Real Heiress: Flash Marriage With Boyfriend's Uncle - Chapter 331

Chapter 331: Face the challenges
A few days later, Lucius sat at his desk, meticulously reviewing the documents awaiting his signature.

As he skimmed through the pages, he occasionally asked Roger a few questions, but the usual sharp responses were missing.

Instead, Roger stood across from him, staring intently at his phone, his thumb hovering over the screen as if he were waiting for a message or a call.

Lucius narrowed his eyes, his patience thinning. “Roger!” he called out, demanding attention.

Roger snapped out of his trance, hastily tucking his phone into his pocket. “Uh… Sorry, Boss!” he said, straightening. “Could you repeat that? I didn’t quite catch it.”

Lucius exhaled sharply, leaning back in his chair as he studied Roger with a concerned gaze. “Forget it. What’s going on with you? You’ve been distracted ever since we got back from Russia. Is something bothering you? If you need time off, just say the word.”

Roger hesitated for a moment, as if debating whether to speak. Then, with a sigh, he admitted, “Boss, I fell for Varya.” His voice held no uncertainty—just the weight of an undeniable truth. “I like her.”

Lucius was taken aback, but instead of surprise, amusement flickered in his eyes. A knowing smile tugged at his lips as he gestured to the chair opposite him. “Take a seat, Roger.”

Without hesitation, Roger pulled out the chair and sat down, his posture tense.

“You fell for her at first sight, didn’t you?” Lucius asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

Roger gave a small, almost defeated nod. “Yeah… but she’s not interested in dating me.”

Lucius regarded him for a moment before revealing, “Varya is coming to Italy next week.”

Roger’s head snapped up, his eyes instantly alert. “What?” he asked, his tone a mix of surprise and intrigue. “Did she tell you that herself?”

Lucius nodded. “She wants to visit Matteo’s grave… and she has some business to take care of here,” he added, watching Roger’s reaction closely.

Roger let out a quiet sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly. “She didn’t reply to my message,” he admitted, a trace of disappointment in his voice. “I mean… I only sent her one, but still.” His fingers unconsciously tapped against his knee, frustration and sadness mixing in his expression.

Lucius studied him for a moment before deciding to share something that might put things into perspective. “Matteo and Varya were… somehow together,” he revealed.

Roger’s head snapped up, eyes widening in disbelief. “What?” he blurted out, completely caught off guard.

Lucius nodded. “Yes, Roger. Matteo had feelings for her. He once told me that if he ever decided to marry, it would be Varya Sokolov.” Lucius leaned back slightly, recalling the conversation. “I never pried much into his personal life, but during his visits to Russia, he and Varya met from time to time. She told me all this before we returned to Italy. Even now, she still holds onto Matteo’s memories.”

Roger lowered his gaze, the weight of Lucius’ words settling over him like a heavy fog. It all made sense now—the way Varya had spoken that day when he had tended to her wounded wrist. The sadness in her eyes, the way she had gently but firmly pushed him away… She was still grieving.

“I see…” Roger murmured, almost to himself. “I was a fool to pester her.”

Lucius shook his head. “You were unaware,” he corrected. Then, with a small smirk, he added, “That doesn’t mean you don’t have a chance. You can still try. And if you need my help, just say the word.”

Roger lifted his eyes, meeting Lucius’ steady gaze. “Boss, Varya is unlike the typical women I have encountered. I don’t even know how to approach her,” he affirmed.

Lucius leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk as he laid out his plan. “Well, I’ll send you to pick her up from the airport,” he stated. “Layla and I are heading to Switzerland next week, so that gives you the perfect opportunity to show Varya around Italy.”

Roger’s eyes lit up slightly at the prospect, but before he could respond, Lucius added, “By the way, she’s asking about Matteo’s sister. I’d advise you not to let her meet Sylvia.”

Roger took a moment to process everything before nodding. “Okay, Boss. That sounds like a solid plan. I just hope Varya doesn’t mind me picking her up.” His voice carried a hint of doubt, but there was also hope buried beneath it.

Lucius smirked slightly. “Roger, this isn’t going to be easy,” he warned. “If you really want to pursue her, you have to be ready to face the challenges in your path.”

“I understand, Boss,” he said, a small but enthusiastic smile forming on his lips. “I won’t back down that easily.”

~~~~~

Layla leaned back in her swivel chair, closing her eyes for a brief moment, allowing herself a rare moment of rest. The silence was comforting—until a familiar voice shattered it.

“Wow, Layla has such a huge office!” Luca’s voice echoed through the room, pulling her from her brief respite.

Her eyes snapped open, and she quickly sat up, adjusting her posture before rising to her feet. A warm yet surprised smile crossed her lips as she greeted him. “Luca? You’re here?” she asked, stepping toward him. “I thought you were at your farmhouse.”

Luca gave a casual shrug, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. “I was,” he admitted. “But after three days of being there all alone, I figured I should get out for a bit.” His gaze swept across the office before settling back on her. “And what better place to visit than your grand office?”

Layla chuckled softly, shaking her head. “Well, you’re always welcome here. So, what brings you into the city?” she asked with curiosity.

“First of all, congratulations, Layla, on becoming the chairwoman of De Salvo Group,” Luca said with pride. “I’m really proud of you.”

Layla watched as he stepped forward and handed her a bouquet along with a small gift bag.

“Here, I got these for you,” he added with a smile.

Layla accepted them graciously, her lips curling into a soft smile. “Thanks, Luca. But you really didn’t have to.”

“Why not?” he countered, raising a brow. “It’s been a long time since I last gave you anything.” With a playful glint in his eyes, he reached out and gently patted her head. “Besides, I predicted your future back in school, remember? The day you were crying?”

Layla furrowed her brows, trying to recall. “What day?” she asked, shaking her head.

Luca smirked, clearly enjoying this. “The day you came to me, all teary-eyed, saying you had no idea what your future would be.” He leaned back slightly, crossing his arms. “And what did I tell you? That Layla would one day become everyone’s leader!”

Layla’s eyes widened slightly as the memory resurfaced. “Ahh… yes, I remember now,” she admitted, chuckling at how serious she had been back then.

“See?” Luca grinned. “And look at you now—you’re leading this company and have become everyone’s boss. Just like I said.”

Layla nodded, her expression softening. “Yeah… but I also had a great father-in-law who believed in my abilities,” she said, a hint of gratitude in her voice.

Luca hummed in acknowledgment, though he didn’t say much.

Then, as if an idea struck her, Layla’s eyes gleamed mischievously. “Luca, now that you’re free, why don’t you start going on blind dates?” she suggested, tilting her head. “You should explore a little—you won’t feel lonely that way.”

Luca scoffed, but before he could argue, Layla added with a bright smile, “I’m sure if you put your profile on a dating app, women will flock to date you!”

Luca let out a short laugh, shaking his head. “You really think so?” he asked, amused by her enthusiasm.

“Yeah,” Layla nodded at him.

“That seems bothersome to me,” Luca stated. “I’ll ask Lucius if he knows any female friends. My previous job had none, and I couldn’t relate to anyone.”

“Lucius doesn’t have any female friends,” Layla stated.

“Are you sure?” Luca asked.

“Of course. I was the only one, he was interested in and he chased me till I married him,” Layla stated with a smile.

“It makes me happy to see you so frequently. Your decision to get married at an early age was nice, I would say,” Luca remarked.

“It wasn’t my decision, honestly. My dad set it up and because Lucius was a known mafia in the country, I couldn’t back off. It’s kind of unbelievable, but Lucius liked me long before I even knew him. He always looked out for me. While I dated his nephew, which I found out later, Lucius just waited and watched me,” Layla revealed to him.

“Wait! You dated Roderick? Then, what happened? Roderick seems to admire you,” Luca murmured.

“He cheated on me with my half-sister,” Layla replied.

“What? Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I will bear the sh–”

“No, Luca,” Layla cut him in the middle and shook her head. “You won’t do anything. It is all in the past. A lot happened and I’ve moved on a long time ago.”

“Fine. If you say so,” Luca stated with a smile.