The two boys knew that Sonya despised them. Seeing that Estella was on the verge of tears, they could only say reassuringly, “Don’t cry, Essie. We’re going on the roller coaster and will come to look for you in a bit.” Archie wiped away Estella’s tears, took Benny’s hand, and waved at her..
Carrying Estella in her arms, Sonya walked away without a backward glance while Archie and Benny remained where they were.
Benny felt worried and disappointed as he watched Sonya and Estella leave. “Archie, do you think Essie will cry later? What if she cries at lot? Shall we secretly follow them?”
Furrowing his brows, Archie shook his head. “Grandma will calm her down. If she finds us following them, it’ll only make her even angrier.” Then he turned to look at his younger brother. “Do you feel like going on any ride?”
Benny responded with a shake of his head. I didn’t even want to come out today. I only came here with them to accompany Essie. “We’ll just wait here for Essie to get back, then,” Archie replied.
Sonya brought Estella to meet a few of the princess characters. However, the latter was distracted and kept asking to return to Archie and Benny. The older woman seethed with anger at the sight of the teary-eyed little girl.
“If you don’t like this, we can go.” She pretended to stroke Estella’s head lovingly before turning and walking toward the exit.
Thinking Sonya was finally taking her to Archie and Benny, Estella stopped crying. However, they had gone halfway when she realized they were not going the right way. Instead, she could see the amusement park exit ahead of her.
“No! I want to find Archie and Benny! You’re evil, Grandma! I don’t want you anymore!” Estella wailed, struggling to free herself from Sonya’s arms.
Sonya held her in a vice-like grip and said in a brusque tone, “What are you talking about? Ever since Roxanne and those two little b*stards showed up, you’ve been hanging around them. all the time. I think you’ve almost forgotten you’re a member of the Farwell family, and now. you’re even saying that you don’t want me anymore! They must’ve taught you that. Well, you have to stay with me today!”
She strode toward the exit while carrying Estella, and within just a few minutes, the pair had left the amusement park..
Watching the widening distance between them. and the park entrance, Estella sobbed until she had barely any energy left. She was exhausted by the time Sonya carried her into the car.
When the driver saw that only Sonya and Estella had returned, he asked cautiously, “Mrs. Farwell, what about the other two-”
“Drive to the nearest shopping mall,” she instructed icily as though she had not heard him speak. The driver knew better than to refuse when he noticed her stormy mood and started driving. Throughout the car journey, Estella continued sobbing quietly.
Archie and Benny waited for Estella and Sonya inside the amusement park. When neither returned for the brothers, Benny suggested they look for them. They circled the entire park but saw no sign of Estella or Sonya. They started feeling a little anxious.
“Do you think something happened to Essie?” Benny asked, looking at his older brother nervously. I got lost before, but I’m much braver than Essie. If she gets lost, she’ll surely cry buckets.
Archie was worried too, but he tried to stay calm and think of a solution. A few seconds later, he used his smartwatch to call Essie. He tried a few times, but alas, there was no answer..
That made Benny even more uneasy. “Quick, let’s tell Mommy!” Archie mulled over the matter for a while, then gave Benny a reassuring look. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Essie is with Grandma, and we can’t find either of them now. So, maybe…”
He could not bring himself to finish his sentence. However, Benny had already guessed what he wanted to say and asked dejectedly, “Did Grandma leave with Essie?”
Although Archie made no response, the answer was clear from his facial expression. He, too, guessed that was most probably what had happened. She doesn’t like us, so she took Essie elsewhere and left us here.
“Why does she dislike us so much?” Benny mumbled under his breath. Archie could not help sighing inwardly. I know how she feels about us, but I never thought she’d go so far as to abandon us at an amusement park and leave without us. Isn’t she worried something might happen to us?
The thought upset him for a while. Then, he forced himself to perk up and took Benny’s hand. “Let’s not wait anymore and head back. Maybe Grandma has already gone home with Essie.”
Benny was hesitant. “Are we really not going to tell Mommy? What if Essie gets lost?” Archie furrowed his brows and answered, “Mommy hasn’t been in a good mood over the past couple of days. If she finds out about it, she’s going to be even more upset. Let’s not make her worry and go home first!”
Upon listening to those words, Benny thought about how Roxanne had been over the past few days and nodded solemnly. The boys held hands and left the amusement park to hail a taxi.
The taxi driver felt concerned when he saw two children hailing for a taxi. “Why are you kids on your own? Are you guys lost? Do you need me to call the police?”
Archie shook his head. “We came out on our own! Our mommy is waiting for us at home. Please send us back, Sir!”
The driver doubted those words, but he couldn’t bear to leave the kids by the side of the road, so he let them get into the car. The driver only felt more at ease and stepped on the gas after the kids told him their address accurately.
The Farwell residence was quite a distance away from the amusement park. Since the driver was driving two children, he drove slowly and carefully to the Farwell residence: By the time they arrived at their destination, it was already past four in the afternoon.
The car slowly rolled to a stop at the Farwell residence entrance, and the driver was stunned when he saw the luxurious building before his eyes. If the family is so rich, how can they let their kids roam around on their own? Aren’t parents afraid that someone might kidnap their children?
“Sir, please wait a moment. I’ll head in to get money!” Archie said in a childish voice. The driver jolted out of his thoughts and flashed a friendly smile. “That’s not necessary. I don’t take money from children. Hurry up and go in. Your parents must be worried sick.”
Obviously, Archie wouldn’t agree. He patted Benny’s shoulder and said, “Go and get some cash from Ms. Catalina. I’ll wait for you in the car.”
“Okay.” Benny got out of the car and ran toward the entrance of the manor to ring the doorbell. Catalina quickly answered the video call. Benny told her what was going on, and Catalina hung up the phone and brought out some cash.
Catalina noticed that the boys were on their own when she was paying the driver. Upon thanking the driver, she wanted to pay the driver more money, but the driver refused.
Catalina had no choice but to send the driver off after thanking him once again. When she brought Archie and Benny in, she asked, “Why are you boys on your own? Where are Mrs. Farwell and Ms. Estella?”
Catalina checked the boys’ bodies for injuries as she spoke. Archie and Benny lifted their arms obediently into the air to let her examine their bodies. However, none of the boys knew how to answer Catalina when she asked about Sonya and Estella.
Catalina breathed a sigh of relief after making sure the boys hadn’t suffered any injuries. “Why are you boys keeping mum? Did Mrs. Farwell say something mean to you boys again?”
Catalina knew how badly Sonya treated Archie and Benny. She was worried that Sonya had reprimanded them and told them to go home on their own.
Archie and Benny shared a look. Neither of them wanted things to escalate, so they shook their heads and answered, “No. We got tired, so we decided to head home first.”
Catalina stared at them suspiciously for a few seconds. The boys were smiling so innocently that they seemed as though they were telling the truth..
Although Catalina could tell something was amiss, she knew she couldn’t get more information out of them. She let the matter slide and asked, “What would you boys want for dinner? I’ll cook!”
The boys named a list of dishes in their piping voices in response. Catalina agreed readily with a smile.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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