Lucius woke late, the clock nearing 11 a.m., and leaned back against the headboard. His gaze drifted to his phone, where a small sticky note rested on top. Peeling it off, he read the simple yet heartfelt message: I love you.
A bright smile lit up his face, and his heart fluttered. "I love you too, Layla," he murmured softly to himself. Setting the note aside, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. His schedule had been a mess lately, and he resolved to get things back on track. At this rate, nothing would align as it should.
After a refreshing shower, Lucius wrapped himself in a bathrobe and stood before the mirror. As he brushed his teeth, fragments of the previous night replayed in his mind. He had allowed himself to be vulnerable in front of Layla, something he rarely did.
