Chapter 10
Glacing at Stephen, Layla wielded her handbag like a weapon and flung it at him. “Are you out of your mind?”
else do you want to call to pick you up!
Stephen, who was standing by the hospital entrance, remained unmoved. His gaze was calm as he looked at Layla. Tata Realizing that anyone she knew would likely be too Intimidated by Stephen to help her, Layla fed. “I walk by myself,” After saying that, she walked down the street. Meanwhile, Stephen deliberately passed by her. He acted completely indifferent. It was as if they were strangers Layla was so enraged she almost grabbed a brick from the ground to smash his car
“Cab!”
thither that walking back in the cold was making her more miserable than it was worth she might as well take acab. She still had some spare change for that. stephen, who was in the car ahead, glanced through the rearview mirror at Layla getting into the cab behind him and smiled.
Back at Murray Estate, Layla launched into a phone rade to Robert, who was in Elmbury. “Come back right now, Grandpa. If you don’t, you’ll have no descendants left.”
The tranquil church in winter was surrounded by green foliage. The sound of the bell soothed everyone’s spirits.
The past visitors, the sweeping custodian, and the birds chirping in the courtyard created an atmosphere of serenity. It was reminiscent of a secluded mountain, filled with a sense of tranquility
Robert was praying earnestly before the statue of God.
“I’m sorry, Grandpa. Can you please reese my cards? I promise I won’t bother you anymore.
“Grandpa, Isacrificed my whole future for you. Are you just going to ignore me? Aren’t you afraid God will punish you?
“Grandpa, If you keep ignoring me, I’ll come to Elmsbury and find you. I don’t believe you can avoid me forever.”
Robert put down his cross and tumed to the priest beside him “rather, is there any way to turn back time by years
The priest calculated Layla’s age to be exactly 23 Then, thinking about Robert’s situation at home, he smiled and said, “The headstrong young lady will eventually meet someone who cantame her.”
In the evening, Stephen returned home with h
Layla was still sulking, so she ignored the Dylan, ever the observant child, commented, “Daddy, Aunt Layla is still mad at you.” ||
Stephen glanced at the woman who had caused Robert’s phone to shut off in the afternoon “Just leave her alone.”
Dylan obediently replied, “Olay.“”
When Stephen sat down on the couch, Layla, who was wearing bernight gown, promptly climbed onto the couch too. She moved to a far comer to watch TV and give Stephen the cold shoulder.
Seeing that Layla was in a bad mood, Dylan looked at the two calactic Defenders toys Stephen had just bought him. He approached Layla and carefully held out Commander Spark “Aunt Layla, here’s a toy for you.”
Layla’s face, which was still shadowed by resentment, softened slightly as she looked at the toy. After a moment’s pause, she took it from him.
“Do you know why 1 suddenly don’t dislike you? Layla asked.
Dylan shook his head. His hair bobbed with the motion
“It’s because you have nothing to do with the mand hate.”
Layla cast asideways glance at Stephen, who was sitting on the single couch, before turning her attention back to the TV.
Atbedtime, Stephen tucked Dylan into the guest room bed. “Daddy, If Aunt Layla is so mean, why do you like her?”
Stephen adjusted Dylan’s blanket and replied, “Well, you like her even though she’s mean to you”
In the evening, although Dylan could have bought tan commander Hamptons, he chose to get just one for himself and bought Layla’s favorite character instead.
“That’s because she’s nice to me.
Stephenchuckled softly. “She scares you every day, has a terrible temper, and even takes your toys, la she really being nice to you?
Dylan thought about it and agreed that it didn’t seem quite right: Still, he said, “Aunt Layla plays with me, watches Galactic Defenders with me, and gives me hogs. But she’s always so harsh with you.”
Stephen looked up at the pristine ceiling of the guest room and reflected for a long time. “There was a time whent was the person she cared about most.”
Dylan didn’t quite understand what he meant. When he was about to ask more, Stephen timed off the lights. “Time to sleep.”
He got up and left the guest room to petam to the master bedroom
Layla had considered sleeping in separate cooms from Steplumber, but she hadn’t dared to do so while Robert was around
Now that he was gone, host as she was about to sneak away, one of Robert’s informants reminded her, “Mr. Murray Senior said that if you sleep apart, you’ll be tined a thousand dollars per night.”
Lalacalled Robert is Elimburyoure more.
me, Pobert, Juving leamed trompast experien „Jet the phone ring for live muutes before finally answering
“Grandpa, are you a Yates or a Murray?”
Robert was furious enough to almost choke with anger. “If I had any connection to Stephen, I wouldn’t have allowed him to marry you.
“If you want your cards unfrozen, fine. Have a child with Stephen. Then you can go wherever you want. Just like your parents, you can disappear for decades, and 1
won’t care.”
Layla was left speechless.
She looked at the man drying his hair after a shower. Have a child with him?
“Dream on! I’d have a child with anyone but Stephen. Hmph! Go cultivate yourself. But with your attitude, I think it’s just a waste of time.”
With that, Layla hung up the phone and threw it onto the bedding in frustration.
Enraged, Robert complained to the priest, “Did you hear that? I’ll pray hard to never meet her again in my next life!”
At Murray Estate, Stephen and Layla exchanged glances. Given her earlier outburst, he had pieced together some of what Robert had said.
Layla was feeling diffident under his gaze. She pulled the covers over herself and tumed her back on Stephen.
Stephen chuckled wryly to himself, Getting Layla to have a child with him would be harder than the melting of glaciers
As he settled on the couch to sleep, his phone rang again. He glanced at the caller ID and, with an indifferent expression, hung up.
In the following days, while Stephen was at work, Dylan stayed home with Layla.
“Aunt Layla, I miss my mom.”
Children were often most attached to their mothers. Dylan, who had never been apart from Lucy for more than a day since he was little, finally voiced his distress after a long period..
Without a word, Layla grabbed her car keys and took him to the hospital.
Stephen had not returned to the hospital since. His routine of work and home had left Layla surprised. “I thought he would visit more often.”
Lucy has improved significantly. “Not at all. He only appears frequently because of my surgery. Normally, you occupy his thoughts.”
Layla, with her usual pride, was curious but pretended to be indifferent. “Why do you say such things again? Are you trying to make me lower my guard so Stephen can succeed in his schemes?
“Layla, I don’t understand why you’re so wary of him. Why not open your heart and admit that he’s a good person?”
