Lucius sighed softly, placing the phone on speaker and setting it on his lap. "Dad," he whispered, his tone a mix of warmth and weariness.
"Lucius!" Alekis’s voice ca through, trembling with emotion. "Do you feel better? Are you in pain?"
"Dad, I’m fine," Lucius replied firmly, hoping to ease his father’s worry. "There’s nothing to be concerned about. Please, get so rest. We’ll see each other in the morning."
There was a pause before Lucius continued, his voice softening. "Is Fiona there with you?"
"Yes," Alekis answered, his voice steadier now. "Fiona and Roderick are both here."
"Good. Can you pass the phone to her for a mont?" Lucius requested.
After a few muffled sounds on the other end, Fiona’s familiar voice ca through. "Lucius, we were so worried about you. Are you sure you don’t need or Roderick to co to the hospital tonight?"
"No, Fiona," Lucius said gently but firmly. "I need you to stay with Dad. Make sure he doesn’t stress himself out. That’s more important right now."
There was a brief silence before he added, his voice filled with gratitude, "Thank you for being there for him. It ans a lot to ."
Fiona’s tone softened, touched by his words. "Of course, Lucius. You just focus on getting better, alright? We’ll see you in the morning."
Lucius nodded to himself, glancing at Layla, who was quietly watching the exchange. "I will. Goodnight," he said before ending the call.
Roger retrieved his phone, slipping it into his pocket, but instead of stepping back, he suddenly leaned in and hugged Lucius tightly. "We were scared for you, Boss," he confessed, his voice thick with emotion. "But forgive us for not being on high alert when we should’ve been."
Lucius stiffened for a mont before rolling his eyes, a familiar irritation mixing with fondness. "How many tis do I have to tell you not to do this? Get yourself a wife, Roger. Hug her instead."
Roger pulled back slightly, grinning mischievously. "But Boss, you’re the injured one here. Why would I hug my wife when you’re the patient?" he quipped, looking at him with mock innocence.
Layla, standing nearby, couldn’t help but smile at their banter. Their camaraderie was infectious, and for a mont, the tension in the room eased.
"Step back," Lucius said firmly, motioning Roger away. "I need my wife."
Roger’s grin widened. "Don’t you love , Boss?" he teased, his tone playful.
Lucius’s expression hardened, though his eyes betrayed amusent. "Hey! Watch your tongue!" he barked, giving Roger a light but firm swat on the back.
Roger yelped in exaggerated pain, clutching his back as he straightened up. "Madam," he turned to Layla with a dramatic pout, "Boss is absolutely fine. His hand still feels like an iron rod."
Layla chuckled softly, shaking her head as Lucius waved him off. "Get out," Lucius said, though his tone lacked any real annoyance.
Roger mockingly saluted before heading toward the door. "You should rest in the other room, Roger," Layla suggested gently.
"I will, Madam. But don’t let him bully you!" Roger called back, earning another glare from Lucius before disappearing down the hallway.
Layla turned back to Lucius, her soft smile lingering. "He really cares about you," she said. "You could have told Roger you love him too," she added.
"Are you teasing as well?" Lucius asked her. "I feel thirsty," he said.
Layla quickly poured a glass of water for Lucius and handed it to him. He took a few sips before handing her the glass back. "Thank you," he said.
"I’ll switch off the main lights then," Layla stated.
"Did you have dinner? I doubt you had anything," he said with concern.
"How could I eat where you were in such a state?" Layla murmured, switching off the main lights. Now, only a dimly lit lamp was on. "But I have no appetite. You need to rest, so let’s just sleep," she suggested.
Lucius shifted on the bed, making space for Layla. Initially, she insisted on not sharing the hospital bed since it could truly leave him in discomfort, but in front of his insistence she lost.
Lying down, she hugged him while telling him to watch the IV drip connected to his hand.
"Don’t worry. I’m careful," Lucius told her. He kissed the top of her forehead and closed his eyes. The day of his accident when he lost his brother troubled him since it was the reason he woke up suddenly. However, he didn’t share it with Layla since it was sothing he needed to fight alone.
"Did I make you cry a lot? Your eyes seed swollen to ," Lucius suddenly asked.
"No. I cried a little," Layla answered.
"Don’t lie. You can’t hide your pain from . I know you were hurt more than I was," Lucius stated.
Hearing that, her eyes again turned misty. "But I feel better now. You are awake and that’s all matter," she murmured. She didn’t wish to speak about the attack yet since it would only add the stress to his situation.
"I shouldn’t be asking this, but did by any chance my dad call my mom?" Lucius inquired out of the blue.
"I don’t know," Layla replied. "Do you want your mother to co here?" she queried, hiding the fact that she called Lucius.
"No. I just want my father not to tell her. It hurts when she refuses to see and I know, like the last ti she will again do the sa. So, it’s better not to call her," Lucius asserted.
"Hmm. By the way, my parents had co to see you. You have so many well-wishers around you. Also, Demitri called . I think the attack on you has beco the national news," Layla diverted his attention.
"Oh. It was public attack, that’s why. But what matters the most is that you didn’t get hard," Lucius said and embraced her tightly. "I am happy that you are here with ," he added.
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