Chapter 1352
The restaurant Lucian had reserved was near the beach; the family arrived in under twenty minutes. Roxanne helped the children from the car while Lucian found parking.
“Is that Roxanne? I can’t believe she dares to show herself!”
An unfamiliar voice startled Roxanne. She turned to see two figures emerging from the restaurant, openly staring and pointing at the children.
“Those are her kids, aren’t they? And that little girl is the Farwell heiress?” they whispered, pretending Roxanne didn’t exist. “How trusting of Mr. Farwell to leave his child in her care.”
Roxanne felt a growing unease. She noticed others giving them similar strange looks. Archie and Benny, hearing the whispers, also noticed the stares. Benny, panicked, turned to his brother, fearing online rumors were causing trouble again. Archie, wary, silently moved to stand before Roxanne.
Lucian, arriving then, saw the tense expressions on their faces. “What’s going on?” he asked, frowning.
Roxanne, surprisingly calm, shook her head. “Nothing. Let’s go inside.” She added silently, I’m probably overthinking. They don’t know me.
The group entered the restaurant. Lucian's presence seemed to deter the curious stares. Roxanne breathed a sigh of relief. To distract him, she mentioned Estella’s accommodations.
“Can Essie stay with me for two more days?”
Estella looked at her father with wide eyes. “I want to stay with Mommy, Daddy!”
Lucian stroked her head. “Of course, but you must be good and listen to Mommy.”
Estella nodded, beaming.
Roxanne playfully chided, “It’s not like that anymore. Essie is my daughter; she wouldn’t trouble me.”
Lucian, aware of the implied criticism, apologized, smiling. “My mistake.”
Roxanne, intending only a mild rebuke, was surprised by his quick apology and laughed. His eyes, however, darkened.
From the moment they sat down, Lucian sensed disgust in the glances of other patrons. He abruptly turned, catching a nearby couple before they could look away. The man flinched, but it was too late.
“What are you looking at?” Lucian demanded, rising to confront him.
The man stammered, waving his hands, “Nothing! I wasn’t looking at anything! I know nothing!”