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Novel Catalog
Chapter 61
After watching Lucian’s car drive off, Roxanne turned to Archie and Benny, guiding them back into the mansion. She squatted down to their level, her expression serious, and the boys immediately sensed her desire to talk.
“Archie, Benny, listen carefully,” Roxanne began, her voice firm. “You must never mention anything about our family to anyone—especially the fact that you don’t have a daddy.”
Her head throbbed as she recalled the earlier incident. Thank God I stopped them in time. If Lucian had heard more, his suspicions would have grown, and we can’t afford that.
The boys exchanged puzzled looks. “Why not? It’s the truth. We don’t have a daddy,” Benny said innocently.
Roxanne’s pulse quickened, her anxiety rising. How can I explain this to them without revealing too much?
She hesitated for a moment, then quickly fabricated a lie. “Because bad people often target children who don’t have fathers. They know that mothers can’t always protect their kids. What if they tried to take you away?”
Archie and Benny looked at each other, clearly unconvinced by her explanation. But after a brief pause, they nodded in unison. “Okay, Mommy.”
Roxanne let out a deep sigh of relief, grateful that they had bought her story. She stood up, grabbed her bag, and led them to the research institute, her mind still preoccupied with the earlier conversation.
Meanwhile, after leaving Roxanne’s house, Estella sat quietly in the back seat of Lucian’s car. Though she had stopped crying, she was still sulking. Her small face was turned toward the window, her pout making it clear she wasn’t ready to forgive him.
Lucian glanced at her in the rearview mirror, feeling a tightness in his chest. He sighed deeply and spoke in a low voice, “Still mad at Daddy? I’m sorry, Essie. It’s all Daddy’s fault. I shouldn’t have stopped you from making friends, but you can’t just run away from home all the time. You need to talk to Daddy when something’s bothering you.”
Estella didn’t respond. Instead, she shifted her gaze to her tiny feet, ignoring him completely.
Lucian sighed again, his heart heavy. He reached back to gently stroke her head. “Instead of writing, you should try speaking. Writing can’t always express how you really feel. Sometimes, it can cause misunderstandings.”
Estella shook her head and pulled her notebook closer, hugging it tightly to her chest. She refused to let go, brushing off her father’s touch.
Seeing his daughter’s reaction, Lucian frowned, a mixture of frustration and sadness creeping over him. She’s not mute, but she won’t speak. It’s like she’s shut herself off from me entirely.
For years, everyone had assumed Estella was mute, and Lucian had never bothered to correct them. The truth, however, was more complex. Estella had been able to speak well before other children her age. But after being diagnosed with autism, she stopped talking to anyone. Instead, she turned to writing to communicate her thoughts, a coping mechanism that allowed her to express herself without speaking.
Even with Lucian, she refused to use her voice. No matter how many times he reached out, no matter how much he wished for her to speak, she always turned inward, preferring her notebook over words.
The boys said she doesn’t have many friends at kindergarten. Maybe that’s because she refuses to talk to anyone…
The rest of the drive passed in silence. Lucian and Estella, each lost in their own thoughts, didn’t speak another word.
Once they arrived at the mansion, Estella got out of the car and walked toward the door without looking back. Lucian followed her quietly, entering the house right behind her.
“You’re finally home!” Lucian’s mother’s voice greeted him the moment he stepped inside, her tone filled with warmth and happiness.
He glanced at the living room, his eyes scanning the familiar faces. His parents were standing next to Aubree, all of them gathered around Estella, smiling joyfully. For a brief moment, Lucian felt a sense of unease settle in his chest. The sight of his daughter being showered with attention made him feel both protective and conflicted.
