The Hidden Heir

15| The Departure (2)

Agatha's Perspective

The morning dawned with a heaviness that mirrored the weight on Agatha's heart. Lucius's absence echoed through the halls of their home, a silent reminder of the rift that had torn their family apart.

Agatha moved through the house with a sense of purpose, her steps measured but her mind in turmoil. She busied herself with tasks—preparing breakfast, tidying the rooms, and attending to the needs of her remaining children—but her thoughts kept drifting back to Lucius.

As she set the table for breakfast, the absence of an extra place setting felt like a gaping wound. Lilly and Jonas sat in tense silence, their eyes avoiding each other's gaze as they picked at their food.

"We should talk about what happened," Agatha said, her voice breaking the strained silence.

Jonas scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain. "What's there to talk about? Lucius made his choice, and now he's gone. Good riddance."

Lilly shot her brother a reproachful look before turning to her mother. "Do you think he'll be alright out there, Mother?" Her voice wavered with concern, a flicker of guilt surfacing in her eyes.

Agatha sighed, her shoulders sagging with the weight of responsibility. "I don't know, Lilly," she admitted, her voice tinged with regret. "We may not have always seen eye to eye with Lucius, but he was still part of this family."

The silence that followed was heavy with unspoken emotions—regret, guilt, and a sense of loss that hung over them like a dark cloud.

After breakfast, Agatha retreated to the solitude of her room, the weight of the day pressing down on her. She sat at her vanity, staring at her reflection in the mirror, seeing not just her own weary face but also the ghosts of past decisions and the consequences that followed.

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts, and Oliver peeked inside, his young face creased with worry. "Mother, where's Lucius?" he asked innocently, unaware of the complexities of the situation.

Agatha forced a smile, masking her inner turmoil. "Lucius had to go away for a while, Oliver," she replied gently, her words carefully chosen to shield her youngest son from the harsh realities of their family's dynamics.

"Why?" Oliver's brow furrowed in confusion, his innocence a stark contrast to the complexities of their adult world.

"It's...complicated," Agatha sighed, struggling to find the right words to explain without burdening her son with the truth.

Oliver's gaze lingered for a moment, as if searching for answers in his mother's eyes, before nodding solemnly and leaving the room.

Alone once again, Agatha's thoughts turned to Lucius—her son by name but never by heart. She wondered if he would find the acceptance and belonging he had always yearned for, or if he would forever be adrift in a world that had never truly embraced him.

As the day wore on, Agatha found herself standing at the window, gazing out at the world beyond their home. The streets were bustling with activity, life moving forward despite the upheaval within their own walls.

A pang of longing tugged at Agatha's heart as she watched a group of children playing in the street, their laughter a stark contrast to the somber atmosphere within her home. She wondered if Lucius had ever experienced such carefree moments, if he had ever felt truly happy amidst the constraints of their family's expectations.

The sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the city, and Agatha turned away from the window with a heavy sigh. The day had passed in a blur of mundane tasks and unspoken regrets, leaving her with a sense of emptiness that no amount of busyness could fill.

As night fell and the house grew quiet, Agatha lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling in the darkness. Her thoughts drifted back to Lucius, her son, who had slipped through their fingers like sand, leaving behind a void that seemed impossible to fill.

"I hope you find what you're looking for, Lucius," Agatha whispered into the silent night, her words carrying a mixture of hope and sorrow. "Even if it's not with us."