Chapter 77: chuckle

Rose's voice quivered, barely holding together the weight of all her regret, as she forced the words out, each one laced with raw emotion. "Please don't say that, Lucian. I never hated you. I… I really never did." Her voice cracked, betraying her resolve, and she pressed her fingers to her trembling lips, trying to steady herself. "I don't know why I treated you the way I did. But please, believe me, I didn't come here with any hidden agenda. I'm just here to see you."Lucian's gaze softened, his expression flickering between confusion and disbelief. Rose met his eyes, her heart pounding as she struggled to make him understand. She took a deep, shaky breath, desperate to reach him. "Please don't act like we're strangers," she whispered, her voice thick with unshed tears. "I know we've drifted apart, and I'm so sorry for that. But we're not strangers, Lucian. We're family. I don't want you to leave, not now, not ever. I want… I want us to go back to how things were. I don't know how we got here, how everything went so wrong, but I want to try, Lucian. Please, let's try."

Her voice broke, and the tears she'd been holding back finally slipped down her cheeks. Lucian looked taken aback, as if he had never expected her to be the one in tears. He stared at her, caught off guard, watching as her defenses crumbled. For a moment, he couldn't move, couldn't even process the sight of her crying.

"Rose," he stammered, the surprise clear in his voice. He had never seen her this vulnerable, this open. The Rose he knew was always so composed, so cold and distant. And here she was, crying because of him, because of the things he had said. His own heart twisted painfully at the sight. He had never meant to hurt her, never wanted to be the cause of her tears. Sёarᴄh the NôvelFire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

In a rush, Lucian jumped up from the bed and hurried to her side. "Hey, hey, don't cry," he whispered, his tone frantic as he reached out a hesitant hand to comfort her, then pulled it back, unsure if he should. "It's alright, Rose. Please, don't cry." His voice softened, taking on a gentle tone he barely recognized in himself. "You… you don't have to cry. It's okay, really. I'll be fine, I promise."

He tried to muster a smile, but it came out weak and uncertain. Seeing her so broken, so overcome with emotion, tugged at his heart in ways he hadn't expected. The calm, composed Rose he knew was crumbling before him, and he didn't know how to handle it. For a second, he felt entirely out of his depth, like a child caught in a storm he didn't know how to navigate.

"Rose… please, you'll make Mother worry if you keep crying like this," he added, trying to lighten the mood with a gentle tease, hoping to distract her. "She'll think I did something awful to you. She'll never let me live it down." His voice held a warmth, a kindness that he couldn't help but feel when he looked at her. No matter how much he had tried to distance himself, he could never bring himself to truly turn away from her, and seeing her cry now only made him want to protect her more.

Rose let out a shaky laugh through her tears, and for a moment, Lucian saw a glimpse of the sister he had once known. "You're really something, Lucian," she managed, a tearful smile breaking through her sadness. She looked at him, her gaze softer now, as though she was finally allowing herself to see the goodness in him that she had been blind to for so long. The kindness, the gentle warmth he showed even now, after everything that had passed between them.

A bittersweet warmth bloomed in her chest as she watched him try to comfort her, awkward and uncertain but trying nonetheless. She saw the care in his eyes, the concern he couldn't hide, and it filled her with a sense of longing, a desperate wish to make things right.

She felt a rush of gratitude mixed with regret grateful that he could still show her kindness, regretful that she had given him so many reasons to turn away. Even now, with all her mistakes laid bare before her, he was here, trying to bring her comfort.

Lucian tried to look away, to hide his worry and protect himself, but seeing her so fragile was breaking his heart. "Come on, Rose," he murmured, turning slightly to the side, his voice barely above a whisper. "Don't cry. It… it really doesn't suit you. Besides, if you keep this up, you'll get my mattress all dirty with tears. And, let's be real," he added, a playful glint in his eyes, "you look… well, not your best when you're crying." He forced a playful tone, hoping to make her smile, though his words were laced with tenderness.

Rose blinked in surprise, a small, unexpected laugh slipping out between her sniffles. She could see through his attempt to tease, could sense the warmth behind his words, and it was enough to lift her spirits, if only a little. "Oh, really?" she shot back, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "Well, you're no masterpiece yourself right now, you know. Covered in bedhead and all…" Experience more on M-V-L

She trailed off, her voice breaking slightly as she tried to keep her tone light. But the relief that came with his gentle teasing was overwhelming. She was grateful beyond words, even if she couldn't express it fully.

Lucian gave up, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, his face reddening slightly. "Alright, alright. I get it," he said, looking down and trying to hide his own embarrassment. But he was relieved. Seeing her laugh, even through her tears, was a comfort to him, a reminder that perhaps there was still a chance to bridge the chasm that had grown between them.

Rose, however, felt her heart swell with a mix of emotions guilt, gratitude, and an odd sense of hope. She realized that, despite everything, Lucian was still willing to be there for her, still able to care about her even after all the hurt she had caused him. It was a part of him she had once taken for granted, but now, seeing him so openly kind, so willing to ease her pain, she knew she couldn't let this chance slip away.