Real Heiress: Flash Marriage With Boyfriend's Uncle - Chapter 285

Chapter 285: Respected you more than anyone Chapter 285: Respected you more than anyone Roderick and Ivy stood outside the hotel.

A black car pulled up in front of them.

The tinted front window lowered smoothly, revealing Layla’s composed face.

“Get in,” she instructed.

Without hesitation, Roderick stepped forward, opening the backseat door.

He placed a guiding hand on Ivy’s lower back, ensuring she got in first before following suit.

As soon as he settled into the seat beside her, he pulled the door shut.

Lucius, after ensuring they had secured their seat belts, drove off toward their destination.

Roderick stole a glance at his uncle, whose face remained as unreadable as ever, making it impossible to decipher his thoughts.

Ivy, on the other hand, shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

A strange tension lingered in the air, making her feel like an outsider in a conversation she wasn’t meant to be part of.

The silence stretched until Lucius finally broke the ice, “Are you two getting along well?” “Yes, we are,” Roderick answered without hesitation.

Lucius gave a slow nod before his gaze flickered to Ivy through the rearview mirror.

“It’s good that you asked Ivy to join us,” he remarked.

Another bout of silence followed.

No one made an effort to break it, and the rest of the journey passed in muted stillness.

Upon arriving at the graveyard.

Nearby, Alekis and Fiona stood waiting, having arrived just moments before.

Lucius held Layla’s hand as he strode to his father.

Hugging Alekis, he closed his eyes, not uttering any word.

Every year he would do this, telling his father he wasn’t alone.

Alekis patted the back of his son before pulling away and turning his attention to Roderick.

As always, his grandson looked lost and hurt.

“Let’s go inside,” Alekis said and walked inside the graveyard first while the others followed him.

Stopping at the grave, where Antoine De Salvo was carved in big letters, Alekis placed a flower bouquet on his son’s resting place.

His eyes were numb in pain and loss.

Even after so many years had passed, the pain never lessened for him.

However, he learned to live with that pain.

Both Lucius and Roderick placed their hands on Alekis’s shoulders at the same time.

They both looked at each other, but remained quiet.

“Mom,” Roderick called, turning his gaze to Fiona, slowly withdrawing his hand from Alekis’s shoulder.

Hearing her son’s voice, Fiona stepped forward before lowering herself onto her knees beside the grave.

With a trembling hand, she reached out, tracing the name carved into the cold stone.

A wistful smile flickered across her lips, though her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

“If you’re here, then you must know…

our son is doing well,” she murmured.

She tilted her head upward, her gaze meeting Roderick’s for a fleeting moment before returning to the grave.

“You would be proud of him.” Her fingers lingered on the stone for a moment longer before she slowly withdrew her hand, curling it into her lap as she blinked away the tears threatening to fall.

Even after all these years, the ache of loss remained, yet so did the love that bound them together.

“I’ll head back to the car first,” Alekis said, turning to leave.

No one stopped him but Fiona soon followed her father-in-law.

“I’ll go to your mother,” Ivy said, feeling a bit awkward about this entire situation.

Now, only Layla, Lucius and Roderick were present before the grave.

“I wish my Dad were alive,” Roderick said, “Uncle, why didn’t you save my father?” he then asked.

“Rick, it’s your father’s birthday.

Why are you bringing~” “Stay quiet, Layla.

I did what you wanted me to.

I came in the same car which uncle drove,” Roderick muttered.

“Don’t talk in such a tone with her,” Lucius said sternly.

“Fine.

I won’t.

Just don’t attend today’s charity event.

I beg you.

You aren’t even the real brother of my father.

So, just stay away from us,” Roderick said, losing his temper slowly.

“Every year, we have this same argument, Roderick.

When will you finally let it go?” Lucius sighed, his voice tinged with both weariness and regret.

“This is Antoine’s resting place.

Please, don’t turn it into a battleground.” Roderick’s jaw tightened as he took a step back, his eyes cold with restrained fury.

“I’m not trying to cause a scene, Uncle,” he said, his voice laced with bitterness.

“But if you have even a shred of decency left, then don’t take part in today’s charity event.

That’s the least you can do… for taking my father away.” The weight of his accusation hung heavy in the air, thick with unresolved pain.

“Roderick!” Layla’s sharp voice cut through the tension as she stepped forward, her expression firm yet pleading.

“Apologize.

Not just to your uncle, but to your father as well.

If you don’t, then perhaps… you were never truly a good.” Her words were laced with disappointment.

Roderick’s head snapped toward her, his hands clenched at his sides.

“What do you even know?” he snapped.

“Stay out of this!

You always take my uncle’s side without understanding what I feel!” His voice rose with frustration.

Lucius made a move to intervene, but Layla gently placed a hand on his arm, stopping him.

“What I know,” she said calmly, “is what really happened.

And yes, I will always stand by my husband because I understand him.

But did you ever try to explain yourself to me, Roderick?

Did you ever allow me to see your pain?” Roderick’s breath hitched, but he said nothing.

“If you want to dredge up the past, then let me remind you of something you refuse to accept,” Layla continued, “your father and Lucius were both in that car that day.

But it wasn’t Lucius who took your father away from you.

It was your father.

He made a choice.

When the crash happened, he shielded Lucius with his own body, sacrificing himself without hesitation.

That’s the kind of love he had for his brother.

A love so deep, it didn’t care about blood ties.” “Leave it, Layla,” Lucius whispered in a low voice.

“You are hurting yourself by holding onto this hatred,” Layla said softly, her voice no longer stern but filled with sorrow.

“And you are hurting Lucius, too, by refusing to see the truth.” Roderick’s face twisted with fury.

For a moment, he looked like he wanted to argue.

But then… he just looked away.

And without another word, he turned and walked away.

“Go after him,” Layla urged, her eyes fixed on Lucius.

Lucius hesitated with a torn expression.

“He’ll just yell at me,” he muttered, shaking his head.

“It won’t change anything.” “Just do it,” Layla insisted.

“You know him better than anyone, Lucius.

There was a time when Roderick looked up to you-respected you more than anyone.” Her voice softened.

“That bond isn’t gone.

Not completely.” Lucius let out a quiet hum, feeling conflicted.

But after a moment, he exhaled and took off, running after his nephew.

Left alone, Layla turned her gaze to Antoine’s grave, her eyes filled with sorrow.

She reached out, brushing her fingers over the cold stone.

“I’m sorry for raising my voice at Roderick,” she murmured.

“I just hope… he sees the truth someday.” A heavy sigh left her lips.

“Lucius still carries this pain, and Roderick keeps adding to it.

I know it’s not my place to complain, but…” Her voice wavered.

“I just want them to find their way back to each other.

Like they used to be.” The wind rustled the leaves of the trees nearby and she looked at them.

“You also want the same, Brother, don’t you?” she smiled, resting the white roses she had picked on her way here.

“I will make sure everything goes well between them and Roderick stops hurting Lucius.” Standing up, she bowed her slightly and went back to the spot, where the car was parked.

~~~~ Lucius stepped in front of Roderick, blocking his path.

His chest rose and fell rapidly as he struggled to catch his breath.

Roderick, however, wasn’t heading toward the car-he was walking in the opposite direction, toward a place he wasn’t supposed to go.

“You can’t go this way,” Lucius said, his voice laced with desperation.

“I’m sorry, alright?

I couldn’t save Antoine.

I regret it every single day.

But don’t do this, Roderick.

Please.

It kills me to see you like this.” Roderick clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as his eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

“Do you think I like this?” he murmured.

“Why did my father have to die like that?

Why him?” “Everyone fears you in this country.

If anyone can uncover the truth, it’s you,” Roderick said, his voice tight with frustration.

“I know my dad didn’t just die in some meaningless accident.

There’s more to it-I can feel it.” His gaze bore into Lucius.

“The day you find the culprit, I’ll finally be at peace, Uncle.” Lucius exhaled heavily, his expression shadowed with determination.

“I will find out, Rick.

I swear it.

I’m already looking into it-just give me a little more time.”