Chapter 253

A digital photo frame sat on the nightstand, looping a handful of pictures of Lucius from his younger years. He was only 16 or 17 in the shots. He wore a sharp riding outfit with boots and a black riding crop in his hand. His tousled hair caught the glow of the setting sun and shone with a faint luster. He looked like a teenage angel who'd fallen to earth, so striking that it made one's heart clench. Compared to those years, the current Lucius had shed the softness of youth. He now carried a cutting edge and a commanding presence that made some people unable to meet his gaze. Valerie's thoughts drifted as she stared at the boyish figure in the photos. What was she doing when Lucius was 17 or 18? She remembered now. She had raised hell with Graham day in and day out, leaving a trail of chaos and gossip wherever they went. Seeing Valerie lost in his photos, Lucius couldn't help but come up behind her and wrap his arms around her. "I was only 17 in those photos." She stiffened a lit