Leaving The Country After Divorce

Chapter 61

After watching Lucian’s car depart, Roxanne brought Archie and Benny back to the mansion.

She squatted down and gave them a serious look. The two boys, too, looked at her as they knew their mother wanted to talk to them.

“Archie, Benny, listen carefully. Don’t ever tell anyone about our family again-especially the fact that you don’t have a daddy!” Roxanne felt her head throbbing when she recalled the incident earlier.

Thank God I managed to put a stop to their conversation. Given Lucian’s intelligence, the things the kids said would have aroused his suspicion.

Archie and Benny looked perplexed. “Why not? It’s a fact that we didn’t have a daddy!”

Roxanne’s head pounded even more intensely when she heard their reply.

I can’t be telling these boys the real reason, can I? How can I tell them I’m afraid their biological father will come looking for them?

short pause, Roxanne made up a story. “Because bad guys like kids who don’t have fathers. They know mothers are not strong enough to protect their children.

They thought the explanation was lame but decided to play along.

relief. She got up, took her

after leaving Roxanne’s house, Estella was still sulking though she was not crying anymore. Throughout the drive back, she pouted and looked at the view outside the window as if Lucian

helpless, Lucian sighed and said in a deep voice, “Still mad at Daddy? I’m sorry, Essie. It’s all Daddy’s fault. I shouldn’t stop you from making friends, but you can’t

tilted her head to look at him. Instead of looking out the window again, she lowered her head and stared

hand and gently stroked her head. “Instead of writing, you should try to speak. Writing might not

head and brushed his hand off. She hugged her notebook even more

daughter’s reaction, Lucian frowned and fell

the years, everyone assumed Estella was a mute, and Lucian had never bothered to explain

had learned to speak

was later diagnosed with autism, and she gradually stopped talking to anyone. That was why she preferred to write down her thoughts on

with Lucian,

by, Lucian learned to accept Estella for who she was. But deep in his heart, he