Chapter 231

In a state of heightened anxiety, Layla rose from her seat, her eyes darting around the room in search of a hiding place.

Meanwhile, Samuel remained outside her door, relentlessly calling her name and incessantly ringing the doorbell. His persistence was unnerving, and Layla found herself wondering what this man, who seemed to have lost all sense of reason, intended to do next.

Peering through the peephole, Layla's heart pounded in her chest. Suddenly, a loud "thunk" echoed through the room as Samuel kicked the door, causing her body to tremble in fear.

"Open the door!" he demanded, his voice echoing through the hallway.

"Layla!" he called again, his voice filled with a desperate urgency.

"I know you're there!" His voice hardened, his frustration palpable.

"Open the door!" he repeated, his anger manifesting in the forceful kicks and pounding against the door.

"Please, just leave, don't go crazy," Layla pleaded, her voice trembling with fear.

"I want to see you, Layla..." Samuel's voice was gruff, filled with a desperation that sent chills down her spine.

"I don't want to see you, I have nothing to say to you," she retorted, her voice firm despite the fear coursing through her veins.

"I have, I have a lot to tell you, Layla... Layla..." Samuel's voice trailed off, his words hanging in the air.

"Layla... I miss you..." His voice deepened, each word piercing her heart like a dagger.

'Why is this happening... ' Layla thought, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and fear.

Suddenly, a series of thuds echoed through the room.

"Layla," Samuel called again, his voice barely above a whisper.

'Is he banging his head on the door? ' The thought sent a sharp pang of pain through Layla's heart, as if it had been sliced open.

She couldn't bear it any longer. Despite knowing they shouldn't see each other anymore, she found herself reaching for the door handle.

"Samuel, what are you doing?" she demanded, her voice filled with a mix of fear and anger.

"Layla..." Samuel's voice was barely a whisper, as if he had found a beacon of hope in the darkness. Without waiting for a response, he pulled her into a tight embrace.

"I missed you so much."

"Do you even know what you're saying?" Layla retorted, her voice filled with disbelief.

"I missed you..." Samuel's voice was barely a whisper, his grip tightening around her as if he was trying to meld their bodies into one.

"I love you, Layla..." His words hung in the air, causing tears to well up in Layla's eyes.

Did he love her? If so, why had he caused her so much pain? She had begged him and humbled herself in an attempt to salvage their relationship, only to be met with more pain and heartbreak. And now, he was standing in her home, claiming to love her.

Was he just drunk?

"Samuel, let me go..." Layla's voice was barely a whisper, her attempt to pull away from him proving futile against his strength.

"Let go..."

"I want you." Samuel's voice was firm as he cupped her face, pulling her into a forceful kiss.

"Mmm..." Layla's protest was muffled by his kiss, her resistance completely overpowered by him.

Samuel pressed his body against hers, pushing her backward. Layla found herself unable to resist his strength, unable to bear the intensity of his passion.

"Layla..." Samuel's voice was a low murmur, his words filled with a desire that seemed to permeate the room.

"Samuel!" Layla's voice was filled with a mix of fear and anger. If this continued, she would give in. What did he think he was doing? In a fit of anger, Layla slapped him hard across the face.

The sound of the slap echoed through the room, causing Samuel to pause momentarily. The imprint of her fingers was visible on his face, a stark reminder of her resistance. He froze for a moment, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion, before a new fire ignited in his eyes.

Samuel was like a hunting cheetah, his actions becoming even more fierce and unstoppable.

"Ah!" Layla let out a cry as Samuel lifted her off the ground. Frantically, she pushed against his shoulders, her legs kicking wildly. "Samuel..."

She found herself thrown onto the bed, the weight of a strong man pressing down on her. His chest against hers, every muscle in his body seemed to be on the verge of exploding.

Underneath his disheveled shirt was the body of a man, his strength and power evident. In contrast, Layla felt like a powerless rabbit, trapped under the weight of a predator.

Samuel quickly grabbed her wrists, pulling her closer and pressing their bodies even tighter together.

Tears streamed down Layla's face, her heart aching with a pain that was all too familiar.

Samuel had abandoned her and hurt her in ways that were unimaginable. Who did he think he was? Did Samuel only see her as a toy?

A swell of frustration and anger surged within Layla, and she despised herself for her inability to resist, her only recourse being to weep uncontrollably.

"I. Love. You." Samuel paused, his crimson eyes boring into her tear-streaked face. He ground out these words through clenched teeth, as though they were dredged from the very depths of his soul.

His gaze lingered on her before he succumbed to unconsciousness.

Layla wept, her gaze fixed on the ceiling.

Love her? Love her, yet abandon her?

Samuel was so callous!

Layla shoved him aside. Samuel rolled over, falling into a deeper unconsciousness, yet his hand still clung to her wrist as if it was his only tether to tranquility.

"Layla, Layla... don't leave me..."

...

The following day dawned.

Samuel was roused by the sunlight.

His head pounded as he opened his eyes to the familiar, albeit small, yet cozy room.

He had been inebriated the previous night and had sought her out like a madman.

He was trapped within the confines of his own heart.

Rising, he saw Layla seated in a dim corner of the living room, eating breakfast. She had prepared only a single serving.

Upon noticing Samuel, she didn't even acknowledge his presence, treating him as though he were invisible.

"About last night... I'm sorry..." Samuel's voice was dry and hoarse, as if his throat was filled with sand.

Layla's face was devoid of any expression.

Samuel stood there, barely holding himself together. He yearned to rush over and envelop her in his arms, but an insurmountable chasm seemed to separate them.

Samuel couldn't.

He couldn't ignore the fact that he had to save his mother, who had suffered too much on his behalf.

His heart felt as though it was being torn apart by immense pain.

The only response he received was the silence of the room.

Unable to restrain himself any longer, he averted his gaze and opened the door.

"Don't come looking for me again," her icy voice echoed.

Samuel felt as though his heart had been struck by a sledgehammer and he turned around. "I would rather die than be involved with a man who is engaged." Layla finally looked up at Samuel, but her once vibrant eyes were now as still as a dead sea, unfathomable.

"..."' Samuel gripped the door, the veins on the back of his hand bulging.

"Don't make me despise you even more."

Samuel stormed out, his heart aching and his bloodshot eyes growing even more crimson.

He pulled out his phone and demanded, "Have they not found her yet?"

"Sir, we have deployed many people..."

"Keep searching. If you can't find her, I will kill you all!"

"Bang!" Samuel's fist collided with the elevator door, leaving a dent.

For the subsequent week, Samuel was absent. Layla's life seemed to regain its tranquility, but it also became exceedingly monotonous. She shuttled between the company and the apartment daily, functioning like an emotionless automaton.

Alice commented that she seemed melancholic, and perhaps she was. Now, Layla's sole focus was to earn more money and bring her baby into the world. She had no energy for anything else.

Susan quickly completed the design drawings, and Layla was tasked with verifying the data.

"Mrs. Susan, I have reviewed it, and there are no issues," Susan reported, not lifting her gaze from the stack of files before her.

"Alright, forward it to Mr. Eilish," Susan instructed, evading Caleb.

Layla mused, 'Women often employ the same tactics to avoid emotional entanglements.'

Was it inherent for women to be in a vulnerable position emotionally, unable to resist and only capable of escaping through self-deception? Like a trapped animal, endlessly running in circles within their limited space."Alright," Layla responded, taking the design drawings and heading to the top floor.

After contacting Caleb through a private line, the secretary replied, "I'm sorry, Mr. Eilish is occupied."

"Then I'll leave the design drawings here, and you can give them to him later," Layla proposed.

The secretary smiled apologetically and said, "Mr. Eilish has requested that Mrs. Susan personally deliver them."

Layla was not surprised in the least.

Just as women's evasion tactics were often similar, men's methods of pursuit were not much different.

Both Caleb and Samuel were inherently domineering and aggressive, never allowing their prey a chance to escape.

"Alright, I understand," Layla replied, turning to leave.

"Layla," Anthony's eyes lit up.