LUCIAN

Leona...or should I say mom ruffled my hair and my heart swelled with love. I told her that she was my mom and she was more than happy to hear that.

Maria have been unusually quiet ever since she heard me call them mom and dad, she even avoided making eye contact with me and that worried me.

"So, does this mean half your company is mine now? As your brother I have the right to it..." Austin nudged my shoulder with his and I rolled my eyes at him.

It's not that Austin was a complete fool, he was the COO after all, he was smart and intelligent, he just loved acting like an idiot. I have seen him working and I know he is very efficient.

"Austin..." Dad sighed. "... don't trouble him and come help me with the dinner."

He pouted like a kid before following his dad to the kitchen and mom soon left too to help them leaving me alone with Maria.

She was sitting on the couch, farthest from me lost in her thoughts so I shifted closer to her and holding her chin in between my fingers, turned her face to me.

"What's wrong?"

She forced a small smile on her face and shook her head. "Nothing...I was just wondering about how we are going to do all this but don't worry, I am going to prove you innocent."

My eyes searched hers hoping to find the real cause of her worry and nodded. "I know you will. I don't even believe in myself as much as I believe in you."

She bit her lips. "Thanks...I guess..." Her cheeks tinted.

I smiled softly at her and my fingers left her chin only to caresses her cheek and she leaned into my touch.

The urge to take her away from here and to my house was so fucking strong. I needed some alone time with her, I needed a night alone with her. Goddamn.

From the corner of my eyes I noticed dad and I dropped my hand immediately and clearing my throat put some distance between us.

If he noticed anything he didn't comment on it and said, "Dinner is ready--"

He paused when someone pushed opened the front door, our heads turning towards it and my gut already told me who it was and nervousness once again kicked in.

"Hey, dad!" Calix spoke, grinning but his face blanked the moment his eyes fell on me. Seconds trickled by and a defeaning silence engulfed us.

Austin was making his way out of the kitchen but noticing Calix standing there he muttered, "Oh, shit." And he left as quickly as possible.

"What the fuck is he doing here?" Calix bellowed, eyes flickering between me and his father.

Maria was about to get up but I grabbed her arm silently telling her to keep sitting.

I slowly got up and Calix looked like he have been betrayed by his own family too.

"Calix--" I was going to explain everything but he cut me off.

"I don't wanna hear a fucking word from you!" He faced his dad. "What is going on here, dad?"

"If you let Lucian speak then it would be better." Dad spoke slowly and carefully.

"D-dad..." He whispered, he seemed to be on the verge of breaking down. "...he betrayed me...he was my b-best friend...how could you..."

Before he could cry, he turned around and left but I had enough of all this. I wanted to tell him the truth too so I followed after him and once outside, I shut the door behind me.

He was walking towards his car when I spoke loudly, "I didn't kill Carsten."

When he didn't stop, I added, "I was trying to save you, Calix. I didn't kill Carsten, his father did. I would have rather died than betraying you but...I had no choice..."

That made him pause and he whipped around and stalked over to me and grabbed me by my collar. "Don't fucking feed me your lies!" He seethed, despite the tears and sadness in his eyes, his face looked furious. "I don't know what the fuck you have done to them to make them believe you but it won't work on me."

"It's true..." I whispered, tears forming in my eyes. "I was just scared. I never wanted to betray you, Calix. You are my best friend, you became my light during the darkest period of my life but I swear I didn't have any choice, I was stupid. Give me a chance to explain."

He shoved me away and glared at me with so much hate it made my heart hurt. "Stop it."

"Carsten was my foster brother." I told him.

Confusion marred his face. "What?"

"My parents, Calix...when I told you about those scars...my parents didn't do that...I lied. I haven't seen my parents since I was five, since they left me at Hanniel King's house. They are dead. Hanniel...t-tortured me. A lot happened, just give me a chance to explain."

And just to prove my point, I pulled out my phone and showed him the video of Hanniel King watching his son being injected with poison while he was in coma. I had bribed one of his men to record everything. I had a feeling that something like that might happened.

"I am not lying." I said softly once the video ended and placed my phone inside. "Give me a chance, Calix."

By now, tears streamed down his eyes as he looked at me in disbelief. He stared at me for a long moment before turning and leaving from there.

I cursed underneath my breath and hung my head in disappointment. He has the right to be mad at me but I don't think so I will be able to take this torture for any longer.

I flinched when I felt someone place their palm on my shoulder but sighed in relief on seeing dad.

He gave me a sad smile. "What did he say?"

I didn't even realise I was crying until he wiped away my tears. "I...I told him...I made him watch the video...he just left..."

He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and walked us inside. "Give him some time, Lucian. He will forgive you."

I nodded in response and he lead me to the dining table where we all had dinner which was not spent in an awkward silence thanks to Austin who just can't keep his mouth shut and started to narrate some stupid incidents.

I felt safe and at peace and it could have been extremely perfect if Maria was not so quiet. I wanted to know what's wrong with her...I was concerned about her.

As the dinner ended, I asked her, "Are you going to stay here tonight?" It was a stupid question, of course she would stay there only. Despite being adults, Austin and Maria stayed with their parents because staying alone was too lonely.

"Yeah...I will..."

"Oh...okay..." I scratched my chin. "I'll...be leaving then...I will go back to my house..."

She grabbed my forearm before I could leave. "Why don't you stay here tonight?"

"No, it's okay..."

"No one's leaving." Dad interrupted. "Lucian, you are spending the night here besides your old bedroom is empty."

More like Calix's and my bedroom.

Not wanting to argue with him, I nodded. "Okay..."

"Yes, you are staying." Austin jumped in suddenly. "And I have got so many new awesome games on my PS5, you have to play with me, okay?"

I shurgged, not having much options. "Okay."

"Yay, come on." He grabbed my arm and dragged me to his room and started to set up Fifa 22 on it and handed me a controller and we both settled down on the edge of his bed.

Half an hour later, after I had beaten him at two games and he had whined like a child, I bid him goodnight and left.

Entering my old bedroom brought back so many memories and smiled hoping our friendship could get better eventually and we could make even more memories.

I changed into a pair of sweatpants and t shirt which was in my bag and laid down on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

Before I could get lost in my thoughts, I heard the door opened and I had a sense of deja vú as Maria's head peeked in except this time she wasn't a kid but a woman.

"Yes?"

She stepped inside and closed the door and made her way to the bed. "Can I sleep here tonight?"

Unless you don't want me lose control, no.

"Why?"

Her eyes were twinkling with mischeif. "I am scared..."

"I guess you stayed alone in Seattle for four months and now you are scared to sleep in a house full of your parents and brother?" Amusement laced my tone.

She blushed and climbed on the bed, laying beside me and placing her palm under he cheek she stared at me. "Shut up, Luci. I am scared and if you really don't want me here then you can throw me out, go on." She challenged.

She was lying, she wasn't scared...she just wanted to...

Those stupid butterflies escaped and danced in my stomach. I bit the inside of my cheeks.

I didn't say anything, I didn't ask her to leave instead my fingers gently traced her cheek before stroking her hair. "Goodnight, Maria." I murmured softly.

Her eyes slowly drooped and my fingers continued to stroke her hair, lulling her to sleep and she mumbled, "Goodnight, Luci." Before her eyes closed.

Shifting closer, I draped the duvet over both of us and my lips brushed over both her eyes and her forehead.

And somewhere deep inside, I heard my heart whisper, "You are in love with her."

I shut that voice out immediately and drifted off to sleep.

Chapter completion on: 10/10/22
Published on: 19/10/22

I saw this on Pinterest and I had to share it with you all 😂😂❤️❤️🤣🤣