Chapter 34: I will become strong too
"Sit here," Lucius said, his hand patting the mattress beside him, a silent invitation for Layla to join him. She hesitated for a moment before settling down, her fingers absentmindedly fiddling in her lap as her mind raced with questions. What could he possibly want to say?
To her surprise, Lucius gently pulled her into his embrace, his warmth immediately soothing her nerves. "I should have considered your feelings more," he began in a low voice. "I’ve never been in love before, and marrying the woman I liked led me to handle things in my own way. I’m sorry for that."
Layla blinked slowly, his unexpected words striking something deep within her. The vulnerability in his apology moved her in a way she hadn’t anticipated. "It’s fine," she whispered.
"I wasn’t exactly vocal about my feelings for Roderick either." She hesitated before pulling her face away from his chest, meeting his eyes for the first time since their conversation began. "That day you said you had a crush on a woman... Was it—was it me?" Her voice wavered, uncertain but hopeful.
Lucius remained silent for a brief moment, his expression thoughtful, and Layla immediately regretted asking. "Ahh, never mind," she muttered, embarrassed, looking away. "I must be crazy to think like that."
But then Lucius chuckled softly, a gentle sound that made her turn back to him. "Of course, it was you," he confessed with a smile. "Didn’t I say I liked it when you scolded me? That was four years ago, remember? You told me scolded me that day, but in the most soothing way." His eyes held a mixture of fondness and nostalgia, recalling the memory that had evidently meant more to him than she had ever realized.
It had been one of the darkest days of his life when their paths crossed, but it was her presence that had brought him some light.
Layla found herself speechless, her heart began racing. The revelation left her wondering why he hadn’t pursued her back then. She wasn’t seeing anyone at the time, so what had stopped him?
As though reading her mind, Lucius spoke again. "I realized later that I had feelings for you, but I wanted you to finish your university studies. I wasn’t in a position to ask you out either," he added. "I wanted you to focus on your future first, without me adding confusion into your life."