Chapter 419: Fuck! My vision...
Lucius rose early that morning, determined to surprise his father. He carefully brewed a pot of tea just the way Alekis liked it, strong, fragrant, and with a touch of honey.
Carrying the tray, he made his way to the garden, where the soft morning light filtered through the trees and birds chirped in the distance.
He spotted his father taking a leisurely stroll along the stone path, whose hands clasped behind his back.
"Dad, I brought you some tea," Lucius called out.
Alekis paused mid-step and turned toward him, a surprised yet affectionate smile lighting up his face.
"Well, this is a pleasant change," he remarked with amusement, walking over to the small table and chairs nestled under a blooming pergola. Lucius was already there, setting the tray down with care.
"I figured I’d make your tea this morning. Thought it was about time to do my son’s duty as well," Lucius said, stepping forward to take his father’s arm with reverence. He guided him to the chair and helped him settle in comfortably.
Pouring the steaming tea into a delicate porcelain cup, Lucius handed it to Alekis, who accepted it with a nod of appreciation.
"Thank you, son," Alekis murmured, taking a sip. "The tea is truly tasting nice," he added.
Lucius passed a small smile to him.
"Where’s Layla? Shouldn’t you be with her? She needs you by her side," Alekis opined, resting the cup above the saucer.
"Layla is in the kitchen, helping Fiona in preparing the breakfast," Lucius answered. "Yep, she needs me. But you also need me. I am sorry for always neglecting your health. I blame myself for your condition today," he added.
"Don’t say that. You have your own life to take care of. You were undergoing a lot in these past few years," Alekis said with a tone of understanding, lifting the cup once again.
"Dad, you’ve always been so good to me," Lucius murmured, looking at his father. "I know you’ll fight this battle and conquer it. The doctor is assured that you’ll be fine," he said, saying the positive words to his father.
From Fiona, he had found out how Alekis had the thoughts of not able to live long. It broke Lucius’s heart because his father always smiled in front of him, pretending nothing had happened to him.
’I will do anything to save you, Dad. That’s a promise,’ Lucius thought.
~~~~
Roger bit into the toast, holding it between his teeth as he scrolled through the message on his phone. His brows furrowed slightly as he read it.
Just then, Varya slipped her arms around his waist from behind, hugging him close. Her chin came to rest lightly on his shoulder as she peered at his phone screen.
"Either finish your breakfast or focus on the phone," she teased softly.
Roger gave a faint chuckle, still chewing. "Boss and Layla won’t be in the office for over a week. I just want to make sure everything runs smoothly so they’re not overwhelmed when they return," he replied, multitasking between bites and typing.
Varya nodded against his shoulder. "I get it. Did you meet your boss recently?" she asked gently, her voice laced with concern.
"Not yet. I’m planning to visit him and his father this evening with Aiden, so I might be back late," Roger said, finally lowering his phone and turning his full attention to Varya.
"You should sit down and eat your breakfast properly," she chided gently, guiding him toward the chair with a light push.
Roger gave in with a small smile and sat down. Varya took the seat beside him, picking up a slice of bread. She carefully spread a layer of butter, followed by a generous swipe of strawberry jam.
As he quietly munched on his toast and sipped his coffee, Roger watched her in silence, admiring the simple tenderness in her gestures.
"What are you looking at? Is there something on my face?" Varya asked with a small laugh, taking a delicate bite of her bread.
"Nothing’s there," Roger replied, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Let’s go out for dinner tonight. Be ready, I’ll pick you up."
Varya tilted her head, her expression filled with concern. "But aren’t you going to Lucius’s house? That might take time, and you’ll be tired after the whole day’s work. You should rest instead."
Roger shook his head. "Just be ready. I want to have a dinner with you outside. It’s been a while since we went on a date," he said.
Varya hummed, smiling at him. "Sure. You can send me the address of the restaurant you want me to be present and I’ll be there. I can ride the uber," she stated. "That will save your time too."
"Okay. I’ll send you the address later," Roger replied. He sipped the remaining coffee and put the cup on the table. "Thank you for the breakfast." He leaned toward her and pressed a kiss on her cheek before standing up.
"Bye," Varya said and waved at him. Roger had grabbed his office bag and made his way out. As he entered the elevator, he looked at the watch and took out his phone again.
"I think I should propose Varya tonight," Roger mumbled to himself.
The elevator reached the ground floor, and as he stepped out, he moved toward his car parked nearby. Just as he opened the door, he felt a presence behind him. Instinctively, he turned, only to see a masked man lunging at him.
A sharp pain tore through his side as the knife drove into his abdomen.
"Argh—!" Roger groaned, staggering as he grabbed at the wound. His reflex acted, and he swung his arm and landed a solid punch to the attacker’s jaw, sending the man stumbling backward.
Roger didn’t wait. Clutching the bleeding stab wound, he staggered toward the elevator and slammed the button. The doors slid open and closed just in time.
Leaning against the elevator wall, his breathing grew shallow. The pain was blinding. His phone slipped from his fingers.
"Fuck! My vision..." Roger muttered and the next second, he fainted inside the elevator.