Chapter 207: Suffered the loss
"Yes, I want you to heal first," Layla said softly. "But more than anything, I just want us to escape somewhere far away—someplace where no one can reach you or hurt you anymore."
Lucius gave her a small smile, shaking his head. "She won’t come back," he assured her despite the lingering unease in his eyes. "Let’s stay here until I’ve fully recovered. We don’t need to go anywhere just yet."
Reluctantly, Layla nodded. "Alright," she agreed though her gaze lingered on the horizon as if imagining the freedom she had hoped for them.
Lucius turned his attention to the bouquet in his hand as a memory surfaced. "I remember the first time I bought a bouquet from the florist shop where you worked," he said, his voice laced with fondness. "You looked so adorable that day, standing behind the counter, completely focused on arranging flowers. I couldn’t stop staring."
Layla’s cheeks flushed at his words, and she lowered her gaze shyly. "I wonder," she murmured, her voice barely audible, "how I must have looked to you that day."
"You looked beautiful," Lucius replied without hesitation, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. "Just like you always do. Well, now, you have become prettier."
"You make me feel special," Layla replied with a shy smile, her heart fluttering in her chest. "It makes me happy." She hesitated for a moment before adding, "I’ll freshen up, and then we can spend some time together."
"Alright," Lucius said, his gaze following her as she made her way to the room. The smile on his lips refused to fade, warmth spreading in his chest at her words.
Once alone, he turned toward the bouquet, carefully placing it in an empty vase he had found. As he adjusted the flowers, his mind drifted to Matteo’s words. "He was right," Lucius murmured to himself. "The day I found the right woman, I wouldn’t feel lonely or restless anymore. And now, I know—I’ll protect her with everything I have."