Chapter 155: He died because of me
Trigger Warning in the Chapter.
After finishing her meal, Layla delicately picked up the napkin and dabbed at her lips before placing it neatly beside her plate. She looked up, her gaze met Alekis’s. "Thank you, Father, for taking the time to meet with me," she said, her tone respectful but firm.
Alekis leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. His piercing eyes studied her for a moment before he spoke. "What’s on your mind, Layla?"
She hesitated briefly, gathering her thoughts. "It’s about Lucius," she began, her voice soft but earnest. "I want to understand more about the accident—how it happened and why. Lucius still carries the weight of his brother’s death, blaming himself for what happened that day. It’s eating away at him, and I’m worried about how much longer he can bear it."
The waiter returned, swiftly clearing the table of their empty dishes, but neither of them paid him any mind. Alekis’s expression darkened slightly as he considered her words, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest of his chair.
Once the waiter left, Alekis leaned forward, his voice low and measured. "Lucius had asked Antoine to go fishing that day, not knowing it conflicted with an important board meeting. Antoine, despite the significance of the meeting, chose to keep it from Lucius and decided to join him. During their trip, they met with an accident, and Antoine lost his life. Because Lucius had unknowingly drawn him away on such a crucial day, the blame fell squarely on him."
Alekis’s words hung heavily in the air. His expression was stern, but there was a trace of weariness in his eyes as he fell silent.
Layla processed the information before speaking, her tone thoughtful. "So, the media accused Lucius of orchestrating the accident, believing he wanted control of the company for himself," she said, her voice tinged with both frustration and understanding.
Alekis gave a slow nod. "That’s exactly what they believed," he said, his voice grim. "And it didn’t help that Lucius had ties to Matteo, his... unsavory associate from the mafia. Those connections painted him in an even darker light. People were quick to condemn him."