Chapter 36

"I can't see a 'dead man'." Layla replied coldly, her commanding tone lowering to a growl. "Let go, and stop pestering me!"

Vincent's face filled with anger. "What? You're annoyed with me just because you're with my uncle now, aren't you? You used to cling to me, and now..."

"Don't bring up the past. I didn't know you were a scumbag back then!" Layla's tone turned icy.

Rationally, she knew it wasn't worth getting angry over a scumbag like him, but it was just too difficult. Every time she saw him, she couldn't help but want to slap him hard and kick him a few times. Her disdain for scumbags was uncontrollable.

"A scumbag? But what have you gained? You dislike me now because you have your eye on my uncle's money, right? But if you think you can become a wife in the Holland family, you're just dreaming. My uncle is only toying with you, and the Holland family won't accept a woman of your status. The only reason they haven't come after you is because I've been protecting you. Otherwise, you would've been done for long ago. Do you know why I'm helping you? It's because I still have feelings for you. I'm not as heartless as you. I only betrayed you physically, but my heart still belongs to you. If you break ties with my uncle right now, I'll give you another chance. I can forgive the past and start over with you." Vincent said, feeling very generous.

He can forgive the past?

Vincent would forgive the past?

Upon hearing this, Layla almost burst out laughing.

His shamelessness continuously challenged her understanding and patience.

"Vincent, you're the one who paid for prostitutes. You say you'll forgive the past, but I haven't even collected the trash yet." Layla countered with a mocking tone. "The way you panicked when caught in bed with someone, your cowardice in front of your uncle, and the way you insulted Louisa, it's all fresh in my memory. The way you humiliated me, it was ugly and disgusting. There is no way I'll ever have any connection with you again."

Vincent was infuriated by these words, especially when she said he was a coward in front of his uncle. It made his anger soar.

He grabbed her hand with force, as if he wanted to break her wrist, pulling and tugging with all his might.

"You are mine, Layla! Get it through your head! You are my woman."

With his eyes red with rage, Vincent held her tight, attempting to forcefully kiss her.

"Let me go! Vincent!" Layla shouted, but no one passing by dared to interfere. Instead, they intentionally walked further away.

She couldn't push him away, and it seemed like he was about to kiss her. Angered, Layla raised her leg and kicked Vincent in the groin.

Vincent let out a cry of pain, hunching over and covering his groin. "You" The pain seemed to take his breath away, and cold sweat poured down his face.

Layla gave him a fierce glare and dashed up to the third floor. As she pushed open the door, she saw her clothes scattered on the floor, all torn to shreds.

Emilia was holding a pair of scissors, and she immediately used them on one of Layla's T-shirts.

"Are you out of your mind? Stop it!" Layla rushed forward to snatch back her T-shirt, but it had already been cut in half.

The lock on the wardrobe had been pried open, and all her clothes were cut and thrown onto the floor, not a single one spared.

"Emilia!" Layla gritted her teeth and yelled her name, trembling with anger. If it weren't for not wanting to use violence against another woman, she would have kicked Emilia ruthlessly.

"This is what you get for trying to steal Vincent from me! Vincent and I are already together, and you're still trying to sabotage our relationship, Layla you're a shameless person."

Layla was filled with anger and started arguing back, "I've long stopped wanting that scum of a man. Only you are the one who cares about him."

"Huh, you talk so high and mighty, yet just a while ago, you were embracing him downstairs. Layla, since you are shameless, why bother wearing clothes? I'll just cut them up, what can you do about it?"

"Fine, mistresses don't need clothes, right? That's what you said." Layla approached and took Emilia's clothes from the wardrobe.

"What are you doing? Vincent bought me those clothes, they're expensive." Emilia tried to stop her from behind, but Layla elbowed her and threw the clothes out the window.

"Layla!" Emilia cried out in anger and picked up the scissors, stabbing towards her.

Layla quickly dodged and snatched the scissors from her hand, throwing them into the trash can.

"Do you want a slap as well?" Layla raised her hand.

Unable to defeat her, Emilia sat on the floor and burst into tears, "You're shameless... I won't let you take Vincent away. Just you wait, Layla..."

Watching Emilia cry on her torn clothes, Layla couldn't bear to stay there any longer. She slammed the door shut and left.

Her heels were blistered and in pain, surpassing her threshold of endurance. Layla took off her shoes and carried them in her hands, walking barefoot on the scorching ground.

Walking aimlessly, she felt close to tears and dejected. But she wouldn't cry. It wasn't worth crying over a couple of heartless swines. She tilted her head back, forcefully sniffed, and pushed the tears back.

Exhausted, she squatted down and buried her head in her knees. Life was so hard... At some point, fatigue could be so overwhelming that one couldn't find the strength to carry on. Right now, she just wanted a good cry.

She didn't know how long had passed when two honks sounded. Layla looked up and saw a black Jaguar parked in front of her. The back door opened and Samuel sat there, seemingly just returning from some event, dressed in a tuxedo.

The campus streetlights cast a faint golden glow on him, making him look even more handsome, like a knight from a fairytale, coming to save her.

In that moment, Layla's nose tingled with the threat of her overwhelming emotions. At present, she desperately needed a lifeline, even if it was him, she longed to grab hold.

When she stood up, her legs trembled with exhaustion. Layla picked up her high heels and got into the car. As soon as she let go, the high heels fell to the ground. She weakly collapsed there.

The air conditioning felt incredible, as the outside heat felt like a furnace, causing her blouse to stick to her back, soaked with sweat. Sitting in an unsightly manner, she appeared half-dead, much to Samuel's annoyance and amusement.

"Why is it you again?" Layla half-closed her eyes and hummed weakly.

"Just passing by."

"You specifically came by our school just to 'pass by'?"

"Can't I? Is the school yours?"

Layla didn't have the energy to argue with him. "Fine, you can say whatever you want." Her eyes closed completely. She was so tired, her body felt dehydrated, and her fingertips were weak and sore. She couldn't even muster the strength to speak.

Samuel glanced at the back of her heels, noticing the fair skin scraped and bleeding, furrowing his brows. How could someone end up in such a miserable state just wearing high heels like everyone else? He instructed his assistant to drive.

Layla dozed off for a while and woke up to find the car stopped. In a daze, she opened her eyes and realized they were at the Rose Garden. It was the upscale Western restaurant where she used to work part-time, the same place he had humiliated her.

"Do you want to eat here?"

"Hmm."

"Or... should we go to a different restaurant?"

Layla didn't feel like being here. The Rose Garden was quite far from the school, and he had come all the way here, it couldn't be for some ulterior motive, right? Moreover, having her former colleagues serve her would definitely be awkward.

"This place is fine."

Samuel imperiously pushed the door open and got out of the car. Layla reluctantly picked up her high heels, unable to bear putting her feet back in them. What kind of sin had she committed in her past life? With a resigned heart, she closed her eyes and slowly, gently forced her feet back into the shoes.

"Hiss!" she cried out in pain. Was this some form of torture? Walking with painful steps, slower than a snail, she had a pained look on her face.

Samuel coldly remarked, "I don't mind if you lean on me."

"No, there's no need." Layla resisted.

He secretly had a knowing smile.

They took two steps.

A hand reached out and grabbed Samuel's arm.

His lips curled with a chill.

Stubborn girl!