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?"