Real Heiress: Flash Marriage With Boyfriend's Uncle - Chapter 284

Chapter 284: To remember your father Chapter 284: To remember your father Lucius woke before dawn, but instead of rising immediately, he remained in bed, staring at the ceiling with a gloomy face.

With a sigh, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and trudged toward the bathroom.

The cold splash of water against his face jolted him momentarily.

Bracing himself against the washbasin counter, he leaned forward, his tired eyes locking onto his reflection in the mirror.

Reaching for the towel hanging nearby, Lucius dried his face before tossing it back onto the rack.

Without a glance backward, he stepped out of the bathroom, noticing Layla had woken up and was tying her hair into a bun with her back toward him.

“I’ll bring coffee for us,” Layla said.

“I’ll be going for a run.

You should have a coffee without me,” Lucius opined.

He kissed her cheek from behind and left the room.

Layla finally turned around and felt the gloominess that had surrounded Lucius.

It was Antoine’s birthday today– a day on which Lucius would usually stay on edge.

She went to freshen up first and dressed in a modest attire while taking out a black outfit with white shirt for Lucius.

As she laid them on bed, she heard footsteps and tilted her head.

Lucius returned, his sweatshirt clinging to his skin, damp with sweat.

Layla glanced up from where she was arranging his clothes on the bed.

“Don’t wash up immediately,” she advised gently.

“Give yourself a moment to rest and take a hot shower when you do.” “Yes, I will,” Lucius replied, his voice subdued as he dropped into a chair.

He grabbed a towel and began wiping the sweat from his neck and forehead.

“There’s a charity event today.

After visiting the grave, we’ll head there and then stop by the orphanage,” he added.

Layla nodded, settling at the edge of the bed.

“Yes, you told me last night,” she said, her gaze softening.

Lucius sighed and stood, running a hand through his damp hair.

“I should wash up now.

I won’t have breakfast, but you should.

Don’t skip it,” he insisted firmly.

Layla’s lips pressed into a thin line as she looked up at him.

“How can I think of breakfast in an atmosphere like this?” she murmured.

Standing, she grabbed her handbag and glanced at him once more.

“You should get ready.

I’ll be waiting for you downstairs,” she said and left the room.

Lucius watched her retreating figure, guilt passing over his face.

Shaking his head, he strode toward the washroom.

Downstairs, Roger and Aiden were already seated on the couch, waiting.

As soon as Layla entered the room, they both rose to their feet and greeted her politely.

“How is Boss?” Roger asked, his voice laced with concern.

“Not good,” Layla replied briefly with ap somber expression.

On her way to the sofa, she stopped a maid and requested a glass of water.

“That’s how Boss will be the entire day,” Aiden chimed in, crossing his arms.

“And at work, he’s going to be impossible to deal with,” Roger muttered, rubbing his temples.

“It’s already giving me a headache just thinking about it.

He’ll be on edge for at least two to four days.” Their conversation was interrupted by the maid, who approached with a tray in hand.

“Madam, here’s the water,” she said softly, holding it out.

“Thank you,” Layla said, picking up the glass.

She moved to the sofa chair and sat down gracefully and sipped the water slowly.

Finishing the water, she handed back the glass to maid, who walked away with tray in her hand.

“You’re forgetting how Boss and Roderick usually clash around this time of year,” Aiden said to Roger with caution.

“Ah, yes!

Last time was a disaster.

Boss dragged me to a boxing ring, and…” Roger trailed off, shuddering at the memory.

“Boxing?” Layla’s eyes widened with curiosity.

“So he channels his anger into a sport?” she murmured, more to herself than to the others.

“Boss’s punches aren’t just punches, Layla.

One hit, and you could end up with a concussion-or worse,” Roger warned, his voice tinged with unease.

“But this year might be different.

Boss is married now, so maybe his wife can keep his temper in check,” he added, sounding slightly more hopeful.

“That sounds…

brutal,” Layla said, her brow furrowing.

“What even started their feud last time?” Roger hesitated, glancing around before lowering his voice.

“Roderick lost it at the charity event.

He accused Boss of being responsible for his father’s death.

He claimed it all happened because Boss chose the life of the mafia.

It was…

intense.” Layla’s heart sank as she tried to imagine how much those words must have hurt Lucius.

Her mind drifted back to last year, when she was dating Roderick.

Around this same time, he had disappeared for a week without a word, leaving her in the dark.

She had always wondered what had driven him to such extremes, but now, it was starting to make sense.

“This time I won’t let anything like this happen,” Layla told them with a determined gaze.

~~~~ “Why didn’t you wake me up?” Ivy burst into the living room the moment she woke up, her voice tinged with urgency.

Her frustration melted away as her eyes landed on Roderick.

He looked impeccably sharp, dressed in a tailored black blazer, a white shirt, and black trousers.

He was seated casually on the sofa chair, scrolling through his phone.

Roderick glanced up, his expression softening as he met her gaze.

“I did try,” he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

“But you kept mumbling about needing just a few more minutes of sleep.” He stood up, and walked over to her.

In his hand was a black paper bag, which he handed to her with a small, knowing smile.

“Freshen up and put this on,” he said.

“We need to go somewhere.

Mom called me early in the morning and wants you to be there.

So, I called your dad too and explained him,” Roderick explained.

“Okay.

I’ll get ready soon,” Ivy replied and went to the washroom, taking the bag with her.

Roderick checked his watch and saw there was still an hour.

The buzzing sound of his phone grabbed his attention and he saw Layla’s name blinking on the screen.

His brows furrowed in confusion and he answered the call promptly.

“Hey, Layla!” “Good morning, Rick,” Layla replied, using his nickname as she always did.

“Let’s visit your father’s grave together.

Your mother mentioned earlier to me you weren’t home last night.

Lucius and I can pick you up.

Where are you?” she suggested.

Roderick’s jaw tightened, his fingers curling into a fist at his side.

“Uncle and I…

we’re not exactly on good terms today.

It’s better if you keep him away from me,” he said.

Layla paused, choosing her words carefully.

“This is a day to remember your father, Rick.

A day for family to come together.

Are you really going to shut out someone who’s already hurting from the loss of his brother?” Her question struck a nerve, and Roderick felt a sharp pang in his chest.

“I’ll hang up now,” Layla said after a moment.

“Wait,” Roderick blurted out before she could end the call.

“I’m at the hotel.

Uncle knows which one.

And…

Ivy will be with me.” “Alright,” Layla replied.

“We’ll pick you and Ivy up.” With that, she ended the call, leaving Roderick to grapple with the storm of emotions swirling inside him.

“I never welcomed my uncle’s presence on this day,” Roderick muttered to himself with frustration.

“So why did I give in to Layla?

Why is she becoming my weakness?” He clenched his fists, struggling to untangle the whirlwind of emotions clouding his mind.

Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Layla turned toward Lucius with a calm expression.

“Roderick is staying at a hotel-one you’re already familiar with,” she informed him.

Lucius frowned, tension etched on his face.

“I still don’t think it’s a good idea to be anywhere near him,” he said, the weariness in his voice unmistakable.

“You don’t know how he becomes today.” “You’ve never done anything to deserve his anger,” Layla countered.

“Roderick needs to hear the truth today.

And I’m not letting you face this alone.

As long as I’m by your side, nothing will happen.” She placed a reassuring hand on his arm, her eyes meeting his with unwavering determination.

“But,” she added pointedly, “I don’t want this turning into a shouting match-or worse.” Lucius scoffed, his lips curving into a grim smile.

“That depends entirely on Roderick.

As long as he doesn’t push my buttons, I’ll behave,” he replied, his tone carrying a warning edge.

“He won’t.

I will handle him.

Usually the people who live in afterlife listens to us.

So, brother Antoine may get upset seeing his most precious people fighting with each other.

Everything will be fine,” Layla said, caressing his arm with a small smile on her lips.