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Novel Catalog
Chapter 60
Lucian was caught off guard by the two boys’ angry outburst, his brows knitting together in confusion. They had reproached him directly, and for a moment, he felt a stab of guilt. He hadn’t expected to feel sympathy for these little boys, yet their frustration left him uneasy.
Roxanne, holding Estella in her arms, was equally dumbfounded by the boys’ words. She felt a pang of pain deep in her chest, her heart aching for them. Thank God they don’t know the man standing before them is their biological father. If they did, they’d be even more upset…
After a long pause, Lucian, his expression softening slightly, looked away as if avoiding their gaze. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, “but I don’t think you’re bad guys. I just feel it’s not right for your mommy to be in touch with her ex-husband. Your daddy might get upset if he finds out about it.”
There was a brief silence. Roxanne’s stomach sank as her heart raced, realizing the weight of his words. Archie and Benny exchanged glances, their minds working quickly. Oh, right! Daddy doesn’t know about our relationship with him yet!
Benny, without hesitation, spoke up. “It’s okay! We don’t have a daddy.”
Roxanne’s heart skipped a beat. She had hoped her youngest would keep quiet, but it was too late now. The words were already out in the open, and her anxiety spiked as she nervously waited for Lucian’s response.
Lucian’s brows furrowed, his suspicion piqued. What do they mean by that? His eyes flickered between the two boys, then finally landed on Roxanne, narrowing with curiosity.
“What do you mean, you don’t have a daddy? Where is he?” Lucian couldn’t help but ask, his voice laced with both concern and confusion.
Benny, unfazed by the question, looked at the man and explained matter-of-factly, “Daddy didn’t want us anymore. He abandoned Mommy, and he didn’t like us. We grew up with Mommy, so we’ve never seen our daddy.”
Lucian’s expression tightened at the boy’s words. His gaze shifted to Roxanne, and something in his eyes darkened. His mind whirred with conflicting thoughts, and a flood of emotions surged inside him. So all these years… this woman raised these two kids alone? He could only imagine the challenges she had faced.
And yet, there she stood—strong, capable, a woman with an impressive career abroad. How had she managed to juggle both her demanding work and raising these boys? The thought of the man who had abandoned them filled him with anger. How could he leave them like that?
Roxanne saw the emotional turmoil playing across Lucian’s face, the complicated emotions that he struggled to hide. She could already anticipate what he was about to say, and she couldn’t bear to hear it.
Before Lucian could speak, she closed her eyes briefly, her own emotions threatening to surface. She quickly composed herself and broke the silence with a nonchalant tone, trying to steer the conversation away from the painful topic. “Alright. Essie’s not crying anymore. It’s time for you to go home now. I should get to work soon.”
She gently released Estella from her arms and stroked her head softly. “Go home with your daddy, okay? You can always come and visit Archie and Benny next time.”
Estella’s face, which had been blotchy from crying, brightened at Roxanne’s words. She smiled through her lingering tears and nodded happily before turning to walk toward her father.
Lucian’s gaze hardened for a moment, but he didn’t press the issue any further. It was clear Roxanne didn’t want to continue the conversation, and he respected that, though his mind still raced with questions.
As Estella approached him, her red-rimmed eyes still soft with sadness, Lucian’s features softened, though he kept his voice low. He rubbed her head gently. “Say goodbye to Ms. Jarvis.”
Estella raised her hand and waved goodbye, her smile now more genuine despite her lingering sadness.
Roxanne, holding back her own emotions, waved back along with her two boys, who gave their own quick farewell.
Lucian nodded briefly, his tone terse. “We’re leaving now.”
Before Roxanne could say another word, Lucian turned away and took Estella’s hand, leading her out of the house without another glance back.
