Ch. 1531..1540
Leaving The Country After Divorce Chapter 1531--After finishing his breakfast, Elias smiled at them before getting up to leave, probably to meet Sonya.
The three children were not done eating. Hence, Roxanne stayed back and accompanied them.
Roxanne attempted to communicate with her kids and said, “In the future, try your best not to argue with Mrs. Farwell and do your best to make her like you.”
However, she soon realized that she might be asking too much of her children.
After all, even she couldn’t bear listening to Sonya’s overbearing remarks sometimes. How could she expect her children to put up with it?
“We understand.” Archie nodded. “Don’t worry, Mommy. Benny just thought that Mrs. Farwell had gone overboard just now and couldn’t help himself. Besides, he was right.”
Benny nodded matter-of-factly when he saw that Archie was siding with him. “Since Mrs. Farwell doesn’t like us addressing her as Grandma, we won’t do it!”
Estella nodded seriously as well, showing her support for her brothers.
Seeing how determined her children were, Roxanne couldn’t help but smile before turning to look at Estella seriously.
“Essie, your brothers are allowed to not address her like that, but not you.”
The little girl nodded obediently.
Roxanne knew that her boys had done nothing wrong. So, she said nothing and continued to have breakfast with them.
Lucian’s call came in right then.
Roxanne took out her phone and looked at the caller ID before instinctively glancing at her children.
The three of them knew what Roxanne was getting at and continued to eat breakfast silently as if they could hear nothing.
Noticing their reaction, Roxanne didn’t have the heart to keep it from them and took the call right before them.
“You’re up?”
Lucian’s voice was laced with concern and a hint of a smile.
Roxanne’s face went crimson. However, realizing that her children were right in front of her, she tried to stay cool and said, “We’re having our breakfast.”
Lucian let out a soft sigh. “I’m sorry. I had wanted to accompany you in the morning, but there’s an urgent task at work, and I had no other choice but to come over here first.”
Afterward, he shifted his attention to Roxanne’s health and asked, “How are you feeling? Do you feel unwell anywhere?”
Roxanne decided to keep her condition from him and begrudgingly said, “No. I’m all right.”
How could she say that her back almost broke in front of her children?
Lucian appeared to be quite disappointed by the answer. “Really? It seems like I’ve got to work harder.”
Roxanne immediately lowered the volume of her speaker and steered the topic. “If you have nothing else, I think that’s it for now. The kids are not done eating yet.”
Sensing her undertones, Lucian let out a chortle. “I just want to know what you think after last night, and I’m wondering if you will run back home when I’m not around.”
Last night, he restrained himself in every possible way because he was afraid of scaring Roxanne and making her retreat into her shell.
He continued to worry after arriving at the office this morning. Hence, he quickly called her after the meeting was done.
Roxanne appeared hesitant when answering him. “I… I do want to go back, but it’s not because of what happened last night.”
The first part of her reply made him furrow his brows. However, he was relieved after hearing that it was not because of last night. Perplexed, he asked, “Why, then?”
Roxanne cast a glance at Archie and Benny. She got up and headed toward the living room. In a low voice, she explained, “Mrs. Farwell doesn’t like Archie and Benny, and my presence is only going to make matters worse. I just hope that they can get along well. So, I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to continue staying at the manor.”
Leaving The Country After Divorce Chapter 1532--Upon hearing the woman’s concerns, Lucian’s eyes softened, and he reassured her in a deep, comforting voice, “You don’t need to worry about that. I’ve discussed this with them. They will leave soon.”
Roxanne was taken aback by his reply. “When? What did you say to them?”
Lucian didn’t answer her questions and merely replied, “They’ve always stayed at the Farwell main residence. So it will be more convenient for them if they go back there. Staying together with us is only going to make things difficult for them.”
Noticing his reluctance to answer her question, Roxanne decided against pressing on. However, she felt something didn’t quite add up and said, “But, I’m the outsider. If you ask them to go back because of me—”
“We’re going to be a family if you agree to my proposal,” Lucian interjected. “As for my mom and dad, you don’t need to worry about them holding grudges against you. I’ll deal with that.”
Roxanne backed down when he brought up the proposal again. “I believe that you will…”
Then, she lifted her gaze to look at the time and said sheepishly, “It’s getting late. I should head to the research institute now. You should continue with your work too.”
Lucian didn’t want to force a reply out of her and hummed a response, waiting for her to hang up.
Roxanne let out a relieved sigh after watching the phone screen go dark. After greeting Catalina and telling her to take good care of the children, she changed into her work clothes and headed to the research institute.
After the discussion and research session with Jack yesterday, they were only one step away from the final formulation of the new drug.
They only needed one more day to finalize it.
Roxanne threw the unpleasant incident in the morning to the back of her mind at the thought of her work.
She realized that Jack had already been waiting when she arrived at the research institute.
“Mr. Damaris.”
Jack’s attitude toward her had taken a roller coaster recently. However, Roxanne decided to treat him as no more than a work partner.
Since the collaboration was led by Damaris Group this time, Jack was actually her superior now.
Hence, Roxanne felt guilty that she was caught getting late to work by her boss.
Jack’s eyes darkened at the sight of the faint hickey on her neck. However, he suppressed his fury and greeted Roxanne with a smile.
“You must be tired from the overtime work these days, Ms. Jarvis, so it’s good for you to get some rest. Since you’re already here, let’s get on with the final step. I really hope we can succeed this time.”
Roxanne nodded and regained her composure. She changed into her lab coat and walked into the laboratory.
The two of them worked separately, and after working for one whole morning, Roxanne finally had a breakthrough.
“I think… I’ve done it.”
It was not easy for them to succeed. Adding on top of the fact that there had been many failures along the way, Roxanne was especially careful this time.
Jack heard her and quickly went to her direction.
The two of them tested the efficacy of the medicine.
Upon testing it on lab mice, it was found that Roxanne’s new medicine managed to reduce the activity of the cancer cells in them!
“We did it!”
Jack grabbed Roxanne’s shoulder and tapped on it. “I knew my judgment was right. I knew you could do it!”
At the same time, he vowed to make Roxanne his woman.
A medical genius like Roxanne was born for the Damaris family, and she could only realize her true potential if she married him.
Hence, Jack knew he would never give her up, no matter what it took.
Leaving The Country After Divorce Chapter 1533--Roxanne was rather offended by his sudden body contact, and the smile on her face became dark. She lowered her eyes and stepped back, slowly moving away from his hand.
Jack frowned for a moment when he felt her uneasiness. He quickly removed his hand and pretended nothing had happened.
“The research institute played a huge part in successfully developing the new medication. How about this? Lunch is on me today, plus everyone will receive a cash reward from me this month!” Jack’s words made it sound like he was closely related to the research institute.
Roxanne felt he was slightly crossing the line and wanted to decline him. But the employees were already cheering. Thus, she thought it would not be nice to spoil the atmosphere.
“Mr. Damaris is so generous!”
“Thank you, Mr. Damaris. We will definitely work harder from now onwards!”
One by one, the research institute staff began to offer Jack words of flattery.
Roxanne felt slightly annoyed as she watched their admiration for Jack.
“Well, I hope everyone will give me the honor. Let’s carpool and set off now, shall we?” Jack grinned from ear to ear, looking all enthusiastic.
He then reached out and wanted to hold Roxanne’s arm. “If you don’t mind, Ms. Jarvis, you can take my car!”
Roxanne turned sideways, avoiding his hand. She had an awkward smile on her face. “I think we should first discuss our profit-sharing model.”
Jack arched his brow, seemingly uninterested in what she said. “What’s the hurry? This isn’t our first collaboration, don’t you trust me? Please don’t worry for I’ll ensure the research institute gets what it deserves. Let’s not talk about work on such a joyous occasion. We should relax and take a break!”
While he was speaking, a few employees had begun to make their way out.
Roxanne was unhappy, but she could only agree. “All right, let’s go then. I’ll drive my car so that I can help to fetch some people.”
With that, she called a few staff who did not drive and left with them.
Jack watched Roxanne’s retreating figure and then lowered his eyes. His gaze turned grim as he looked at his hand, which she had rejected twice.
It was noon when the group reached the hotel where Jack made reservations.
“Mr. Damaris is such a rich and generous man. He actually reserved the best hotel in Horington for our celebration,” one of the employees complimented with a smile.
Jack was walking alongside Roxanne when he heard the compliment. He smiled and waved a dismissal hand. “All of you are important contributors. It’s only fitting that I choose the best. Enjoy yourselves, and don’t stand on ceremony with me.”
Jack arranged for a feast at the top level of the hotel. Delicious food and wine were served, and soothing live music enhanced the atmosphere.
Several staff were excited as it was their first time having a meal in such a luxurious place.
Throughout the meal, people came to give Jack a toast to thank him for the treat. After toasting Jack, they turned to Roxanne, wanting to give her a toast too.
Roxanne rejected all offers, saying that she was not feeling well.
“Enjoy yourselves, everyone. Today’s celebration is the first, and for sure, not the last. There’ll be plenty of opportunities for us to collaborate. I promise our subsequent celebrations will be grander with each successful collaboration!” Jack raised his wine glass and said to everyone.
Sounds of cheers erupted as soon as Jack finished speaking.
Roxanne should be ecstatic about the successful development of the new medication. But as she sat and watched how Jack acted like he was the protagonist of the success story, she could not bring herself to feel happy.
The way Jack behaved did not look like he was celebrating. He was trying to win over everyone’s hearts.
Outsiders might get the impression that Jack was the person in charge of the research institute.
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Leaving The Country After Divorce Chapter 1534--Chapter 1534 Could Not Wait Any Longer
“What’s wrong? I notice that you did not drink any wine.”
Jack suddenly looked at the person beside him and asked concernedly, “Are you unwell? What’s the matter? Would you like me to take a look?”
As he spoke, his hand reached out to take Roxanne’s wrist.
Roxanne pursed her lips and put on a weak smile. “There’s no need. I’m a little tired as I did not sleep well last night. Please carry on and have fun with them. I’ll take a rest for a while.”
She calmly retreated and avoided contact with Jack. She gave a light nod before turning around to leave.
Displeasure hit Jack as he stared at her back.
The hickey on her neck was the answer to why she did not sleep well last night! I can’t wait any longer! I must make a move quickly!
After leaving the banquet, Roxanne headed to a nearby cafe for coffee and relaxation.
But at the thought of Jack’s recent attitude, she felt annoyed again.
Just then, a message came from Lucian asking about her. How are you feeling? Go home and rest if you are tired. The research institute matters can be settled some other time.
Roxanne felt warm when she saw his care and concern. But she could not help being grouchy in her reply as she was upset with Jack’s behavior. So, you knew I’ll be tired today, huh… But it’s okay. The medication was successfully developed, and we’re celebrating outside now.
Lucian frowned slightly as he saw Roxanne’s reply. He texted back. Is Jack there too?
Roxanne became more frustrated when Jack was mentioned. He’s the one who initiated the celebration. I couldn’t reject him as the staff in the research institute were in high spirits.
Roxanne’s reply clearly showed her displeasure toward Jack, though she did not directly say so.
Lucian, however, was concerned about something else. Did you drink?
Roxanne pulled a face and replied. They’re drinking, but I’m not in the mood.
As soon as she sent the message, Lucian called.
Roxanne answered it.
“What’s the matter? Are you unwell? Do you want me to go over and fetch you?” Lucian’s voice was warm and caring.
Roxanne sighed softly. “I was a bit uncomfortable in the morning, but I’m much better now.”
Hearing that, Lucian furrowed his brows puzzledly. “What’s wrong then? Is it because of my mother? What did she say to you again?”
Not wanting Lucian to misunderstand, Roxanne hurriedly explained, “It’s not that. It’s because of Jack…”
Roxanne could not help feeling upset as she brought up the topic.
She could not do anything much to an outsider who was getting close to her employees. She felt a loss of authority as the person in charge of the research institute. This made her look bad as a leader.
Lucian became unhappy when he heard Jack was upsetting Roxanne. “What is Jack up to now? Don’t be bothered by him. I can see that he’s caring toward you, but it remains to be seen whether he has ulterior motives.”
Roxanne still felt discouraged. She hesitantly asked Lucian, “Am I incompetent at managing staff? It seemed like the research institute became a mess after Colby left.”
She was doing some self-reflection while drinking coffee earlier.
The truth was she was a relatively new member of the research institute; thus, she did not know the employees well. Furthermore, she focused solely on her research and neglected her relations with her colleagues.
In the past, Colby helped her maintain relations with the employees. After Colby was caught, she started drifting apart from them.
That was the reason why Jack was able to win their hearts so easily.
Lucian’s expression turned solemn when he heard that. “Why did you say so?”
Roxanne felt a bit embarrassed to speak her thoughts. But she managed to find the courage to do so, as Lucian was the audience.
“I felt that during this period, the employees hit it off better with Jack than me. The situation looks like he’s the person in charge instead of me.”
Leaving The Country After Divorce Chapter 1535--Needless to say, Lucian instantly noticed the discontent and guilt laced in Roxanne’s voice.
“Jack even said he’d issue bonuses to my staff in his name. I had already considered doing it myself, but he beat me to the announcement. After that, I was just too embarrassed to turn him down… Will the staff think that Jack treats them better than I do? Then again, our research institute is only collaborating with Damaris Group…” the latter muttered.
She hadn’t been able to shake off the nagging feeling that something was off, so she had no choice but to discuss it with Lucian.
After hearing Roxanne’s worries, the man softened his gaze and comforted her, “You haven’t done anything wrong. He’s the one who has crossed the line. Your talent and passion lie in the medical field, so there’s no need to worry about the management aspect. Feel free to come to me if you ever need any assistance. I’ll be your advisor.”
“What should I do now, then?” Roxanne asked, knowing she could rely on Lucian.
Naturally, the man was more than happy to help. “Have you guys ironed out the profit-sharing agreement?”
“I told him we should talk about that first, but he turned it down,” Roxanne replied as she shook her head.
“In that case, you should find an opportunity to draft a detailed profit-sharing contract. Make sure all the terms and conditions are clearly stated. If you’re still worried, I can check the draft when you’re done.”
“Sure. I’ll let him know as soon as possible,” Roxanne piped up, sounding much more relaxed now that she had Lucian’s advice and support. “I’m sorry I have to trouble you again.”
Lucian chuckled. “It’s an honor to serve you.”
Seeing Roxanne become wary of Jack suits me just fine. It sure beats seeing them getting closer and closer. After all, I’m the only one she needs.
“However, I’d still like to manage the company myself. Can you teach me if you have the time?” Roxanne asked cautiously.
Lucian has been single-handedly managing Farwell Group all these years, so there’s no doubt his management skills are top-notch. It’d certainly be a weight off my shoulders if he’s willing to guide me.
To Roxanne’s delight, Lucian agreed to it without hesitation. “I’ll do my best! Additionally, your secretary can also learn a thing or two from Cayden. You didn’t have many managerial opportunities while overseas, and I don’t think she has any experience, either. Therefore, it’d be good for her to learn from Cayden and help relieve some of your burdens.”
Roxanne nodded her head in agreement. “Yes. I’ll talk to her about it.”
The couple then went on to chat about the contract details when a commotion suddenly broke out at the door. With that, Roxanne promptly ended the conversation with Lucian and hung up her phone.
The next second, Jack appeared in the cafe, reeking of alcohol.
“How are you feeling?” he asked as he strode in and sat near Roxanne.
After glancing at the closed door and the tipsy Jack, Roxanne immediately put her guard up. “I’m much better now. Thanks for your concern, Mr. Damaris.”
In response, Jack smiled and casually undid his two collar buttons, his gaze shifting from the aroma lamp in the room to Roxanne.
Feeling flustered by being stared at so intensely, the latter forced herself to stay calm and changed the topic to something work-related. “I’d like to confirm the terms of our cooperation now, Mr. Damaris. What do you think?”
Unfortunately, Jack refused to play along. “I’ve had a bit to drink tonight, so discussing such important matters wouldn’t be appropriate. Besides, didn’t I say tonight is for us to relax and have fun? Let’s talk about work another time!”
Leaving The Country After Divorce Chapter 1539--Roxanne felt touched when she heard that.
The atmosphere was heartwarming as they had dinner without Sonya around.
That was the first time Lucian didn’t need to leave in a hurry after dinner, so the kids could chat with both their parents until it was late at night.
While the kids were having a great time, Roxanne wasn’t in the mood to play with them, and Lucian still had some work to do.
They two tucked the kids in before returning to the study and the bedroom respectively.
They did it so naturally that it felt as though they had been living together for a long time.
The bedroom was still empty by the time Roxanne stepped out of the shower, so she figured he was still working in the study.
Seeing as it was quite late, Roxanne figured she would advise him to get some rest.
She was about to step out the door when her phone started ringing on the nightstand.
Roxanne turned around and made her way over to pick up the phone.
Seeing Jack’s name on the caller ID reminded her of what he said earlier, so she wasn’t sure if she should answer his call.
However, it didn’t seem like Jack was going to hang up anytime soon as the phone simply continued ringing. Roxanne forcefully suppressed her reluctance and answered the call, “What is it, Mr. Damaris? It’s really late now.”
“Sorry, am I disturbing you? I didn’t want to call you this late at night, but I felt the need to apologize for what happened earlier,” Jack said apologetically.
Roxanne frowned in confusion when she heard that.
What’s with Jack’s sudden change in attitude?
Not wanting to make things awkward, she replied with a soft chuckle, “It’s fine. You had a little too much to drink earlier, so I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear that.”
Jack breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good to hear. I wasn’t planning on saying that after I found out about your relationship with Mr. Farwell. Since we have been working together for a long time, I figured I’d just treat you as a business partner. However, I got a little too carried away today, and it just slipped. I’m sorry I lost my composure earlier. I didn’t scare you, did I?”
Why does it sound like he’s confessing to me again?
Roxanne frowned at the thought of that and said coldly, “No. You just said some things that you shouldn’t have, that’s all. If you truly are sorry, then please stop bringing this up in the future.”
The look in Jack’s eyes grew cold when he heard that, but he maintained a cautious tone as he said, “All right, I’ll keep that in mind. By the way, you mentioned a couple of times about our profit-sharing model. It’s true that we should get that settled as soon as possible. I can’t believe I got so carried away that I forgot about it.”
Roxanne felt a little better when he mentioned work. “In that case, how about we meet up to discuss that tomorrow, Mr. Damaris?”
Since Jack had wanted to see her anyway, he agreed to her request without any hesitation whatsoever. “Sure thing. I’ll go see you at the research institute tomorrow.”
Roxanne agreed to it after giving it some thought.
The two then chose a time to meet before ending the call.
Lucian happened to come in at the time, so he saw her putting her phone down. “Who were you talking to this late at night?” he asked with a frown.
“Mr. Damaris called to make an appointment to discuss the contract tomorrow. I was planning on meeting him at Damaris Group at first, but since he’s partially responsible for this delay, we chose to meet at the research institute instead,” Roxanne replied evasively.
Given what happened between them, Roxanne figured it would be safer to meet him in her own territory instead.
Leaving The Country After Divorce Chapter 1537--A cold look flashed past Jack’s eyes when he heard her reject him firmly, but he was quick to suppress it.
“I’m serious about this, Roxanne. We need to date each other if we want to truly maximize our potential. Don’t you want to develop your career in the medical field?” Jack pleaded earnestly with an expectant look in his eyes.
However, his ambitious confession only scared Roxanne even more. “I do want to develop my career, but not like this! You’ve had too much to drink, Mr. Damaris. Let’s end this conversation here.”
Roxanne was about to get up and leave when Jack let out a wry chuckle. “I knew it… I knew you would reject me, Roxanne. I just didn’t think you’d do so without at least giving me a chance. Is being with me really that bad? I don’t even know how Lucian is better than me.”
Roxanne closed her eyes and calmed herself down before replying coldly, “This has nothing to do with Lucian. I simply don’t have feelings for you. Still, I would like to thank you for not resorting to nasty methods like Colby did.”
She then walked right out of the door without looking back.
Jack narrowed his eyes as he watched her disappear from sight. He then grabbed a handful of coffee beans and stuffed them into his mouth. The look in his eyes cleared up a little as he chewed on the coffee beans.
I thought this would be all I needed to do to make Roxanne a part of my family, but it seems I was wrong. Roxanne won’t comply unless I use force. I can’t believe she actually thanked me for not using nasty methods like Colby! I gave you a chance to make a choice, Roxanne, so don’t blame me for what I might do in the future!
Jack had an icy-cold look on his face as he stared at the steaming pot of coffee on the table.
Roxanne waved goodbye at the staff, who had yet to leave, as she walked out of the cafe.
I don’t know how I’ll face Jack after saying all of those things to him! Our partnership is still ongoing, so I can’t turn my back on him just yet.
After making her way downstairs with a worried frown on her face, Roxanne noticed a Bentley with a familiar-looking license plate parked nearby.
The window slowly rolled down as she shifted her gaze toward it, and Lucian’s face came into view a few seconds later.
“What are you doing here?”
Feeling relieved, Roxanne quickly made her way over.
Lucian got out of the car and opened the door for her like a chivalrous gentleman. “I knew you came here to see Jack, so I have to make a move as well,” he replied in the most matter-of-fact tone possible.
Had this conversation taken place in the past, Roxanne would’ve told Lucian that he was overreacting.
However, after hearing what Jack said earlier, she felt that he had come at just the right time.
“I’m glad to see that you weren’t lying when you told me you didn’t drink,” Lucian said as he closed her car door and made his way over to the driver’s seat.
Roxanne recalled what happened earlier when he started the car, but she didn’t feel like talking about it.
Lucian had noticed something off about her the moment she stepped out the door earlier.
Realizing that his words didn’t exactly cheer her up, Lucian’s expression gradually grew solemn as he asked, “What happened? Did your conversation with Jack turn unpleasant?”
The look on Roxanne’s face changed the moment she heard him mention Jack. Unsure of what to tell him, she decided to brush it off as casually as possible.
“He refused to talk about work, so we didn’t make any progress with the negotiation.”
Leaving The Country After Divorce Chapter 1541--Roxanne subconsciously glanced at Lucian.
He nodded at her.
She completely relaxed after receiving his affirmation. Then, she shared the result of their initial discussion earlier.
“This is my two cents. Damaris Group provided us with the medicinal herbs and distribution channel for this collaboration. However, technology-wise, the credits belong almost entirely to the research institute. I can even say that the research institute is the real owner of this core technology in developing this new medicine. For this reason and considering our experiences working together with other groups, the profit should be divided into a twenty-eighty split. Our research institute will take the larger portion of the earnings.”
She was the person in charge of the research institute, after all. Although Roxanne wasn’t sufficiently familiar with that aspect, she still commanded an extraordinary presence.
A hint of admiration glinted in Lucian’s eyes as he listened to her speech and took in her serious demeanor.
On the other hand, Jack thought his ears were playing tricks on him. He forced himself to keep up his elegant facade. “Excuse me. I didn’t hear you clearly. Ms. Jarvis, you were saying—”
She reiterated calmly, “The research institute will take eighty percent of the profit from the sales of this medicine while Damaris Group owns the remaining twenty percent.”
Jack couldn’t help but chuckle. “Are you kidding me, Ms. Jarvis? Is that all the profit you’re willing to share with us after Damaris Group contributed so much to this project?”
Roxanne’s eyes shone with determination. “The Damaris family is a century-old prestigious family in the traditional medicine business, so you must be well aware of the rules in the pharmaceutical field. In fact, coming up with the core technology is the most important part of medical research and development. In the context of contribution, I’m confident our research institute poured in much more effort than Damaris Group.”
Jack turned to glance at Lucian and swiftly wrapped his mind around the situation.
Evidently, that was the result of their discussion earlier.
“You’re such a humorous person, Ms. Jarvis. I came up with the idea in the first place. Besides, Damaris Group had been providing the medicinal herbs used by the research institution for free. Now that you’ve invented the medicine, you’re turning your back on us, letting us take only a small part of the profit. If that’s the case, I’m afraid Damaris Group will have to cease this collaboration with you.”
His face darkened, and his tone was filled with the indifference of a businessman.
Jack’s reaction was within their anticipation.
Roxanne spoke in a gentler manner after sensing his fury. “Naturally, Damaris Group’s cooperation is crucial in the success of inventing this medicine. If you aren’t satisfied with my initial offer, I can proffer you another five percent, totaling Damaris Group’s profit margin to twenty-five percent. That is the maximum extent of my sincerity.”
He sneered out loud. “Aren’t you generous, Ms. Jarvis, offering me another five percent without hesitation? Do you think I’ll agree to this?”
She replied, “There’s nothing I can do if you aren’t willing to accept the deal. I will compensate Damaris Group with three times the market price for all the medicinal herbs you have provided the research institute. As for the distribution channel, I’ll figure out an alternative.”
She was implying her readiness to end their collaboration as Jack had suggested.
Jack laughed in exasperation. “There isn’t any price on the market that can match the demand for the Damaris family’s medicinal herbs, as the herbs are only available for the Damaris family’s internal use. I think you’re oversimplifying this matter, Ms. Jarvis.”
Roxanne frowned. “In that case, you can proffer a price you think is fair, and I’ll accept it without any objection.”
She felt a little uneasy after saying that, as Jack might very likely make a significant demand on the division of profit following her statement.
“I think you haven’t gotten a clear picture of the circumstances, Mr. Damaris,” Lucian piped up.
At the same time, he slightly leaned his body in Roxanne and Jack’s direction while shifting his cold gaze onto Jack.
Leaving The Country After Divorce Chapter 1536---Roxanne furrowed her brows.
In the past, Jack and I had only ever talked about work or medical matters when we hung out together, so what’s with this change? Argh. I don’t want to talk about anything else but our collaboration!
“In that case, let’s go over the content first. We can draw up the contract another day,” Roxanne suggested, still with a polite smile on her face.
In Jack’s drunken haze, he frowned and slammed his hand down on the table. “Is that all we can talk about between us?”
As Roxanne met Jack’s gaze in silence, alarm bells began ringing in her head. “We’re partners, aren’t we? Shouldn’t we be talking about work?”
“Are you saying we can only be coworkers, Ms. Jarvis?” Jack retorted as his eyes glowed with anger.
Even though it was an ambiguous question, it didn’t take long before Roxanne guessed what the man was getting at. That, however, left her utterly perplexed.
Huh? All this while, I’ve treated Jack like a colleague, so why would he develop such feelings for me?
Just as Roxanne began to doubt her judgment, Jack’s voice rang out, albeit with a note of bitterness.
“Since I first saw you at the medical consultation, I’ve had a lot of admiration for you. Not only was I in awe of your medical skills, but I was also touched by how much you cared for the young and old. Whenever we met, I always asked myself how great it’d be if I could have an incredible woman like yourself by my side. It’d be even better if I could shower you with love.”
Upon hearing that and seeing the fondness in Jack’s eyes, Roxanne reeled in shock.
I can’t believe Jack has romantic feelings for me! When did that happen? Why have I never noticed that before?
After stealing another peek at the closed door, Roxanne turned her attention back to the drunk man. “You’ve had too much to drink, Mr. Damaris. I’ll pretend not to have heard any of this.”
“I’m not drunk. I meant every word I said!” Jack said affectionately.
Alas, when he tried to grab Roxanne’s hand, the latter dodged him by taking her cup of coffee and pretending to sip from it.
Needless to say, Jack was dismayed. “I was attracted to your professionalism and gentleness toward all living things, and I’ve always thought that we made a great match. Think about it. Aren’t I the best person to discuss medical-related matters with?”
By then, Roxanne was so stunned that she couldn’t stop her hand from trembling.
No wonder it feels like Jack’s attitude has been getting increasingly strange. I can’t believe it’s because of this…
“I know you have two kids, so you have more factors to consider when choosing a partner,” Jack continued sincerely. “Trust me. You have nothing to worry about because I adore them. As long as you’re willing to be with me, I’ll love them as my own! E-Even if they’re your children with Lucian, I wouldn’t mind one bit!”
After hearing Jack mention Archie and Benny’s parentage, Roxanne tightened her grip around her cup and glanced at him.
The next second, however, she quickly regained her composure. Wait a minute… He brought that up only because he had read the public statement issued by Farwell Group a while back. Okay. I feel better knowing that…
With that, Roxanne set her cup down and stared calmly at the man before her. When she finally spoke, her voice was cold and detached. “I appreciate your kindness, Mr. Damaris. However, I’ve only ever regarded you as a great coworker and business partner. I’m afraid I can’t reciprocate your feelings. If you wish to continue our partnership, please don’t bring this matter up again.”
Leaving The Country After Divorce Chapter 1538--Chapter 1538 Do Not Take It To Heart
Lucian arched an eyebrow slightly in response.
He knew Roxanne was hiding something from him when she paused briefly.
“Why would he refuse to talk about work? Isn’t it better to finalize a contract that would bring him profits as soon as possible?” Lucian asked calmly in an attempt to go with the flow.
Roxanne lowered her gaze as she replied, “He had been drinking and felt he was in no condition to discuss business.”
Jack has been drinking?
Lucian narrowed his eyes as he said, “Most deals are closed over drinks. Jack is the heir of the Damaris family, so I’m sure he must’ve closed plenty of deals over drinks by now. He must have had some other reason for refusing to discuss business with you.”
Roxanne’s eyes went wide as she recalled what happened earlier. She couldn’t bring herself to tell him that their negotiation failed because she turned down Jack’s confession.
While she did not have feelings for Jack, she believed that a confession was a private thing, so she didn’t want to reveal it to Lucian.
Roxanne eyed him cautiously as she said, “Maybe he didn’t want to discuss business while he was in a celebratory mood earlier. I’ll go see him again tomorrow at Damaris Group. Would you have time to come with me?”
She didn’t know how she would face Jack after what happened earlier.
Besides, she also needed Lucian to help check the details of the contract.
Naturally, Lucian wouldn’t say no to her request.
While he was displeased with her hiding the truth from him, he was willing to forget about that since she wanted him to go meet Jack with her.
With that, the topic of their conversation shifted toward the contract that they would be signing with Jack tomorrow.
As Elias and Sonya had yet to return to the Farwell residence, the three kids were huddled around Catalina and telling her their stories from kindergarten.
Catalina couldn’t stop laughing as the kids presented those stories in a really humorous and adorable manner.
The three kids quickly turned around when they saw Lucian and Roxanne come in through the front door.
“Mommy! Daddy!”
Roxanne’s lips curled into a relieved smile as she bent over to hug them. “Have you kids been good today?”
The three kids nodded profusely in response. “Yeah, we have!”
“They have all been behaving themselves very well today. They even helped me out with the chores!” Catalina added with a smile.
Roxanne couldn’t help but wonder if she was worrying too much about them since they arrived a week before she did.
“Let’s go have dinner,” Lucian said in a deep voice.
“Don’t we need to wait for your parents?” Roxanne asked in confusion.
“My dad texted me earlier and said he’d be eating out with my mom, so we can go ahead and eat,” Lucian replied while showing her his phone.
Roxanne breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the text from Elias.
She also had a feeling that Elias was trying to help them out. He knew that the atmosphere would be incredibly tense if they had dinner with Sonya around, so he brought her out to let them dine in peace.
Roxanne felt thankful when she realized he was doing it for her and the kids.
Lucian wrapped an arm around her shoulder and said with a reassuring look in his eyes, “They’ll move out in a few days. Don’t take anything that my mom says to heart, okay? Just let me know if she gives you any trouble, and I’ll talk to her myself.”
Roxanne pursed her lips and smiled in response. “I know. You’ll have a lot to deal with, though.”
“My attitude toward you in the past is why things are tense between you two. I’m the cause of my mom’s misunderstanding, so I should be the one to fix it,” Lucian said solemnly.
Leaving The Country After Divorce Chapter 1540--Since he would be joining her in meeting Jack tomorrow, Lucian didn’t bother asking her too much about it. The two then went to bed in each other’s arms.
Roxanne felt it was a little inappropriate at first, but felt it was nothing compared to what they did yesterday night. With that in mind, she lay obediently in his arms and fell asleep shortly after.
The two of them got up early the next morning, and Lucian drove her to the research institute.
While waiting for Jack to show up, they went through the terms of the contract together.
With Lucian’s guidance, Roxanne was able to be more confident about the details of the contract.
Jack arrived at Roxanne’s office at around nine in the morning.
The look on his face turned gloomy when he saw Roxanne sitting on a single-cushion couch while Lucian sat on a longer one next to hers. Lucian was in a relaxed posture and seemed to be discussing something with Roxanne.
Although the two of them were sitting on separate couches, their interactions looked very intimate.
“Hello, Mr. Damaris,” Roxanne greeted him with a smile when she noticed him standing there.
With Lucian around, she was able to relax and interact with Jack more naturally.
After taking a second to regain his composure, Jack flashed her a smile before shifting his gaze toward Lucian.
“What a coincidence, Mr. Farwell. I didn’t know you would be here too. Ms. Jarvis and I have some business to discuss, though. If possible, could you perhaps—”
Jack was trying to politely ask Lucian to leave, but Lucian cut him off with a warning gaze before he could finish his sentence.
“No, it’s not possible. I don’t think there’s anything between you and Roxanne that I shouldn’t know.”
Jack’s expression tensed up instantly. “It’s about a partnership between Damaris Group and this research institute.”
“In that case, there’s no need for me to leave. Farwell Group is not involved in the medical field, so knowing the details of your partnership won’t result in any conflicts of interest. Besides, you should have faith in Roxanne’s integrity,” Lucian replied nonchalantly.
Jack’s face clouded over when he realized Lucian wasn’t going to leave. “Will you be contributing anything to this conversation, then?”
Lucian arched an eyebrow in response before shifting his gaze toward Roxanne.
Roxanne let out a helpless sigh when she noticed the rising tension between Lucian and Jack, but she was not about to take Jack’s side in this situation.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you this in advance. I’m not that knowledgeable when it comes to business, so Mr. Farwell is here as my consultant.”
She then turned toward Lucian to see if he was satisfied with her reply.
Feeling satisfied, Lucian gave her a nod in response.
Jack frowned slightly and let out a sarcastic chuckle. “You’re willing to lower yourself and become Ms. Jarvis’s consultant? Now I see why she’s so loyal to you, Mr. Farwell!”
“It is an honor for me to be Roxanne’s consultant,” Lucian replied. It was unclear if he genuinely meant that, though.
Not wanting the two to start fighting over her, Roxanne changed the topic by saying, “All right, let’s just get down to business. It’ll be lunchtime if we waste any more time chit-chatting.”
Jack nodded and sat down on the single-cushion couch in front of her.
He looked like he meant business as he crossed his arms and said, “Since you wanted to see me so urgently, I’m assuming Mr. Farwell has given you some bright ideas. In that case, why don’t you go ahead and speak your mind?”