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Novel Catalog
Chapter 99
Roxanne was completely exhausted. Typically, she was a light sleeper, always waking at the slightest disturbance. But that night, she slept soundly, so deeply, in fact, that she didn’t even realize she was being carried upstairs to the guest room.
Lucian paused beside the bed, gently lowering her onto the soft mattress. He made sure her head rested comfortably on the pillow before he stood up.
Behind him, Catalina’s grin widened as she observed Lucian’s careful handling of Roxanne. With a soft chuckle, she placed Estella next to Roxanne and tucked them both in, before stepping back to give them some space.
Lucian’s gaze lingered on Roxanne for a moment longer, his eyes softening as he watched her sleep. Catalina, noticing the intensity in his expression, cleared her throat quietly. “Mr. Farwell,” she said, “Why don’t you get some rest yourself? I’ll keep them company. You have to head to the office tomorrow, right?”
Lucian shook his head, his voice firm yet soft. “No need. I’m not tired. Essie’s sick, so I’ll stay with her. You can leave for the night.”
Catalina, amused, couldn’t help but smile. He’s worried about Ms. Estella, but his eyes are fixed on Ms. Jarvis… Her thoughts raced. Hmm, maybe leaving them alone is a good idea. They could use this time together to grow closer, as a family…
With that thought in mind, Catalina quietly slipped out of the room, leaving Lucian and Roxanne in silence.
The only light in the room came from a dim night lamp, casting a soft glow on the scene. Lucian stood in the quiet darkness, watching Roxanne’s face, his thoughts swirling.
She looked just the same as she had six years ago. Her beauty was untouched by time. But he couldn’t ignore the fact that she was different now, more guarded, more cautious. The woman he once didn’t care about was now someone he found himself drawn to, despite his earlier indifference. He couldn’t help but wonder, How has she spent the last six years?
A moment later, Roxanne’s brows furrowed in her sleep, her expression troubled. Lucian frowned, his concern growing. Is she having a nightmare? he wondered. What could it be?
In her dream, Roxanne found herself back in the moment when Lucian had looked at her with disgust. His words echoed in her mind—those cruel words that had shattered her heart: “I’ll never like you.”
The memory of that moment, so raw and painful, replayed in her mind, amplifying her anguish. She staggered back, desperately covering her ears in an attempt to block out the words, but they reverberated, tormenting her.
She struggled to breathe, suffocated by the memory, until finally, she jolted awake.
The room was dark and unfamiliar, and for a moment, she wasn’t sure if she was still trapped in the nightmare.
Her heart sank to her stomach, her mind racing.
Suddenly, a voice broke through the haze, deep and familiar. “What’s wrong? Did you have a nightmare?”
Roxanne’s breath caught. The voice… it was Lucian’s, but it overlapped with the voice she had just heard in her dream. It felt surreal, as though the lines between the dream and reality had blurred.
She lifted her head quickly, searching for him. Lucian stood in the shadows, his expression hidden from view. When she didn’t answer, he stepped forward, his brow furrowing with concern.
Roxanne panicked, her pulse quickening. She thought she was still dreaming, and instinctively, she clutched the corner of the bed and retreated.
Lucian froze, his voice softening as he halted in his tracks. “What did you dream of?”
It took a few seconds for Roxanne to fully awaken from the remnants of the nightmare. As Lucian stepped into the light, she saw the genuine concern in his eyes. Slowly, she realized that she was no longer trapped in the dream.
Her heart slowly settled, and she exhaled a shaky breath. “Nothing,” she replied quietly, her voice steady despite the turmoil still simmering inside. “It was just a nightmare.”
She turned her attention to Estella, who was still sleeping peacefully beside her. Reaching out, she gently placed her hand on the little girl’s forehead, feeling the coolness of her skin. The fever had broken. She would be fine by morning.
Relieved, Roxanne retracted her hand and stood up. She quickly tidied herself, preparing to leave. “Essie should be fine now,” she said softly, her voice low. “Make sure she doesn’t catch a cold, though. I should head back now.”
But as she spun on her heels to leave, a large hand gripped her wrist.
