Real Heiress: Flash Marriage With Boyfriend's Uncle - Chapter 37

Chapter 37: Whatever I wanted

After a heartfelt dinner at a lakeside restaurant, Layla and Lucius decided to take a peaceful evening walk along the shore.

Layla let Lucius hold her hand as they strolled together, his fingers gently rubbing hers, making her smile at the small, affectionate gesture.

“You know,” Layla began, her voice soft, “the last vacation I had with my family was when I was six. After that, I never went anywhere with them.”

Lucius glanced at her, tilting his head slightly. “Why?” he asked.

“Umm… because of Orabela,” she admitted, her voice a little hesitant. “She pushed me into a deep pool during that vacation and didn’t help me get out. There was no one around, but an older man saved me. When I told my dad, he scolded me for going near the pool and didn’t believe me. My mom… Well, she said I was always causing trouble for her. She wasn’t treated with respect as my father’s mistress, so I used to feel sorry for her. But as I got older, I realized she never really saw me as her daughter.”

Layla paused, realizing she had turned the light atmosphere into something heavier. She turned to Lucius, apologetic. “I’m sorry for bringing all that up.”

Lucius stopped walking, gently tugging her closer. “It’s alright. You don’t have to apologize. You can tell me anything,” he reassured her. His eyes softened as he added, “I can relate when it comes to the love of a mother.”

Layla blinked, surprised by his admission. She had always seen Lucius as strong and confident, often displaying a rough edge when dealing with others. But this moment revealed something deeper, more vulnerable.

“Did your mother treat you badly too?” she asked in her gentle voice.

Lucius ran his fingers through his hair, sighing lightly. “I don’t know exactly,” he said in a thoughtful tone. “But she never liked me. She wanted a girl, but instead, she had a boy.” He let out a soft chuckle, but Layla could sense the deep pain behind it, a wound that laughter couldn’t hide.

Layla frowned, her heart aching for him. “Then why did she come to your reception, acting like she cared so much about you?” she asked, confused by the sudden change in his mother’s behavior.

Lucius shook his head. “I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense to me either. Normally, in custody battles, the mother gets the child. But my father got custody of me because my mother told the court she didn’t want to take care of me.”

Layla felt the weight of his words, understanding the loneliness and hurt he must have endured. She couldn’t hold back any longer. Stepping forward, she wrapped her arms around him tightly, pulling him into a comforting embrace.

“She was a bad mother,” Layla whispered against his chest. “But your father… he’s a good man. I’m sure he did everything he could to make sure you never felt deprived of a mother’s love.”

Lucius remained still for a moment, absorbing her warmth, before she pulled away slightly, looking into his eyes.

“Yeah, my dad let me do whatever I wanted,” Lucius said, his voice steady but tinged with a hint of melancholy. “But I think that’s why I became the way I am—angry, distant. People started avoiding me, which, in a way, was what I always wanted.”

Layla looked up at him, her curiosity piqued. “So, you don’t have any friends?”

Lucius’s expression softened, but there was a trace of sadness in his eyes. “I had one. But he passed away.”

“Oh…” Layla felt a pang in her chest. “I’m so sorry to hear that,” she said quietly, lowering her gaze. The heaviness of the conversation settled between them, and Layla knew they were treading on painful ground.

Though part of her was curious to know more about his past, she could sense that some wounds were best left untouched.

Wanting to lift the mood, she gave his hand a gentle squeeze and flashed a small smile. “Let’s not dwell on the past. In the restaurant, I overheard a couple talking about a beautiful spot near the lake. What do you say we check it out?”

Without waiting for an answer, Layla tugged on his hand, her playful energy pulling Lucius along with her. She started running ahead, laughing softly as the breeze tousled her hair.

Finally, they both stopped while breathing heavily. Before them was a valley which was covered in the clouds.

“Wow! It’s heavenly,” Layla murmured, not blinking for a while.

Lucius took out his phone and clicked some pictures of his wife without her being noticed.

“Luc–” She paused as she saw him clicking her pictures.

Layla stood still, her breath caught between excitement and shyness as Lucius gently guided her. “Here, tilt your head a little, look over your shoulder,” he instructed in a soft and encouraging voice. She followed his directions, feeling a little silly at first but quickly relaxing under his gaze.

Lucius knelt down slightly to get the perfect angle, adjusting his stance. “That’s perfect. Now give me a small smile,” he said, snapping another picture.

Layla bit her lip and laughed softly, but then let her expression soften into a natural smile. “Like this?”

“Exactly,” Lucius responded, snapping the shot. “You’re stunning, Layla.” He continued to capture moments, his eyes never leaving her as she stood against the backdrop of the misty valley, clouds rolling in the distance.

As they moved on to another pose, Layla couldn’t help but giggle, feeling the lightness of the moment. “I didn’t know I married a photographer.”

Lucius chuckled, lowering his phone. “I didn’t either, but how could I not capture this? You look beautiful.” His gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, admiration shining in his eyes.

Layla smiled, her cheeks warm from the compliment and the fun of it all. “Alright, it’s your turn next. I’m taking some pictures of you!” she declared playfully, grabbing his phone from him.

Lucius raised an eyebrow, but a grin spread across his face. “As you wish, Mrs. De Salvo.”