At two sharp, the miserable-looking Pearsons arrived at the manor entrance. Although Samuel’s appearance was still considered acceptable, Gina and Aubree looked as if someone had died. After they cried in a panic the entire journey, their hair had become nothing but a mess. “Go in and apologize!”
Samuel shot his daughter a glare, and Aubree nodded without hesitation. After all, they had no other choice given the current situation. The three of them entered the mansion with their hearts hanging in their throats.
The moment she stepped in, Aubree saw Roxanne sitting with Lucian. It went without saying that the three children had filled the space between both of them.
An insidious glint flashed across Aubree’s eyes. Even at her closest to Lucian, she had never. shared a couch with him. He would always be seated in a single seater.
And now, right before her eyes, they looked exactly like a family. As rage began to boil within her, Aubree caught a glimpse of Cory from the corner of her eye.
In that instant, she felt weak and almost dropped to her knees. Prior to her entrance, she had still hoped that Lucian had discovered something else instead.
However, the sight of Cory dampened those hopes and drowned her in despair. “Lucian, what’s with the crowd-”
Samuel had wanted to pretend as if nothing had happened but held his tongue upon noticing Sonya’s presence. Gina, on the other hand, felt her limbs go cold. and looked as if she was about to faint at any moment.
“Ms. Pearson, I’m sure you recognize the man behind me.” Lucian’s frosty voice rang out. At his cue, Cory came forward and stood in front of Aubree.
The Pearsons turned pale upon noticing that Lucian had changed the way he addressed Aubree. Ms. Pearson… Lucian must have decided to sever ties with our family! “Speak! I don’t remember you to be deaf!”
Lucian had kept his temper in check due to the presence of the children. Nevertheless, his icy tone still struck fear into the hearts of others.
Even the children moved toward Roxanne when they, too, sensed his anger. Roxanne responded by giving their heads a reassuring stroke before turning her attention. to Aubree, who was wearing a frosty expression.
Ever since I returned to the country, this woman has been trying to harm me time and again. I don’t mind her attacking the research institute or me, but she has crossed the line by choosing to hurt my children. In fact, she has done so more than once!
Roxanne was filled with the urge to pay Aubree back for what she had done to the children. Meanwhile, Aubree couldn’t help but tremble under Lucian’s gaze. A long while passed before she finally found her voice. “I… I do.”
Lucian narrowed his eyes in displeasure. “Is that all?” His question sent a shiver down her spine. She might have had the courage to confess her misdeeds to Sonya, but it didn’t mean that she dared to do the same in front of Lucian, who would never let her off.
In her desperation, Aubree threw herself at Lucian. “Lucian, listen to me. Everything I did was for your sake. I love you. You can’t treat me this way!”
Before she could even get close, Cayden grabbed her and shoved her back toward Gina’s side. He didn’t hold back his strength after tolerating her all this while. Stung by the pain in her arm and the dejection welling up inside her, Aubree burst into tears.
