Chapter 83 Chapter 83

Chapter 83 Chapter 83
Lucien's POV

"Marry her"

It was easy... So easy for Cynthia to say that but it was like a death sentence to me. It felt like she had a right out of my very soul.

The last time she said the same thing in the changing room I knew she was playing around. But this time it was real and it stabbed my heart, and any dagger could ever.

The stress and anxiety for Aurora were messing with her vitals so the doctor gave her injections. When she drifted into a deep peaceful sleep, I came out.

It wasn't like I was ok with my daughter being kidnapped. My men were already searching for her but this time Adrian isn't alone. Alister is giving him full support, especially after knowing I have liberated my mother.

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I walked back and forth and when the anxiety became too much, I just checked on Cynthia one last time before driving away.

All these years, I have suffered equally.

Cynthia at least had a reason to live her life, but I was completely alone. There were times when I used to drink so much so that I used to get knocked out for straight twenty-four hours and I used to think it was best.

I tried to hate Cynthia for leaving me alone without understanding my situation but I could never hate her. I tried going to clubs to distract myself but everyone just disgusts me.

I just wanted her near me. And now she is so close yet so far from me.

I parked the car in the bushes and walked to the small house hidden amidst the woods. Slowly I opened the door, expecting her to be sleeping but instead, she was humming a song, looking at the ceiling. Her orbs were blank and so deep.

My heart clenched.

For me, this woman has spent years in four walls. She had the option to end her suffering, but she chose to fulfill her duty as a mother over her own life.

The soft sound of my shoes caught her attention. She froze midway as her eyes moved from the ceiling to me and they instantly lit up. A small smile appeared on her lips, causing wrinkles near her eyes.

The last time I saw her, she was so young and cheerful. What had Alister made her do in his lust for money and power?

I accept Adrian has suffered because of Alister but what about us? We had suffered even more than him. Maybe... Maybe if his mother had never come into Alister's life, our lives would have been different but my mother never seemed to have any grudges against that woman.

I already knew there was a woman Alister loved, but I never knew about Adrian.

"Lucien" she spoke softly, her voice crackled slightly.

Something broke inside me after hearing my name from her mouth after so many years. I don't even remember her calling me with my name.

In these last 5 years, no one has ever called me without any selfish motive. It was just my mother and Cynthia who loved me for who I am.

Slowly she lifted her hand and gestured for me to come forward. Unable to control myself anymore, I ran to her and stumbled on my way.

"Easy, son" she gasped.

I sat on my knees beside her feet and placed my head on her lap.

"I am sorry, I am sorry for being so late"

She stroked my head, the way she used to do when I was a kid. It used to bring me peace no matter how restless I was.

"Don't be sorry, Lucien. It was not your fault" she said softly.

"I missed you so much"

I swallowed down the emotions forming a lump in my throat. I didn't want to break down.

I didn't.

No matter what I have gone through in all these years I have not let a single tear roll down my face.

"I miss you too, Lucien. More than you could think"

I rubbed my face on her lap, to feel she was here for real. As much as I want to wake up and know that everything was a bad dream, I just want to keep this part as real.

"You know, Alister, used to tell me how much of a monster you have become, but I never believed him because I knew that you are my son. Your heart could never let you become like Alister, no matter how much he tries"

I sniffed and just listened to her voice for which my ears had been longing for so long.

"But you should not let your love go, Lucien. You should have fought for her back then"

"Mom, I was afraid for you. Alister was already torturing you, he blackmailed me to kill you"

She chuckled

"He could never have killed me" she inhaled a deep breath "he is a wolf who just wants to be in power. 80% of his wealth is mine, which would have eventually transferred to your name and charity if I died. Alister Good never let it happen until he was alive"

"But I can't see you in pain. He used to show me your videos. That used to break me"

A long silence followed my words. The silence was so deep that we could hear each other's breath.

"Have you got Cynthia and your daughter?" She asked breaking the silence.

I swallowed down the emotions again.

I closed my eyes as I felt pathetic about myself.

"Mom, I failed" I forced it out "I failed as a son, as a lover, and as a father!"

The more I tried to suppress my emotions the more my voice and body shivered. I didn't dare to lift my head and look into her eyes. She will read my soul.

"I can't protect my daughter. Adrian... he took her away"

Her body stiffened and her hand froze in my head.

"I am so pathetic. I just saw her taking my daughter away. I couldn't do anything"

My clutch on her dress tightened so much that my knuckles turned white. She gently placed her palm over them.

"Lucien" she called me softly "Cry"

My mom always called me a crybaby as I was very emotional from the beginning. I used to cry at every small inconvenience and my father used to hate that. He always told me, 'Men don't cry'

But I am also a human, am I not?

And taking out an emotion is natural and equal for all human beings, irrespective of gender.

She took my face in between her palms and made me look up into her eyes.

"Cry Lucien" she stroked my jaw with the pad of her thumbs "Let it out"

And I did!

The dam inside me broke and I started crying like a baby.

I didn't care that I was a grown man, a father, or a leader. I was just a boy who had finally found his way back home after being lost in the dark for a lifetime.

The sob that broke out sounded more like a wounded animal than a man.

I cried for every year I had to stay away to keep her safe. I cried for the daughter Adrian had stolen from under my nose, and for the guilt that was eating me alive because I hadn't reached them in time. I cried for the monster my father had forced me to become, and for the man I desperately wanted to be for Cynthia.

"Mom, Cynthia wants me to get married to Sophia to get Aurora but how can I?" I said in between my sobs "I want them. I want both of them. They are mine, only mine!"

I sniffed.

"I loved Cynthia for who she is, not to snatch her from someone"

"I know, Lucien. I know how pure your love is"

He leaned down and kissed my forehead, wiping the tears from my eyes.

"But in this situation, you don't have any other options. Do you?"

I froze as I stared at my mom for a long second.

"What do you mean, Mom?"

"As far as I know, Alister. He is crazy he won't think twice before killing that innocent soul for his own selfish reasons."

"Then what shall I do, Mom? What shall I do? I can't bear the thought of it!"

"There is only one option, Lucien." She looked away "Marry Sophia."