Chapter 154

Layla guiltily averted her eyes, too scared to meet his. "It's, it's just what I said..."

"Don't take me for a fool." Samuel's grip tightened around her wrist. "Look at me!"

"Look at me, Layla!" he commanded sternly.

Silence.

Layla shuddered, forced to lift her head and confront his piercing gaze.

His pupils were deep and sharp, treacherously insidious as they bore into Layla's heart as if no lie could escape their scrutiny.

"Tell me!" His voice was hoarse yet powerful.

Layla closed her eyes.

How could she admit to the vile act she had committed?

Did he really want to strip her of her last shred of dignity?

If it would make him give up on her...

"I... that night... with..." Layla spit out the words, each one a struggle, "Nath..."

"President, Layla? What are you doing?" Jennie blurted out, barging through the door and interrupting Layla mid-sentence.

With her courage dissipated, Layla quickly withdrew her hand.

"Get out!" Samuel, with his eyes locked on Layla and his back to Jennie, roared.

Jennie, too frightened to question further, hastily shut the door and hurried away.

"What were you about to say? That night, who were you with? Tell me!" Samuel pressed on.

Layla no longer had the courage to continue. She felt like a turtle who had cautiously stuck out its head, only to retreat into its shell at the first sign of danger. "I didn't say anything; it's just those reasons; stop asking."

"I'm going to be late for work."

"Samuel."

Layla called out his name, each time more urgently than the last.

He still wouldn't let go.

In a fit of desperation, Layla bit down on the back of his hand like a wolf pup, refusing to release its grip.

Samuel refused to release her.

A thick taste of iron bloomed in Layla's mouth as her teeth began to ache from the bite.

Finally, she yanked her hand away and dashed into the stairwell without looking back.

Samuel, frowning deeply, stared at the bloody bite marks on his hand.

...

The day's work was torture for Layla.

Holding her paintbrush, she didn't produce a single drawing all day.

After work, Alice, linking arms with her, shot her concerned glances several times before speaking up tentatively.

"Layla, how about I treat you to some Mexican food? If it's too spicy for you, we could do French, or maybe you'd fancy some soup?"

Layla managed a forced smile and shook her head, "Sorry, I've got no appetite."

"Then... maybe we should hit a spa, get a little relaxation?" Alice sighed, "You're so down all the time; it really worries me. You won't tell me what's wrong, so I can't help you. You're my best friend, and seeing you unhappy brings me down, too. Come on, let's grab a bite; you'll feel better."

Unable to resist Alice's pleading, Layla relented with a nod, "Yeah."

"Yay!"

As they approached the corner...

Screech!

A white sports car came to a sudden halt right in front of them.

Alice let out a startled yelp.

"Layla," Nathan called out as he got out of the car.

Upon seeing him, Layla pulled her arm from Alice's and turned to leave.

"Layla, just hear me out."

"I don't want to see you, Nathan. I've made myself clear; there's nothing left to say between us."

"Just a few words, and I'll be on my way."

"I have nothing to say to you."

"Come with me." Nathan grabbed her wrist.

"Let go of me, Nathan!" Layla struggled fiercely.

Alice, standing by helplessly, didn't know how to intervene, watching Layla being dragged into the car with wide eyes.

"Follow them," Samuel commanded grimly from the backseat of the Rolls Royce.

"Let me out."

"Nathan, let me out of the car!" Layla's face was stern as she reached for the door, ready to leap out.

"Stop!" Nathan quickly reached out to her, pulling over to park the car in a nearby park.

Layla swung the door open and started to walk away.

"Layla, wait a..." Nathan left the car quickly to catch up to her, "I'm not here to hassle you; I just wanted to say goodbye.

"I know you don't want to see me, and I'll leave. I've requested a transfer to the Holland Group's office in France, and I'm taking the 10 PM flight tonight," Nathan confessed, holding back his pain.

After much internal struggle, he chose to leave rather than persist as Nora Eilish had advised him. He harbored a faint, unrealistic hope that she might show some reluctance, but there was none. Layla's face was icy, and perhaps even relieved.

"I could apologize a thousand, ten thousand times for that night, but it wouldn't matter. Still, there was no premeditation on my part. I like you, but I would never take advantage of you."

"Enough! Nathan, your comings and goings are of no concern to me; you're free to leave. But if you breathe a word of our night together to anyone, I will despise you for the rest of my life," Layla warned, almost as if taking an oath.

"I swear," Nathan said hastily.

Layla turned away sharply.

A sinister figure stood behind them like a hellish minion coming to claim lives, terrifying and formidable.

The night shrouded him, and an intense aura of hostility and the intent to kill radiated from him. Everything around was drawn into his dangerous vortex, doomed to be completely devoured.

Fear struck Layla's heart like a razor-sharp blade.

Did he hear everything?

She trembled violently all over, her face deathly pale, and her lips began to quiver uncontrollably.

"Stayed the night? Is that your reason for a breakup?" Samuel fixed his gaze on her, his eyes dark and enigmatic; his voice emerged grave and raspy, sending shivers down his spine.

"Mr. Holland? Breakup?" Nathan's gaze shifted between the two, and suddenly, he realized something.

Layla's boyfriend was Mr. Holland?

Then he...

"Mr. Holland, it's not Layla's fault; it was all me!" Nathan quickly stepped in front of Layla.

"You're asking for it!" Samuel, his face twisted in rage, clenched his fists and stepped forward, unleashing a punishing punch straight onto Nathan's face.

The blow was brutal. Nathan stumbled and fell to the ground.

A mouthful of blood spilled out, along with a shattered tooth.

"Stop!" Layla, regaining her senses, let out a shriek and rushed to push against Samuel's chest.

"Get out of my way!" Samuel roared violently, his anger unchecked.

"No, it's not Nathan's fault Please, don't hit him" Layla's voice trembled as she spoke.

"You're defending him? You care that much about what happens to him?" Samuel roared into Layla's ear like a tempest storm, violently assaulting her senses. She winced in agony, eyes tightly shut, her body feeling like it might collapse any moment under the strain.

Her lip split under the force of her bite.

The taste of iron flooded her mouth, so intense she almost gagged.

"Get out of my way!" Samuel bellowed again, "Or I swear I'll get physical!"