Chapter 606

"Who were you just chatting with?" Samuel asked.

"My dad," Layla replied.

"Oh."

"Why? Scared I'll find another guy once you're gone?" Layla joked, but there was a hint of bitterness in her voice.

"You wouldn't."

"And how do you know that?"

"Because there's no guy hotter than me. Now that you have me, no way you'd be into anyone else."

"Narcissist," Layla smiled. "You in Novaria yet?"

"Yeah, had a few hours of meetings, took a quick break, and called you."

"You should grab a bite," she said, knowing he often skipped meals when busy, worrying about his stomach.

"I don't want food; I just want you. I miss you."

"It's been less than a day."

"Forget a day, I miss you every second."

"Cheesy."

"Why do you sound a bit off? Something happen?"

Layla forced a smile. She tried to sound upbeat, but he knew her too well, "I baked cakes all day, just a bit tired."

"Didn't I tell you to take it easy? Did you come up with a new flavor?"

"Cheesecake," Layla made up on the spot.

"Sounds fattening. But if you make it, I'll love it. Make it for me when I get back, okay? But you gotta rest and not overdo it. Remember, you're pregnant now."

"Okay, got it. Come back soon, I... I miss you too," she said, her face flushing slightly. Despite their deep affection, she rarely expressed it.

"I wish I could sprout wings and be by your side right now. I'll finish my work ASAP, wait for me."

"Okay, I'll wait for you."

After hanging up, Layla murmured, "Samuel, do you know how much has happened in the less than twenty-four hours since you left? Brenda, she's actually my mom... Fate really messes with people, doesn't it?"

The next afternoon, in the ward.

Brenda had woken up.

"Mom, how are you feeling? Should I call the doc?" Nora asked.

"I'm fine, just tired. How am I doing?" Brenda looked super weak, like she aged ten years overnight.

"You don't have many wounds, just a lot of blood loss. You just had a transfusion, so you'll feel tired. Rest up for half a month, and you'll be fine."

"Okay, you didn't tell your dad, did you? He's abroad, and I don't want him to worry."

"The doc said you're stable, so I didn't tell him to avoid stressing him out," Nora replied. Her dad had high blood pressure, and she worried he couldn't handle the stress.

"Good, that's good," Brenda sighed in relief.

"Mom, why did you suddenly crash? And with Layla? What were you doing with her?"

"I..." Brenda moved her lips, "I wanted to persuade her to leave, but I got distracted and got hit by a car. It was an accident."

"She didn't push you into the street?"

"No, she didn't push me," Brenda quickly said.

"Why are you so nervous about her?" Nora squinted, her eyes scrutinizing.

"I'm not nervous about her; I'm just telling the truth."

"If you're not nervous about her, why did you risk your life to save her? She is the one who should be in the hospital. You saved her. Why did you do that?"

Brenda's face turned even paler, "I... I didn't have time to think."

"Even if you didn't have time, a normal person wouldn't risk their life to save a stranger, especially someone who's my enemy. What's your deal with her?"

"I... What deal could I have with her? Okay, I admit I saved her, but I really didn't think much at the time. I just saw she was pregnant. Yeah, I couldn't bear it because she was pregnant," Brenda explained nervously.

"Who asked you to be so meddlesome!" Nora shouted, her eyes blazing with anger and blame. "I tried so many ways to get rid of her bastard child. God was on my side; even if she didn't die, the kid wouldn't have survived. But you had to save her. Are you trying to screw me over? You should have let them both die!"

Brenda was stunned.

Her blood pressure spiked.

She couldn't believe Nora was so vicious.

Yeah, she could understand Nora hating Layla, but to not even spare the kid was too cruel.

"The unborn child is innocent..."

"I hate that phrase the most!" Nora's eyes burned with even more anger. "Layla has ruined my life, and her kid is not innocent at all. It's the evidence of those two scumbags' betrayal."

"Don't bring the kid into this... Nora..."

"Don't talk to me about that. I'm not a saint," Nora interrupted. "When you recover a bit, sue Layla."

"What? Sue her?"

"Yeah, say she pushed you into the street, causing the accident."

Brenda was even more shocked, "But that's not true. It was... it was me..."

"I know, but I've destroyed the footage. Given the circumstances, the judge will believe you."

"You want me to frame her? No, I can't do that," Brenda shook her head.

"Why not? Didn't you say you wanted to help me?" Nora retorted.

"Yeah, I want to help you, so I've been trying to persuade her to leave."

"Did she leave? She's back with Samuel, and they're even having a kid. What you did was useless."

"But no matter what, I can't frame someone."

"Someone? Is she even a person? She's a slut, a mistress," Nora's insults grew harsher. "Aren't you my mom? Shouldn't you help me with everything? Because of you, her kid was saved. Shouldn't you do something to make it up to me?"

"Mom is willing to do anything for you, even give you my life. But this... this I can't do."

"You say you'd give me your life, but you won't help me with this small thing," Nora shook her head. "I thought of you as my real mom, but you don't regard me as your real daughter."

Brenda couldn't believe Nora would accuse her so severely over this. She had cared for her diligently all these years, and was it all for nothing?

It was truly heartbreaking.

Brenda felt her heartache a hundred times more than her physical wounds.

"Nora, don't you know how much I care for you? Why say such hurtful things?"

"My words hurt you? What you did hurt me even more. Parents are willing to do anything for their kids, but you won't help me with this small thing, especially when you owe me."

"I..."

"Fine, if you can't get over it, I won't force you. But I won't forgive you, and don't expect our relationship to be as close as before. I'll give you one more chance. Think it over and give me your answer."