s stormy mood immediately. She glanced at Lucian, who followed his daughter silently. The tension between them was palpable—another fallout between father and daughter, it seemed.
“Mr. Farwell, what is Ms. Estella angry about?” Catalina asked, her voice full of concern as she watched the scene unfold.
Lucian paused for a moment, his expression blank, before answering in his usual impassive tone, “Nothing. She’s just throwing a tantrum. Look after her.”
Catalina nodded, sensing the growing distance between Lucian and Estella. “Yes, sir.”
She couldn’t help but wonder what had set Estella off this time. The little girl rarely showed her emotions so openly, and Lucian—well, he wasn’t the type to comfort anyone. It seemed clear to Catalina that the house was lacking a gentle presence. They needed someone who could bring warmth, someone who understood the needs of the heart.
Inside her room, Estella was furious. The slam of her door echoed in the hallway, but she felt no relief. She was angry at her daddy, and nothing was going to make her feel better about it.
When Catalina knocked gently on the door, Estella hesitated before opening it slightly. Seeing the tray of her favorite food, Estella’s stomach twisted, but she had no appetite. With a small, reluctant sigh, she picked at the food, taking only a couple of bites before pushing it away.
Catalina’s heart ached for the little girl. She knew this was something between father and daughter, and while she wished she could offer more comfort, she couldn’t. It wasn’t her place. Instead, she took the tray back to the kitchen, giving Estella some space, and returned to help her shower a few hours later.
By the time Catalina finished cleaning up the bathroom, Estella was lying on her stomach on the bed, tapping away at her laptop with a deep, concentrated frown on her face. The soft clicking of the keys filled the room, and though Catalina was used to hearing it, she couldn’t help but wonder what had Estella so engrossed.
Still, Catalina knew better than to pry. She silently tidied up, then left the room without saying a word.
Meanwhile, on the road, Roxanne was stuck in traffic on her way back with Archie and Benny. The car was quiet, the stillness broken only by the occasional glance the boys exchanged with each other. They could sense that something was wrong, but neither of them knew exactly what had happened at the kindergarten.
Roxanne’s silence spoke volumes, and her mood was hard to miss. The boys noticed her expression in the rearview mirror. Her lips were pressed tight, her eyes distant.
Benny, trying to cheer her up, spoke first, “Mommy, we made some cards today at kindergarten. The teacher asked us to make them for the people we love. So, Archie and I made one for you!”
Benny cast a sideways glance at Archie, as if silently urging him to back him up. Archie nodded, understanding exactly what his brother meant.
“Mommy, do you want to know what we wrote?” Benny’s voice was warm, and there was a twinkle of hope in his eyes that made Roxanne’s heart ache with affection.
Roxanne’s lips quirked into a small, genuine smile. “Sure, boys. What did you write?”
From the back seat, they could hear Benny rummaging through the bag they had brought home. He pulled out a folded piece of paper and began reading aloud with great emotion.
“The person I love the most is Mommy! My mommy is an amazing doctor! Even though she’s always busy with work, my brother and I know she loves us the most! We think Mommy is a great person for saving lives every day. Sometimes, we feel bad for her and wish she won’t get too busy and tire herself out. I hope Mommy will stay beautiful forever!”
Roxanne couldn’t help but laugh softly, the words melting her heart. “It’s so long. No wonder your teacher said you two excel at Chanaean. What about you, Archie?”
Archie sat up straighter, a slight grin on his face, as he unfolded his card. His tone was serious but full of love as he began to read.
“My mommy is an amazing doctor. Saving lives is a difficult job, and so is taking care of my brother and me. I want to be like her when I grow up. I wish I could grow up quickly and earn money for my family, so Mommy doesn’t have to be so tired all the time.”
The words hit Roxanne like a wave, and she felt her heart swell with emotion. She blinked back tears, unable to contain the overwhelming warmth spreading through her. “Thank you, boys,” she whispered, her voice thick with gratitude.
Archie and Benny exchanged a look, and as if on cue, they both released a relieved sigh, their faces lighting up with joy as they saw her mood improve.
In the Farwell mansion, Estella remained in her room, her thoughts still swirling with anger and confusion. She had hoped for comfort from her father, but instead, he had shut her down, leaving her feeling even more alone.
Her fingers danced across the keyboard, her thoughts finding solace in the letters as she wrote down everything she couldn’t say out loud. As the words filled the screen, Estella felt a strange sense of release, though her heart still ached.
She knew her father didn’t understand, and maybe he never would. But for now, all she could do was wait. Wait for things to settle, wait for the storm to pass.
