Chapter 60: Lucian’s Newfound Fascination
Reyna searched his face. The longer she stared, the more the resemblance clawed at her—something familiar she couldn’t name.
Lucian shoved her hand away with cold irritation. His eyes dropped to his watch. "You have sixty seconds. Lie to me, and you won’t leave this hospital in a car."
...
The door to Madam Colburn’s room opened.
Brianna, who was still sitting beside the bed, with her fingers laced through the Dowager’s, flinched at his entrance and forced a smile—the same brittle, "everything’s fine" mask she’d been wearing since they walked through the door.
Madam Colburn’s voice was soft. "Is everything alright, Lucian?"
He didn’t answer right away. Instead he crossed to the bed and fixed his gaze on Brianna, having discovered a lot a few minutes ago.
When he spoke, his voice dropped into a tender, terrifyingly gentle tone that somehow made her stomach tighten.
"Everything is fine, Grandmother."
His hand settled on Brianna’s shoulder, possessively pinning her in place even as her body instinctively stiffened.
"I’ve just discovered someone who may know Dr. Briony Ashcroft."
Madam Colburn’s face lit up. "And who—"
"Don’t worry about the details, Grandmother." Lucian gave her a reassuring smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "Once everything is settled, you’ll redo the surgery. And this time... it will work."
The old woman’s expression softened with wary hope. She trusted Lucian implicitly—he had been fiercely engaged with her recovery process.
From finding the surgical team, to sending a jet to them, despite the warnings. A risk that had ended in tragedy.
Her symptoms had worsened after that. And the guilt still lived in her bones.
"Grandmother, we’ll be leaving now."
Madam Colburn’s brows shot up. "Now? But you only just got here."
Lucian and Brianna exchanged a quick glance. "It’s been over three hours, Grandmother."
The Dowager blinked, then laughed it off with a wave of her frail hand. "This old memory of mine must be playing tricks again." She tried to sit up to see them out, but dizziness hit her hard. She clutched her head.
Lucian steadied her instantly. "Easy."
Brianna leaned forward, genuine worry creasing her brow. "Should I call the nurse?"
"No, no. I just need rest." Madam Colburn smiled weakly. "I’ll be good as new."
They didn’t look convinced, but Lucian didn’t push. When she insisted she was fine and even stood to walk them to the door, they let her.
Just as they stepped into the hallway, Mr. Sterling appeared behind them. He gave the Dowager a strained nod, then slipped past Lucian and Brianna into the room without a word.
The door clicked shut in their faces.
Lucian and Brianna stood motionless in the hallway, still perplexed by the door shut in their faces.
Lucian was the first to look away. His eyes found Brianna’s slender figure; reminding him of the earlier encounter he had dismissed.
But now, staring at the woman beside him—his wife—the resemblance refused to be ignored.
Reyna had been too close. He saw Brianna’s eyes. Her nose. The exact curve of her lips.
Even now, with her cheeks turning red... His eyes dropped to her mouth, lingering there a second too long, then he looked back up.
Lucian tried to stay focused. He found it deeply disturbing how a person could be so... perfect. So perfect she was all that has been in his mind for the past few days.
It had been strange how she didn’t seem to be affected by his behavior the other night. What bothered him was he was fully aware of what he was doing to her and would do more
Narrowing his eyes, he reprimanded himself for having such thoughts about his wife.
Meanwhile, Brianna shifted under the weight of his gaze. The longer he looked, the more her cheeks burned. She could feel the heat crawling up her neck, staining her skin a traitorous shade of pink she didn’t want to admit.
"Wife, are you feeling sick?" Lucian reached out, pressing the back of his palm to her forehead.
She flinched hard and glared. "What are you doing? I’m fine."
He stared at her for a second. "Hmm, perhaps the redness is not from sickness." Then his voice dropped low and teasing, "Interesting... you never used to blush."
She scoffed inwardly at the accusation!
How dare he—Ugh!
He felt the corner of his mouth twitch. Could it be that she was shy around him? Since when did his wife blush?
And her reaction—"How cute."
Brianna had never felt even more embarrassed! She looked away, clearing her throat sharply. "Look—Thomas is here."
Lucian reluctantly followed her gaze and frowned at the interruption.
Meanwhile, Thomas went straight to Brianna. "Mrs. Colburn, if I may ask... what did Madam Colburn think of the jewelry?"
Dropping his head, he laughed. He didn’t even try to hide the sneer. "I told you. I’ve worked for this family long before you showed up. She likes big stones and—"
"Magnificent."
Thomas was taken aback. "What?"
Brianna lifted her chin with pure satisfaction. "Her exact word was magnificent."
Upon hearing that, to say Thomas’s face drained of color was an understatement!
His mouth opened, closed, then opened again. ’That... that can’t be right. Madam Colburn has always—’
"Cat got your tongue?" Brianna asked sweetly.
Watching Thomas choke on his own mockery was a different kind of satisfaction. Hence, she smiled.
"You’re different when you smile."
Brianna and Thomas turned to Lucian at the same time. One of them was confused and the other startled.
Under their scrutinizing gazes, Lucian cleared his throat. "Thomas—don’t you think? What do you think about my wife’s smile?"
Thomas raised a brow, studying Brianna’s face. He couldn’t say he liked her smile—it had already vanished, replaced by a cold frown.
"I’ll meet you in the car," she said coldly, already walking down the hallway.
Watching her go, Thomas sighed, baffled by the sudden shift in temperature. He leaned toward Lucian, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper.
"Sir... To answer your question; even when she smiles, she looks like she’s ready to draw blood. She’s quite... moody today, isn’t she?"
Meanwhile, Lucian was also bothered by Brianna’s mood swing, thinking he said something wrong.
He saw Thomas and saw a useful scapegoat for venting out his worry.
"Moody?" Stepping into his personal space, Thomas had no option but to shrink back against the wall.
"My wife’s temperament is not a topic for your assessment, Thomas. And if you ever find yourself ’analyzing’ her smile again... you won’t be doing it from within the gates of the villa."
Thomas was taken aback. "But... Sir, you just asked—"
"I asked for a confirmation of my own observation, Thomas. Not for your personal critique. Keep your eyes on the floor or find a new profession."
Straightening his cuffs, Lucian looked toward the exit where Brianna had disappeared.
She was angry. And for some reason, she was the only thing he could think about.
"Let’s go."
...
The Maybach rolled smoothly through the evening streets.
Brianna couldn’t help but reminisce about what Madam Colburn had said to her.
What was worse than asking her to permanently marry Lucian was sitting there and lying to the poor woman that she... the thought made her stomach turn... that she, Brianna, was in love with him!
She bit her bottom lip, whimpering inwardly.
On the other hand, Lucian was simply interested in what his wife was thinking.
Wondering how one person would go from being angry, to neutral, to sadness, to disgust, to anger again, and finally to whatever she’s doing now; in less than a minute!
This was his newfound fascination; watching this woman.
He found her so fiercely interesting that if he looked away, he might miss something.
A complete contrast to the memory that flashed in his head a few days ago when he was showering.
The person, who should be him, was—
"What?"
Lucian was taken aback.
Rolling her eyes, Brianna looked away. She was barely holding it together with the lie she told, wondering if he heard it when she told Madam Colburn she loved him.
Because it didn’t take long for him to enter the room, making her flinch.
Maybe if she explained herself to him—telling him it was all part of maintaining the lie for the fragile woman’s heart; maybe then he would stop looking her way.
Just as she was about to begin—
Bzzt. Bzzt.
Brianna stared briefly at her bag before pulling out her phone.
[Genevieve Colburn: Are you guys close? When you arrive, don’t use the front. Take him through the back entrance. Trust me. But just to be sure, say something that sounds like an announcement.]
Say something that sounds like an announcement?
What does that even mean?
Brianna’s thumb hovered over the screen. She knew Genevieve wanted a spectacle—"Welcome Back" banquet Lucian hadn’t authorized. The goal was to watch the unflappable man lose his mind.
With a devilish smile on her face, she typed a single nod emoji and tucked the phone away.
