Chapter 8 Her pain is mine
Lucian’s POV
The muffled sound of voices echoed from the open hallway. It was a sharp cry for help, and I immediately listened to it. I didn’t mean to listen, but her voice stopped me. Sonia’s voice. It sounded like she was in pain.
I froze behind the half-closed door, her words echoing through the quiet corridor.
“…You were busy screwing Georgia while I was drinking myself to a stupor.”
My fingers tightened around the handle. The man with her…. Michael, if I remembered correctly, sounded really pathetic. Their argument spilled out like poison, a mixture of heartbreak and humiliation.
And then she said it.
→ “Not everything is about you.”
It shouldn’t have mattered, but it did. Something about the way her voice cracked, anger laced with grief, hit deeper than I expected.
I should’ve left. I had an important meeting to attend. But instead, I stayed until I heard the door slam and her footsteps fading toward the balcony.
When I finally exhaled, I realized my jaw was clenched so tight it ached. I followed her to the balcony, and I silently watched as she cried her eyes out.
Even though those words weren't said to me, it felt personal because all my life, my emotions and outbursts were considered invalid. I understood how she felt, and I knew that Michael was just barking. Sonia was a fine lady, and if she wants, she can get the man of her dreams.
I wanted to console her, to tell her that everything would be alright, but I couldn't bring myself to say anything. I just watched like a dummy. Until I received a call and quickly went to my office. I knew that she was following me, and I allowed her.
\~~~~~
The drive home was quiet, except for the low hum of the engine and the rain hitting the windshield. I barely noticed the city lights passing by. All I could think about was her. Sonia Magnus.
The desperation in her tone. The fire in her words. The way she held herself together after breaking apart. The determination in her eyes as she cleaned her tears. Also, the sadness she secretly carried around was inviting.
She was supposed to be just another employee….. one of thousands. But something about Sonia Magnus clawed at my chest like a secret I wasn’t ready to admit. Her story felt personal, and her pain was similar to mine. There was something else, something I just couldn't lay my hands on.
Maybe it was the way she reminded me of ‘her'. The girl from my past.
The thought alone was enough to make my throat tighten. I quickly dismissed it. I wasn’t that man anymore. I didn’t have the luxury of emotions. My life had been well-planned, and all I lived for was revenge.
As I turned into the long driveway of my estate, the iron gates opened automatically. The mansion stood tall and silent, the kind of silence that wasn’t peaceful, just empty. Like loneliness and boredom.
The staff greeted me as I entered, but I barely acknowledged them. I went straight to my study, poured a glass of whiskey, and stared at the framed photograph on my wall, my mother.
“You’d be ashamed of me, wouldn’t you?” I muttered under my breath. “I’m distracted by a woman. Again.”
I downed the drink in one go, feeling the burn spread down my throat.
It had been years since I’d allowed anyone close. Since my promise to her, I built walls high enough to keep anyone from reaching me.
And yet, a single encounter, a single argument I wasn’t even part of had shaken me more than I wanted to admit.
“She was crying. Sonia didn’t deserve that kind of pain.”
The thought echoed until I forced myself to push it away.
“Sonia Magnus was an employee. Nothing more.” I said to myself, but deep down I knew it was my lie. My mother's frame also looked like she knew I was bluffing.
“Nothing will come in-between me, you, and our revenge. I promise you, mother. I will destroy every single one of them for killing you,” I vowed, and angrily smashed the wine bottle on the floor.
\---
By morning, I was back in my armor, the cold precision of Lucian Smithfield. The CEO everyone feared. The man who never smiled, never faltered, never cared. The man who was hated by his own family.
As I entered the company's building, my bodyguards and my assistant quickly moved towards me. And together we entered the lift, quietly enjoying the admiring looks we received.
The office buzzed as usual. Everyone was trying to impress me while carrying out their assigned duties. My assistant, Daniel, handed me the morning report, but I wasn’t listening. My mind was already downstairs, in her department. Although I had vowed to pay no attention to her, I couldn't sleep throughout the night, and I had to make sure that she was okay.
Without looking up, I said, “Hmm, Daniel, send for Sonia Magnus.”
Daniel furrowed his brows and slowly blinked. “Sir?”
“Get her now,” I ordered, feeling irritated, and Daniel shrugged his shoulders.
“Okay, I will get her, sir,” Daniel said and quickly left my office.
As the door closed behind him, I exhaled, feeling the familiar storm returning.
I didn’t know what I wanted to say when she walked in. But I knew one thing, whatever had started yesterday between us, it wasn’t over.
My phone rang, and I took a deep breath before picking it up.
“Oh, brother, my dearest brother. I thought you weren't going to answer my call,” my stepbrother's voice echoed from the other end, and I twisted my face, contemplating whether to cut the call.
“What do you want, Gawin? I don't have time to play. I'm running a company,” I replied with a grimace.
I could swear that Gawin's smile disappeared, and his voice turned hoarse. “Thanks for helping out at my company, big brother. But I'm back in town, and you will need to step down.” He said.
I chuckled. “Is that so? When did you arrive, little brother? Have you been drinking and gambling?” I asked, not because I cared about him, but because I wanted to know if he was responsible for my drug overdose.
“That's none of your business. We are having dinner tonight with our father. I was tasked with informing you, so come on time, and don't forget that you're handing my company to me, bastard!” Gawin said and hung up the call before I could respond.
My mood changed immediately, and my eyes darkened. “Bastard, son of a mistress, whore.” Those were names I detested, and my siblings were aware of this, but Gawin. That boy likes to bite more than he can afford to chew.
My fists tightened so hard that blood dropped from the fresh cut I gave myself. I wanted to destroy something, anyone. Just to relieve my mind of the hurt I felt.
“Mr. Lucian, I'm around,” Sonia's voice echoed from behind the door and I froze.