Illegally His!!??

XXVII

Xavier's POV:

I was sorting through some files in my study when Lucian passed by, briefly peeking inside. In a low, almost detached voice, he said, "Meera's crying. Maybe you should go check on her."

I could tell he was hurting too. Though he tried to act tough, putting on an unreadable mask, I knew Lucian better than anyone. The sadness in his eyes, the unshed tears—something had gotten to him. 

Something big must've happened between them.

Without a second thought, I stood up abruptly, shooting him a sharp look as I knocked some files off my desk in the process. Lucian met my gaze with an expression I couldn't quite decipher, and then he walked away, leaving me even more concerned.

I rushed to Meera's room, my heart pounding, and found my princess sobbing uncontrollably, her face buried in her pillow. Without hesitation, I hurried to her side, wrapping her in a tight embrace.

"Why are you crying, princess?" I whispered softly, my voice laced with concern.

Seeing her like this tore me apart. My blood boiled, and my heart ached as I clenched my fists. With rage simmering in my eyes, I demanded in a cold, commanding tone, "Who dared to hurt you? I'll burn them to the ground."

But Meera wasn't looking for vengeance. She just needed comfort. Shaking her head, she whispered brokenly, "No one. Just let me cry... please."

I knew she was holding back, that something much deeper was hurting her. But I wouldn't push her to talk, not until she was ready.

Nodding silently, I held her tighter, letting her cry her heart out as I gently stroked her back, whispering words of reassurance in Russian. 

For now, that was all she needed—someone to be there, someone she could lean on. And I'd always be that person for her.

Lucian's POV:

Looking at her cry miserably felt like a stab to my heart. Her red, puffy eyes and flushed nose made my heart ache. I was the reason she was in this state.

I wanted to tell her everything—how I truly felt about her, how even though I regretted that night, it was still the best night of my life, something I would cherish forever. I wanted to explain that Dee didn't mean anything to me; it was always her who mattered. But I couldn't. I just couldn't.

"Hey, kiddo, listen to me. Whatever you saw meant nothing," I whispered, reaching for her hands and holding them firmly.

"About that night, I'm really sorry. I wasn't in my right senses. Please don't hate me; let's just forget it ever happened, okay?" I said in a low voice.

Yeah, I know I shouldn't have said it that way, but I didn't want to make things harder for either of us.

I gave her a gentle squeeze and a sad smile before leaving. I longed to hold her in my arms, to be the man she could always rely on, but I knew I had to keep my distance.

As I made my way to my room, I passed Xavier's study. I peeked inside to find him engrossed in his work, oblivious to the world outside.

Quietly fighting back my tears, I whispered, "Meera is crying. You should go check on her."

Meera needed a shoulder. Meera needed Xavier, not me.

Xavier shot me a sharp look before standing up, but without any further explanation, I walked away, leaving him more concerned.

Once in my room, I flopped onto my bed, burying my face in the pillow as tears flowed silently.

I had to let her go. She was never mine.

Meera was never mine.