Roxanne could not find any comfort in Sebastien's estate since she came because she had been thinking about her brother.
She had not seen him since her sudden marriage to Ciel and had no idea what was going on with him.
That morning, she was scrolling through her phone, trying to focus but the tightness in her chest would not let her.
A sense of unease has been eating her up since she woke up.
Reading through the message on her phone, she could not be at rest.
"Roxanne, this is Finn's nurse. Your brother is not doing so well. I thought you should know. He has been asking for you, but your step mother…she will not let us get across to you directly."
It was from an unknown number.
Finn.
Her little brother.
Her only family, who had never betrayed her.
She stood up from her seat immediately. Her heart raced so fast as she held her phone tightly.
She need to see him.
She need to make sure he was okay.
She barely noticed the domestic servant's cautious look as she pushed through the halls, she didn't care that she was still in her might wears, with only a silk robe covering her shoulders.
Her mind was set.
She was going back to the Renwick estate.
Her mind was made up.
She was going back to the Renwick Manor.
When her car stopped at the Manor, she stepped out, and she could feel the weight of her past pressing down on her.
This manor, once her home, now felt like a foreign place.
The gardens, and the columns…they all looked the same. Yet, everything felt different.
Because she was not the same again.
She no longer belonged here.
She was not here for nostalgia though.
She was here for her brother.
She pushed through the heavy double doors, not minding the surprised expression of the staff that saw her.
"Miss Roxanne…" one of the maids said hesitantly, trying to acknowledge her, but Roxanne was in an hurry.
She only wanted to see Evelyn.
As if she had been expecting her, her step mother appeared at the top of the stairs in a beautiful night gown.
With a bright smile, she said. "Roxanne, what a pleasant surprise. I was not expecting you so soon after your wedding."
Roxanne knew what she was trying to do, but she was not here for games.
"Where is Finn?" She asked with a sharp voice. "I am aware his health is declining and you have been hiding him from me."
Evelyn had a bored look on as she came down the stairs.
"My dear, Finn is okay. Don't be so dramatic."
"You are lying." Roxanne shot back.
"Oh? Is that so? And what are you going to do about it?" She said as she raised an eyebrow
"I want to know where he is" Roxanne said as her anger rose up.
Evelyn looked at her, then walked around her in slow circles, like a predator aiming for it's prey, with a smile.
"Do you think you could possibly come here and act like nothing happened?" Evelyn said. "As if you still have a place in this family?"
"I do not belong here, but Finn does." Roxanne fired back. "And so far you are hiding him from me, I will not sit down and do nothing."
Feigning disappoinment, Evelyn shook her head. "You use such big words Roxanne. But tell me something, why should I let you see him? After all, you left him behind when you got married."
The words hit a raw nerve.
Roxanne felt guilty but she didn't let it show.
"You were the one who forced me to leave. You took everything from me. My home, my freedom. And now, you want to take Finn away from me also?" She replied coldy.
"You made your choice, dear. You chose wealth over family." Evelyn said with a slow and satisfied smile.
Roxanne was livid.
No.
She never chose this.
She was forced into her marriage.
But Evelyn did not care about the truth. She was only vying for control.
"You always like to play the victim. But the reality is, you left Finn. And if you sees you now, don't you think he would wonder why his sister abandoned him?" Evelyn said in mock sympathy.
Roxanne could not believe what she was hearing.
Finn was just a child.
He did not understand the full extent of Evelyn's wickedness.
And if she had been telling him lies about her…
Would he want to see her?
"You will not keep me away from him forever," she said as she gritted her teeth.
"Oh, but I can. And I will. Well, unless you would prefer to leave your new life and come crawling back." Evelyn said with a dark smile.
Roxanne's blood was cold.
This was a game Evelyn likes to play.
Sne wanted her to be back under her thumb.
She want to make her powerless again.
Roxanne then breathed in and out, taking a step backwards.
"I will not dance to your tune anymore," she said slowly and quietly.
Evelyn laoghed.
"You seem naive, Roxanne. Do you think that you do have a choice?" She said.
Roxanne didn't answer her, she just turned around and walked away, her heart feeling heavy.
This was not over.
Back at the Sebastien estate, Ciel was in his study when his phone buzzed.
Without looking at the caller ID, he answered the call. "Speak."
"You were right, boss." His assistant's voice came through. "Finn Renwick is in a delicate state."
"It appears his step mother has been in charge of his medical care. And from the look of things, if she decides to withdraw treatment, it could be dangerous."
Ciel felt anger inside him.
He had not known much about Finn because Roxanne never spoke about him.
But she had seen the look of desperation in her eyes when she left the estate earlier.
And he knew why now.
"Ensure he gets the best care," he ordered. "Discreetly."
"Understood, sir." The assistant replied.
The call ended.
Roxanne had not asked for his help.
She did not even know he was getting involved
But it did not matter.
She had been fighting for herself long enough.
Maybe it's time someone assisted her.