Real Heiress: Flash Marriage With Boyfriend's Uncle - Chapter 36

Chapter 36: Give me a chance

The next morning, as planned, Layla and Lucius departed for Norway on a private jet. The journey took just two hours. To Layla’s surprise, Lucius had arranged for them to stay in a secluded cottage.

“Lucius, this must have been expensive,” Layla remarked, noticing the amused glint in his eyes. “Never mind. It’s just that… I’ve never had the chance to travel like this before.” She remembered how, before her marriage, she rarely had the opportunity to go on vacations with her family. The one time she did, she swore never to repeat the experience.

“Nothing is too costly if it makes you happy,” Lucius replied, gently pulling her from her thoughts. Draping his arm around her shoulders, he added, “Come on, let’s get some rest,” as he led her to the bedroom upstairs.

Layla sat on the bed as Lucius mentioned he needed to make an important call and would return shortly. She slipped off her heels and slid under the duvet, grabbing her phone to pass the time. A message from her mother caught her attention:

“Are you going to ignore me forever? Just call me once.”

Layla sighed, unwilling to deal with her mother, Seraphina, who always seemed to scold her for no reason. She had no desire to engage in yet another argument.

Just then, her phone rang, displaying an unknown number. Curiosity got the better of Layla, and she picked it up, bringing the phone to her ear.

“Layla!” The familiar voice on the other end made her freeze for a moment. It was Roderick.

“Please don’t hang up on me. You blocked my number, so I had to use a new one,” Roderick quickly explained, sensing her hesitation.

Layla’s voice turned cold. “Don’t call me ever again, Rick,” she said, her anger beginning to come to the surface.

“You trusted Orabela so easily,” Roderick said, ignoring her demand. “When you return to Italy, meet with me once. I have things to explain—things you don’t know. Please, just give me a chance to clarify everything.”

Layla clenched her jaw, feeling her pulse quicken. She was done with Roderick and his lies, yet something about his tone unsettled her. But before she could respond, he spoke again, this time in a softer, almost pitiful voice.

“And… I hope you won’t tell my uncle that I called. I’m still recovering—I can barely use my wrist.” His voice carried a hint of guilt, as if trying to evoke her sympathy by mentioning the injury that had left him vulnerable.

Layla didn’t say anything and hung up on him. She put Roderick’s number in the block list. However, his words made her wonder if Orabela lied that night. She refused to believe Roderick after how he acted with her.

“I cannot fall into their traps. Both my mom and Rick are trying to gain my sympathy. They know that I get soft. But not this time.” Layla was determined not to come in their words ever again. She lay down in the bed and drifted off to sleep within minutes.

~~~~~

In the evening, Layla’s sleep was abruptly interrupted by a strange, unsettling dream. In it, Orabela stood before her, laughing cruelly at her misery, as if reveling in her suffering.

Layla jolted awake, her heart racing, and she took deep breaths to calm herself, trying to shake off the lingering unease.

Slowly, she turned her head to the side, her gaze falling on Lucius, who lay beside her, sleeping peacefully.

His face, calm and serene in the soft light of the room, brought her a sense of comfort. Layla propped herself up on her elbow, watching him for a moment before gently pulling the duvet up to cover him, ensuring he was warm.

As she did so, her eyes were drawn to something unexpected—a scar partially hidden beneath the intricate tattoo on his upper arm.

It was subtle at first glance, nearly camouflaged by the dark ink, but as she looked closer, she could see the faint ridges of the old scar tissue. Though it wasn’t fully visible, Layla could tell it was deep and old, as if it had been there for many years.

“I wonder how you got it,” she murmured softly to herself, her fingers lightly tracing the outline of the tattoo, careful not to wake him.

Thinking not to disturb his rest, she quietly slid out from under the blanket, and rushed to the washroom.

After freshening up, Layla returned to the bedroom, gently dabbing her face with a soft towel. Her hair was already tied in a neat bun, and she felt refreshed and eager to explore the cottage. The quiet serenity of the place called to her, and she could hardly wait to see what was outside.

Curiosity led her to the balcony, and the view took her breath away. The cottage was nestled right next to the ocean, with the gentle rhythm of the waves crashing against the shore filling the air. The sun, still lingering near the horizon, painted the sky in hues of orange and pink. It hadn’t yet set, casting a soft glow over the water that made the scene even more magical.

Layla inhaled deeply, closing her eyes for a moment to savor the cool ocean breeze. Just then, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her from behind, pulling her from her peaceful reverie. She opened her eyes to find Lucius holding her close.

“How is it?” he whispered, his lips brushing her earlobe, sending a shiver down her spine.

“It’s beautiful. I love it,” Layla replied with a smile, turning around to face him. She placed her hands on his bare shoulders, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath her fingertips. “Did you have a good sleep?”

“Yeah,” he answered softly, brushing a stray lock of hair away from her temple. “And you?”

“Me too,” she said, her voice filled with contentment.

“Great! We’ll head into the city in a while, after we have dinner here. Since it’s summer here, the sun won’t set early,” Lucius mentioned, glancing at the bright horizon.

“Yeah, I’ve even prepared a list of places for us to visit. I’m so excited!” Layla’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she flashed him a wide, bright smile.

Lucius chuckled at her infectious happiness. “Yes, I can see that,” he said, leaning in to press a soft kiss to her lips. “I’ll freshen up, and you should change too,” he added.

“Hmm,” she murmured, watching him as he disappeared into the bathroom.

Layla turned her attention to the closet, her excitement bubbling up again. She selected a white checkered top and black bell-bottom jeans.

After changing into them, she stood in front of the mirror, admiring the way the pendant Lucius had gifted her gleamed around her neck.

Deciding to style her hair, she left it loose but braided two thin sections and fastened them neatly at the back of her head, giving her a playful yet elegant look. She slipped on a pair of white sneakers, adding a touch of comfort to her outfit, and gave herself one last glance in the mirror.

Satisfied, Layla headed back to the bedroom, to see if Lucius was ready for their evening ahead.