Outside, Lucian was having many dark thoughts.
He really wanted to take his mother out of that place, but he couldn't for many reasons.
He couldn't even if he wanted to, since legally she was labelled as a criminal.
A criminal who abused her son.
He couldn't just barge into the facility, saying, 'I am her son, give her back to me,' and take her home.
Her son was legally dead.
He was legally dead.
No one would believe him, and even if he claimed to be a relative, he had no documents to substantiate his claims.
No birth certificate, no DNA tests, nothing that connected him to his mother, to Seraphina Cross.
He didn't know whether his father was keeping tabs on her or not.
Knowing that man, it wouldn't be surprising.
He had only one way to take her out with him, and that was legally.
But for that,
"I need money and connections." He muttered to himself while walking on the street, his hands in his pockets.
He was wearing a white hoodie with a black T-shirt under it, paired with slim black joggers and worn running shoes.
It was evening.
His apartment was far from the place his mother was kept so he had to take a public transport to come here.
'Lia is going to kill me if she found out that I went out this far without telling her.'
He sighed. It was difficult to remember that he was the elder sibling.
Lia still scolded him if he was late outside, even though he was already fit and capable enough to go outside without worrying about fatigue or dizziness, as he had felt dizzy during the first days, and due to overwork, he fainted. After that, Lia kept him inside for days before letting him go outside.
He had been training for a month. It wasn't a long period of time for him to gain the physique of a Greek god, but it was enough to make a change from his previous form.
Leaving his bodybuilding transformation for later, he did another thing.
He bought lottery tickets.
Before his regression, he remembered a handful of events—and this lottery result was among them.
He hated asking Lia for money.
It made him feel useless.
But he asked anyway.
Lia, though surprised, gave it to him without even asking why he wanted it.
'Is my sister an angel?' He wondered.
[Yeah, your sister is the angel and I am the devil.]
Akasha grumbled.
'Oh, come on. Stop being jealous.' Lucian rolled his eyes.
Whenever he complimented on Lia, Akasha always said something about it.
[I am not jealous. I should be the angel. I literally gave you another life.]
Her irritated voice further strengthened his theory that she was being jealous.
'And dear, I am grateful for that. Now, should I bow down to you so you believe me.'
[No need for that. As long as you acknowledge I'm the most important one.]
'Yes, yes, my dear angel.'
[HEY—!]
He smiled at her antics.
A few men gave him strange looks.
A few women slowed their stride, staring longer than they should have.
He ignored them.
***
Reaching his apartment, he opened the front door.
As he entered, he was greeted by an aroma of delicious food.
"I'm home." He said before closing the door.
As he walked into the kitchen, he saw Lia cooking.
Her slender figure stood over the stove, hair tied up in a loose ponytail that swayed as she moved. She was humming a tune.
The instant she sensed him, she turned.
And the next moment—she flew toward him.
"Welcome home!"
"Whoa—Lia—!"
She jumped straight into his arms, legs wrapping around his waist, arms locked tight around his shoulders.
"Lia, I just came from outside."
He tried to loosen her grip.
She didn't relent.
In fact, she tightened her arms around him and pressed her face into his neck.
[She's sniffing you like a dog.]
Akasha's voice rang in his head, sounding genuinely disturbed.
Lucian blinked.
He looked down at Lia.
Noticing her behavior, and sure enough, she was sniffing his neck.
He tilted his head.
'She looks more like a cat.'
[...]
Akasha was stunned.
[Are you worried about that. Didn't you hear?! She is sniffing you! What kind of sister does this!]
She couldn't understand this man anymore. She had thought he was still somewhat stable.
Apparently, she was wrong.
[Is he already insane? Or was he insane from the start?]
But Lucian brushed it aside like it was nothing.
'What's the big deal? She is my sister. She can do anything she wants.' He said it casually, as if it was not weird at all.
Then he hugged her back, his hand instinctively moving to pat her head. At the same time, he peeked over her shoulder to make sure the food wasn't burning.
Lia trembled slightly in his arms, clutching him tighter.
[He is already crazy.] Akasha muttered.
She could somewhat understand Lucian's strange justification—he clung to the few bonds he had left. Dying twice, losing too much, having too little stability… it made sense that he would latch onto the only warmth he had.
But what she didn't understand was Lia.
Her clinginess had increased. No—multiplied.
Before, she was affectionate, yes.
She sought his comfort, yes.
But this?
This was different.
['She's getting attached too fast…'] She thought to herself.