The looks on the kids’ faces made Roxanne suspect something was amiss. However, she held herself back from investigating more, especially in Lucian’s presence.
After dinner, she intended to take the children outside, but Lucian had other plans. “I wonder how are things with Jonathan. How about you call him and find that out?”
Upon deliberation, Roxanne decided to prioritize the matter of the medicinal herb supplier and dialed Jonathan’s number.
I can still probe the little ones for more information during bedtime. With that, she headed to the study to make the phone call.
Jonathan was caught off guard when he received the call, thinking that Lucian wanted Roxanne to urge him to hasten the process. He started giving her a detailed explanation. At the end of the conversation, he asked about her relationship with Lucian, and they chatted for a long while.
Meanwhile, the children sensed that something was off and said in the sweetest voice, “Daddy, we’re heading to the garden to play.”
Afterward, they left quietly. Lucian furrowed his brows and stalked them from behind. When the trio turned their heads and realized that their father was following them, their faces sank at once. “Tell me what happened in the afternoon.”
Lucian stared at them solemnly. Archie and Benny hung their heads low, unwilling to speak. Estella was not aware of the full story, but since Lucian kept probing, she took the initiative to give him a summary.
“Grandma took us to the amusement park first, then she brought me to the mall. Archie and Benny came back by themselves.”
She knew it was very dangerous for her brothers to return home on their own and felt bad when she said it. Lucian’s expression changed when he heard that. He gazed at the boys and asked, “Was that all? Why didn’t Grandma bring you two along?”
The boys cast a glance at their sister and replied softly, “We didn’t want to join them, so we came home by ourselves.”
Lucian’s frown deepened when he saw them averting their eyes. “Head back into the house first, Essie. I need to talk to your brothers.”
Estella strode toward the living room obediently, leaving her father and brothers in the garden. “Can you tell me now? I promise to keep it among us three.” Lucian bent down and assured his sons patiently.
The more gentle and casual his approach, the more aggrieved the two boys felt. Above all else, they were extremely worried.
Lucian caressed their heads. “Mommy and I will be very concerned about you if you insist on not saying anything. Do you boys want us to be worried all the time?”
The boys pursed their lips in response. Then Archie looked Lucian in the eye as he stretched out his finger and asked for a pinky promise. “Daddy, could you promise us you won’t argue with Grandma about this?”
Mom did something to the boys! Lucian’s expression turned dark as a disturbing thought crept up on him. He quickly hooked his finger with Archie’s. It was then that Benny blurted everything.
“Grandma brought us to the amusement park and let us play alone. We thought she would come back and get us, but she didn’t show up even though we waited for her for a very long time. In the end, we came home by ourselves.”
Seconds later, he added softly, “Daddy, you promised not to be angry at Grandma. See, Archie and I are fine. You don’t need to worry about us.”
Archie nodded and chimed in, “Most importantly, Essie is all right. Benny and I can take care of ourselves since we’re used to traveling around on our own.”
