“Yes. I like Essie a lot, but that doesn’t mean I’m willing to marry you.” Without giving Lucian a chance to answer her, she added, “What happened six years ago is still fresh in my mind. I don’t wish to make the same mistakes. You shouldn’t trouble yourself anymore, Mr. Farwell.”
Roxanne sounded anxious as she spoke. She could sense Lucian’s intense gaze on her. Fortunately for her, she managed to say whatever she wanted to say.
Lucian stared at her for a long time, and he thought of explaining himself. However, he changed his mind when he heard Roxanne’s last sentence. I did her wrong six years ago, and I’ve hurt her. I can’t blame her for not trusting me. No matter what I say, I doubt she’ll listen to me now. In fact, she might even think I’m making excuses for myself.
At that thought, Lucian said, “I was wrong for using Essie as an excuse. Regarding my feelings for you, I think you’ll see my sincerity in due time.”
Roxanne had never seen this side of Lucian, so she didn’t know how to react at that moment.
Meanwhile, Lucian had already gestured for the server to bring him the bill. When they left the restaurant, Roxanne was still in a daze.
“Miss, your flowers!” the server called out just as they reached the entrance and ran toward her with the bouquet. Roxanne snapped out of her daze and remembered that she had gone in with the bouquet in her arms.
When she turned around, she saw the server panting lightly. With the bouquet in her arms, the server looked at Roxanne enviously and said, “Don’t forget about your flowers, Miss.”
Roxanne shifted her gaze toward the bouquet. By then, the server had already reached out to pass her the bouquet. Seeing that, Roxanne had no choice but to accept the flowers and thank the server.
The server beamed. “No worries. You guys look like a match made in heaven. I hope the both of you will stay together forever!”
With that, the server waved her goodbye and rushed back into the restaurant. Roxanne held the flowers and watched as the server left. Her mind had gone blank, and she had even forgotten to explain herself.
Standing not far away, Lucian had been paying attention to the interaction between the ladies. When he saw Roxanne’s expression after the server left, his lips curled into a subtle smile, and his expression wasn’t as grim as before.
Roxanne stood unmoving for a while before she eventually turned around and walked toward him.
After they got into the car, Lucian revved up the engine and drove to the research institute.
None of them uttered a single word throughout the journey.
When they arrived at the entrance of the research institute, there was no one outside, as it was working hours. Roxanne got out of the car and wanted to leave the bouquet on the passenger seat.
As she was about to do that, Lucian said. in a cold tone, “If you don’t like the flowers, you can dump them.”
Roxanne frowned at the man in the car.
With a straight face, Lucian added, “As I said before, I don’t want the car to smell weird. Besides, it’s bad enough you’ve sent the flowers back to my office, Ms. Jarvis. If you reject them in my face, it’ll be too hurtful. If the flowers bother your so much, just dump them, Ms. Jarvis.”
Having said that, he leaned over to close the door without giving Roxanne time to react and drove away. Roxanne stood frozen to the spot with the bouquet in her arms. Thinking about what Lucian had said to her, she glanced at the flowers, and a torn look descended upon her face.
