CHAPTER 448: IF YOU VALUE YOUR LIFE

After finalizing the arrangements in Italy, Lucius flew to London with his nephew. A message from one of his stepbrothers had already provided the address where he was expected to arrive.

At the airport, a man was waiting for them, sent specifically to fetch the pair. They followed him into a black car, the city lights streaming past as they drove toward the house where Eveline had once lived.

Roderick sat quietly, stealing glances at his uncle. He noticed how Lucius’s fingers wouldn’t stay still, endlessly fidgeting in his lap. For years, Lucius had built walls around his heart, never allowing anyone to see the vulnerable truth that beneath his stoic armor, he too had longed for a mother’s love. And now, with Eveline gone so suddenly, those walls seemed to be crumbling.

First Antoine, then Matteo, and now Eveline... all lost their lives because of his father and brother. Roderick could almost feel the weight of those thoughts pressing down on Lucius, eating away at him from within.

Wordlessly, Roderick reached out and placed a hand on his uncle’s shoulder, giving it a firm, steadying pat. A silent gesture of comfort, and a quiet promise that he wasn’t alone.

Finally, the drive ended and they were in the estate. Lucius and Roderick stepped down from the car.

"Please, this way," an old man, who appeared to be the butler, politely said. Leading their way, he walked them into the villa situated ahead.

This was the first time Lucius was going to meet his step family and vice-versa. As they finally arrived in the living room, where an eerie silence was present, he could feel the sudden unease developing in his chest.

"Lucius," a voice came and both of them turned to look at the person.

A man in his late-twenties walked toward Lucius with a weary expression on his face. His eyes looked swollen and red. Before Lucius could understand, the man hugged him.

"Glad you came," he said. Lucius brought his hand to the man’s back.

The two pulled away when the man introduced himself. "I am Zade. I dropped the message to you. Someone shot Mom in a hotel room. Dad is in the hospital as postmortem is going on. While Cyrus and Winter... They are preparing for the funeral."

Then, looking after Roderick, he continued, "You must be Roderick. Mom mentioned about you once." He didn’t hesitate in hugging Roderick, who hugged back Zade.

"Has the investigation begun?" Lucius asked.

"It has," Zade replied. "Please take a seat. The journey must be tiring for both of you."

The three of them settled onto the sofa. Moments later, a maid entered with a tray in her hands. She quietly placed glasses of water before Lucius and Roderick, then bowed and withdrew.

"I heard you have mafia roots," Zade said suddenly. His gaze locked onto Lucius. "The last time Mom came back from Italy, she... didn’t look herself. Did something happen there? I need to know, because I intend to catch the culprit and see them punished lawfully." He drew in a breath. "I’m with the National Security Unit. From what I’ve gathered, her murder may be tied to your connections with the mafia."

"Don’t you dare accuse my uncle when you don’t know the truth," Roderick snapped, his tone fierce. "He’s grieving. He’s in pain right now, and you—"

"Roderick, stay quiet," Lucius cut in, his hand lifting in a firm gesture for silence.

Zade leaned forward, his voice calmer now. "I’m not accusing him. I’m stating a fact, one many already whisper about. Lucius, I don’t know what kind of relationship you had with Mom, but I do know this: after she visited you, something in her changed. And now she’s gone. An unknown shooter walked into that hotel and vanished without a trace. Nothing on the CCTV was captured." His jaw tightened. "If we’re to uncover the truth, you need to be transparent with me. Otherwise, we’ll be chasing shadows."

"Can I see my mother first? I want to go to the hospital," Lucius said, rising to his feet.

Zade shook his head firmly. "You can see her once the postmortem is complete. There’s no point in going now."

Lucius’s gaze hardened as he straightened fully, his presence filling the room. "I will catch the one who murdered my mother. But you—" his eyes fixed onto his stepbrother’s "—you must stay out of this if you value your life."

Zade stood as well, meeting his stare without flinching. "I can’t. She was my mother too."

"I didn’t deny that," Lucius replied coldly. "But you need to understand the weight of this. You can’t take down the person behind her death. They won’t be caught by laws or courtrooms. Leave this to me. When I find them..." his voice dropped further, "...you’ll know."

"Then tell me who is it?" Zade pressed, his voice firm, eyes narrowing with determination.

Roderick’s gaze shifted to his uncle, searching his face, wondering if Lucius would reveal the truth.

Lucius’s expression remained unreadable. "How can I be sure you’d keep it to yourself?" he asked.

"What?" Zade frowned, confusion flashing across his features.

Lucius stepped forward slightly. "Did Mom ever tell you about her past?"

Zade’s brows knitted tighter. "What kind of past are you talking about?"

"Zade," Lucius began, "don’t entangle yourself in this. It isn’t as simple as you believe. I came here to attend the funeral... to bid my mother a final farewell. Nothing more."

He straightened, his cold gaze making it clear the conversation was over. "Let’s leave it at that way. I hope you don’t ask anymore questions because I won’t answer you."

"I won’t tell anyone from my unit. I deserve the truth," Zade stated.

"Zade, you’ll know the answers after I find the culprit. Mom wanted all of you more than anyone. She was happy with all of you. And I want all of you to remember her as a woman who could do anything for her family. And she lived up to that," Lucius asserted.

Though for him, his mother hardly played that kind of role.