Chapter 3
After a glance at the furious Layla, Stephen went to the couch. He removed his shoes and socks before lying down to sleep.
Seeing how he managed to fall asleep so peacefully, Layla made a show of loud noises. She walked loudly to the shower, cranked up the music on her phone, threw things on the floor to disturb him.
Unfortunately, Layla’s efforts were in wain. Stephen remained unmoved on the couch. He had fallen asleep with just his jacket draped over him.
Frostrated, Layla put on her pajamas and threw herself into bed. She covered her head with the blanket, fuming until she fell asleep.
Ten minutes later, Stephen’s eyes opened
Marrying someone she had loathed since childhood was unbearable for Layla, even though they had grown up together
He quietly got up, walked to the bedside table, and gently lifted the blanket from her face to ensure she could breathe.
He then turned off the lights and returned to the couch to sleep.
Suddenly, his phone rang.
On the other end was a woman’s voice. It was faint, as though she had been crying for a while. “Congratulations on your wedding, Stephen.”
critated, Stephen hung up and set the phone aside. He was restless and spent the rest of the night awake.
The next morning, Layla woke up to find that Stephen had already left.
And
“He ran off pretty quicldy.” As she stepped outside, the same Robert practicing his morning exercises Sometimes, she wondered if her marriage was just a scheme orchestrated by him.
His bealth seemed fine. His exercise moves were even more precise than hers.
“Grandpa, if I divorced Stephen now, would you still be coughing up blood?” Lapla asked.
Robert chased after her while playfully swatting at her.
“No divorce, no divorce. I was just joking.”
Later that moming, a news story caused another uproar in Murray Estate’s living room
“Shocking News: Murray Group’s Heiress Spotted Partyling at Peony Bar on Her Wedding Night! Paying Everyone’s Bill!”
The story came with photos and videos.
Amosy reporter had leaked Layla’s bar escapade on the front page.
Robert, seeing the morning paper, was shalding with anger. “Layla Murray! I’ve spoiled you too much. Alfred, freeze all of Layla’s cards now
Many people had sought to marry their daughters to Stephen, but he had never shown interest. In the end, Robert had feigned illness to trick Stephen into marrying Layla
Now, instead of trying to make the mantage work, Layla had gone to a bar on her wedding night. She needed to be taught a lesson.
In the end, all of Layla’s credit cards were frozen.
Money couldn’t buy everything, but one couldn’t do anything without money.
Layla knew this well, so she went to Murray Group to have Stephen unfreeze her cards. As the head of Murray Group, his word was law, and no one dared to ignore it. Layla, who was in high heels, chose fashion over wanth despite the winterchill. She wore thin denim jeans, a simple white blouse, and an oversized coat draped casually over her shoulders. Her limited–edition handbag swing at her side as she entered Stephen’s office.
As soon as she entered, she tossed her chain bag onto Stephen’s lap. “Grandpa froze my cards. Unfreeze them for me.” She knew that within Murray Group, Stephen’s authority was second only to Robert’s.
Stephen placed her bag on the desk and leaned back in his chair before calmly saying, “AskGrandpa to unfreeze them”
Layla slammed his laptop shut and snapped, “If he agreed to undreeze them, why would 1 come to you?”
Stephen glanced at Layla’s hand, which had struck his laptop, and then turned his sharp gaze toward her. “You embarassed me nationwide by going to a bar on our wedding right, and now you come to my office yelling at me. Why on earth would you think i’d help you unfreeze your cards?”
Leyla stared at Stephen in disbelief. Was he blaming ber?
“Know your place, Stephen. Murray Group belongs to me. You’re just an employer. You have to follow my orders. If you don’t, I’ll have you find,”
Stephen cose from his seat and looked down at his petite wife “Leaving the company in a loser’s hands would mean it would go bankrupt within a year
“Who are you calling a loser? Layla’s eyes blazed with ager
Stephen looked away from her, unimpressed.
“Layla, I’ll only help you support the company until your 25th birthday After that, Murray Group’s fate will be none of my concern. If you continue with this arrogant attitude, you’ll be the one driving Murray Group to ruin.”
Layla blinked in shock. Did that mean Stephen planned to leave when she turned 257
“Hah! You suze talk a good game. If you plan to leave on 25th birthday, why not leave now? You’re just deceiving Grandpa. You manipulated him into making me marry you so you can gradually take over Murray Grup.”
Järphen looked at Layla, who was spewing harsh woods. Her accusated grievances and resentment toward him had become deeply entrenches over the years.
Yet Layla refused to leave the office. “Unfreeze my cards, and then I’ll leave.”
When Stephen’s subordinate came in to report, they saw the notoriously bad–tempered Layla causing a scene and quickly backed out to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.
Stephen eventually stood up, taking his laptop and files with him as he left the office to work elsewhere. He left Layla alone in the office.
Stephen’s secretary looked at his disgruntled expression. Despite his respected status, he was married to the only person who disrespected him—Layla.
This was not the first time Stephen had been provoked to this extent. However, no one dared speak about his family matters.
Inside the office, Stephen’s phone, which he had forgotten, cang Layla saw a woman’s name on the screen
A woman?
Layla picked up his phone. Her eyes gleaming with craftiness. Without Stephen’s permission, she answered the call and held the phone to herear
A child’s voice came through the receiver, calling out, “Daddy..
Layla’s eyes widened. Stephen had a child with his mistress!
Fuming, she stormed out of the office, slammed the door, and slapped Stephen across the face. “You scumbag!”
After throwing the phone at him, she stormed out in anger
Everyone in the CEO’s office watched in shock. Did Stephen get slapped in the face?
Seeing the caller ID on his phone, Stephen put it to his ear. “Hello?”
“Uncle Stephen, Mommy is asleep. I can’t wake her up. She has a headache.”
“I’ll be right there, Dylan.” After saying that, Stephen hung up. He set aside his work and grabbed his car keys to rush to his godson’s side.
After Layla entered her car, she was so enraged she shouted.
Upon arriving home, she found Robert reading a book. She stormed up to him, grabbed the book from his hands, and shook him while shouting, “Stephen is a scumbag He even has a son! Grandpa, are you trying to make me a stepmother?”
Looking at his impatient granddaughter, Robert mumbled, “Don’t get angry. Stay calm. You’ll make yourself sick. You’re here to repay past karma.” “Grandpa, even if you bleed yourself dry, I’m getting a divorce from Stephen. Divorce, divorce!”
