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Novel Catalog
Chapter 76
At first, Roxanne was taken aback by Estella’s sudden actions. But as the little girl continued to sob, her heart ached for her. Without thinking, she knelt down and gently pulled Estella into her embrace, rubbing her back soothingly.
Estella clutched the hem of Roxanne’s clothes, her sobs shaking her small frame uncontrollably.
Lucian stood at the doorway, his eyes filled with helplessness as he observed the scene before him. A fleeting thought crossed his mind: Earlier at home, Estella avoided me. But now, the moment she sees Roxanne, she runs straight into her arms. Is it natural for children to be more dependent on their mothers?
“Shh… It’s okay, stop crying,” Roxanne whispered, her voice soft and filled with concern. “Can you tell me what’s wrong?”
But Estella couldn’t bring herself to speak.
After a moment of silence, Lucian cleared his throat, his voice light but filled with an underlying sadness. “She went to kindergarten today and didn’t see your boys. She thought they’d stopped going, and when she got home, she cried the entire night. Now she’s here to confirm why they weren’t at school.”
Roxanne sighed quietly, her heart warming at the realization of how attached Estella had become to her boys. She’s really fond of them, she thought.
“Don’t cry, sweetie,” Roxanne continued in a gentler tone. “The boys weren’t feeling well today, so I helped them take a sick day. They’ll be back tomorrow to play with you.”
When Estella heard Roxanne repeat Lucian’s words, her eyes softened, and she slowly stopped crying. She pulled away from Roxanne’s embrace, her small hands wiping her face as she cautiously peeked into the house.
However, the dining room was out of sight from the doorway, and without seeing the twins, a hint of unease crossed Estella’s face once more.
Roxanne, noticing the anxiety creeping into Estella’s expression, felt a surge of empathy. She gently patted Estella’s head and asked, “Would you like to see them? I’ll take you to them.”
Roxanne smiled warmly and, with Estella still in her arms, started to walk toward the dining room. But just as she took a step, Estella leaned back, reluctant to go any further.
It was then that Roxanne realized the man at the door was still there, standing silently. She knew Lucian wouldn’t enter without her invitation.
Turning to him, she saw the cool night breeze tug at his shirt, making it cling to his body. He looked a little out of place, standing there without a coat, seemingly too caught up in bringing Estella here to remember to dress warmly.
Roxanne, feeling a twinge of sympathy for him, called out gently, “Mr. Farwell, please come in and have a seat.”
As soon as she spoke, Lucian walked in, his posture still stiff, but he nodded in acknowledgment.
“The boys are having dinner now. Let me take you to them,” Roxanne said as she carefully carried Estella toward the dining room, trying to comfort her along the way.
They soon arrived, and the twins were sitting at the table, enjoying their meal. When they saw Estella enter, both boys swallowed their food in surprise. A puzzled expression crossed their faces.
“What’s Essie doing here?” Archie asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.
Roxanne set Estella down gently between the twins and spoke softly, “Essie got worried when you two weren’t at kindergarten today. She cried and wanted to find you. Go ahead and talk to her.”
As if to confirm Roxanne’s words, Estella nervously twisted the hem of her dress, her large eyes fixed on the boys. The tip of her nose was slightly pink from crying, and she looked like a doll in need of comfort.
Seeing Estella in such a state, Archie and Benny exchanged glances. Their hearts ached for her, even though she looked so small and vulnerable.
“We weren’t feeling well this morning,” Archie said reassuringly. “We’re better now. Don’t worry about us, Essie.”
Benny, always the playful one, turned to Estella with a teasing grin. “Look at you, all worried. We just took a day off. Can’t you survive without us for one day? You little minion.”
Estella’s face brightened immediately at their words. The relief that washed over her was palpable as she smiled, her tears finally drying.
