Real Heiress: Flash Marriage With Boyfriend's Uncle - Chapter 55

Chapter 55: Know your place

In the evening, Lucius and Layla arrived at his father’s house for dinner. As there was still some time before the meal, Alekis turned to his son and asked, “Lucius, come to my room. There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

Lucius glanced at Layla, who gave him a reassuring smile. “I’ll be fine,” she said softly.

“Fiona will keep Layla company. Let them spend some time together,” Alekis suggested before heading towards his room with Lucius.

After thanking the maid who had brought her a glass of water, Layla sipped it slowly. Fiona, who had been sitting nearby, spoke up with a knowing smile. “I can see the glow on your face after returning from your honeymoon. It seems you and Lucius are getting along quite well.”

Layla lowered her glass and met Fiona’s gaze. “Yes, we are,” she replied calmly.

Fiona’s smile remained, but her tone shifted slightly. “Lucius isn’t an easy man to love, you know. I wonder if you’re aware of what he does in his spare time,” she said, her words laced with an unspoken insinuation.

Layla was well aware of Lucius’s past, but the way Fiona framed it made it seem as if there was something darker to be uncovered. Before she could respond, Fiona continued, her expression softening.

“I should also apologize on my son’s behalf for what happened that day. I don’t know why he acted that way, but he was wrong, and I regret it.”

Layla’s brow furrowed slightly, but she remained composed. “There’s no need for you to apologize. Roderick already did, and that’s enough.”

Setting her glass down on the table, Layla watched as Fiona rose to her feet. “I’ll be right back,” Fiona said, “I need to check on the dinner preparations in the kitchen.”

“Should I help with anything?” Layla offered, trying to be polite.

Layla glanced around the room, taking in her surroundings when a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts. It was Roderick, who still lived in the house.

“You look beautiful,” he complimented with a smirk.

Layla turned to him, her eyes narrowing slightly in a clear sign of displeasure.

“Let me give you a tour of the house,” he offered, taking a step closer.

“No, thank you,” Layla replied curtly, her tone was sharp.

Roderick’s expression softened, his voice lowering as he spoke again. “Don’t you think we should talk? I never told you what really happened that night.”

Layla’s posture stiffened, but she kept her face calm. “I’m not interested in hearing about it anymore,” she said firmly, reaching for her handbag, intending to leave the conversation behind.

Just as she was about to walk away, Roderick’s words made her pause.

“One thing I always admired about you,” he said quietly, “was that you never judged a person before hearing their whole story.”

Roderick was quick to close the distance between them and said, “I am losing my mind since the day I found out you got married to my uncle. At least, listen to me once.”

Layla clenched her fists and nodded her head. “Fine, let’s talk.”

Roderick was quite happy to learn that and asked her to follow him.

“No. We will talk here. I don’t care anymore if your family finds out or anyone hears us that there was a time you dated me,” Layla pronounced. She chuckled bitterly before continuing, “Actually, I shouldn’t even say ‘dated.’ I should say you played with me.”

Roderick’s jaw tightened at her words, clearly irritated, but he managed to keep his composure. “It’s a family dinner tonight. Let’s try to maintain some peace.”

Layla let out a cold, humorless laugh before suddenly slapping him across the face, the sharp sound cutting through the quiet room. Roderick stood frozen, shocked, his anger rising but held in check. Thankfully for him, no servants were around to witness the scene.

Layla had been waiting for this moment ever since she discovered that he and Orabela had cheated on her. The slap didn’t erase all the hurt, but it gave her some small sense of release.

“Speak! What do you have to say?” she demanded, her voice sharp. “Are you going to preach about how innocent you were? How it was all Orabela’s fault while you had no idea what was happening?”

Roderick stared at her, stunned by how accurately she had predicted his excuse.

“Every cheater uses the same tired lines, Roderick De Salvo,” Layla continued, her eyes never leaving his. “And don’t even think about bothering me with calls anymore. If you do, I’ll report everything to your mother. I’m your uncle’s wife now, so you better learn some respect and know your place.”

Roderick’s hands clenched into fists, his jaw tightening at the humiliation. Since when had the soft-hearted Layla become this bold, this fierce? She had just shamed him in a way no one ever had.

As Layla turned to leave, Roderick grabbed her hand, desperation in his voice. “That night, I was intoxicated. I couldn’t tell the difference between you and Orabela. That ring—it was supposed to be for you. Please, Layla, trust me.”

Layla yanked her hand out of his grip, her eyes filled with disdain. “Will you stop lying? I’m sick of it.” She took a step closer, her voice steady but full of fury. “I was loyal to you until the very end. You introduced Orabela to your mother while I had no idea what you were doing behind my back. You’re a disgusting man, Roderick.”

She could see he was about to speak again, so she cut him off sharply. “Don’t say another word, unless you want to get slapped again.”

Roderick’s jaw clenched in frustration, watching helplessly as Layla walked away without looking back.

“Fuck!” he muttered angrily under his breath, before storming off to his room to cool down.

Meanwhile, Layla made her way to the garden, the closest place from the living hall where she could catch her breath. She stood there for a moment, taking deep breaths, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall.