Real Heiress: Flash Marriage With Boyfriend's Uncle - Chapter 170

Chapter 170: I was a mess Chapter 170: I was a mess After dinner, Layla stayed behind to help the house staff, even though Lady Alessia had gently insisted she leave it to them.

“Why don’t you join me for a little chat?” Alessia said, her voice warm and inviting.

“It’s been ages since I’ve had a young woman’s company in this house.

But if you’re tired, we can talk in the morning.” Layla smiled softly.

“I’m not tired, Grandma.

Should we go to your room?” Alessia’s eyes twinkled with affection.

“Let’s take a walk in the garden instead.

It’s always good to have a walk after a meal.” “That sounds lovely,” Layla replied, slipping her arm through Alessia’s and holding it firmly.

As they strolled toward the garden, Layla felt a strange yet comforting warmth.

She had often wondered what it might feel like to experience a grandmother’s love-a love she had never known.

Her own grandmother had always viewed her with disdain, making her feel like an outsider.

But now, walking beside Alessia, a woman she had only recently met, Layla felt an unfamiliar yet profound sense of belonging.

The simple act of being cared for by someone so kind filled her heart with a quiet joy, melting away some of the old wounds she carried all this time.

“Did Grandma grow all these flowers?” Layla asked, her gaze wandering over the vibrant beds of blossoms that stretched across the garden.

Alessia smiled, a gentle pride in her eyes.

“Yes, I did.

When my grandson’s mother was alive, she would help me tend to them.

Since her passing, I’ve never missed a season of planting these flowers.

It keeps her memory alive.” “That’s beautiful,” Layla whispered, touched by the sentiment.

Alessia’s smile deepened as she glanced at the flowers.

“I remember when Lucius and Matteo used to visit with my grandson.

Demitri was always a reserved child, hesitant to open up, but Matteo, with his cheerful nature, made sure he never felt lonely.

Lucius, on the other hand, was different-often lost in his own thoughts.

When Demitri told me that Lucius had gotten married, I was shocked.

But I’m glad he did.

Sometimes, all it takes is the right partner to lift the weight of the world off your shoulders.” Layla pondered her words, curiosity flickering in her mind.

Was Lucius like that because of his family?

She stayed close to Alessia as they walked ahead.

“I agree with you, Grandma.

I’m lucky to have found Lucius,” she said, her voice firm yet tender.

Alessia’s expression softened further.

“Hmm.

Did you know that Lucius once protected us from a gangster?” she asked suddenly.

Layla blinked, surprised.

“No, I didn’t.

He never talks about such things with me.

I suppose he wants to shield me from those darker parts of his life,” she murmured, sighing.

“But why would a gangster trouble you?” Alessia’s face grew somber as she recounted the tale.

“It was about seven or eight years ago.

I was swindled by a loan shark.

Demitri was away, and I didn’t want to burden him with my troubles.

In the end, I discovered the loan shark was connected to a gang.

It was a harrowing time.

When Lucius learned about it through Demitri, things changed swiftly.

The gangster vanished, as if he’d never existed.

To this day, I don’t know what Lucius did or how he resolved it, but I’m forever grateful.

He saved us from a nightmare.” Layla listened intently, her heart fluttering with admiration.

Even though he was a mafia, he never hurt the innocents.

She smiled and continued the exploration in the garden while enjoying the conversation with Alessia.

~~~~~ Demitri poured wine into two glasses and handed one to Lucius.

“Grandma seems to have grown quite fond of Layla,” Demitri remarked as he settled onto the counter chair beside Lucius.

He swirled the wine in his glass before taking a sip.

“Do you ever think about the old days?” Lucius leaned back, his expression darkening.

“I do.

But I’d rather not dwell on them.” Demitri sighed, his tone turning serious.

“When are you going to let yourself heal, Lucius?

You can’t bring Matteo back.

I know it irritates you when I bring this up, but as your friend, I can’t help but worry.” Lucius ran his fingers along the rim of his glass, his gaze distant.

Then, in one swift motion, he drained the wine in a single gulp.

Placing the glass down, he spoke with a weight in his voice.

“Matteo wasn’t just a friend; he was like a brother to me.

You know how my childhood was-my parents were too consumed by their works to notice me.

My mother… she barely cared.

After losing Antoine, I thought I’d never find that sense of family again.

But Matteo filled that void.

Losing him was unbearable.

Even now, it feels like a wound that refuses to close.” “I get it,” Demitri said, his voice quieter.

He took a long sip of his wine before reaching into his pocket to retrieve his phone.

“By the way, I looked into your father-in-law’s phone, specifically the message he received.

Turns out, this is the person who sent it.” He slid the phone toward Lucius, showing him a picture.

Lucius picked it up, his eyes narrowing as he studied the image.

“Who is this?” “A repeat offender,” Demitri replied.

“He’s a bank thief currently out on parole.

He’s reckless, doesn’t care who he crosses.

But the real threat isn’t him-it’s the person pulling his strings.” Lucius raised an eyebrow, waiting for Demitri to continue.

“Who?” Demitri’s lips curled into a grim smile.

“Someone who’s most threatened by your marriage.” Lucius let out a dry chuckle as realization dawned on him.

“Sylvia.

Of course.

But how did she manage to get her hands on this?” “She’s resourceful and relentless.

No one else is as obsessed with you as she is,” Demitri remarked.

“Even Matteo struggled to make her understand that you’d never feel the same.

She’s unhinged.

Meeting with a known criminal?

She doesn’t care about the risks.” Lucius leaned back, a slight smirk tugging at his lips.

“Strange.

My informant hasn’t mentioned anything about her activities recently.” “She’s probably being more cautious this time,” Demitri suggested.

Lucius nodded, his eyes narrowing.

“Yeah.

She shouldn’t have touched this part of my life.

She’s making me feel disgusted of her.” “Then do something about her,” Demitri suggested.

Lucius nodded slowly.

“Hmm.

I will,” he said, picking up the bottle and refilling his glass.

Demitri rolled his eyes and swiftly snatched the bottle from him.

“That’s enough.

If your wife finds out I let you drink too much, she’ll have my head,” he said, sealing the bottle with the cork.

Lucius chuckled softly.

“I don’t get drunk anymore.” Demitri leaned back, a curious glint in his eyes.

“Speaking of your wife, how did you meet Layla?

How did you two fall in love?” Lucius’s demeanor softened, and a rare smile graced his lips.

“It was a strange evening,” he began, his voice tinged with nostalgia.

“The day I returned from Matteo’s funeral, I met Layla.

It was as if fate had placed her in my path at the darkest moment of my life.

I was a mess, burdened by grief, but then there she was-like a ray of light piercing through the gloom.” He paused, swirling the wine in his glass as he reflected.

“I didn’t realize it at first, but I’d fallen for her long before I had the courage to admit it.

Marrying her was the only beautiful thing happened to me.” Demitri watched him closely, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

“Seems like Layla was exactly what you needed.” Lucius nodded, his gaze distant but warm.

“Yeah.

She saved me in ways she doesn’t even know.”