Chapter 954
Chapter 954 A Deliberate Act Of Sabotage
After Archie, Benny, and Estella had dozed off, Roxanne turned off the small night light in the tent. Consequently, the tent was pitch-dark right then, and she had no idea whether Lucian was asleep on the other side.
She lay still, trying to calm her racing thoughts. The presence of Lucian so close by was making it difficult for her to relax. She turned over quietly, careful not to wake the children, and tried to find a comfortable position.
On the other side, Lucian was also wide awake. He couldn’t stop thinking about the day’s events and Roxanne’s unexpected offer to let him stay in the tent. He was grateful but also deeply troubled by the underlying tension between them. He stared into the darkness, listening to the soft breathing of the children, and his mind wandered back to the reason they were all here together.
Earlier in the day, they had all gone on a camping trip, organized as a way to strengthen the bond between them and the children. It had been a fun and relaxing day, but now, lying in the dark tent, the unresolved issues between him and Roxanne seemed to loom larger than ever.
Roxanne turned over once more, and Lucian could hear her soft sigh. He knew she was still awake and probably feeling as restless as he was. He decided to break the silence.
“Roxanne,” he whispered, careful not to wake the children.
There was a moment of silence before she responded, her voice equally soft, “Yes?”
“I wanted to thank you for letting me stay. I know it’s not easy for you.”
Roxanne sighed again, this time louder. “It’s fine, Lucian. It’s for the kids. They need to see us getting along, even if it’s just for a night.”
Lucian felt a pang of guilt. He knew that their strained relationship was affecting the children, and he wished things could be different. “I know. And I appreciate it.”
There was another stretch of silence, during which Roxanne tried to gather her thoughts. She knew that they needed to talk, to clear the air between them, but it was hard to know where to start.
Finally, she spoke again, her voice trembling slightly. “Lucian, about what happened with Archie and Benny… I’m really worried. I don’t want them to get hurt because of our problems.”
Lucian’s jaw tightened. He felt the same way, but he wasn’t sure how to reassure her. “I promise I’ll do everything I can to keep them safe. I’m already investigating what happened. We’ll get to the bottom of it.”
Roxanne nodded, even though he couldn’t see her in the dark. “I hope so. They mean the world to me.”
“I know,” Lucian said softly. “They mean a lot to me too.”
They fell silent again, each lost in their own thoughts. Eventually, the exhaustion of the day caught up with them, and they both drifted off to sleep, though it was a restless and uneasy sleep.
The next morning, the children woke up early, excited to continue their camping adventure. Roxanne and Lucian, despite their lack of sleep, put on brave faces and joined in the children’s enthusiasm. They packed up the tent and gathered their things, ready to head back home.
On the way back, Lucian’s phone buzzed with a message. He glanced at it and saw that it was from his security team. They had found new evidence that could lead to the person who had orchestrated the attack on Archie and Benny.
“Roxanne,” he said, catching her attention. “I think we might have a lead on who was behind the attack.”
Roxanne’s eyes widened in surprise and relief. “Really? Who?”
Lucian hesitated, not wanting to jump to conclusions. “It’s still early, but we’re looking into someone who might have had a motive. I’ll keep you updated.”
Roxanne nodded, feeling a mix of hope and anxiety. She just wanted this whole ordeal to be over so that they could all move on with their lives.
As they drove back, the tension between Roxanne and Lucian seemed to have eased slightly. They were both determined to find the truth and protect the children, even if it meant putting aside their differences for the time being.
By the time they reached home, the children were tired but happy, their spirits lifted by the adventure. Roxanne and Lucian exchanged a look of understanding. They knew that there was still a long way to go, but for now, they had a common goal: to ensure the safety and happiness of Archie, Benny, and Estella.