"But I did kill him," Lucius murmured.
Layla’s fingers montarily paused in his hair, then resud, massaging his scalp, working the foam into every strand. "I don’t think so. You can tell the truth," she said softly.
"You trust so much. What if I betray you?" he asked, his tone distant.
"Why are you saying things like that?" she scolded, pulling the faucet handle. The warm water washed away the suds, leaving his hair clean.
Lucius closed his eyes, savoring the comfort of her touch. Once she finished rinsing his hair, Layla asked him to stand. Her dress was damp in places, but she ignored it, her focus entirely on Lucius. She took a towel and approached him as he leaned against the washbasin, his posture weary.
As she gently dried his hair, he broke the silence. "Aren’t you afraid of ? Now that you know I—"
"I’m only afraid of people who lie to ," Layla interrupted, her voice firm. She left the towel draped over his head, their eyes eting as she spoke. "If you want to shower, you can use it first," she asserted and turned to leave when Lucius pulled her back, his arm wrapping around her neck.
"Lucius..." Layla’s voice was soft, encouraging him to continue.
"Thank you for believing in ," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "But the truth is... I’m the reason Antoine lost his life."
Layla’s eyes searched his face, waiting for him to explain, her patience radiating through the silence.
"Why would you say that?" she asked gently.
Lucius inhaled deeply, his expression clouded with guilt. "Because he saved ... but I couldn’t save him." His voice cracked slightly ,as he recalled the painful mory. "Antoine was more than just a brother to ; he was my protector, my best friend. Fifteen years ago, we were in a terrible car accident."
Layla tilted her head slightly, her gaze unwavering as she listened.
"It happened so fast," Lucius continued, his eyes distant as if he were back in that mont. "Antoine shielded from the worst of the impact. I survived because of him, but I was conscious—awake and aware—while he lay there, unmoving. I should have called for help. I should have done sothing. But I didn’t... I froze. I couldn’t bring myself to act. I should have tried to move my body."
He clenched his fists, his frustration palpable. "If only I had convinced him not to go on that fishing trip... if I had just insisted, none of this would have happened." His voice was filled with regret, as if he had been reliving that guilt every day since.
Layla turned around and hugged him while giving gentle pats on his back.
"It wasn’t your fault. If it was, then your brother would not have protected you. You rely wanted to spend ti with your brother. I’m so sorry to know that you’ve to go through so much. It must have been difficult for you," Layla said while being understanding to him.
Lucius just closed his eyes, wanting to stay in her embrace like that.
~~~~
"Roderick, when do you plan to tell Layla how Lucius killed your father?" Orabela asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
"Soon. I just haven’t had the chance to see her, which is why it’s taking longer," Roderick replied, sounding frustrated.
"Well, you could always use your grandfather’s na to et her. It’s not like she’d complain to him about it," Orabela suggested with a sly grin. She propped herself up on her elbows, resting her arms on his bare chest as she gazed into his eyes. "What do you think?"
"Not a bad idea," Roderick said, smirking at the thought.
"By the way, why did you break up with in the first place? And then, out of the blue, you proposed to for an engagent?" Orabela asked, her eyes narrowing slightly, waiting for his explanation. "Do you still like, Layla? Were you hurt when you found out she’s the wife of your uncle?" she pressed.
"I told you, I wanted to protect you from my uncle," Roderick explained softly. "And Layla... she’s changed. She doesn’t hesitate to tarnish your image. But I regretted letting you go. I couldn’t stay away from you. That’s why, as soon as I realized my mistake, I ca to your house and asked you to get engaged in front of our families," he added, a warm smile spreading across his face.
Orabela returned his smile, feeling reassured by his words. "You love so much," she whispered. "I’m sorry for lying to you before about the pregnancy. I was just so scared of losing you, so angry that you still had feelings for Layla when I was the one who gave you everything," she confessed, her voice laced with vulnerability.
Roderick pulled Orabela down, his fingers weaving through her hair as he hugged her tightly, his grip possessive. "I only love you, Bella," he whispered, but his eyes darkened with sothing far more sinister than affection.
In his mind, a twisted plan was already in motion. ’Once you’re declared the heiress of the Rosenzweig family, I’ll throw you out of my life.’ A grin curled on his lips, unnoticed by Orabela. ’Layla can’t be with because of her status, but once I give her everything she’s ever wanted, she’ll co back. After all, money can buy anything.’
His smile widened as Orabela nuzzled closer, completely unaware of the betrayal brewing behind his gentle words.
"I want our marriage to be grand, Rick," Orabela said, her voice laced with determination.
"Yeah, it will be grand. We’ll be the talk of the town," Roderick assured her, though his mind was elsewhere.
"Because of Layla, my mom was upset with . She even slapped , Rick. I want to show Layla her place soon. Just because of your uncle, I am unable to do so," she murmured, bitterness evident in her tone.
Roderick’s jaw tightened. "You better not do anything reckless. If my grandpa finds out, he’ll be furious," he warned, his voice calm but stern. ’This woman brings trouble for no reason,’ he thought, annoyance bubbling beneath the surface. Orabela’s impulsiveness was a liability he had to manage, at least until he didn’t need her anymore.
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