Real Heiress: Flash Marriage With Boyfriend's Uncle - Chapter 24

Chapter 24: You’re funny, Layla

As Layla returned from the washroom, she found Lucius sitting upright against the headboard, his eyes closed and hands loosely clasped in his lap, clearly having dozed off in that uncomfortable position.

His peaceful expression softened her heart, and she hesitated for a moment as she moved closer, reaching for a blanket.

She draped it over him gently, her hand hovering near his shoulder. For a split second, she considered letting him rest, but she knew he couldn’t sleep like that all night.

“Lucius,” she whispered, leaning down to nudge his shoulder softly. “You should lie down.”

Without warning, Lucius stirred, his eyes fluttering open. In one swift motion, he pulled her down onto the bed with him. Layla gasped in surprise as he wrapped his arm around her, securing her against him. He clapped his hands, and instantly, the lights dimmed, plunging the room into darkness. His leg slid over hers, entangling her completely.

Layla’s breath hitched as she realized how tightly he held her. “Lucius,” she muttered, her voice muffled against his chest, “I can’t breathe. Give me some space.”

Immediately, his grip relaxed, though not enough for her to slip away. She attempted to shift, but his arm still rested around her, keeping her close. Despite her efforts, creating any distance between them seemed futile.

“Are you asleep?” Layla whispered softly.

“Not yet,” Lucius murmured in response, his voice low and calm in the dark.

There was a brief silence before she asked, “What did you do at my house?”

Lucius exhaled slowly, his tone turning serious. “I taught them a good lesson, made sure they understand how to respect you from now on,” he said firmly. “I might’ve gone a little overboard,” he admitted after a pause, “but considering how they’ve treated you, I think my actions were justified.” There was a quiet certainty in his words, as if he had no regrets.

“Lucius, why do you like me?” Layla asked softly, tilting her head slightly in his direction. Though the room was dark, she could still make out the glint of his deep oceanic eyes, piercing through the shadows.

“I’ve thought about it a lot. You suddenly sent a proposal to my house. You knew my family would marry me off because of your status. Don’t you think you owe me an answer?” She needed clarity.

Lucius paused for a moment before replying, “Kiss me, and you’ll get your answer.”

Layla scoffed lightly. “Forget it,” she murmured, closing her eyes and turning slightly away from him. “Good night.”

In the darkness, Lucius smirked. His lips brushed against the top of her shoulder in a featherlight kiss, causing her breath to hitch. He nuzzled his nose into the curve of her neck, his warm breath teasing her skin with each soft exhale.

The sensation stirred something inside her, making her heart flutter uncontrollably. She could feel her body reacting—her toes curled involuntarily, butterflies erupting in her stomach, no matter how much she tried to keep her composure.

“Lucius, please… stop,” she whispered.

He stopped abruptly, allowing her to relax. “You still resist me,” Lucius remarked quietly. “That’s not how you’ll get any answers from me.”

Layla reached for the bedside lamp, flicking it on, and then turned to face him. Their faces were so close that she could feel his breath against her skin, the warmth from his body lingering between them.

“Thank you for today—and even yesterday,” she began, her voice soft but sincere. “You acted like a true gentleman. Even though I lost my mind in that intoxicated state, you didn’t take advantage of me. And then you went to my house, stood up for me. No one has ever done that. I’ve always been alone, and I never expected someone to fight for me… but your gesture touched me deeply.”

With a gentle touch, Layla brought her hand to his cheek, caressing it softly. The tension between them seemed to melt away, leaving only an unspoken understanding.

“Layla, do you realize what you’re doing to me?” Lucius asked, his voice low as he placed his hand over hers. He intertwined their fingers, lowering their joined hands between them.

“Loving you,” she whispered, her words filled with emotion. “I realize now that, like me, you’ve been alone for a long time. I don’t know much about your mother, but I can feel it—you’ve felt alone, just like I have.”

“My mother is alive, Layla,” Lucius said, his lips curving into a faint smile.

“What?” Layla blinked in shock, her mind racing. “I-I…”

Lucius chuckled softly at her sudden stuttering. His laughter was rich, deep, and surprisingly gentle. “You’re funny, Layla. That’s not exactly how you flutter my heart,” Lucius teased, pulling her closer. His nose brushed against hers, their lips hovering just inches apart.

“Where’s your mother, then? I’ve only ever met your father,” Layla asked, her confusion evident.

“She’s in London, I think,” Lucius replied nonchalantly. “Honestly, I have no idea where she is, nor do I care.”

Layla blinked in surprise. “Why is she in London? Is she involved in your family business?”

“No,” Lucius said, his tone flat. “She’s there with her second husband and his family.”

“Oh.” Layla’s eyebrows arched in surprise, processing the revelation. The idea of Lucius’ parents being divorced, and his mother remarrying, was something she hadn’t expected.

“My mother was my father’s second wife,” Lucius continued, his voice carrying a trace of indifference. “Honestly, it’s better she’s not around. She’s always been critical and probably would’ve questioned my decisions more than my father ever did.”

“I see…” Layla’s voice softened as she absorbed his words. “So, you… don’t miss her at all, do you?”

Lucius shook his head slightly. “I don’t. We were never close. She left when I was fifteen, and by the time I turned sixteen, she had remarried someone in England. She never really cared about me, and I didn’t care about her either. Sure, I felt lonely when I was younger, but that was a long time ago, maybe 17 or 18 years.”

Layla listened quietly, her heart aching slightly for the boy Lucius had been, left behind by his mother. “That must have been hard,” she murmured.

“It wasn’t,” Lucius replied.

“You’re lying,” Layla countered softly, her eyes searching his face. “When we’re young, things like that hurt us more than we want to admit. So, I guess we have something in common now—our mothers don’t love us.”

Lucius remained quiet for a moment, his gaze softening. “Hmm,” he murmured in agreement.

Before either could say more, Layla leaned in and pressed her lips to his. For a moment, Lucius didn’t move, his eyes wide in surprise.

But then, he closed them, surrendering to the warmth and softness of her lips. He pulled her closer, his hand gently cupping the back of her head as he deepened the kiss.