Chapter 53: I’ll make my move
"I thought you’d be asleep by now, but it seems like something’s bothering you," Lucius said, setting aside the towel in his hand. "Who disrupted your peace?"
"No one," Layla replied quietly.
"Is it your family again?" he asked directly, sitting beside her. "Your mother or Orabela? I doubt your father would dare upset you after the warnings I’ve given him," he added, his voice edged with certainty.
Layla sighed, her eyes looked distant. "Sometimes, I wonder if my mother is truly my mother. She’s always treated me like something she can use and discard whenever it suits her. Are all mothers like that? I don’t think so. I met your mother too. She does care for her even if it doesn’t show much. But mine isn’t like that. Orabela’s mother defends her, even when she’s wrong, but mine... she always sides with Orabela. Is it because she’s just a mistress to my father?" Layla’s gaze met Lucius’, seeking an answer that would finally put her troubled mind at ease.
Lucius leaned closer, his tone measured and deliberate. "Why don’t we uncover the truth together? Who knows—you might be the rightful heiress after all. And didn’t you say you wanted to claim that title in the Rosenzweig family? Now’s the time to take bold steps toward it."
"Me, the real heiress?" Layla echoed, doubt flickering in her eyes.
Lucius nodded, a faint smirk on his lips. "Every coin has two sides, my wife. In this world, anything is possible."
Layla hummed thoughtfully, her expression growing more serious as his words settled in.
"Get some rest. You can’t let them keep bothering you," Lucius said gently, running his hand through her hair. He helped her lie down and tucked the duvet around her, ensuring she was comfortable.
"Won’t you sleep?" Layla asked, her voice soft with concern.
Lucius smiled faintly. "Not yet. I’ve got some work to take care of," he replied. Leaning down, he pressed a tender kiss to her lips before quietly leaving the room, closing the door behind him.