Real Heiress: Flash Marriage With Boyfriend's Uncle-Chapter 404: Her family’s legacy

"It’s in the past," Demitri said, his voice calm but firm. "But I hope you don’t believe what she said today. I’m not saying I was entirely blameless—I know I didn’t give her enough time. But I did love her once, deeply. My resistance to dating now stems from that breakup. After what happened, I just couldn’t bring myself to open up again. I never told my grandmother about it either. It would have only upset her."

Nora frowned, her hands balling into fists. "I can’t believe people like her exist," she muttered. "It must have been incredibly painful to love someone only to be betrayed like that." She sighed, then added with a slight pout, "But what she said today was too harsh. I should have given her a proper response."

Demitri’s lips curved into a small smile at her indignation. "Don’t let her words ruin your mood," he said, taking a sip of his coffee.

She hummed in agreement, focusing on enjoying the warmth of the drink and his quiet company.

When they finished, Nora reached for his mug. "I’ll wash these," she offered, gathering both cups. "And I’ll cook dinner tonight."

Demitri arched a brow. "Aren’t you tired?"

She shook her head, already heading toward the kitchen. "No. And even if I were exhausted, I’d still have to cook if I were living alone," she reminded him with a playful glance over her shoulder.

"Yeah. But let me help you," Demitri said, stepping closer until he was right behind her.

Nora promptly turned around to refuse, not realizing how little space was left between them. Her breath hitched as her nose brushed against Demitri’s, and her lips hovered dangerously close to his, less than an inch apart.

For a brief moment, neither of them moved. Neither of them blinked.

Nora swallowed hard, her fingers instinctively curling at her sides as she averted her gaze. "Sorry," she whispered.

But before she could step back, Demitri’s hand lifted, cradling her neck. He tilted her face back toward him, locking his eyes with hers. "Can I kiss you?" Demitri asked for the permission first.

He wasn’t sure what had gotten into him. Just days ago, he had been firm in his stance against relationships, yet now, his desires were unraveling, breaking through the walls he had built. But he also knew Nora had never been in a relationship before, and he didn’t want to rush her.

Nora didn’t answer with words. Instead, she closed her eyes, surrendering to the moment.

Demitri’s gaze lingered on her for a beat longer before he leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a soft, chaste kiss. He kept it simple.

He felt her shiver, her brows furrowing ever so slightly as if trying to process the unfamiliar yet intoxicating sensation. He took a small step back and a small smile displayed on his lips.

Nora’s eyes fluttered open, meeting Demitri’s gaze before quickly lowering them in shyness.

"Nora," he called softly.

"Huh?" She barely had time to react before his lips captured hers once more. This time, the kiss was different. It was deeper and longer. He nibbled at her lips gently, savoring the moment before pulling away.

Demitri’s thumb traced over her lips. "Thank you for being here," he murmured. "I became your first kiss. I intend to be your last."

A small smile played on Nora’s lips, and she bit her bottom lip. "For that, you have to marry me," she teased, turning back toward the sink and twisting the tap open.

Her heart pounded so loudly she could hear it in her ears.

"Maybe we will one day," Demitri whispered, his breath tickling her skin.

Nora stilled for a brief moment, her lips curving into a smile, before continuing to wash the dishes, feeling lighter than she had in a long time.

~~~~~

As soon as Lucius stepped into the kitchen, the rich aroma of chocolate filled his senses. Before he could say a word, Layla appeared in front of him, holding a freshly baked chocolate muffin close to his lips.

"Here, have a taste and tell me what you think," she said, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Lucius leaned in and took a small bite. The warm, soft texture melted in his mouth immediately. A satisfied hum escaped his lips. "Mmmm... Delicious," he answered, licking away a stray crumb.

Layla beamed. "Really? You’re not just saying that?"

Lucius chuckled, savoring another bite of the muffin. "It’s tasty," he said between chews, his gaze fixed on Layla.

She smiled, pleased by his approval, and handed him the rest of the muffin. "I’ll bake more then. Tomorrow, I want the invited guests to taste these as well," she whispered before turning to the counter, already lost in her preparations.

Lucius leaned against the table, tucking his hands into his trouser pockets. His lips curled into a smirk. "I thought these muffins were prepared exclusively for me, wife," he teased.

Layla glanced over her shoulder, a playful glint in her eyes. "You had the first muffin, so of course, that makes it exclusive," she replied.

Her soft and warm smile made his heart stutter for a brief moment. Lucius finished the remaining muffin, realizing the maids were not present there.

"Why is there no maid around?" Lucius asked, scanning the quiet kitchen.

"I gave them leave for the Christmas celebration," Layla replied, placing a tray of freshly baked muffins on the counter. "They deserve a break too."

Lucius frowned, stepping closer. "And you’re planning to handle everything on your own tomorrow? I can’t let that happen." His voice held a note of concern as he watched her move effortlessly between tasks.

Layla wiped her hands on a washcloth and turned to face him. "It’s just a gathering of family and close friends. I might order a few dishes from outside, but I’ll take care of the rest."

Lucius sighed, his arms crossing over his chest. "I can’t allow you to overwork yourself like that," he said firmly, his gaze locked onto hers.

"You worry too much," Layla murmured with a soft smile, as she filled the muffins with melted chocolate. She placed the first tray into the refrigerator to let them set, then reached for a glass kettle.

"So, how was your meeting with Carlo? I hope everything went well," she asked while preparing herbal tea for the two of them.

Lucius leaned against the counter, watching her with admiration. "It went well. I also appointed Chase as the General Secretary of De Salvo Organics," he revealed.

Layla’s eyes lit up. "That’s amazing!" She poured hot water over the tea leaves before finally turning to look at him. "I’m so proud of you, Lucius. You always take care of the people around you."

"I think you taught me that," Lucius whispered, a small smile playing on his lips as he leaned in and kissed her gently.

Layla chuckled against his lips before pulling back slightly. "That’s not true. You’ve always been someone who cared for the people around you. You even helped Zayne when he had no one. Actually, you’ve helped so many, including me," she said, her voice filled with warmth. "So take the credit for the things you’ve done."

Lucius exhaled softly, his gaze lingering on her. "Alright," he murmured, accepting her words.

Layla turned her attention back to the kettle, carefully pouring the fragrant herbal tea into two cups. The comforting aroma filled the air as she handed him one.

They moved to the counter chairs, settling into a comfortable silence as they sipped their tea.

"Layla, I want Zayne and Roger to heal soon," Lucius said with concern. "I’ve actually found a way to help Roger, though."

Layla tilted her head in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Lucius exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "The night you were with Ruby, we had a boys’ night. Zayne is trying to move on, but the betrayal still weighs on him. He’s coping, but it’s not easy."

Layla nodded. "That’s understandable. Betrayal leaves deep scars. And he indeed loved June a lot."

Lucius sighed. "Yeah. He even had plans to marry her. And then there’s Roger. Sylvia shattered his heart without a second thought not once, but many times. Just when I thought he might start healing, Varya also put forward a condition. She wants him to leave Italy for her, but he’s not willing to uproot his entire life. Now he’s convinced he’s just unlucky in love."

Layla frowned. "That’s a difficult situation. How did you find a way for it?"

"I talked to Varya," Lucius admitted. "I felt like she needed to know just how much Roger misses her. He’d never tell her himself. For him, it was love at first sight."

Layla leaned forward, intrigued. "And what did she say?"

Lucius exhaled. "Varya told me she did give Roger a chance, but she believes they both belong in different worlds. Roger refuses to leave Italy, and she has no intention of settling down here. She thinks they just aren’t meant to be because of that."

Layla frowned, placing her empty tea cup on the counter. "Then Roger will have to let go and move on."

"I told Varya to consider Roger’s perspective too," Lucius continued. "He doesn’t want her involved in the underworld. He wants her to have a simple, peaceful life."

Layla sighed, understanding the complexity of the situation. "Varya isn’t the type of woman to walk away from her family’s legacy. She was raised in that world, and she takes pride in it. But... I do hope she reconsiders."