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Novel Catalog
Chapter 7
There were only two people left in the room now.
Lucian’s sharp eyes scanned the surroundings before they settled on his daughter, sitting quietly. Estella, still upset by Roxanne’s sudden departure, didn’t react with fear when her father walked in. Instead, she turned her head with a small huff, deliberately avoiding his gaze.
Lucian’s brows furrowed, the faintest scowl forming on his face. He knew his daughter all too well. Estella was as enigmatic and stubborn as he was, and if anyone could handle her, it would be Cayden, his ever-reliable assistant.
“Are you okay, Ms. Estella?” Cayden asked gently, his tone careful.
Estella only gave him a fleeting glance before turning away again, her small back rigid with irritation.
Cayden, relieved to see she was unharmed, exhaled quietly and turned back to Lucian to report.
Lucian’s attention shifted from the child to the woman standing nearby. His eyes narrowed as he looked at Madilyn, who had clearly stiffened under his scrutiny. She met his gaze, but her chest tightened, and she squeezed her hands in an attempt to steady herself.
“Where’s Roxanne?” Lucian’s voice was cold, and his gaze was as piercing as ever.
Madilyn’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t expected him to recognize her, but he did. The weight of his presence seemed to fill the room, making her feel as though the air itself was suffocating.
Internally, she sighed with relief that Roxanne had managed to leave just in time. She could already feel the tension rising, and if Roxanne were still here…
This guy’s energy is unbearable, she thought. What would he do if he found out the truth?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, forcing her voice to stay calm. “Who are you people, anyway? You barge in without knocking like that.”
Madilyn, with practiced ease, pulled the little girl into her arms, adopting her best act of indifference as she stared at Lucian and his men.
Lucian’s expression darkened. “That’s my daughter you’re holding. Were you the one who called me?”
Madilyn froze for a second before answering stiffly, “Yes, it was me.”
Lucian didn’t respond immediately. His gaze flickered over the room, his eyes scanning every detail. It was clear he was piecing things together.
He’s so sharp, Madilyn thought uneasily. Does he know something?
His gaze returned to her, and he glanced again at the room’s state. Three chairs had been moved—an unusual oversight for a place as meticulous as Drunken Fairy. The table was set for more than just a woman and a child. And the food… it didn’t look like it had been ordered for just one person.
Madilyn’s stomach tightened. She had hoped she could throw him off, but he was too perceptive. His gaze landed on the phone in his assistant’s hand, and then, with a barely contained sense of suspicion, he swiped it open. The screen flashed, and a call began ringing.
Madilyn’s heart nearly stopped. No. No, no, no.
She quickly rejected the call and tried to mask her panic with a casual smile. “Since you’re her father, you can take her with you,” she said, meeting Lucian’s gaze evenly. “I’ve already informed you. I think I’ve done enough.”
She gently placed the little girl down, nudging her in Lucian’s direction, but Lucian didn’t immediately move to collect her.
Instead, he took two deliberate steps forward and halted beside the table. His voice was casual, but there was a hint of skepticism in it. “You seem to have quite the appetite, miss. To order all this food for just you and a little girl…”
Madilyn froze.
No. No, not this.
The words stung, as if Lucian had just exposed the entire lie in a single sentence. She held her breath, forcing herself to smile again, though it felt more like a grimace this time. “My appetite isn’t your concern,” she replied lightly. “Besides, I ordered all this food because I invited some friends. They just haven’t arrived yet.”
Lucian raised an eyebrow, his expression flat. “And yet, you’ve begun eating without waiting for them?”
Madilyn’s stomach churned. His eyes didn’t miss a thing. The man was too sharp, too calculating.
Taking another deep breath, Madilyn tried to remain composed. “I’m close with these friends of mine,” she said, her voice trembling just slightly. “They don’t mind if I start without them. They’re used to it.”
Lucian’s gaze didn’t soften. If anything, it became more intense. “Look, sir,” Madilyn said, her voice hardening slightly with frustration, “I found your daughter and called you. I made sure she wasn’t hungry. It’s fine if you don’t want to thank me, but why are you interrogating me like I’m some criminal?”
Madilyn’s words hung in the air, though beneath her composed exterior, she was screaming internally.
Please stop asking me questions. I’m going to crack. I don’t know how much longer I can keep up this charade.
Lucian was silent for a moment, his eyes still studying her, before he turned his attention to the little girl, who had finally hesitated to walk toward him. His gaze softened, ever so slightly, but it was clear he wasn’t done with Madilyn.
Outside the restaurant, Roxanne paced back and forth in the parking lot, her mind whirling with thoughts of Lucian. She knew him well enough to understand that even the smallest slip-up would ignite his suspicions.
How long will Madilyn keep him distracted? she thought anxiously. If our cover is blown… what then?
She clenched her fists, trying to steady her nerves.
But then, something inside her snapped. What am I even scared of?
Roxanne chuckled bitterly at herself. He probably doesn’t care anymore, not after everything that happened. He’ll just pretend he doesn’t recognize me, or worse, treat me like an eyesore.
With that, she took a deep breath, silently berating herself for overthinking.
But the question remained: How long can Madilyn keep playing this game?
