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Novel Catalog
Chapter 79
Soon, Roxanne returned with the medical kit and carefully applied some soothing cream to Estella’s hand. The little girl remained remarkably still, only shrinking away slightly when the pain intensified before she quickly placed her hand back into Roxanne’s care. Her patience and composure melted Roxanne’s heart.
Once she had finished, Roxanne sat beside Estella, her attention entirely focused on the child. Archie, sensing the shift in focus, willingly gave up his seat and moved to sit next to Lucian, carrying his plate with him.
“Is it okay if I feed you?” Roxanne asked gently, looking at Estella for confirmation.
Estella’s eyes brightened with anticipation, and she nodded, not needing any further encouragement.
With a smile, Roxanne picked up Estella’s plate and began feeding her. As Roxanne gently offered the food, Estella’s appetite seemed to improve right away. She opened her mouth eagerly for each bite, her eyes fixed on Roxanne with complete trust.
Roxanne’s heart swelled as she watched Estella’s obedience, her smile growing wider with each bite the little girl took.
Across the table, Lucian observed the scene, his gaze lingering on them. Every time Estella’s lips were stained with food, Roxanne was quick to wipe them away, and her feeding was timed perfectly. Estella’s joy was palpable, her eyes sparkling with each bite, and Lucian couldn’t tear his eyes away.
For a brief moment, a complicated mixture of emotions flickered in Lucian’s eyes—something that was too quickly masked by his usual calm demeanor.
Meanwhile, Archie and Benny had been watching the scene with quiet interest. They found Estella’s eating habits endearing, but their attention soon shifted to Lucian.
As if on cue, both boys looked at each other and exchanged a subtle, suspicious glance.
If we’re not mistaken, Daddy has been staring at Mommy. And there doesn’t seem to be any hate in his gaze. It almost looks… affectionate.
Archie’s brow furrowed slightly as he set down his fork. He picked up the ladle beside him and served Lucian a portion of food, his face an innocent mask. “Mr. Farwell, why aren’t you eating? Do eat more!”
Lucian snapped back to reality and gave a distracted “Thanks,” his tone automatic. But as his eyes fell on the plate in front of him, his expression darkened.
Coincidentally, the dish Archie had chosen was none other than celery—Lucian’s least favorite vegetable.
Lucian looked up to find the plate of celery placed far from Archie’s usual reach, almost as though it had been purposely selected for him.
Archie, meanwhile, seemed to be watching him from the corner of his eye, as if keeping track of his every move.
Lucian felt a flicker of confusion. Why would Archie serve him celery, especially knowing how much he disliked it? And yet, Lucian couldn’t help but sense an underlying challenge in the boy’s actions.
Without a word, Lucian picked up his fork, his gaze momentarily locking with Archie’s. The boy didn’t flinch; instead, he met Lucian’s gaze with surprising boldness. It was as if Archie was daring him to react.
Lucian couldn’t quite figure out the boy’s motive, but the faint challenge lingered in the air. He didn’t dwell on it, though, deciding to let it slide for now.
“Do you dislike celery, Mr. Farwell?” Archie asked, his voice as innocent as ever, as if urging Lucian to eat.
Lucian managed a faint smile. “No,” he replied evenly.
He picked up the celery and popped it into his mouth, his face betraying none of the disgust he felt as he chewed. His expression remained impassive, though a flash of distaste crossed his features as he swallowed.
Roxanne, who had been watching the interaction quietly, saw the momentary flicker of distaste in Lucian’s eyes just as he turned away. It struck her suddenly—it reminded her of the days long ago, the days when they’d shared meals, and Lucian had often been less than enthusiastic about certain foods.
Without thinking, Roxanne spoke, her voice softer than intended. “You can put it aside if you don’t want to eat it.”
Lucian’s calm voice cut through her thoughts. “I didn’t say I’m not eating it.”
Roxanne kept her gaze lowered, her emotions swirling in an uncertain storm. She didn’t respond, the words stuck in her throat. There was a distance between them now, and the memories of their past felt almost unreachable, like something locked away.
The tension was palpable, but neither spoke of it. Instead, they both continued with the meal, the silence heavy with unspoken words and memories long buried.
