Chapter 32: Come closer
Roderick shifted uneasily, scratching the back of his head as he faced the room. His hesitation was clear.
"You disappear every time I come looking for you," Lucius remarked, adjusting his posture as he eyed his nephew suspiciously.
"That’s not true, Uncle," Roderick replied quickly. "I was meeting an old friend. It’s been a while since we last saw each other."
However, Lucius didn’t believe his lie. Under the table, he discreetly held Layla’s hand, running his fingers gently across her skin. She tried to pull away, but Lucius didn’t release his grip.
"Roderick," Evelina interjected, her tone sharp, "why did you pull Layla into the room that day? What exactly is your relationship with her?"
Before Roderick could respond, Fiona jumped in with a casual smile. "Oh, they know each other through Orabela. My son is dating her," she explained, clearly proud of the connection.
’He told his relationship with Orabela to his mother. But when I used to ask him when he would be open about their relationship, he would always give excuses,’ Layla thought.
Lucius chuckled softly, though his amusement carried a subtle edge. "Ah, Orabela... quite the peculiar choice. You two do seem to complement each other. Just be careful you don’t cause any trouble for Layla." His tone held a thinly veiled threat, the warning was was not to harmed Layla.
"We’re not here to discuss relationships," Alekis finally broke his silence, his voice stern as his gaze landed on Roderick. "You owe Layla an apology."