Real Heiress: Flash Marriage With Boyfriend's Uncle - Chapter 73

Chapter 73: To share your pain

Lucius abruptly pulled the car over to the side of the highway, the sudden movement causing Sylvia to jolt in her seat.

Confusion spread across her face as he stepped out, making his way to the trunk. The sound of the suitcase hitting the pavement echoed in the silence of the night.

“Get out,” Lucius’s voice was sharp as he leaned down to peer through the driver’s side door.

“You can’t just leave me here—” Sylvia’s words barely left her lips before Lucius cut her off, his tone colder, harsher.

“Get out before I make you.” His voice now thundered barely containing his rage, and his eyes, burning with fury. When Sylvia remained frozen, shocked by the intensity of his anger, Lucius stormed around the car, wrenching her from the passenger seat with a force that took her breath away.

“Lucius, it’s the middle of the night!” Sylvia yelled, panic creeping into her voice as she glanced at the desolate stretch of highway around them. “You’re leaving me stranded out here?”

“Call a taxi,” he spat, his glare icy and unrelenting. “Find a hotel.” Without another word, Lucius climbed back into the car, slamming the door shut. As he sped off, his hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white, his heart thudding violently in his chest.

Lucius somehow made it home, though he barely remembered the drive. The moment he entered the house, he headed straight for the bedroom. The soft light from the bedside lamp cast a warm glow on Layla’s sleeping form, her small body nestled under the covers, peaceful and undisturbed.

The maid who had been watching over her rose quietly from the chair by the bed, bowing her head in acknowledgment before slipping out at Lucius’s silent command.

For a moment, Lucius stood at the edge of the bed, his eyes fixed on Layla’s innocent, serene face. The sight of her, so calm and unknowing, tugged at something deep within him. He took a slow breath before turning away and heading into the washroom.

Once inside, he stripped off his clothes and stepped into the shower. The icy water hit his skin like needles, but it wasn’t enough to dull the storm inside him.

Gritting his teeth, Lucius clenched his fist and slammed it against the shower wall. The sound echoed off the tiles, but it wasn’t enough. He hit the wall again, and again, causing the knuckles to bleed.

Matteo’s voice haunted him, the words looping endlessly in his mind— ‘Just look after Syl-via’. His friend’s final wish before taking his last breath in Lucius’s arms.

With his forehead pressed against the cool tiles, he flattened his hands against the wall, water and blood mixing and sliding down his arms, but he didn’t care. The physical pain was nothing compared to the anguish roiling in his chest. There was no escape from it, no matter how hard he tried to push it down.

After what felt like an eternity, Lucius finally turned off the shower, his body shaking with exhaustion. He wrapped a towel around his waist, dried off, and dressed in his night clothes.

His hands throbbed, but he barely noticed the pain as he walked back into the bedroom. The sight of Layla asleep, blissfully unaware, offered a strange sort of comfort. Quietly, he slipped under the duvet, careful not to disturb her, and turned to face her.

Gently, almost as if he were afraid to wake her, Lucius brushed his fingers through the soft strands of hair resting on her temple. It was a small gesture, but it grounded him, a brief reprieve from the chaos of his thoughts.

He closed his eyes, hoping for sleep to take him, but the moment he began to drift, Layla moved.

She reached out, her tiny hand seeking him in her sleep, and then, as if guided by instinct, she nestled herself against his chest. Lucius froze, astonished by the warmth of her small body pressed close to him.

His eyes flew open, and for a second, he wondered if she was awake, but her breathing remained steady, her eyelids fluttering in dreams.

The unexpected gesture left him breathless. He hadn’t realized how much he craved this simple hug. Slowly, he wrapped an arm around her, holding her close as she snuggled deeper into his embrace before falling into a deep slumber.

•••

In the morning, Layla woke up with a throbbing headache. She moved away the duvet and slowly opened her eyes. Lucius’s face was the first thing she saw in the morning and a small smile formed on her lips. But then, she felt his face looked pale.

Layla rested her hand on his cheek and caressed it gently. Quietly, she moved out of the bed and the sight of his hand shocked her.

“Blood!” She muttered and examined his hand, causing Lucius to wake up too.

“Layla,” he whispered with a smile.

“What happened to your knuckles? I remember you carried me home, then how, this?” She was utterly confused.

“It’s nothing,” Lucius said.

“Don’t lie!” Layla frowned at him. She rushed to the cupboard and took out the first-aid box. “Did you fight with someone last night? You are no longer a kid, Lucius,” she said, sitting before while he also had sat up. “Or did you hurt yourself?”

She opened the kit and took out a cotton ball. Dipping it into the antiseptic, she cleaned blood from his knuckles. Lucius hissed, so she blew the air to soothe the burning pain.

“Answer,” Layla looked at him. She found Lucius’s eyes were hiding something from him. She didn’t press him and tended the wound first by wrapping a bandage around it.

Once she finished, she placed his hand gently in her lap, looking up at him with a tenderness that made his chest tighten. “I know you’re a strong man, Lucius. Stronger than me. But it’s okay to share your pain. It’s okay to feel vulnerable,” she whispered, her voice laced with understanding.

Then, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a hug. Her hand rubbed gentle circles on his back, offering him comfort in a way only she could.

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