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Novel Catalog
Chapter 84
It was nearly ten when Lucian arrived home with Estella. The butler was waiting for them at the door.
“Ms. Pearson is waiting for you inside, Mr. Farwell.”
Lucian’s brows furrowed at the news. He gave a brief nod to the butler and walked inside, Estella by his side.
“You’re home!” Aubree exclaimed as she jumped up from the couch at the sight of them entering. She bent down, attempting to reach for Estella’s head, but the little girl quickly pulled away, avoiding her touch.
Aubree’s eyes flashed with displeasure, though she masked it quickly with a forced smile as she straightened up.
“What’s the matter?” Lucian’s voice remained flat, though his eyes studied her carefully.
Aubree returned a casual smile. “I just wanted to thank you again for lending us someone today. You really helped us out of a jam, and Dad had me come over to express our gratitude personally.”
She paused for a moment, but Lucian cut her off. “Is the matter resolved?”
Aubree hesitated, momentarily thrown off by his bluntness, before nodding with a tight smile. “Yes, the little trouble we had kept us busy until the afternoon. I hope it didn’t interfere with your business.”
Lucian nodded. “There are plenty of employees at Farwell Group. One absence won’t make a difference. There’s no need for thanks.”
Without waiting for her reply, he walked past her, leading Estella toward the stairs.
Aubree’s face briefly contorted with fury, but it softened as she regained her composure.
“Still, you’ve helped me resolve something significant. I wasn’t sure what to bring you, so I got a little something for Estella instead. Don’t worry, it wasn’t expensive. Just a small token of my appreciation.”
She reached into the bag on the couch and pulled out a limited edition doll, its delicate packaging immediately recognizable to Lucian. It was part of a set Estella had in her room.
Lucian stopped and looked at Estella, curious to see if she would want to accept the gift.
To his surprise, Estella didn’t even glance at it. Instead, she clung tighter to his hand, edging closer to him as if seeking comfort.
Lucian understood immediately. He turned to Aubree with a polite but firm refusal. “Thank you for the doll, but she already has this one. Besides, she had a little tantrum earlier. We’re not in the mood for this right now.”
Aubree’s smile stiffened, and she put the doll away with a small, almost imperceptible grimace. Her gaze turned toward Estella, her voice filled with feigned concern. “What’s she angry about this time?”
Aubree had encountered several dead ends when trying to interact with the girl before, so this time, she refrained from pushing too hard. Instead, she addressed Lucian directly, her question veiled in casual curiosity.
“Oh, it’s something small,” Lucian replied curtly, not giving away any further details, clearly not intending to elaborate.
Aubree, feeling the shift in the atmosphere, clenched the gift bag tightly, her nails digging into her palm as she forced another smile. “Is that so? Did you return this late because you took her out for a fun night?”
Lucian’s expression darkened slightly. “It’s getting late. You should leave if there’s nothing else. Essie needs her rest.”
Aubree opened her mouth to speak again but found herself at a loss for words. Silently, she watched as Lucian led Estella upstairs, the tension between them palpable.
Once they were out of sight, Aubree’s grim expression returned, and she exited the mansion, clearly unsettled.
Her bodyguard, also serving as her driver, noticed her dark mood and hesitated before speaking up. “Would you like to head home, Ms. Pearson?”
Aubree shot him an irritated glare. “No. I want you to find out where Lucian was tonight with that little btch* of his!”
The bodyguard shuddered under her command, quickly nodding in agreement before hastily going to carry out her orders.
