Chapter 31
“Then why didn’t you just call the cops?” Layla probed sourly.
Regina hatted a decisive laugh. “How naive can you be, Layla? The world isn’t just and fair, you know. There are always loopholes. Do you think it would do me any good to call the cops?
Layla asked, “How would you know if you never tried?”
Regina flashed an icy look at Stephen and drawled, “Congratulations, you
ou’ve managed to shield her from the evils of this world.” She was outright mocking Layla at this point.
Stephen took over the rest of the conversation. “Look, Layla, all I did was drop Regina off at her place. I left after that. Check the dash camera footage if you like.
Layla was starting to realize that this date was not as simple as Stephen made it out to be. He had dragged her here so that he and Regina could clarify matters with
her.
“Do you like Stephen? Regina asked.
“No,” Layla answered without thinking.
“So what does it matter to you if he’s cheating on you or not? If you don’t like him, why bother getting upset at all? Regina countered.
“…” Layla was at a loss for words. Stephen felt her fingers tremble under his, and his gaze slowly trailed up from her shaking hand to her angry, delicately chiseled face. He stared at her as he waited for her response.
She snapped, “Why wouldn’t I care? He’d be sullying our family name if he were cheating! The world will think of me as someone who can’t even keep her husband satisfied, much less in check!”
As she said this, she shot Stephen a dark look and pulled her hand out from his.
Regina sneered, “So you decided to stage a cheating scandal of your own to prove to others that you’re capable of things, too? You’re naive and juvenile.”
Layla eyed her sympathetically. “I feel sorry for you.”
“What do you mean?”
A smirk played on Layla’s lips. “It means things must be crappy for you.”
Just then, she got a call from Robert. He had been worried about her after he heard her cry last night. He might be in Elmsbury where everything was nice and quiet, but all he could hear when be closed his eyes was the sound of his granddaughter crying.
The retreat organizers had already retired to bed. Seeing this, Robert called Layla to check on her
Layla had half the mind to reject the call when she saw the caller ID, but she couldn’t bring herself to. Robert was her grandfather, after all.
As such, she left the table with her phone and staked out a quiet corner to answer the call. That way, if she wanted to whine and cry, only Robert would hear her
On the second floor of the restaurant, silence descended upon Stephen and Regina. “Did you call me here so that I could explain things to Layla on your behalf?” Regina carried herself like an actress. She was aloof and imposing. When she looked at Stephen, it was without the love and desire that Layla thought she might have for him.
“You told me you’ve been wanting to come to Lasville to meet Layla,” Stephen pointed out as he took a sip of water.
Regina snapped, “I didn’t want to come. Someone else made me so that I could report back to them about the weach you married!”
No sooner had the words left her mouth did Stephen set his glass down with a heavy thud. It hit the plate with enough force that the plate cracked in the middle.” Watch your mouth while you’re in Somersia. Remember, I can end your career here for good.”
Ashe said this, he leveled a vicious stare at Regina.
Regina’s entire career was based in Somersia. She eyed Stephen solemnly and knew he would make good on his threat to have her banned from the entertainment Industry forever. He was that powerful in Somersta.
stephen, how long are you going to keep this up for Layla? You’ve been paving the way for her in Murray Group and firing all those who harbored ill intentions just so she could take over the company fearlessly.
“But even if she had no ambition, do you think the company will thrive if she keeps up her demanding, spoiled–brat nonsense? For all your effort, Layla still thinks of you as a money–grubber.
“What are you doing this for? Haven’t you already done enough to repay Mr. Murray Senior’s kindness and charity?
Chapter 32
