The Faceless Heiress and The Mysterious Bodyguard

A black car drove down the deserted street, leading to her mother's house. Lucia sat in the car, her face serene, she looked out of the window, her gaze falling on the empty buildings of the deserted street. Lucia sighed, as she remembered her childhood days, here at Veteris street.

Lucia was pulled out of her sad thoughts when Hugh called to her. "Lucia, we're here, step down." Hugh said, his voice cold and his face, blank. Lucia nodded and stepped out of the car, she did not mind that Hugh, her bodyguard, had addressed her, by her first name.

Hugh followed behind Lucia, as she walked to a black gate. The gate looked old and rusty, it creaked loudly, as Lucia pushed it open. A shabby house came into view. The house had been abandoned, for years, just like other houses, on Veteris street. Overgrown, grasses, were everywhere.

The window panes were covered with dust, and the floor leading towards the front door was also covered in dust. Lucia walked between the grasses, she heard Hugh's voice behind her, "Careful, there might be snakes and scorpions here." Hugh said in his cold voice, carrying a tinge of worry, in it.

Lucia stopped, and turned back to her bodyguard, "Why don't you walk beside me, I think it safer, that way." Lucia, said, with a sly smirk on her face. Hugh sighed, and walked closer, to her. "As you wish." He said, his eyes, looking for any harmful thing or animal around.

Lucia enjoyed being near her bodyguard, she admired him, since the first day, she had seen him. Lucia did not walk to the front door, she walked towards the back of the house, where an old grave, was located. Lucia's eyes turned sad, as she looked at the old grave.

Hugh quietly stepped back, seeing Lucia's sad eyes, giving her privacy. Lucia walked to the grave, she had not visited her mother, since she was adopted by grandpa James. Lucia also couldn't come back, knowing she had not avenged her mother, even till now. Lucia fell at her mother's grave.

"Mum." Lucia said, in a shaky voice. The tears brimming in her eyes did not fall, as Lucia did not let them. Lucia knew that her mother detests tears and weakness. Lucia wouldn't show that to her mother. Lucia closed her eyes, tightly, as the painful memories of that day, resurfaced.

10 years ago, thirteen-year-old Lucia was sitting, at her study table, in her bedroom, fiddling with her fingernails, as she had pushed her books to the side, in boredom. She had always hated studying and would hide in the bathroom, from her mother, anytime her mother nagged her, about studying.

Lucia heard a loud thud, as if a big object, was dropped to the ground. Lucia frowned, but, she did not get up to check, as her mother would do that. Lucia lived alone, with her pregnant mother, and she knew no one else would push things around, like that.

After a few minutes, Lucia felt tasty, but she was extremely lazy, to go down the stairs. The water jug, in her room, was empty. Lucia pushed the chair she was sitting on, backward. She stood up and opened her door, to go out. As Lucia stepped out, she heard groans.

Lucia frowned, and walked hurriedly, down the stairs, as she got closer to the last step, the groans, sounded clearer. Lucia got to the last step, and she noticed, a blood stain, at the last step. Lucia gasped, thinking that her mother, had a miscarriage. Lucia looked around the house.

She looked around the house, but she couldn't spot her mother. 'She must be in the kitchen.' Lucia thought. Lucia was about to go to the kitchen, when she noticed the blood stains, on the floor, which led to the front door of the house. Lucia hurriedly followed the blood stains.

At the door, the blood was much thicker, as it had turned into a pool of blood. Lucia could see her mother, lying down on the floor, groaning in pain. Her maternity gown was bloodied, and it looked like she was dragged from the blood pool, to where she was.

There was a knife, lodged into her mother's round stomach. Lucia gasped, as she ran toward her mother. The young and naive Lucia took hold of the knife's hilt and tried to take it out. Thought her mother's pain, would lessen. Lucia had tears, in her eyes, threatening to fall.

"No..o, do..n't cry. It doesn't lo..ok good on you." Lucia's mother said, her voice, dripping with pain. Lucia fought her tears, at her mother's words. "Run...my s..ister..." Lucia's mother tried to say something but she was weak, as she had lost too much blood.

"What are you saying, mother? What about your sister?" Lucia said, her baby voice, slightly shaky. But, Lucia didn't hear another word, from her mother, as her mother was dead. Lucia didn't know this, she tried to pull the knife from her mother's belly. "My baby brother is in there."

Lucia didn't know that she now had company, as she was too focused on pulling the knife out. "What an evil child." A woman said, from her point of view, she thought Lucia was lodging the knife, deeply into her mother's belly. Lucia looked up in shock, hearing the voice.

Lucia was surprised to see that she had company, but it was not just a woman. She could see all her neighbors and also her mother's sister. Even though Lucia hated her mother's sister because she knew her mother wasn't on good terms, with her sister. Lucia begged her aunt for help.

Lucia raised her bloodied hands, towards her aunt, "Aunt, please help my mother, she's dying." Lucia said, not noticing the scornful looks, that was passed to her, by her neighbors. Lucia's tears, fell as she looked up at her aunt, but her aunt didn't move an inch, from her place.

"You killed my sister." Lucia's aunt, said wickedly, igniting words of scorn, towards Lucia, from the neighbors. "You are an evil child, you should rot in hell." A man said, spitting on the ground, in extreme disgust. Lucia's aunt, hid a sly smirk, on her face, behind her delicate hands.

Lucia shook her head, 'What are these people saying?' Lucia thought, looking at them like they had grown two heads. "My mother needs help. Please." Lucia cried out, but she was met with, scornful looks. Lucia was confused and did not what to do. She tried to carry her mother.

"She is dead, you killed her." A woman said. Another man said, "Get off her, we saw you kill her, don't try to act like you want to save her." The man spat, directly at Lucia. Lucia looked away from her mother, to the man, saying, "No, I didn't kill her."

"My mother is not dead. You're all lying." Lucia shouted at her neighbors. She didn't understand what they were saying, she was trying to help her mother here. Lucia ran to her aunt, and knelt, before her, "Aunt, please." Lucia pleaded. Lucia's aunt, pushed little Lucia, to the ground.

"Go away, possessed child." Lucia's aunt said. Lucia looked from her aunt to her neighbors. Their words echoed In her head. Their mouths, moving and everything turned too slow, for Lucia to process. Lucia curled herself, into a ball, her gaze landing on her unmoving mother, tears spilled out, uncontrollably.

Lucia was pulled out of her sad memories, when Hugh, tapped her shoulders, "Lucia, we should leave." Hugh said, his heart, ached, looking at the unshed tears in Lucia's eyes. Lucia stood up and noticed the sky had turned dark. It also wasn't good, to stay in Veteris, at night.

Lucia walked past Hugh, not even sparing a glance at him. She was still sad, and she didn't want Hugh, to stare at her gloomy face. Hugh walked silently behind Lucia, his eyes, glowing in the dark, which Lucia didn't notice. Lucia walked faster, wanting to get out of Veteris.

"Slow down, you might hurt yourself." Hugh said, and as he finished his sentence, Lucia stepped on a stone, and she could not balance herself. Lucia closed her, expecting pain, but she felt a strong arm, envelope her. Lucia, felt momentarily safe, in Hugh's arms, and didn't want to stay away.

Hugh hurriedly helped Lucia up and pushed her a little, away from him, not indulging Lucia, in her fantasies. He knew his limits, on how he was allowed to interact with her. Lucia felt embarrassed, seeing the way Hugh pushed her. 'Is he disgusted?' Lucia thought, and she became gloomier.

Lucia cleared her throat, and raised her chin, arrogantly. She looked confident, but she couldn't hide her gloomy aura, from Hugh. Lucia walked haughtily, away from Hugh, out of the house, towards the car. Hugh chuckled, seeing Lucia's feigned haughtiness. He walked behind, her, and opened the car door, for her.

Lucia settled into her luxurious car, not letting her eyes fall back on her bodyguard. Hugh was like a breath of fresh air, for her, even though she had been very sad, minutes ago, he alleviated her sadness. Lucia turned around when she heard Hugh, settle into the driver's seat.

"Do you want to go back home?" Hugh asked Lucia. He treated Lucia like a little sister, acting oblivious to her feelings. Lucia pouted her lips, and Hugh chuckled, seeing that she looked nothing like the decisive woman, she was. Hugh waited patiently, for Lucia's answer, not starting the car.

Lucia sighed seeing that Hugh, was waiting for her reply. She composed herself, the sad emotions, and embarrassment she had gone through, gone from her face. "Let's go back, to the ancestral home, I need to see grandpa." Lucia said, in a steady voice. Hugh nodded and started the car.

Lucia looked out the window, as Hugh drove out of Veteris street. Lucia knew, that she wouldn't be coming here until everything settled until she had caught her mother's killers. Lucia always wondered why her neighbors were so gullible, to think the little girl she was, could kill her mother.

Lucia sighed, hoping to bury herself, in her grandpa's embrace. Staying in her dark apartment will only worsen her sad emotions. "Lucia, we are here." Hugh said, bringing Lucia, out of her thoughts. Lucia nodded, not even looking at Hugh, as he drove on the driveway, to the front door.

Lucia didn't wait for Hugh, to open the door for her, she hurriedly stepped out of the car. She hoped her grandpa wouldn't be asleep yet, it was only 7 pm, but grandpa James liked to retire early to his bedroom. Lucia rushed into the house, which was antique-looking and wide.

Lucia could see the silhouette of grandpa James, sitting on a reclining chair, in the dark. Lucia was initially surprised, that he wasn't in his room yet, but she brushed off the thought, thinking it was just her luck, to see grandpa there, at that time. "Grandpa." Lucia called out.

Lucia didn't want to startle him, since it was dark. But grandpa James, already knew when Hugh drove in, with her. "Brat, I'm right here." Grandpa James, said in a croaky voice, giving out his old age. Grandpa James, took a remote, by his side, and put on the lights.

Lucia walked to stand before Grandpa James, she wanted to dive into his embrace, but stopped, seeing his weary and tired face, after he put on the lights. Lucia planted a fake smile on her face, not wanting to worry about the old man. "Grandpa, why aren't asleep yet?"

Grandpa James observed Lucia, no matter how Lucia tried to hide her gloominess, she couldn't hide from grandpa James, who took care of her, for ten years. "Brat, come here." Grandpa James, said, ignoring Lucia's question, as he didn't want to tell her, that he knew where she had visited.

Grandpa James, opened his arms, silently telling Lucia, to dive into his embrace. Lucia immediately dived into her grandpa's embrace, dropping her feigned smile. Her shoulders shook as if she was crying, but Lucia fought the tears, back. Grandpa James, only patted Lucia's back, continuously, giving her his silent company.

After a few minutes, Lucia unwillingly withdrew from her grandpa's embrace, because she knew grandpa needed to rest. Lucia hadn't forgotten the question she asked earlier, "Grandpa, why aren't you asleep yet?" Lucia asked, her face morphing into a worried frown. Lucia chose not to talk about why she was sad.

Grandpa James sighed, hearing Lucia's question. He didn't know what to tell her, he respected Lucia's silent decision, not to tell him what was wrong. Though he knew why he couldn't bring it up. "I got back from the company, a little late today." Grandpa James wound up a lie.

Grandpa James, couldn't tell her, that he was waiting for her. Lucia frowned, knowing Grandpa James, never got back from the company late, because he liked to retire early. Grandpa James also didn't attend late-night dinners, even if they are important. Alix Enterprise could afford to skip important meetings.

"I think you should sleep now, grandpa." Lucia said, standing up, as she was kneeling beside her grandpa. Lucia took grandpa James' left hand, helping him stand. Grandpa James, patted Lucia's hand, telling her that he was okay, to go back to his room, himself. Lucia nodded and stepped back.

Lucia looked at grandpa James, lonely and frail back, as he moved away from her. From what she knew, grandpa James, used to live alone, before he adopted her, as his family all perished in a crash. Lucia knew it was time, to take grandpa James' burden, off his shoulders.

Lucia sighed, and sat on the couch, just beside grandpa James' reclining chair. Lucia closed her eyes, as the silence in the big ancestral house, enveloped her. Lucia opened her eyes, when she felt a light tap, on her shoulder. She opened her eyes, dazedly, to see Hugh, before her.

Lucia's lips parted, as she took in Hugh's handsome appearance. Hugh's eyebrows, furrowed, "Do you want to stay here or go back home?" Hugh asked and Lucia snapped out of her daze. She nodded her head, knowing that she was okay, and could be by herself. Lucia stood up, steadily.

Hugh who was initially confused, about whether Lucia wanted to stay or not, followed Lucia out of the house. Lucia got into the car, and Hugh settled into the driver's seat. As Hugh drove out of the house, on the driveway, Lucia thought about how she was talking to Grandpa James.

Lucia decided to take over Alix, she could not continue to run away, seeing her grandpa was suffering. She had been given the necessary education, for taking over a huge enterprise, like Alix. Lucia turned to look at Hugh, who was driving with a serious look, on his face.

Lucia noticed how the muscles on his arms, ripped, slightly, as he turned the steering wheel. She couldn't help, but ask, "What do you think about taking over Alix?" Lucia asked, even though she had feigned a nonchalant front, at him, a while ago, Lucia couldn't help but talk to him.

Hugh turned, to Lucia, while keeping his other sharp senses open, because his eyes weren't on the road anymore. Hugh was thankful, that he was driving on a straight path, with a small number of cars, in sight. "It's a good idea." Hugh said, keeping his reply, short and precise.

Lucia nodded her head, with pursed lips. She wasn't satisfied, with Hugh's answer, to her question. But she wouldn't pester him, to talk to her. She noticed he tried to keep his distance from her, and she had her pride to protect. Lucia stopped talking and looked out the window.

Thirty minutes later, they got to Lucia's apartment. It was an apartment complex, with eighteen floors, with Lucia's apartment, being the only penthouse, in the entire apartment complex. Hugh drove into the underground parking lot, it was a bit dark, but Hugh could see clearly, due to his inhumane vision.

Lucia got out of the car, not bothering to wait for her bodyguard, as he would always find his way up. Lucia walked to the elevator, pressed the elevator button, and got in, tapping on the 18th floor. Lucia let out a sigh, as she got to her penthouse.

The penthouse, had a view, of the city. Lucia fell in love with it, at first sight, when she was here, at first. She stopped to admit the lights, from the city, which formed a beautiful view, for Lucia. Lucia could hear, her bodyguard's subtle footsteps, as he walked in.

"Good night." Lucia said, she walked towards her bedroom, not bothering to get a reply from Hugh. She opened the door to her bedroom, with her fingerprint. Lucia got in and slammed the door shut. Walking into her walk-in closet, she changed into comfortable pajamas, deciding to sleep, early.

Hugh was still standing, at the same spot. He looked towards where, Lucia had disappeared, with his narrowed eyes. Lucia's decision, to take over Alix, bothered him, knowing it could spell danger for her, not because she would become the CEO, but because of her identity, as Isabelle's daughter.

Hugh tried to think of how to keep Lucia safe, as he had promised Lucia, when she was five years old, that he would protect her. Lucia was just a little, naive girl, then, and didn't take his words of promise, as important. Lucia didn't even remember, that she met Hugh.

But Hugh didn't take it as a flimsy promise, as soon as he had the chance, to leave his pack. He came back, just to fulfill his promise, just like a big brother, to her. Hugh turned around and walked towards his bedroom. He had to stay, wherever Lucia was.

Lucia turned in her sleep, as the rain splattered, loudly, on the window. Lucia shivered subconsciously, as a loud thunder, struck, in the sky. In her sleep, she could see her hands, stained in blood, her mother's blood. Lucia continued to turn uneasily, on the bed.

Still in her sleep, Lucia desperately tried to get the blood off her hands, but she could not. Dipping her hands, and washing thoroughly in water. But, Lucia could still see blood, like it was fresh. It was frightening, for Lucia in her sleep. Lucia heard a voice, behind her.

'You killed her.' Lucia heard the voice, and turned. It was like a whisper to her soul, sinking into her subconscious. Lucia shook her head, desperately, trying to tell the owner of the voice, that it was not true, but Lucia couldn't see anyone, she only continued to hear the voice.

As Lucia shook her head, in her sleep, she was turning all over the bed, squeezing the bed sheets. Lucia opened her eyes suddenly, her eyes were misty and dazed. It took two minutes, before Lucia could decipher, where she was. Lucia sighed and stood up, from the bed.

It wasn't the first time, she had a frightening dream, like that. It became frequent, after her mother's death, and it reduced, after she was adopted by grandpa James, where grandpa James, would sometimes hug her to sleep, when frightened. Lucia subconsciously or conciously blamed herself, for her mother's death.

Lucia walked out of her room, she always thought that if she didn't try to take the knife out, if she had just left the knife, and not move it, maybe, her mother would have survived. Lucia thought she increased her mother's pain, by trying to take the knife out.

Lucia was thirsty, and the water jug, in her room, was empty, as she always liked to take water. As her footsteps sounded, in the darkness, Lucia didn't notice Hugh, who was sitting by the large dining table, as she entered the kitchen. Lucia was still immersed in her thoughts.

Taking a glass of water, Lucia walked out of the kitchen. "Are you okay?" Hugh asked, suddenly and Lucia heard Hugh's deep voice. Lucia was deeply startled, the glass of water, slipping from her hand, to land on the tiled floor. The glass making a sharp sound, as it broke.

"You startled me." Lucia said, with a hand, placed on chest, to calm her palpitating heart. Hugh stood up from he sat, walking towards Lucia. He tried to keep his eyes, away from her, as Lucia was in just her night dress. Her body shape was was vague to him.

"Step back." Hugh said, sternly, his voice giving no room, for objections. Lucia quickly stepped back, and winced from the sudden pain, in her leg. She watched as Hugh bent down, to inspect her legs. "You have a cut, on your calf." Hugh said, looking at her milky white legs.

Hugh questioned the wild thoughts, he had about Lucia, starting after he caught Lucia in his arms, earlier. He hid wild thoughts, perfectly, but now different wild thoughts, whirled, uncontrollably in his head. "Stay here, I'll get the first aid box." Hugh said and stood up, walking towards the kitchen.

Hugh took the first aid box, out of the kitchen cabinet. He walked hurriedly, towards Lucia, hoping to get her wound treated quickly, so he could get the unwanted thoughts, out of his head. Hugh saw that Lucia was still standing, "You should sit." Hugh said, and Lucia gladly obeyed.

Lucia smirked slyly, as Hugh sat on his heels, to treat the wound on her calf. As Hugh took Lucia's leg, in his hands, he felt a spark, which made him frown. Lucia enjoyed his touch, the position was uncomfortable for her, as she had to turn her body slightly.

But Lucia wouldn't complain, as she would drop glasses of water, again and again, for Hugh to touch her. Lucia kept her gaze, on Hugh's focused face, as he cleaned and dressed her wound. Hugh could feel Lucia's burning gaze on him, but he didn't want to think too much.

Hugh was a bit surprised and confused, at the spark he felt, when he touched Lucia. He knew he shouldn't and wouldn't be able to feel that spark with someone, but he was sure he felt it. Hugh hurriedly finished dressing Lucia's wound, standing up, he took back the box.

"You should go to sleep, it's 2am in the morning. You have a long day, today." Hugh said, blunty and also in consideration of what she had told him earlier. Hugh walked to kitchen, and put the first aid box, in it's place. Walking out of the kitchen, he walked past Lucia.

Lucia was a bit surprised, sad, at Hugh's blunt words, failing to detect the concern in it. She watched as Hugh walked past her, his back disappearing into his bedroom. Lucia sighed, and stood up, the pain in her leg, had reduced. Sleep had already left her eyes.

Lucia walked around the house, as she had nothing to do, she walked stealthily to Hugh's door, and placed her ear on his door, trying to detect any movement, but she couldn't. Lucia knew that she was acting like a stalker, but she didn't mind, since Hugh didn't see her.

Behind the door, in Hugh's bedroom, he had already detected her presence at the door, with his sharp senses. Lucia was making it hard, for him to concentrate on his thoughts, and Hugh was very bothered. Bothered, that she could affect him, like that. Hugh was unsure, why it started.

Hugh sat stiffly, on his bed, knowing Lucia was still at his door. He didn't want to make any movements, that would make her want to stay, and listen more. After a few minutes, Hugh heard Lucia sigh, and move away. Hugh released a breath, he didn't know, he held.

Hugh pulled his shirt from his body, the muscles on his arm, ripped, showing his manliness. He threw his shirt, on one side of the bed, pondering on what he felt earlier. He didn't want to accept, that it was what he thought it was. He needed to find answers.

__

Lucia was already in her room, she was sad, that Hugh had left her, that way. But, she comforted herself, that she atleast got Hugh to touch her, on his own will. "You should sleep, like he said. It going to be a long day today." Lucia muttered, to herself.

Lucia got on the rumpled bed, pulling the thick blanket, over her head. She hoped to get some sleep soon, but she could not. She thought about Hugh, not realizing that her admiration for her body guard, was slowly turning into something else. Lucia then thought, about her grandpa James.

A small smile, bloomed on Lucia's face, as she thought of her grandpa. He was always mysterious, as if he was hiding many secrets, of himself and others. Now, Lucia anticipated telling her grandpa James, that she would be taking over the company, as that was what he really wanted.

Lucia had always declined taking over Alix Enterprise, as she thought it wasn't her right, to own such a large company. Lucia did not know that her refusal, to take over, was causing a toll on grandpa James, as he couldn't fulfill the promise he made to Lucia's mother, Isabelle Young.

Lucia pulled the blanket off her, she couldn't fall asleep. She might as well do something very productive, and what will help her proposal to take over, tomorrow. Lucia knew, that even though she had all the necessary knowledge, grandpa James, would still have to evaluate her, on his terms.

Lucia walked out of her room, towards her study. Opening the door to the study, it was dark inside and Lucia quickly put on the lights. The study room, was large, and filled with books, both old and new. She liked books, and grandpa James, generously gifted them to her.

The study, had wide book shelves, that covered three walls. A small shelf, placed beside the fourth wall, showcasing the awards and honours, that Lucia had received in recent years. Lucia walked to her study table, it was a mahogany desk, with books, documents and her laptop, placed on it.

Lucia sat on the swivel chair, behind the table, and opened up her laptop. Lucia began to make researches on Alix, some of it, she already knew. Lucia also searched about rival companies, what they produce, and how they faired, better or lesser than Alix Enterprise, and potential money making ventures.

Lucia continued to work, for hours, there was so many information, to take in. There was so many juicy money making ventures, for Alix Enterprise to venture in, so as to move forward. Lucia rubbed her eyes, and looked up, she could see the rays of sunshine, leaking through the windows.