Real Heiress: Flash Marriage With Boyfriend's Uncle - Chapter 96

Chapter 96: A birthday present

Layla’s sleep was abruptly interrupted by the shrill sound of her alarm. She rubbed her eyes, confused as she looked at the clock. It was 11:55 p.m.

She turned over, instinctively reaching for Lucius’s side of the bed, only to find it empty. Panic bubbled up within her—had he not come home? She quickly dialed his number, but her call went straight to voicemail. His phone was off.

Heart pounding, Layla slid out of bed and slipped into her slippers. She hurried out of the room, heading toward the living hall.

The entire space was shrouded in darkness, save for two dim lights above the staircase, casting a faint glow over the first few steps.

“Is anyone there? Lucius hasn’t come home yet,” she called out, her voice trembling slightly as she descended the stairs.

She was just considering heading outside to check with security when, suddenly, the lights flicked on, flooding the room with warmth. Layla squinted, adjusting to the brightness, only to be met with a surprising sight—Lucius, standing right in front of her, holding a chocolate cake adorned with candles.

“A very happy birthday, Layla,” he said softly, his eyes crinkling with a gentle smile.

She stood there, momentarily speechless, her heart skipping a beat as the realization washed over her. He hadn’t forgotten. Lucius stepped closer, his gaze warm as he held out the cake. “Go on, make a wish and blow them out.”

Layla looked up, her voice barely above a whisper. “You remembered?”

He chuckled, his voice deep and reassuring. “What kind of question is that? It’s your first birthday with me,” he said. “So, my dear wife, please make a wish and blow out the candles.”

Layla’s eyes glistened as she closed them, clasping her hands together in a quiet prayer. She felt Lucius’s presence beside her, heard him start to sing the birthday song just for her, filling her heart with warmth. Finally, she took a deep breath and blew out the candles.

Lucius carefully placed the cake on the sofa table and handed Layla the knife. She cut a small slice and, with a soft smile, brought it to his lips. He took a bite, savoring the taste, and then held her hand to make her eat a piece before he took another bite from her fingers.

“Want to eat more?” Lucius asked, his voice teasing.

Layla licked the frosting from her fingers, smiling. “No, I’ll save it for the morning,” she replied.

Lucius reached behind him, pulling out a neatly wrapped box. “Here’s your gift,” he said, holding it out to her.

“Lucius, you didn’t have to,” she murmured, her tone touched.

He chuckled, brushing off her words. “What kind of birthday would it be without gifts?”

With a grateful smile, Layla took the gift. “Thank you. What’s inside?”

“Open it and see,” he replied, his gaze lingering on her, clearly enjoying her excitement.

Layla hummed softly as she sat down on the couch, her fingers trembling slightly as she unwrapped the box. Her heart beat faster, her smile unwavering. She lifted the lid and gasped—inside was a stunning red dress with an elegant slit.

Memories surfaced of a day not long ago when she had stopped by an upscale store to pick a dress for Orabela. Her eyes had lingered on this very dress, admiring its beauty and craftsmanship, but the price had been far out of reach. She would have had to save for months, maybe even a year, to afford it.

“This is…” Layla’s voice faltered as she looked up at him, her eyes filled with awe.

“I noticed you admiring it in the store,” Lucius said softly. “So, I thought it would make a perfect gift.”

Layla let out a soft laugh. “You were stalking me, weren’t you?”

He smirked, a glint of mischief in his eyes. “Not stalking. Just… happened to be there,” he replied, unable to hide his amusement.

“Don’t lie,” she murmured playfully, looking back at the box. Her eyes caught a smaller box nestled beside the dress. She opened it to reveal a delicate gold necklace adorned with red sapphires, each stone dangling elegantly, catching the light with a soft glow.

Her eyes sparkled as she lifted the necklace and placed it on her neck. “It’s beautiful too. Goes perfect with the dress,” Layla said. She met his gaze, overwhelmed, unable to find words to convey the depth of her gratitude and happiness.

Layla carefully placed the necklace back in the box, her fingers trembling slightly as she looked up at Lucius.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “I could never have dreamed of buying something like this on my own. They’re so beautiful.” Her eyes glistened, gratitude and awe mingling in her gaze as she held his.

Lucius leaned forward, closing the space between them, and pressed a gentle kiss on her lips. They lingered, gazing into each other’s eyes, before their lips met again, this time with deeper intensity.

His hands slid to her back, and he effortlessly pulled her onto his lap. She settled there, her legs draped to the side, and wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him close.

They finally broke apart, their breathing unsteady as they exchanged warm smiles. Without a word, Layla leaned in, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug, resting her chin on his shoulder.

“This is the best birthday present I’ve ever received,” Layla whispered, her voice soft but filled with sincerity. “Thank you for making me feel…worth it.”

Again the past memories surfaced, shadowing her smile—the way her mother had always taunted her for being born on this day. Her birthday had been a day she secretly dreaded, a reminder of the emptiness she felt, as though no one had ever truly wanted her. Even Roderick, during their two years together, had never once remembered it.

Lucius gently stroked her back, his touch warm and reassuring. He pressed a tender kiss to her neck, lingering for a moment before pulling back just enough to look into her eyes. “You deserve this… and so much more,” he murmured, his gaze unwavering. “Your existence matters a lot.”

In his arms, Layla felt something she hadn’t felt in years—cherished and deeply valued.