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Novel Catalog
Chapter 77
Lucian stood at the entrance of the dining room, his expression conflicted as he watched Estella finally smile.
It took me so long to calm her down, he thought, and yet it was nothing compared to the effect the twins had on her. Not only did she stop crying, but she even smiled.
He stood there for a moment, watching the boys make Estella laugh, feeling a twinge of something he couldn’t quite place. After a while, he decided it was time to take Estella home. They had only come because Estella needed reassurance. Now that she had it, there was no reason for them to stay any longer.
As Lucian moved toward Estella, he was stopped by the sound of her stomach growling loudly.
Roxanne frowned when she noticed. “Have you not had dinner?”
Estella pursed her lips and nodded, looking embarrassed.
Roxanne turned to Lucian, giving him a reproachful look. “She hasn’t eaten?”
Lucian’s face remained emotionless. “I tried to talk to her. She’s been crying all night. When we got home, she locked herself in her room and refused to eat or drink anything. It wasn’t until I promised to bring her here that she stopped. We didn’t have dinner yet.”
Roxanne took in Lucian’s thin shirt and gave him a brief, silent once-over before turning back to Estella.
Archie, ever thoughtful, noticed Estella’s discomfort and asked, “We’ve just started eating. Do you want to join us?”
Estella’s eyes lit up at the offer, and she nodded eagerly. It was only then that she remembered to look at her father for permission.
Lucian hesitated for a moment, then glanced at Roxanne. “If it’s not too much trouble… could you prepare something for her?”
Roxanne, her smile returning, suggested, “Would you like to sit between the boys?”
Estella beamed at the suggestion, and Archie and Benny quickly moved their chairs, making space for her to sit in the middle.
Lucian’s frown deepened as he watched his daughter settle between the twins. From his vantage point, it almost looked like a family—Archie and Benny on either side, and Estella nestled comfortably between them—while he stood on the outside, feeling more like a stranger than a father.
After settling Estella down and serving her some food, Roxanne looked at the three children sitting side by side, a soft smile on her face. But as her eyes flicked to Lucian standing beside her, the warmth faded, and an unsettling chill passed over her.
Lucian met her gaze, his expression calm, almost detached.
“What about you?” Roxanne asked, trying to keep her tone casual, suppressing her own discomfort.
Lucian blinked, momentarily confused. Roxanne glanced down at the table, then back at him. “Have you eaten?”
She couldn’t help but wonder if he had spent the whole night trying to console Estella, neglecting his own needs.
Lucian studied her for a moment before narrowing his eyes. His tone was distant, almost cold. “I’m fine. There’s food at home. I’ll heat it up when I get back. It’s just that Essie enjoys spending time with them… Sorry for troubling you. I’ll just wait in the living room and not disturb you.”
With that, he gave the three children one last glance, his face softening ever so slightly, before turning to leave.
Roxanne watched him for a moment, her lips pressing together in thought. She couldn’t stand the idea of him leaving on an empty stomach.
“There’s enough food for all of us,” she said firmly. “And besides, Essie will definitely feel uneasy if her daddy’s not here.”
Estella looked up at the mention of her father’s departure, her eyes wide with worry as she noticed him heading for the door.
Without waiting for Lucian’s response, Roxanne quickly served him a plate of food and placed it on the table. “Come and join us if you don’t mind.”
Lucian paused, surprised by her insistence, but before he could say anything, Estella’s nervous gaze seemed to pull him back.
Archie, sitting nearby, frowned slightly at the interaction but said nothing.
Meanwhile, Benny continued eating, glancing up at Lucian in secret excitement. It’s a little awkward, he thought, but this is kind of fun.
