Yours, Until Needed
Chapter 113: Impossible

Chapter 113: Impossible

LUCIAN

His expression was dark and obvious to anyone who looked.

Flowers.

Fucking Flowers.

By now, the irritation that had bubbled up for several days got him pinching the bridge of his nose.

He could feel a headache coming.

"Something wrong with you? You look a bit pale?" Eliana asked, her earlier smile turning into worry.

"I’m fine. Probably just need to sleep it off."

"It’s a good thing we live close by. Just go to bed tonight. You can work on your tasks tomorrow."

Eli wasn’t satisfied just by looking, so she wanted to check his temperature.

"Hmm. Not a fever, but you’ve been looking a little sick this week. Should I call the doctor?" Eli asked as she cradled Lucian’s chin in her hands.

"No." He said, with his face tilting to nuzzle her palms.

Eliana played with his face, scrunching up his cheeks here and there without Lucian complaining.

"Yeah, you’re not feeling well. Then let’s go home and rest."

Lucian just stared at her, his thoughts still unsettled even as he nodded.

With the drive being short enough, it didn’t take long before Chester mauled them by the front door.

Speaking of Chester, if there was anyone else who experienced the fluctuations of Lucian’s mood, it would be Chester.

Lucian was aware that he’d had to cut down on the time he’d been going out with him because he’d been too lethargic lately.

He’ll just have to make it up to him once he’s done solving his problem.

Once he figures out what the hell is wrong with him,

Eli flitted towards the living room, looking for vases to use for the flowers she got today.

Just the thought of having all these flowers made Lucian’s jaw clench. He felt like these flowers were mocking him.

"You better take a bath. Stop staring at the flowers like you’re ready to commit a crime. Last I recall, the flowers haven’t done anything to you."

"Tsk."

She doesn’t understand.

But it’s not like I do.

Lucian operated like a robot, showering mechanically and drying his head similarly.

"At least be nicer to your head. How are we supposed to live if you lose your IQ with how rough you’re being."

"Sit down. I’ll do it before you take out a chunk of your hair."

Lucian obediently sat on the bed while Eliana kneeled to have better access to his hair.

"How’s your brainstorming going? Any progress?"

"Brainstorming?" Lucian asked, confused at the question.

"Yeah. You’ve been looking contemplative recently, like you’re pondering on the secrets of the universe."

"I haven’t."

"Haven’t been brainstorming?" Eliana asked as she clambered off the bed for the hair dryer.

"Haven’t figured it out."

She seemed surprised, but with the sounds of the hair dryer, it was pointless to speak. Words would just drown in the sound.

Lucian always preferred silence or just the general lack of chatter. Lately, however, he has been riled up by everything whenever he has free time and unoccupied brain cells.

He felt compelled to contemplate his issues but would always come up with nothing. It was a colossal waste of time.

Eli turned off the dryer before stowing it away.

"Now you’re good. Off to bed." Eliana shooed Lucian with her hands on her waist as if scolding a child.

"I’m not a child."

"You sure?"

Lucian glared at her teasing. She had a playful glint in her eyes, but Lucian was too sulky to fight back.

"Hmm. Although this makes it easier to deal with your mouth, I’d still prefer it if you get over your slump. Even Chester’s starting to notice."

Chester had been making sounds to convey his dissatisfaction, but Lucian was incapable of solving anything even now.

"So, tell me, what’s got you sulking, Mr. Sinclair."

"I’m not sulking." Lucian scoffed.

"And I’m six feet tall." Eliana’s eyebrow was raised as she teased.

"Might as well be upfront with it. If you can’t figure it out, I suggest you share your clues. So out with it." Eli patted Lucian’s side of the bed, signaling for him to lie down while they talked.

"Any ideas when this started?"

Lucian thought about making something up but realized how pointless that would be. He had no plans to stay like this for who knows how long.

"Just recently. Especially since BCI wormed themselves into SCC’s headquarters."

"Okay, that’s a good place to start. Are you uncomfortable with having another company in the headquarters? Or is it BCI in particular that you don’t like."

"BCI." It was a typical practice for high-value projects to have the same setup, and Lucian wasn’t new to that. He just didn’t like BCI in particular.

"I see. Then is it because of Nicholas or Alexa? Or maybe both of them?" Eliana shrugged as she asked, and Lucian squinted as she mentioned that guy’s name.

Lucian was unfamiliar with the feeling. As someone who never had to compare himself with anyone, he had no real concept of insecurity.

"Don’t say his name. I don’t like it." Lucian knew he sounded like a whining child, but she asked, and that was a pressing concern for him.

"You’re not a fan of that guy, huh?"

"And you are?"

"Not really. I’m not a fan of his methodology. I appreciate the honesty, but it’s a little too late for that. And hiring Alexa doesn’t inspire confidence in his ability to judge character."

A little too late?

Lucian rolled to the side, his face drawn with a hard line.

"So, had he asked first, you’d have given him a positive answer?"

"Huh? Isn’t that how I wound up married to you?" Her hands were pillowed beneath her cheeks while she gave him a questioning look.

Lucian felt a few of his screws loosening as Eliana continued with her explanation.

"Though I’m not quite sure about his intentions and feelings. Not that I’d judge someone’s feelings, but I really have no idea where that came from."

He felt murderous, but more than that, he felt the coming of impending doom. But what made him feel that way?

"So, you’re saying you’re okay with marrying that bastard?" Lucian’s jaw clenched as he said that through gritted teeth.

"At one point, I almost ended up with Jasper." She cringed, finding the memory repulsive.

"Had they been more discreet, I wouldn’t have ended up with you. If you think about it, what brought me here was a combination of circumstances, logic, and Chester. So what would make that any different in the case of that guy?"

If Lucian had been able to do it, and Jasper had almost had his chance, what could’ve stopped Nicholas?

Nothing.

He just happened to ask first.

And Lucian had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

This was worse than jealousy. Eli said he was jealous and possessive, hating on the flowers delivered to her office.

But this didn’t feel like that.

"You okay?" Eliana asked, probably noticing how long it’s been since Lucian stopped talking, with a blank look on his face.

"No." Because he didn’t feel okay.

"Need a hug? I’m not sure what’s wrong with you, but if you’re not sick, maybe you’d like a hug?" She asked with open arms.

And Lucian took it.

His arms wrapped around her waist, and his head rested on the crook of her neck. Her soft and supple skin carried the familiar scent of the body wash he liked on her.

Eliana’s arms wrapped around his neck and shoulders, and Lucian tightened his embrace, wanting to cage her in his arms.

He thought about it as he inhaled her scent.

It was impossible to imagine Nicholas in his place, with his hands replacing Lucian’s and having another face buried against her neck.

Impossible.

He’d kill him.