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Novel Catalog
Chapter 56
Lucian took a deep breath and followed Archie into the mansion, trying to steady his thoughts.
As soon as he stepped inside, his eyes immediately found Estella sitting on the carpet, completely engrossed in the Lego pieces in front of her. She was accompanied by a little boy who looked strikingly similar to the one who had opened the door for him.
Twins, huh? Lucian thought, the realization settling uneasily in his mind. His gaze shifted away from the boys, trying to focus elsewhere.
The room, despite its warmth and comfort, felt colder to him as he searched for Roxanne—only to find she was nowhere in sight.
“Your daddy’s here,” Archie called out, his tone now distant and cold. He had gone from being friendly to utterly indifferent in the blink of an eye.
Estella froze at his words, her eyes flicking up to Lucian for a moment. But the moment she made eye contact, she quickly turned her gaze away, her attention returning to her notebook as she began to write.
Lucian and the boys all watched her quietly.
Archie and Benny were reluctant to see her leave, but with her father now present, there was no reason to keep her here. Lucian could tell by the way Estella hesitated that she wasn’t ready to go back.
A familiar tightness settled in Lucian’s chest as he realized what was about to happen. Estella would try to resist.
As expected, Estella raised her notebook, and Lucian’s eyes narrowed as he read her message:
I don’t want to go home yet.
The vein on Lucian’s temple twitched. He had anticipated this, and his displeasure was evident. His voice turned stern, laced with frustration as he addressed his daughter.
“Estella Farwell, you left home without a word. Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?” he demanded. “This is the second time you’ve run away this month. Why on earth did you do it?”
Estella met his gaze defiantly but didn’t speak. Instead, she quickly scribbled another note:
I like Ms. Jarvis. I like Archie and Benny. I want to be friends with them!
Lucian’s lips curled into a thin, mocking smile as he read her words. “You like them, but have you ever asked them if they like you?” His voice was laced with derision. “You came running to their house, disrupting their lives. Don’t you realize how rude that is?”
Estella’s brow furrowed, and she looked at Archie and Benny, trying to gauge their feelings. She knew coming over early in the morning had been an inconvenience, but she couldn’t help herself. She liked them so much, and her father wouldn’t let her spend time with them. They had exchanged gifts, and the boys had even invited her to play. Didn’t that mean they liked her, too?
Benny, seeing the hurt in Estella’s eyes, couldn’t hold back. “She’s not bothering us,” he spoke up, putting down his Lego pieces. “In fact, we were just playing Lego together until you showed up. It was a lot of fun!”
Estella smiled at Benny’s words, grateful for his defense. But then, her eyes flashed back to her father, a fire igniting in her gaze.
Lucian stood still, visibly conflicted by Benny’s response. For a moment, he didn’t know how to react.
But before the tension could thicken, Archie leaned over and nudged his brother, urging him to be quiet.
Benny blinked in surprise but quickly understood, his eyes meeting Archie’s warning glance.
Right. We can’t let this guy think we like Essie too much, Benny thought, quickly falling silent and keeping his displeasure confined to his gaze.
Lucian, noticing the exchange between the boys, couldn’t quite figure out what was going through their minds. He assumed his stern demeanor had intimidated them, and after a pause, he softened his expression.
They may not be my kids, but they’re still young. Lucian tried to gather his composure, not wanting to take his frustration out on the children.
“In any case,” he said, his voice calmer now, “the fact that Essie showed up at your door early in the morning must’ve caused you some trouble. Thank you for playing with her.”
The boys gave a cold nod in response, their expressions still distant.
The room fell into an awkward silence, the air thick with unspoken words.
Lucian, feeling a mounting frustration, rubbed his temples. “Where’s your mommy?” he asked after a long pause, his patience wearing thin.
Despite having a daughter of his own, Lucian was far from comfortable in these situations. His inability to connect with children, particularly his own, made moments like these all the more difficult.
