Love And Vengeance

Family

The morning had dragged itself into noon, and Lucian was still buried in work. His desk was covered in files and papers, a cup of coffee sitting half-empty beside his phone. The soft hum of the air conditioner filled the room, the only sound breaking through the quiet.

He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temple with his fingers. The meeting earlier hadn’t gone well, and his thoughts were still half on Georgia. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the look on her face at the restaurant, the quiet, hurt one that said I don’t believe you yet.

Before he could sink too deep into his thoughts, the door to his office swung open.

“Hey, big bro,” a familiar voice said brightly.

Lucian looked up, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “I thought you were going to sleep all day.”

Leah stood by the door, her long hair tied up messily and her face glowing with a playful grin. “I was,” she said, walking inside. “But I wanted to see Damien. After all, he did lock me outside the other day.”

Lucian’s brows rose as he chuckled quietly. “I bet he didn’t even see you.”

Leah gasped dramatically. “Oh, he saw me. He just pretended not to.” She crossed her arms and flopped down on the chair across his desk. “You two work too much. It’s unhealthy.”

Lucian shook his head, hiding a small laugh. “You’re one to talk. You used to watch movies till sunrise.”

“That was different,” she said, pretending to be offended. “I was young and silly. Now I’m older and wiser. I nap.”

Lucian’s soft laugh echoed through the room. The tension that had clung to him all morning eased a little.

Just as he opened his mouth to say something, the office door opened again, this time without a knock.

“Lucian,” Damien said, stepping in with a stack of files in his hand. “The partner just signed this, and I thought...”

He stopped mid-sentence when his gaze landed on Leah.

“Well, if it isn’t my little sister,” Damien said, his lips curving into a grin.

Leah jumped to her feet. “In the flesh,” she said, rushing toward him.

Damien laughed as she wrapped her arms around him. “You still hug like you’re trying to break ribs,” he said, hugging her back tightly.

They stayed like that for a minute, both smiling. Lucian leaned back in his chair, watching them with quiet amusement. He’d already gotten his share of hugs earlier last night, now it was Damien’s turn.

When they finally let go, Damien looked at her with a grin. “When did you get here? And how on earth did Mom let you leave?”

Leah giggled. “I arrived last night. And Mom didn’t exactly let me. I escaped when she wasn’t looking.”

Damien laughed loudly, shaking his head. “Of course you did. Still the same troublemaker.”

Leah made a face. “Says the man who didn’t open the door for me when I came to visit.”

Damien blinked. “Wait, you came to my place?”

“Yes!” Leah threw her hands in the air. “I knocked for almost five minutes.”

He frowned, pretending to think. “Oh… then I must’ve already been asleep. You know me, once I’m out, not even an earthquake can wake me up.”

Lucian chuckled quietly. “That sounds about right.”

Leah rolled her eyes but smiled anyway. “You two are impossible.”

Damien set the signed files on Lucian’s desk and dropped into the chair beside Leah. “Man, it’s been so long,” he said, shaking his head. “I missed you, trouble.”

Leah smirked. “Yeah, yeah. You just missed having someone to bully.”

Damien grinned. “That too.”

Lucian watched them both, his lips lifting slightly. It felt good seeing them like this, laughing, teasing, alive. For a moment, it almost drowned out the guilt still gnawing at him about Georgia.

Leah leaned back in her chair and looked at Lucian’s phone sitting near his elbow. “What are you doing?” she asked curiously.

Lucian looked up from the screen. “Just checking some photoshoot pictures.”

Her eyes widened. “Photoshoot? Since when did you become a model?”

Lucian gave her a faint smirk. “A friend talked me into it.”

Leah leaned forward eagerly. “Let me see!”

Lucian hesitated for a second, then handed her the phone.

She started swiping through the photos, her smile widening. “You look handsome as always,” she said teasingly. “But…” She paused, squinting at the screen. “This lady beside you... she looks familiar.”

Damien leaned over from his chair, curious. One glance at the photo, and he let out a low chuckle. “That’s Georgia,” he said, glancing at Lucian.

Lucian’s shoulders stiffened slightly, though he didn’t look up.

Damien turned to Leah. “Wait, how would you know her face? You just got here last night.”

Leah frowned, tapping her finger against her chin. “I’m trying to remember.”

She went quiet for a moment. Then suddenly, her eyes widened. “Oh! I know!” she said, snapping her fingers. “While I was waiting for Lucian last night, someone knocked on the door. When I opened it, I saw that lady... Georgia, right? She was standing there. She said she was looking for Lucian, but she didn’t wait.”

Lucian’s head snapped up instantly. “What?”

Leah nodded, smiling faintly at the memory. “I thought she was your business partner or something. I was going to tell you someone came looking for you, but I got excited and forgot.”

Before she could say more, Lucian stood abruptly, reaching across the desk and snatching his phone from her hand. His expression was unreadable, but his jaw was tight.

Damien stared at Leah like she’d just grown two heads. “Wait, wait,” he said slowly. “When this lady... Georgia... came over, what were you doing?”

Leah blinked, confused by his tone. “Nothing. I just opened the door. Why?”

Damien’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Were you… wearing something of Lucian’s by any chance?”

Leah frowned, thinking back. “Oh. Yeah, I was wearing his shirt.”

Lucian closed his eyes briefly and sighed. “Perfect,” he muttered under his breath.

Leah tilted her head. “What’s wrong?”

Before Lucian could reply, Damien burst out laughing. “Leah, you might’ve just started World War III,” he said between laughs.

Leah’s eyes widened. “What are you talking about?”

Damien grinned and leaned closer to her. “That lady... Georgia... is Lucian’s girlfriend.”

Leah’s mouth dropped open. “Oh.” Then she let out a nervous laugh. “Oops.”

Lucian was already walking toward the door, phone in hand, his steps quick and tense. He stopped halfway, his hand resting on the doorknob.

“You won’t tell Mom about this, will you?” he asked, turning to look at Leah.

Leah gave him a cheeky smile. “I won’t,” she said sweetly. “But I bet she already knows.”

Damien chuckled under his breath. “Yeah, she probably does.”

Lucian groaned softly, shaking his head as he pushed the door open. “You two are impossible.”

“Love you too, big bro!” Leah called out, grinning.

He didn’t answer, but she caught the faintest smile on his face before the door closed behind him.

Damien leaned back in his chair, looking at Leah. “You really have a talent for chaos, you know that?”

Leah smirked proudly. “Runs in the family.”

They both laughed, but Damien’s gaze lingered on the door. He had a feeling Lucian wasn’t heading back to his desk. He was heading straight to fix the mess Leah had just unknowingly made.