CHAPTER 77: WHO WAS HE TO ME?

Braelyn’s POV

Genny stayed with me for a few minutes to talk about her job and all. Talking about the drama she faced during her shoots was something she had been doing since she worked with many celebrities.

"She was pretty demanding. I was fighting the urge to shove something into her mouth ", Genny hissed, recounting her experience with a B-list artist who just rose to stardom recently.

I laughed at her exasperated look. At the thought of celebrities, someone came to my mind. "How have things been with Joey? Are you still constantly getting at each other’s throats?" Her face scrunched up at the mention of Joey’s name like she had some personal vendettas against him.

Genny clicked her tongue. "There was an accident. It wasn’t anything serious but I haven’t seen him since then." She explained. Her tone was more concerned than she intended it to sound like. I didn’t want to point that out to her.

"You should contact him if you are concerned," I suggested, earning a sharp glare from her. Genny hissed at me.

"Who said I am cornered about him? The only concern I have is that this job shouldn’t be delayed." She hissed again. As if talking about him left a bad taste in her tongue. It was going to be hard for them to ever get along.

My lips twitched. Genny huffed before her attention drew back to me. She curiously eyed me. I recognised that look, she had something on her mind to ask but was thinking of the best way to handle it.

"Just spit it out already." She sneered, narrowing my eyes at her. Genny sat by the side of my bed, then cast a cautious glance at the door before she parted her lips to speak.

"What’s your deal with Lucien? Everyone here has been referring to him as your husband and I would have thought so too if I wasn’t present at your wedding." She said, I had expected her to ask about this sooner or later.

I sighed at her, my eyes trailed to the window, a soft smile on my lips. "That’s funny. Why would you have mistaken him for my husband when you clearly know I am married to Raphael?" I asked. Genny reached out for my hand and our fingers intertwined together

Her gaze softened, she looked like she was about to cry. I didn’t like the thought of that. "While you were unconscious he had stayed by your side all this while. Sometimes I come to visit, and I catch him reading to you...The scene was heart-touching, but I really don’t understand what’s up..." She explained

My heart tightened hearing what she had to say. Lucien was by my side. It gave me a warm feeling inside but I was equally confused.

My thoughts strayed away. Why did he go through such lengths? I had some questions to ask Genny about what happened, but I let her finish first.

"I have a good understanding of you. I think so..." She paused, still looking for the right words. "If I didn’t, I would have thought he was a lover, but I know you aren’t like that. His actions..."

The rest of her words were interrupted when the door creaked open. I glanced over, thinking it was the nurse. My gaze flickered at the sight of him. Lucien stood next to the doorpost, his expression was calm but it didn’t hide the exhaustion on his face

He clearly hadn’t gotten a good sleep in days. It must have been because he had been here. The thought made my chest tighten in an uncomfortable way. He didn’t have to push himself to the extreme.

He was holding the door handle. Despite the presence of the dark circles he still looked quite breathtaking.

"Am I interrupting something?" He inquired. Genny was dazed for a moment at the sight of him. He looked like a model who carried a dark elegance

She wordlessly shook her head. "No, you weren’t interrupting anything ", she chimed, then glanced at her wrist watch. She clicked her tongue irritably before pulling me into a hug ..

"I think I have to bounce now. I have been gone for long enough." She said disheartenedly. I returned her hug wrapping my hands around her

"Take care, make sure not to push yourself overboard." I didn’t want her to leave so soon, but she has her own life right now. I sighed dramatically again after breaking the hug.

"Don’t forget to text me, " I requested. Genny chuckled.

"Of course I will. We still had a lot to talk about." She got on her feet then walked towards the door. She slipped past Lucien and crossed the door.

"Later Lynn." She chimed, waving briefly at me before she closed the door. Lucien didn’t mention anything after Genny left she just stood at the door staring curiously at him.

My stomach dropped under his gaze. It wasn’t the heated gaze with restrained desire his eyes usually carried. His gaze carried a heavier emotion that made my throat feel tight.

"Are you going to just stand there?" I asked him, my voice was barely a whisper, but he heard it clearly. His jaw locked, Lucien finally walked inside. His footsteps were heavy like he was fighting some internal battle.

"You seem to be doing better." He commented. I nodded at him. I haven’t felt any discomfort since recovering

Lucien stopped by my bedside a bit away from arm’s reach. I clutched my sheets, suddenly feeling nervous and breaking out in cold sweats. "That is thanks to you. Genny told me how much you helped, " I explained, watching his face for any sign of emotion. There weren’t any changes, at least none large enough for me to notice.

"Someone had to take care of you..." He paused before adding. "I just finished having a word with the doctor,..." He dropped those words like weights and I finally understood

My fingers clutched the sheets tightly. With a steady voice, I replied. "So you already know."

My voice didn’t waver, but it felt like my ribs tightened around my lungs. His gaze didn’t shift, didn’t soften. If anything, the silence between us grew heavier.

Lucien’s hands curled into fists at his sides. There was no outburst. No raised voice. Just a frightening calm.

"Was that the excuse he used to torment you?"

His tone was quiet, almost gentle but the anger beneath it was unmistakable.

A slow, humourless smile tugged at the corner of his lips, the kind that didn’t reach his eyes.