Chapter 19
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Robert asked sullenly, “Who is she?
He trusted Stephen, but that did not make his meeting with some mysterious, scantily–dressed woman in the middle of the night any less suspicious. More importantly, he didn’t know what Stephen was thinking.
Stephen was still massaging the space between his brows as he answered tiredly, “Regina Islington, also known as Regina Yates.”
o, they sent someone again, huh?”
Robert heard Stephen emphasize the woman’s last name and fell silent. A beat later, he asked, “So,
“Yes, but don’t worry. I have it under control,” Stephen reassured.
As Robert recalled the past, he said, “Stephen, remember that Murray Group is the sword you wield in times of need and that I’ll always back you up no matter what. As for Layla, she’s your way back home.”
The words warned Stephen’s heart. “Thank you, Grandpa.”
Robert reckoned he should give Stephen a heads–up before ending the call “Brace yourself, Stephen, I don’t know what manner of torture Layla has in mind for you once you get home. Alfred told me she stormed out of the house to do heaven knows–what.”
The first thing Stephen thought about when he came across the scandal was that he would once again be called a “douchebag” when he got home. And that he would have another “mistress” added to his long list of non–existent lovers.
Stephen braced himself for the ultimatum Layla would give him when he arrived home. An explanation had already formed in his head. He had just gotten off the plane when he saw the latest news his assistant had forwarded him.
The article was headlined with the words “Battle of the Newlyweds: Who’s the Wildest of Them All?”
Apparently, Layla had made a surprise appearance at a bar and broken out her wildest dance moves. She seemed largely unaffected by her husband’s cheating scandal, which confirmed suspicions that her marriage was a commercial move.
In the footage attached to the article, Layla was perched atop a bar stool and wearing a dress too short for the chilly weather. She was clinking glasses with some male stranger and was caught leaving the bar with his ann around her shoulders.
“M–Mr. Yates, the press caught Ms. Murray heading to a hotel with some random man!” Austin said.
Stephen watched the video and felt his blood boil. “Send me the location now.
At the hotel, Layla had dragged Austin toward the elevator bay,
“Layla–sweet, charming, gorgeous Layla, could you please leave me out of your fights with Mr. Yates? Also, if you wanted to make him jealous, you could at least look for someone with money and power. I’m no better than a punching bag to Mr. Yates!” Austin whined.
He put his hands together as if in prayer white whining, “You could have Elliot help you, or even Liam, the heir to an airline business. Why pick me of all people?
“My family runs a pharmaceutical company, that’s all. I wouldn’t want Mr. Yates to acquire the business out of spite before I could even inherit it!”
“Oh my gosh, don’t you ever shut up?” Layla snapped as she leaned against the wall next to the elevator. Anger flashed in her eyes. Her pretty features were twisted with rage.
The
press
had already caught Stephen in a cheating scandal. The Murrays good name would be ruined it she didn’t do something about it. She had to retaliate, or the world might think her family had used her as a pawn to keep Stephen in check
When the elevator doors opened, Layla shot Austin a menacing look “You’re coming to the hotel with me.”
Despair filled Austin “Please leave me out of this.”
“I promise Stephen and I will be over if he threatens you and your family again,” Layla said.
“Layla, aren’t you and Mr. Yates already over?” Austin held his ground and stalled for time in any way possible.
He was starting to regret going to the bar that afternoon. Layla clung to him when she spotted him and refused to untangle her arms from his neck. She made it a point to drink with him and pretended as if she was flirting with him.
When Austin tried to push her away, she leaned close to him as if to whisper a dirty secret, only to threaten him venomously, “I bet you love that sleek, black sports car you just bought. I wonder how much it would ferch on the market if I turn it into scrap metal,”
As if drinking with her wasn’t bad enough, he was later made to go to the hotel with her.
The incident had scarred Austin deeply. He doubted he could visit a bar without getting traumatic flashbacks after this.
As soon as the hotel room door swung open, Austin turned around and bolted down the fire escape on the 23rd floor. He continued running down the flights of stairs until he reached the lobby.
Layla planted a hand on her hip as she glowered in the direction where Austin ran. Those who walked by her kept a respectable distance when they smelled the
