Chapter 454: Her dearest treasure
Lucius arrived home late that night, his shoulders slumped and his face etched with despair. The house was unusually quiet, yet his family, and even his close friends, had been waiting anxiously for his return. The moment they saw him enter, flanked by Luca and Roderick, they rose from their seats.
Layla’s gaze immediately locked onto him, scanning every detail. They lingered on his right hand, tightly wrapped in a white bandage, and a flicker of worry crossed her features.
Before anyone could speak, Alekis stepped forward. Without a word, he pulled Lucius into a firm embrace, offering a quiet reassurance. His hands patted Lucius’s back in steady rhythms.
Lucius pulled back slightly and turned his gaze toward Layla. "I’m fine," he said, sweeping his eyes across everyone present. "Thank you... for waiting, for your silent prayers. And... I’m sorry for bringing you trouble again."
"Don’t say that," Demitri replied firmly. "You never gave us trouble," he added.
Lucius exhaled, his shoulders sagging. "I’d like to rest," he said simply. His mind was a storm of thoughts, and the only calm he craved was a quiet moment with his wife.
Taking Layla’s hand, he turned to Luca. "Stay the night here. I’ll speak with you in the morning." Then, without another word, he left with Layla, their footsteps soft as they made their way to their room.
Once inside, Layla closed the door lightly behind them. Silence hung between them for a second before Lucius spoke. "I... killed Tsar." He met her eyes, searching for understanding. "It was the best for everyone. I broke my promise to you. I chose to end his life, knowing full well the cost it could bring to me."
Tears welled in Layla’s eyes, and she opened her arms. "Come here," she said softly.
Lucius closed the distance, pressing himself against her in a tight, grounding embrace. He shut his eyes, letting himself finally feel the weight of everything, and the fragile comfort of her presence.
"It was meant to happen from the very beginning," Layla said softly. "The crimes Tsar committed were beyond forgiveness. No punishment could have erased his sins, or the pain he inflicted upon us, especially upon you. If anyone has suffered the most through all of this, it’s you. And still, Lucius, I am not angry with you."
Her hand slid gently to the back of his head, caressing him with steady reassurance, wordlessly reminding him that she was there.
After a while, the two of them slowly pulled apart. Layla brushed her thumb beneath his eyes, wiping away the traces of tears that had escaped. "It’s over now. Truly over. And I’m certain your mother is at peace."
"She hated seeing me like this," Lucius murmured with grief. " I-I lost control when I was striking Tsar. Like a madman. My mother always begged me to stay away from this world... this mafia life. But I never listened. I don’t think she’ll ever forgive me for what I’ve become." His breath shuddered, but no more tears would fall.
Layla cupped his cheek, her eyes unwavering. "She has already forgiven you, Lucius. She loved you, more than anything. You know why she never let you be born in Russia, why she tried to keep you apart from all this. Every choice she made was to protect you. If she felt anything toward you, it was love. Deep and unconditional love. Even if she never put it into words, I know you were her dearest treasure." She pressed a tender kiss to his cheek, giving all the comfort she could, before wrapping her arms around him again.
"You should take a bath," she whispered against his shoulder. "I’ll bring you food. You haven’t eaten, I know it. Roderick told me everything."
Lucius let out a hum, reluctant to let go, but finally pulled away and disappeared into the washroom.
Layla moved to the cupboard, selecting a clean pair of clothes for him. She laid them neatly on the bed before heading to the kitchen to prepare a light dinner.
"Did you send dinner to Luca’s room?" she asked one of the maids. "And what about Roderick?"
"He asked us to bring it after ten minutes, Madam," the maid replied. "As for the young master, his mother has already sent him his meal."
"Good. Then prepare a tray for Lucius. Something light," Layla instructed gently.
"Sure, Madam," the maid replied. Once the tray was ready, she added, "I’ll take this upstairs for you."
Layla nodded, welcoming the help. When the maid reached the room, Layla thanked her softly. Once the door clicked shut, she waited quietly for Lucius.
Not long after, he emerged, the bathrobe wrapped snugly around him, his hair still damp.
"I’ll change the clothes later," Lucius said. He glanced at the tray and continued, "I’m not in the mood to eat. I have lost my appetite."
"Just eat a little," Layla urged, standing up. "I know you’re not feeling like eating, but you have to."
Lucius sank onto the sofa and lifted the lid, revealing the rice with Teriyaki Chicken. He picked up the spoon and ate slowly, but he was unable to finish the whole bowl. Half of it remained untouched. Setting the spoon down on the tray, he murmured, "I’m done."
"Alright," Layla said softly, not pressing him to eat more. She took the tray and quietly left the room, closing the door behind her.
Lucius let out a long sigh and changed into his night clothes. After drinking a glass of water, he finally picked up his phone. A message from his stepfather awaited him:
"You left for Rome without informing me. There are a few belongings of your mother you might want to keep. I’ll send them to you. When you see this message, please provide your address."
Lucius typed his house address and lowered the phone. Bringing his hand to his hair, he sighed and looked towards the window. "I can’t live upto her expectations when she was alive," he murmured.