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Novel Catalog
Chapter 5
Lucian’s eyes narrowed into a cold, piercing glare, locking onto Aubree for a long moment. The silence between them was thick, laden with unspoken tension.
Aubree clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palm as she fought to keep her composure, to prevent any hint of her true emotions from surfacing.
Finally, Lucian broke the silence, his voice low and measured. “You’d better not be lying.”
Aubree’s heart skipped a beat, but she held her ground, her face neutral.
Lucian then turned his attention to Cayden, his gaze turning cold. “Did the police get back to you?”
Cayden’s expression was grim. “Not yet.”
He hesitated for a moment, then cautiously asked, “Could someone have kidnapped Ms. Estella?” The worry in his voice was palpable.
Estella, Lucian’s beloved daughter, was a high-profile figure, adored by the Farwell family. She was a target for rivals, and with the previous near-kidnapping incident, the thought of something worse happening now felt all too real.
Lucian’s expression darkened further. The air around him seemed to freeze. “Increase the search effort. I want to see her by the end of today,” he ordered, his voice like ice.
“Understood,” Cayden replied quickly, a chill running down his spine. Lucian’s anger was unmistakable, and when he was like this, nothing and no one was safe.
As Lucian spun on his heels to leave, his phone rang, the shrill tone cutting through the tense atmosphere.
His hand froze in mid-motion as he pulled the phone from his pocket, glancing at the screen. He was in no mood for calls, but the number was unfamiliar, and his instincts told him to pick it up.
A voice crackled through the speaker, and Lucian’s brows furrowed. “Hello?”
The voice that came through the line was faintly familiar, but Lucian couldn’t place it immediately. Why does this sound like her? A memory flickered in his mind—the woman he had seen at the airport earlier that day.
“Hello? Is anyone there?” The voice was uncertain, and Lucian’s pulse quickened as the name clicked in his mind.
It’s her… His heart stuttered for a beat. It had been years, but there was no mistaking it. Roxanne Jarvis, you’re finally back.
His voice dropped to a low, dangerous tone. “Where are you?”
“We’re at Drunken Fairy. We’ll wait here with her. Will you come to the restaurant to pick her up?” Roxanne’s voice was clear and calm, but there was an undertone of nervousness that caught Lucian’s attention.
“Yes. I’ll head there right away,” Lucian replied curtly before ending the call.
He turned to Cayden. “Get the car. We’re heading to Drunken Fairy.”
Cayden, still unsure of the sudden shift in Lucian’s mood, nodded quickly and scurried to comply.
Meanwhile, Roxanne stared at her phone screen as it dimmed, a strange feeling of unease settling in her chest. The voice from the other end, though it sounded hoarse, stirred something familiar. Why does it sound so familiar? But before she could dwell on it, she pushed the thought aside.
Madilyn, ever the lively one, looked at her with a grin. “Aren’t you hungry?” she asked, her stomach growling audibly. “We’ve been waiting outside for a while. I’m starving! Let’s head in and have dinner. We can bring the little one out when her dad arrives.”
Roxanne smiled and nodded. “Sure, let’s go in.”
She squatted down to the little girl’s level again, offering her a gentle smile. “Are you hungry? Do you want to come inside with us? Your daddy should be here soon, and when he arrives, I’ll bring you out. Does that sound good?”
The little girl stared at her, her expression uncertain, as if she wasn’t sure how to react.
“If you don’t want to come in, I’ll wait right here with you,” Roxanne added, her voice soft but patient.
Archie and Benny, hearing the conversation, chimed in eagerly. “We’ll wait with you, Mommy!”
Madilyn, half-joking, slapped her forehead in exasperation. “Am I the only one starving here? Little one, we’re not bad people. No one who treats you to a meal in a nice restaurant can be all bad! You must be hungry, too. Come on in with us. There’s no reason to be so stubborn!”
Everyone’s gaze shifted to the little girl, who was still hesitating. The boys, clearly hungry, gave the girl expectant looks.
The little girl bit her lip, clearly torn. After a long moment, she reached out and tugged gently at Roxanne’s sleeve, then nodded hesitantly.
Roxanne smiled warmly, seeing the girl’s cautious nature. “You don’t have to force yourself,” she said, her voice filled with understanding.
The little girl shook her head, indicating that she was ready. Roxanne reached down and affectionately patted the girl’s head before taking her hand and guiding her inside the restaurant.
Madilyn, walking alongside, held Archie and Benny’s hands, teasing, “She was so wary of us a few minutes ago, but now she’s practically glued to you.”
Roxanne chuckled, holding the girl’s hand firmly. “I guess good-looking people are just naturally trusted,” she teased, her voice light as she led the girl inside.
As they entered the warm, bustling restaurant, Roxanne felt a strange mixture of nerves and nostalgia. The unexpected reunion with Lucian’s daughter—and the memories of their shared past—lingered in her mind, but she pushed them aside for the moment. There was a little girl to care for, and that was her priority now.
